UG-Clin: Regulations for Clinical Undergraduate Awards (2026-27)
A list of programmes governed by the Regulations for Clinical Undergraduate Awards can be found in Appendix 2.
CONTENTS
- Scope
- Admission and Prior Learning
- Length of Study
- Fitness to Practise
- Special Requirements
- Attendance
- Progressing Through Your Programme
- Award and Graduation
- Classification
- Exit Awards
- Intercalated Degrees
- Clinical Graduate Certificates and Graduate Diplomas
- Professional Registration
Appendix 1: Partnership Programmes
1. Scope
These rules cover the following undergraduate degrees, all of which lead to eligibility for professional registration:
|
Degree |
Professional Body |
Duration |
|
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) |
General Medical Council (GMC) |
5 years |
|
Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) |
General Dental Council (GDC) |
5 years |
|
Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine & Surgery (BVMS) |
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) |
5 years |
|
Bachelor of Nursing (BN) |
Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) |
4 years (Honours) or 3 years (Ordinary) |
The MBChB is a joint award: the degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery are always awarded together.
The clinical awards of Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma are also covered in these rules – see section 12. Sections 2 and 4-11 apply to degree awards and not to the Graduate Certificate or Diploma.
Each programme has a programme specification, published on the University website. Your programme specification and programme handbook contain further details about courses, assessment, and clinical requirements for your award.
These are mainly prescribed programmes: you follow a fixed curriculum each year. Part-time study is not available on these programmes except for the Graduate Certificate and Diploma.
Partnership degrees with other institutions are covered by these regulations but with some variations set out in Appendix 1.
2. Admission and Prior Learning
Entry requirements are published in the University Prospectus and in your programme specification.
Credit for prior experiential learning is not available on any of these degree programmes. Limited recognition of accredited prior learning may be available as follows:
|
Programme |
Prior study recognised |
|
BDS |
A candidate holding MBChB who meets admissions criteria may enter Year 2. Study at another approved dental school may count towards minimum duration. |
|
BVMS |
A candidate with an approved qualification may enter Year 2 or Year 3, at the discretion of the School’s RPL officer. A short additional course may be required. |
|
BN |
A candidate may be admitted to Year 2 if they have previously studied Adult Nursing at another NMC‑approved institution, provided the School is satisfied that their prior learning is equivalent and that they meet the BN admission requirements. |
Should any ungraded RPL credit be applied as a result of this regulation, any Honours or Commendation calculations will be based only on credits studied and assessed at the University of Glasgow, and ungraded RPL credit is excluded from the calculation.
3. Length of Study
|
Programme |
Normal duration |
Maximum duration |
Exclusions from maximum |
|
MBChB |
5 years |
8 years |
One repeat of final year; intercalation |
|
BDS |
5 years |
8 years |
One repeat of final year; intercalation |
|
BVMS |
5 years |
8 years |
|
|
BN |
4 years (Honours) |
5 years |
|
|
GradCert |
1 year |
3 years |
|
|
GradDip |
2 years |
5 years |
Any periods of interruption of study count within the maximum duration of study.
4. Fitness to Practise
You are expected to maintain the standards of conduct and behaviour required of a student preparing for professional practice, in line with the relevant professional or regulatory body's standards. You are required to assent to your School's Code of Professional Conduct (which reflects these standards) at the start of each academic session of study. If you do not assent, you will not be permitted to access teaching, assessment, or clinical experience.
If your conduct raises concerns about your fitness to practise, you may be referred to your School’s Fitness to Practise Committee. This may result in exclusion from the programme. See Regulation 36 of the University Regulations for details.
5. Special Requirements
Before you can register for the session, enrol on classes or attend clinical placements, you must complete all requirements specified by your School, which may include a criminal records check (Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme membership), health screening, and immunisation (including Hepatitis B).
6. Attendance
Clinical programmes have strict attendance requirements because clinical competence cannot be demonstrated without completing all prescribed activities.
|
Programme |
Requirement |
|
MBChB |
100% attendance in all elements of the programme |
|
BDS |
100% attendance in all elements of the programme |
|
BVMS |
Completion of all prescribed courses and extramural studies (EMS) as defined by the RCVS |
|
BN |
Completion of all timetabled practice learning placements and theoretical components. You must complete a minimum of 4,600 hours of study (2,300 theoretical, 2,300 clinical) for eligibility for professional registration. |
If you are absent through illness, you must follow the Student Absence Policy. Requests for leave of absence must be made in advance to the appropriate Course Director or Programme Director, and you should see your programme documentation. Following any period of absence, you may need to remedy any missing progress and graduation requirements.
