Undergraduate Medical School

Eligibility:

With the exception of candidates who are Asylum Seekers or have Refugee status with the right to remain and study, we are only able to consider applications from candidates who have been resident in Scotland for a minimum of three years prior to application.

As the programme is funded by the Scottish Government as part of the national widening participation directive, candidates are required to be identified within one of the following categories: 

• In an area with a postcode which falls within the lowest 20% of the Scottish index of multiple deprivation (SIMD0-20). Postcode Checker: https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/wideningparticipation/postcode/. 
• Care experienced (young person in care/care leaver). 
• Estranged from family. 
• Holds refugee status with the right to remain and study.  
• Holds asylum seeker status with the right to study.  
  
  OR meets a minimum of TWO from the list below: 

• Registered with (or eligible for) the Reach Programme Scotland (more information about Reach here)
• Completed or participating in SWAP Access to Medical Studies. 
• Can provide verifiable independent evidence of being a carer.
• Attends a Remote and Rural target school -  If you attend a different school but are resident on the Island Cluster, you are also eligible. In order to be eligible for the programme your residency must be on the Island Cluster. If you are unsure, please do get in touch to check your eligibility. 

Please note:

We welcome applications from asylum seekers with the right to remain and study, subject to verification by the University of Glasgow prior to application submission. As those seeking asylum would not have access to SAAS funding, they would need to apply for tuition fee funding from alternative sources prior to acceptance on the programme. One such source in previous years has been the Carnegie Trust; if you would like further information on this, please contact the Sanctuary team on sanctuary@glasgow.ac.uk who can discuss this process with you in more detail. 

If your eligibility for Gateway to Medical Studies is based not on your postcode (i.e. SIMD 1-20), but on one of the other relevant Widening Participation criteria (i.e. care-experience, estrangement, caring responsibilities, refugee or asylum seeker status), then you must get in touch before submitting your application so that this eligibility can be verified. The University of Glasgow has dedicated named points of contact for each of the student groups who will carry out the verification in strictest confidence, making sure you are eligible for the programme before you apply. The relevant named points of contact will also be able to advise on the further support the University offers to those who are care-experienced, estranged, asylum seekers, refugees, or carers. 

The Glasgow Gateway to Medical Studies 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. If you are currently enrolled on another degree programme, you are not eligible to apply for the Gateway to Medical Studies programme, but can apply to medicine as a graduate upon completion of your degree. 

You may need to provide confirmation of your eligibility during the application process. Candidates will be considered in the same way as other eligible applicants if they identify with two or more eligibility criteria. Please note that candidates must have permission to study in the UK and may be asked to provide documentary evidence of UK immigration status. Should eligibility not be confirmed by the deadline requested, an application, interview or offer will be withdrawn.

Changes to postcode after your application is submitted to suit eligibility criteria will not be considered. 

Entry Requirments:

The programme is aimed primarily at S6 students. Individual consideration for S5 entry may be given only if a school does not offer Advanced Higher subjects in S6. Please contact us in advance of application should this be the case.

SQA Higher Entry Requirements

AABB Highers must be achieved in one calendar year either by the end of S5 or S6. Any Advanced Highers taken, must be passed at a C grade or above. 

Additional requirements:

• Higher Biology and any two of Chemistry, Physics or Maths. 
• Higher English/ESOL at Grade C, National 5 English/English at Grade B OR IELTS 6.5, with no sub-test under 6.0.
• Interview

Re-sits are permitted as long as the required grades are achieved in one calendar year. We do not accept a mix of qualifications undertaken at the same level.

Higher Application of Maths cannot be considered in lieu of having Higher Mathematics or Physics. Highers taken in S4 will not be considered towards meeting the Higher S5 grade requirements.

SWAP Access to Medical Sciences 

• Completion of course with a minimum result of a 'Merit'
• Higher English/ESOL at Grade C, National 5 English/English at Grade B OR IELTS 6.5, with no sub-test under 6.0.
• Interview

*Please note that candidates eligible for WP entry into medicine directly who meet the necessary academic requirements, are encouraged to apply to medicine through the traditional route. If candidates are eligible for medicine and the Gateway to Medical Studies Programme and wish to be considered for the Gateway programme, they must apply to the programme on UCAS.

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)

• 6.5 with no sub-test under 6.0.
• Tests must have been taken within 4 years 5 months of start date. Combined scores from two tests taken within 6 months of each other can be considered.

Common equivalent English language qualifications

School Qualifications

• iGCSE English or ESOL 0522/0500, grade C
• International Baccalaureate English A SL5 or HL5
• International Baccalaureate English B SL6 or HL5
• SQA National 5 English or ESOL, grade B
• SQA Higher English or ESOL, grade C
• West African Examination Council, Senior Secondary School Certificate, English grade C6

TOEFL (ib, my best or athome)

• 90 with minimum R 20, L 19, S 19, W 23.
• Tests must have been taken within 4 years 5 months of start date. Combined scores from two tests taken within 6 months of each other can be considered.

PTE (Academic)

• 60 with minimum 59 in all sub-tests.
• Tests must have been taken within 4 years 5 months of start date. Combined scores from two tests taken within 6 months of each other can be considered.

Glasgow International College English Language (and other foundation providers)

• 65%.
• Tests are accepted for academic year following sitting.

University of Glasgow Pre-sessional courses

• Tests are accepted for academic year following sitting.

Cambridge English Qualifications

• Cambridge Advanced English (CAE): 176 overall, no subtest less than 169
• Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE): 176 overall, no subtest less than 169

Interviews

Should a candidate be considered further, we will send an invitation to interview. Candidates will be advised of the preparation they should undertake. Given the competitive nature of the programme, we unfortunately cannot interview all candidates.

For 2026 entry, interviews are being conducted online via Zoom. Interviews will take place between February and March 2026 unless otherwise stated.

Offers

Offers will be made to successful applicants after interview. Given the competitive nature of the programme, we unfortunately cannot make offers to all interviewed candidates.

If applicants are not made an offer straight away after interview, applicants will be placed on a waiting list and will be updated on the status of their offer in the following months.

**If a candidate is unsuccessful after interview, this outcome does not preclude them from re-applying in the next session. If an applicant is unsuccessful on grounds of eligibility; unless their eligibility criteria alters in the following sessions, we would not recommend re-applying.