Academic requirements

• Retaking examinations

  Applicants who re-take their advanced level studies in order to meet the entry requirements for Medicine will not normally be considered. However, consideration may be given to applicants with extenuating circumstances whose achieved qualification grades mean they are ‘borderline’ for meeting the entry requirements for the medical programmes at St Andrews. Applicants whose grades are less than ‘borderline’ for meeting the entry requirements will not be considered. For more information please see the policy on extenuating circumstances for A100 and A990.

  Re-taking modules would be allowed as long as the A2 qualifications (or other qualifications) were achieved within the normal period of study expected for the qualification concerned.

  Re-sitting GCSEs (or equivalent) would be allowed if the purpose were to meet a specific subject requirement. For example, GCSE English at grade C could be re-taken to achieve Grade B.

  Please email medical.admissions@st-andrews.ac.uk for guidance.

• Extenuating circumstances

  Candidates who take more than the normal number of years to obtain their qualifications may be considered if there have been extenuating circumstances that are fully documented.

  Consideration may be given to applicants with extenuating circumstances whose achieved qualification grades mean they are ‘borderline’ for meeting the entry requirements for the medical programmes at St Andrews.

  Extenuating circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis, according to the information provided by the applicant and according to the guidelines given in the policy below. A Special Circumstances Committee for Medical Admission will consider such cases but only after an application has been made.

  Please email medical.admissions@st-andrews.ac.uk for guidance or see the School of Medicine’s policy on extenuating circumstances for A100 and A990. 

• Change in direction of academic study

  Applicants who have recently had a change of career direction resulting in new subject options might be considered if their application is supported by a very strong previous academic performance and excellent predictions. Please email medical.admissions@st-andrews.ac.uk for guidance.

• English language requirements

  Whether you will need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability depends on your educational background.

  If you have completed your final four years of secondary or high school education in an English-medium school, this may be considered as evidence of English language ability. This will be considered on a case-by-case basis at the point of application, and the University of St Andrews reserves the right to ask for additional evidence of English language ability.

  IELTS scores have a recommended two-year validity period, and this time limit will be applied.

  For applicants for 2021 entry, the School of Medicine will accept the Academic only or Academic UKVI versions of the IELTS. Offer holders should also ensure they meet the UKVI English language visa requirements where necessary.

• Undergraduate entry

  Undergraduates on courses other than Medicine who are in first year of an undergraduate programme will be considered if they have fulfilled the School's academic entry requirements before they began their undergraduate course. They must apply by the deadline of 15 October (first semester of first undergraduate year) and have sat the UCAT that year.

  The School will not consider applicants who have progressed to second year. Meeting minimum entry requirements will not guarantee an offer – grades will have to be competitive with grades of all those applying at the same time. No credit for the undergraduate year is given as all entrants must complete the full six years of the medical degree.

  Undergraduates on Medicine courses

  Those who are already on, or have been on, an undergraduate Medicine degree programme elsewhere will not be considered.