United Kingdom Academic Entrance Requirements for 2013 entry

Candidates who apply from the UK and from EU countries are considered for the 152 ‘Home’ places available at Aberdeen.

Application will be considered if candidates have achieved, or are predicted to achieve our minimum academic requirements.  All examination results must be obtained at the first sitting of each subject. 

For further important notes see Entrance Requirements.

Click here for information on:

English Language Requirements (pdf)

 

Important note for all applicants whose examination results are not available at the time of application:
ESTIMATED GRADES FOR ALL CANDIDATES MUST BE INCLUDED ON THE UCAS APPLICATION FORM.

Please click on the links below for information about individual qualifications.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

General Certificate of Education

International Baccalaureate

 

Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA)

  • Five Highers (or their equivalent*) are the normal SQA entry requirements for Medicine that allow an application to be considered.  
  • Any queries regarding the suitability of qualifications offered should be made directly to the Medical Admissions Office prior to submission of the UCAS form.
  • Academic qualifications from SQA candidates are assessed on two years’ study, from S5 and S6.  The first sitting of five Highers* should be undertaken over one year in S5.
  • Candidates who accept an Unconditional Offer should therefore complete their S6 studies as declared on the UCAS application form.
  • Additional documentation that is sent directly to the Medical Admissions Office in support of an application can only be considered if it is received by the UCAS deadline of 15 October.

Typical (SQA) Offer

  • Should our S5 minimal requirements of AAAAB in appropriate subjects be achieved (see below) then a typical offer would be Unconditional. 
  • If our requirements are not met, a typical offer will be Conditional upon achieving a minimum of the grades below in three appropriate subjects in S6.

Highers

Year 5 Studies

To be considered:  AAAAB to be achieved in five Highers taken together in S5 at the first sitting.

  • Chemistry is required to grade B minimum.
  • Two subjects are required from Biology/Human Biology, Maths & Physics.
  • Two further Highers in most other subjects. Check with Medical Admissions Office if in doubt about suitability of a subject.

If one of the required subjects is not undertaken in S5 due to, e.g. school policy or very exceptional personal difficulties, supporting documentation must be supplied and sent directly to the Medical Admissions Office when application is submitted.

Year 6 Studies

Candidates who have achieved the Entrance Requirements, i.e. five Highers @ AAAAB or better in S5, should continue their studies in S6 and are free to choose a programme of study which is of particular interest to them, noting:

  • Three full academic courses will gain a greater objective academic score.
  • Higher Biology will prove useful.

Failure to achieve Highers of AAAAB at first attempt in S5

If AAABB or AAAAC are achieved at first attempt in S5, further studies in S6 can be considered providing applicants are estimated to achieve one of the following programmes of study:

  • One new Higher @ A plus two Advanced Highers @ minimum BB or
  • Two new Highers @ AA plus one new Advanced Higher @ minimum B or
  • Three Advanced Highers @ ABB (Chemistry required plus one science) or
  • Three A-Levels @ AAB (Chemistry required plus one science).

Note: The majority of successful applicants have achieved AAAAB or better at first sitting, normally in S5.

 Only sitting 4 Highers

AAAA in four Highers taken at first sitting may be considered:

  • Due to school policy or because of very exceptional personal difficulties.
  • Supporting documentation must be supplied and sent directly to the Medical Admissions Office when application is submitted.

Further S6 studies must include:

  • One (specified) Higher @ A plus two Advanced Highers @  minimum BB or
  • One (specified) Higher plus one new Higher @ AA plus one new  Advanced Higher @ minimum B.

It is very unlikely that candidates who have attempted only three Highers at first sitting will be considered.

First sitting of Highers in S6.

First sitting of Highers in S6 may be considered if this is the result of very exceptional personal difficulties, such as ill health.  Supporting documentation must be supplied and sent directly to the Medical Admissions Office when the application is submitted.