Persistent absence may be considered under Fitness to Practise rules and may result in exclusion.
7. Progressing Through Your Programme
To progress to the next year of your programme, you must pass every course in the preceding year at grade D or above. Some courses include individual components that you must pass separately (must-pass components), even if your overall course grade is sufficient. There is no compensation between courses and no additional minimum GPA threshold.
You must complete and submit every assessment. The University’s general provisions in the Assessment Regulations which allow credit without completing all assessments do not apply to these programmes.
7.1 Additional progress and reassessment requirements for BN
All course components of assessment are must-pass on the BN Programme. If you achieve less than grade D on any summative component of any course, you must take reassessment for that component regardless of your overall course grade. If reassessment is taken on a course contributing to Honours classification, the original course result (not the reassessed result) counts towards your degree classification.
To enter Junior Honours (Year 3), you must achieve a grade C or above at first attempt in the designated core nursing knowledge course in Year 2, plus a grade D or above in all components and practice learning placements. If you do not meet these requirements, you will not continue in the Honours programme but may be eligible to continue to the Bachelor of Nursing (Ordinary) Degree or be eligible for an exit award (see section 11).
To progress to Senior Honours, you must achieve a grade C or above at first attempt in the designated core nursing knowledge course in Year 3, plus a grade D or above in all components and practice learning placements. If you do not meet these requirements, you will not continue in the Honours programme but may be eligible to change to the Bachelor of Nursing (Ordinary) Degree or be eligible for an exit award (see section 11).
7.2 What happens if you do not meet progress requirements
If you do not meet progress requirements, you may be excluded from your programme of study. Your performance will be considered by an Academic Review Panel. The Academic Review Panel may set aside the exclusion rules and permit you to repeat a year.
If you are permitted to repeat a year:
|
Programme |
Carry-forward of passed assessments |
Requirements during repeat year |
|
MBChB, BDS, BN |
No. All assessments must be retaken. |
Must attend all prescribed elements and meet all conditions set by the Academic Review Panel. |
|
BVMS |
Yes: you may carry forward assessments graded D3 or above, but only to the following session. An assessment retaken beyond the carry-forward period is capped at the previously achieved grade. Carry-forward is not available if you were refused credit or are repeating the final year. |
Must attend all prescribed elements and undertake passed assessments formatively. You must submit an up-to-date portfolio demonstrating satisfactory completion of programme components undertaken formatively during the repeat year, including evidence of the resolution of any support flags. |
MBChB: Year 1: If you do not achieve grade D3 or above (or D in competency-based assessments) at the end of MBChB I, you will normally be permitted to repeat the year. Year 5: One repeat of MBChB V is automatically granted if you do not pass the Medical Licensing Assessment (AKT and CPSA). Following one repeat of final year, and a maximum of four unsuccessful attempts to pass the final year assessments you will be excluded.
If your performance is reviewed by an Academic Review Panel, the Panel will follow the Instructions issued to it by the Clerk of Senate, and will:
- provide you with full details of which requirements you have not met, including courses, grades, and a reference to the relevant regulations;
- tell you the date of the Academic Review Panel meeting(s) where your case will be considered and the composition of the Panel;
- let you make written representations about your case before the meeting; and
- provide you with any information you need for the University’s Code of Appeals process.
8. Award and Graduation
To graduate, you must pass every course in every year of your programme, meet the attendance requirements above, be in good standing with regard to Fitness to Practise, and satisfy the following requirements:
MBChB: You must meet the core outcomes set by the GMC, complete all clinical attachments in Years 3 to 5, be assessed as competent in resuscitation (you must normally complete the prescribed training and be assessed as competent within two attempts by the end of MBChB V; non-attendance without approved cause counts as a failed attempt), complete the Preparation for Practice block, and normally complete a junior and senior elective. You must also pass the Medical Licensing Assessment (AKT and CPSA) as part of the degree.
