ScotGEM academic requirements

Applications for 2021 entry are now closed

Applications for the 2021 entry cycle are closed. See courses for the upcoming academic year on the medicine subject page.

To be considered for interview, ScotGEM applicants must have achieved (or be predicted to achieve) a 1st or a 2.1 Honours degree, or equivalent. Honours degrees in Arts and Science and other disciplines will be accepted.

In addition, applicants must have achieved (or be predicted to achieve) the following academic requirements over and above the Honours degree:

Chemistry Higher or A-Level (grade A or B) or equivalent
Mathematics at Standard Grade (Credit 1 or 2), Intermediate 2 (grade A or B), National 5 (grade A or B), or GCSE (grade B), or equivalent.

Guidance

Degree

Applicants will not be considered if their first degree does not meet the degree requirement, even if they subsequently gain further degrees (2.1 or 1st class Honours degree, Masters or PhD).
Applicants who are on, or have been on, a medicine degree course will not be considered. This includes transfer students or those on an intercalating degree.

Chemistry

Examples of qualifications or study that might be accepted in lieu of Higher/A Level Chemistry:

20 credits of undergraduate-level Chemistry at high grades.
Modules of mixed science (e.g. Biochemistry) would not be accepted – modules must be pure Chemistry.
Open University – Chemistry: essential concepts Module S215 – 60% or above.
SAT Chemistry – 700+.
University of Glasgow - Access to Science, Engineering & Nursing: Chemistry ADED11406E – grade B.
Other access courses and HNC qualifications are generally not accepted as they do not offer enough Chemistry.

For more information, email scotgem-admissions@st-andrews.ac.uk.

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.
Degree classification

The School does not consider applicants who have obtained a lower second class Honours degree (or lower). Extenuating circumstances put forward for consideration in this respect would not be considered as the School expects the university awarding the degree to have taken into account any relevant circumstances.

Subject requirements over and above degree

Extenuating circumstances that affected the qualifications required over and above the degree will not be taken into account if they were achieved prior to application.

If extenuating circumstances affect the sitting of qualifications required as part of the conditions of offer for the medical degree programme (other than degree classification), then consideration may be given to applicants whose achieved qualification grades mean they are ‘borderline’ for meeting the entry requirements for ScotGEM.

Please email scotgem-admissions@st-andrews.ac.uk for guidance or see the policy on extenuating circumstances for A101 ScotGEM.

ScotGEM academic requirements

Applications for 2021 entry are now closed

Guidance

Degree

Chemistry

English language requirements

Extenuating circumstances