FAQs
- What are your minimum academic entry requirements?
- Do you have any preference over my other subject choices?
- Do you accept resits?
- Is the UCAT test required?
- How will my application be assessed?
- Is work experience essential?
- Can I apply through UCAS clearing?
- How do I find out my fee status if I am unsure?
- Can I visit the Medical School?
- How many places are available each year and how many applications do you receive?
- What facilities are available to medical students?
- Can Graduates apply for the Glasgow Access Programme (GAP)?
- Does the Undergraduate Medical School take extenuating circumstances into consideration?
- What would you recommend an applicant who has been rejected twice do?
- Does the University of Glasgow have a Graduate entry programme?
- How can an applicant who graduated in a non-science degree meet the requirements for additional Chemistry and Biology?
- Will taking more than one gap year disadvantage my application?
Should your question not be answered here, please refer to our MBChB Admissions Guide where you will find full details on our admissions processes and procedures:
http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/medicine/mus/medicineadmissions/
What are your minimum academic entry requirements?
Scottish Highers / A Levels / International Baccalaureate / Graduate / EU / Access Courses
Please see details of our minimum entry requirements: http://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/medicine/#/entryrequirements
If your qualifications are not listed, please email the Admissions Administrator with a detailed account of your qualifications obtained or still to complete med-sch-admissions@glasgow.ac.uk.
Do you have any preference over my other subject choices?
No, apart from the key subjects that we ask for, we have no preference over other subject choices and all are considered equal (except where specified).
Do you accept resits?
No, we do not normally accept re-sits or additional time to sit qualifications. The required grades and subjects must be obtained at one sitting and at the first attempt. Resits would only be considered in exceptional circumstances. Applicants with exceptional circumstances should contact the Admissions Administrator prior to submitting an application.
Is the UCAT test required?
Yes, all those applying for admission to enter undergraduate medicine must complete the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) prior to application. All applicants must visit www.ucat.ac.uk and http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/medicine/mus/admissions/ukclinicalaptitudetestukcat/ for further information.
How will my application be assessed?
All aspects of the application form (academic attainment, personal statement and reference) are considered in the screening process. In November, the UCAT results are sent to the Medical School by UCAT and the results will be considered as the last element of the screening process. The range of UCAT scores considered varies each year as the performance of each admissions cohort varies.
Candidates who are being considered further are normally interviewed (600-700 applicants) in December. The format of the interview is outlined in the invite to interview letter, with a guide on areas assessed. For further information, please visit www.gla.ac.uk/schools/medicine/mus/admissions/mbchbinterviews/
Decision
After interviews have taken place, interview results are processed in January-February. Medical School offers are then made to the required number of applicants (normally approx. 450) by the end of March, through UCAS.
Re-application
Unsuccessful applicants can apply for the MBChB course in future years. All applicants must meet our minimum academic entry requirements for the current admissions cycle (with qualifications obtained within seven years of the proposed entry date). The school will consider a re-application as a “fresh application”.
Please also note that if you reapply for admission, you must re-sit the UCAT test.
Is work experience essential?
No, obtaining work experience in a medical setting is not necessary to study or obtain entry to medicine but it is expected that candidates will have a realistic understanding of what a career in medicine entails and be aware of current issues facing the medical profession. A commitment to caring for others is also expected, which can be demonstrated through voluntary or paid work in a community setting. Any commitment to work experience or similar is expected to last beyond the offer- making stage of the admissions process.
Can I apply through UCAS clearing?
Due to the number of applications received, it is unusual for places to be made available through UCAS Clearing or UCAS Extra for Medicine. If places become available later in the admissions process, we may contact applicants who narrowly missed an offer after an interview during that particular admissions cycle and who are not holding a place at another institution.
How do I find out my fee status if I am unsure?
For information regarding your fee status, please see: http://www.gla.ac.uk/scholarships/feestatus/
If you are unsure of your fee status, you should complete a Fee Status Enquiry form prior to applying for admission (this form can be obtained via the above link). The form should be returned to the Recruitment and International Office for determination of your fee status and we uphold the decision made by them in relation to this.