Only offering five S5 Highers without S6 studies

Only under very exceptional circumstances can applications from candidates be considered who only offer five S5 Scottish Highers without additional S6 studies.  Supporting documentation must be supplied and sent directly to the Medical Admissions Office when the application is submitted.

  • AAAAA  in five Highers taken at one sitting.
  • Chemistry is required plus two of Maths, Biology & Physics, plus two other Highers.

Advanced Highers

Aberdeen will continue to regard Highers as the normal entry qualifications for Scottish applicants. However if candidates fail to achieve the entrance requirements at the first attempt in S5, but have achieved at least AABBB or AAABC due to very exceptional personal difficulties, supporting documentation must be supplied and sent directly to the Medical Admissions Office to verify extenuating circumstances leading to this underachievement, when the UCAS application is submitted.

Should the Admissions Committee agree that the circumstances warrant consideration, the sixth year programme of study for such applicants must offer three Advanced Highers:

  • Chemistry is required.
  • One subject from Biology/Human Biology, Maths & Physics is required.
  • One further Advanced Higher in most other subjects.

Candidates should seek advice from Medical Admissions Office prior to application.

Standard Grades

Standard Grade

Grade 3 Passes in English & Maths are required; Biology & Physics are recommended.

  • Generally, a combination of good Credit passes at Standard Grade is expected.

 

General Certificate of Education

  • Additional documentation that is sent directly to the Medical Admissions Office in support of an application can only be considered if it is received by the UCAS deadline of 15 October.
  • Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects can be offered in combination with A-level subjects to meet our academic requirements.  Contact Medical Admissions for Pre-U grade requirements.

Typical (GCE) Offer

  • A typical offer will be Conditional upon achieving AAA at one sitting in three appropriate subjects at first attempt at A2.

A-levels

GCE (A-Levels)

To be considered:  Achieve / be predicted to achieve AAA in three A-Levels taken together at first sitting over a maximum of two years of study.

  • Chemistry is required.
  • One subject from Biology/Human Biology, Maths & Physics is required.
  • One further A-Level in most other subjects. Check with Medical Admissions Office if in doubt about suitability of a subject.
  • Combinations of Chemistry, Biology plus a Non-Science subject are as acceptable as all-science combinations.
  • General Studies not acceptable.

Failure to achieve A-Levels of AAA at first sitting.

If candidates fail to achieve the entrance requirements at the first attempt due to very exceptional personal difficulties, supporting documentation must be supplied and sent directly to the Medical Admissions Office to verify extenuating circumstances leading to this underachievement, when the UCAS application is submitted.

GCE (AS Levels)

AS Level attainments currently do not form part of our academic requirements, as it is on A-Level achievement that any offer is made.

  • AS module resits are permitted providing the final three A-Levels are undertaken simultaneously over two years of study.

GCSEs

Grade C Passes in English and Maths are required.

  • Biology is recommended; Physics is recommended (or Dual Award Science).
  • A combination of Grade A & B passes at GCSE is expected, especially in science subjects.

 

International Baccalaureate

  • Additional documentation that is sent directly to the Medical Admissions Office in support of an application can only be considered if it is received by the UCAS deadline of 15 October.

Typical IB Offer

  • 36 points overall (excluding TOK & bonus points), with 3 appropriate subjects at HL each to achieve 6 and 3 appropriate subjects at SL (see below) with an average of 6.
  • Candidates with a minimum of two 7s in Higher level subjects, who do not meet our Standard Level requirements, may be considered. 

International Baccalaureate

To be considered:  Achieve / be predicted to achieve 3 subjects at Higher Level (HL) at Grade 6 or better:

  • Chemistry is required
  • One of Maths, Biology or Physics is required
  • One other subject

plus 3 other subjects at an average of Grade 6:

  • IB must offer Chemistry plus a total of two sciences out of Maths, Biology or Physics.

Note: At least 36 points to be achieved overall, that excludes points for TOK and bonus points.

Please click on these links for information relating to entrance requirements for Graduate Applicants and Mature Applicants