BDS: You must achieve grade D or above in all three components of the Final Professional Examinations and satisfy any additional requirements in the course documentation, including competence assessments and satisfactory clinical progress as determined by the Clinical Development Panel. You must complete an elective study project, presented as a poster.
BVMS: You must successfully complete all five years and all extramural studies as defined by the RCVS.
BN (Ordinary): You must achieve grade D or above in all components of summative assessment in Years 1 to 3, including all practice learning placements and the Final Practice Learning Experience. You must demonstrate attainment of NMC health numeracy requirements.
BN (Honours): In addition to the progression requirements above, you must achieve a grade D or above in all components of summative assessment in Senior Honours including the Final Practice Learning Experience. You must demonstrate attainment of NMC health numeracy requirements.
9. Classification
MBChB, BDS, and BVMS may be awarded with Honours or with Commendation. The criteria are based on formulae incorporating assessment results across the full programme, using the grade achieved at first attempt. The formulae are published in programme documentation. MBChB may also award a Distinction in any individual year.
BN (Honours) is classified using the standard Honours classification system, calculated from Years 3 and 4, weighted 50:50. The Assessment Regulations detail how this operates. Practice learning results do not contribute to classification.
10. Exit Awards
If you leave your programme before completing the full degree, you may be eligible for an exit award. For clinical programmes (MBChB, BDS, BVMS), you must apply to the Head of School to transfer to exit award regulations.
Exit awards from clinical programmes are not registrable qualifications and do not carry the right to professional registration. If you receive an exit award from the MBChB, BVMS, or BDS, you may not subsequently return to study for an MBChB, BVMS, or BDS degree at the University of Glasgow except with the exceptional permission of the Head of College.
For all degree programmes, the exit award following successful completion of Year 1 is a Certificate of Higher Education, after Year 2 is a Diploma of Higher Education, after Year 3 is an Ordinary Bachelors degree, and after Year 4 is a Bachelors degree with Honours. The titles of your exit awards will be:
|
Programme |
CertHE/DipHE title |
After Year 3 |
After Year 4 |
|
MBChB |
Medical Science |
BMedSci |
BMedSci (Hons) |
|
BDS |
Dental Science |
BMedSci |
BMedSci (Hons) |
|
BVMS |
Animal Health |
BAH |
BAH (Hons) |
|
BN |
Health Studies |
Bachelor of Health Studies |
— |
BN exit award: The Bachelor of Health Studies is awarded if you complete Year 3 but do not pass the Final Practice Learning Experience or do not demonstrate NMC health numeracy requirements. It is not a registrable qualification. If you withdraw from Year 4 (Honours) without passing the Final Practice Learning Experience, you are also eligible for the Bachelor of Health Studies.
11. Intercalated Degrees
If you are studying for the MBChB, BDS, or BVMS, and are of appropriate academic merit you may choose to undertake an intercalated degree. This is a separate programme that requires you to leave your clinical programme for normally one academic session, returning to your clinical programme upon completion.
|
Clinical programme |
Intercalated degree available |
When |
|
MBChB |
BSc (MedSci) Honours; or BSc Honours (2-year) |
After Year 3 |
|
BDS |
BSc (DentSci) Honours |
After at least 3 years |
|
BVMS |
BSc (VetSci) Honours; BSc Honours (2-year); or Masters (MRes, MSc) |
After Year 2, 3, or 4 depending on programme |
Intercalated degrees do not carry the right to professional registration and are governed by the regulations for the relevant undergraduate award (see the UG regulations).
12. Clinical Graduate Certificates and Graduate Diplomas
The following programmes are specialist Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma awards for candidates who already hold a relevant healthcare professional qualification:
|
Programme |
Award |
Credits |
|
Burns & Plastic Surgery Care for Adults and Paediatrics |
Graduate Certificate (GradCert) |
60 |
|
Specialist Lymphoedema Management |
Graduate Diploma (GradDip) |
120 |
Admission: You must hold a recognised health care professional qualification at diploma level or above. You must maintain current registration with, or membership of, a relevant health care professional body throughout your studies. Programme specifications may set additional admission requirements.