Can I visit the Medical School?
Yes, we encourage applicants to visit on one of our Open Days. Please see the following link for further details: www.gla.ac.uk/about/visit/. You will be able to meet with current students and staff from the Medical School at these events.
Applicants who are successful following interview are invited to attend our Offer Holders' Day usually held in March/April.
Please note we are not normally in a position to arrange individual visits to the Medical School at other times, outwith Open Days. If you cannot make one of our Open Days then please feel free to book a campus tour: https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/visit/campustours/prospectivestudents/
How many places are available each year and how many applications do you receive?
Entry to this programme is highly competitive, attracting large numbers of applications from highly qualified and motivated applicants. Additionally, we are required to manage the number of students admitted to our programme in line with targets set by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Funding Council, which are set annually.
We receive in the region of 2000 applications per year. We invite in the region of 600 - 700 applicants to attend for interview, with approximately 230 places available.
What facilities are available to medical students?
In addition to University facilities and support, the Wolfson Medical School Building offers excellent facilities specifically designed for our medical students, with group learning rooms, a Vocational Studies suite, a Clinical Skills area and a School Library.
From Year 3, Medical students at the University of Glasgow regularly attend clinical placements in a number of hospitals throughout the Glasgow area and in the wider West of Scotland.
Can Graduates apply for the Glasgow Access Programme (GAP)?
The GAP programme is designed to provide first-time entry to higher education with the subsequent access to medicine, therefore we are unfortunately unable to consider university graduates for the programme at this time. We would encourage university graduates to apply to medicine through the traditional route with the following requirements.
Does the Undergraduate Medical School take extenuating circumstances into consideration?
We will honour grades obtained from successful appeal/re-mark procedures by the applicant’s school (subject to them meeting our minimum entry requirements). Applicants should notify the Admissions Administrator in writing (by email or letter) of their intention to appeal their exam grades. Applicants should also notify the Admissions Administrator of the outcome of their appeal as soon as possible. If the appeal has not taken place in time for the appropriate administration to take place before the start of the academic year, a deferred offer may be granted for the following year providing the conditions set are achieved.
Applicants who have narrowly missed the minimum entry requirements may be considered under exceptional circumstances. Applicants who feel that they have faced exceptional circumstances at the time of their examinations should submit a letter, with supporting documentation from the educational institution and relevant documentation (GP letter, police report, etc). Documents should be received by the Admissions Administrator at least 6 weeks prior to submitting an application. It is not normally possible to adjust or discount UKCAT scores under extenuating circumstances.
What would you recommend an applicant who has been rejected twice do?
We would welcome a new application the following year providing they still meet our published entry requirements for that year of application. Please note the UCAT must be sat in each year of application.
Applicants can undertake another degree and then reapply as a graduate and we would recommend this for applicants that do not meet our minimum high school entry requirements. For further information on graduate entry, please see: http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/medicine/mus/admissions/
We would also encourage applicants to research how each Medical School assesses an application and consider applying to those that play to their strengths.
Does the University of Glasgow have a Graduate entry programme?
Graduate applicants are considered for entry to the Undergraduate Medicine course. We do not have a quota for graduate places and graduate applicants are considered in the same way as all applications for entry in the current year.
How can an applicant who graduated in a non-science degree meet the requirements for additional Chemistry and Biology?
Applicants that graduated in a non-science degree will be required to have A-level/Scottish Higher Chemistry and A-level/AS-level/Scottish Higher Biology to be sat within seven years of entry (minimum grades AB, or AA with AS-level Biology). Applicants may explore completing these at colleges or education providers.
Please note that graduates would not normally be considered from an Access to Medicine course as they are typically considered as a way for mature students returning to education to apply to Medicine.
Will taking more than one gap year disadvantage my application?
The Undergraduate Medical School considers applicants who have taken more than one gap year before applying, providing they meet our standard requirements with qualifications achieved within seven years from the proposed date of entry. It is important to spend gap years wisely. We strongly encourage applicants spend the majority of their time out in a manner which will be of educational benefit. Gaining work experience or becoming involved in a voluntary project relating to care or community work may be useful in developing skills.