Recognition of Prior Learning: Recognition of prior learning may be granted where you can provide verified evidence of equivalent learning through successful completion of equivalent courses in the three years preceding your application. The maximum credit that may be recognised is:
|
Programme |
Maximum RPL |
|
Burns & Plastic Surgery Care for Adults and Paediatrics |
20 credits |
|
Specialist Lymphoedema Management |
60 credits |
Programme Structure: All courses on these programmes are compulsory and are set out in the programme specification. Ongoing patient contact is required for study on the Lymphoedema programmes. Courses on the Burns & Plastic Surgery Care programme can be taken in any order within the maximum period of study. On the Specialist Lymphoedema Management programme, the first two courses or their equivalent must be completed successfully before other courses may be taken in any order.
You must achieve grade D3 or above in every assessment. Where you do not achieve this, you will have one opportunity to resubmit that component. The University’s general provisions in the Assessment Regulations which allow credit without completing all assessments do not apply to these programmes. The examiners may at their discretion examine you orally in any course.
Progress: To progress to courses in the following academic session, you must achieve grade D3 or above in each course taken in the preceding academic session. If you have not achieved D3 in a course after two attempts, an Academic Review Panel may permit one further attempt. If you have still not achieved D3 after that further attempt, you may be excluded from the programme. If you choose to withdraw from the programme temporarily, you must apply to the Programme Director for readmission.
Requirements for Award:
|
Award |
Credits |
Level requirement |
Grade requirement |
|
Graduate Certificate (GradCert) |
60 |
All credits at level 3 or above |
D3 or above in all components of assessment in every course |
|
Graduate Diploma (GradDip) |
120 |
All credits at level 3 or above with at least 60 credits at level 4 or above |
D3 or above in all components of assessment in every course |
On the Lymphoedema programmes, you must also demonstrate minimum clinical competency and a professional standard of record keeping. These mandatory clinical competencies are demonstrated by satisfactory submission of all patient assessment forms and a completed and signed mentor competency form. If these requirements are not met, you have one opportunity to resubmit.
Your award may have an endorsement of Merit or Distinction, which is calculated from your grades at first attempt. The Assessment Regulations detail how this operates.
Exit Awards from the Graduate Diploma in Specialist Lymphoedema Management: If you leave this Graduate Diploma before completing it, you may be eligible for one of the following exit awards:
|
Exit Award |
Requirements |
|
Graduate Certificate in Lymphoedema Practice |
60 credits at level 3; D3 or above in all components of assessment; clinical competency requirements met including satisfactory submission of all patient assessment forms and a completed and signed mentor competency form |
|
Graduate Certificate in Specialist Lymphoedema Management |
60 credits at level 4; D3 or above in all components of assessment; clinical competency requirements met including satisfactory submission of all patient assessment forms and a completed and signed mentor competency form |
You are not eligible for a Graduate Certificate exit award if you intend to continue to the Graduate Diploma.
13. Professional Registration
MBChB: On graduation, you are entitled to provisional registration with the GMC with a licence to practise. Full registration requires successful completion of the Foundation Programme. The School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing may share relevant information with the Foundation Programme and with the GMC as part of the registration process.
BDS: Graduation with BDS entitles you to apply for registration with the GDC.
BVMS: Graduation with BVMS entitles you to membership of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
BN: Graduation with BN (Ordinary) or BN (Honours) entitles you to apply for NMC registration as an Adult Nurse. Registration requires that you self-declare good health and character, confirmed by the Nursing & Health Care School, and show that you have met the relevant statutory requirements of the Adult Field of the Nursing Programme.
Appendix 1: Partnership Programmes
Some awards are delivered in partnership with other institutions.
Where a programme is delivered jointly with one or more partner institutions, the following apply:
a) Courses taught by a partner institution are assessed by that partner according to its assessment regulations and grading scheme. The equivalence of partner grades to University of Glasgow grades is governed by the grade equivalence table published for your programme.
b) Academic appeals relating to courses taught by a partner institution follow the appeals procedure of that partner institution. Appeals relating to the overall programme follow the University of Glasgow’s procedure.
c) These Regulations refer throughout to academic decisions taken by ‘the School’, ‘an Academic Review Panel’, ‘the Board of Examiners’ or other University of Glasgow decision-making body. For partnership programmes, the University will identify the appropriate equivalent joint academic decision-making body and will advise you about this.
d) Any early exit awards available at the University of Glasgow will be awarded by the University alone.
A1.1 Singapore Institute of Technology
Joint awards with the Singapore Institute of Technology are governed by regulations promulgated by SIT.