UK Requirements

• Standard Entry: Five Highers at AAAAB.  
• Adjusted Entry : Four Highers at AAAB. For more details see https://www.abdn.ac.uk/smmsn/undergraduate/medicine/widening-participation.php
• Any queries regarding the suitability of qualifications offered should be made directly to the Medical Admissions Office prior to submission of the UCAS 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 (16 October 2024).

Foundation Apprenticeships 

• We are happy consider the below Foundation Apprenticeships for entry to medicine.  
  • FA in Social Services and Healthcare - we will consider a Pass equivalent to grade A in a science Higher e.g. maths, biology, physics.  
  • FA in Scientific Technology - we will consider a Pass equivalent of a grade A in a non-science Higher.

S5 

• Normally AAAAB from five full academic courses to be taken at one sitting; from Highers and/or Advanced Highers. We require five programmes of study, to demonstrate breadth and volume, in order to cope with the academic demands and rigour of Medical School.

S6 

• The Admissions Committee will not normally consider applications to Medical School directly from Year 5.

Candidates who have achieved the Entrance Requirements, i.e. five full academic courses @ AAAAB or better in S5, may choose to continue their studies in S6 and are free to choose a programme of study which is of particular interest to them, noting: that we expect candidates to engage fully with a S6 programme of study. Higher Biology will prove useful.

Typical (SQA) offer

• Should our S5 minimum requirements of AAAAB in appropriate subjects be achieved then a typical offer would be conditional with achievable S6 conditions being set.  A typical offer would be to achieve BBB in S6.
• If our S5 requirements are not met, a typical offer will be conditional upon achieving a minimum of the grades below in three appropriate subjects in S6.

Subject requirements

• National 5 qualifications;  
  • English and Maths are required (Grade B minimum); 
  • Biology and Physics are recommended but not compulsory (Grade B minimum).
  • A combination of Grade A & B passes at Standard Grade / National 5 is expected, especially in science subjects.

• Higher qualifications 
  • Chemistry (Grade B minimum);
  • Two subjects are required from Biology/Human Biology, Maths, Physics, Foundation Apprenticeship in Social Services and Healthcare
  • Two further Highers in most other subjects including Foundation Apprenticeship in Scientific Technology – applicants should check with the Medical Admissions office if in doubt..
  • These may be taken across the Senior Phase – S4 to S6
  • There is no requirement, and therefore no advantage given, to obtaining the three sciences required in one sitting. Maths is regarded as a science.

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

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.
• Widening Access Policy

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.  Please see our Extenuating Circumstances Policy for more information.

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.

• Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects can be offered in combination with A-level subjects to meet our academic requirements. Please contact Medical Admissions for Pre-U grade requirements.

Typical (GCE A-Level) Offer

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

A-levels

Typical IB Offer 

• 36 points overall (including core), with 3 appropriate subjects at HL each to achieve grade 6 and 3 appropriate subjects at SL (see below) with an average of 6.

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/Physics 
• One other subject

plus 3 other subjects (including one science if 3 not offered at HL) at Standard Level at an average of Grade 6.

• IB must offer Chemistry plus one further science at HL and one further science at SL
• We will accept SL and HL grades for both the ‘Analysis and approaches’ and ‘applications and interpretation’ pathways to meet our entry requirements.
• Maths studies is not considered a science.

In accordance with recent guidance issued by the Scottish Government, the number of medical school places are controlled by the Scottish Government are controlled to ensure the availability of sufficient provision of high-quality education, training, and clinical placements.  Unfortunately, these have all been allocated for this and the next Academic Year (2021-2022/2022-23).

There are also complex issues surrounding transferring students whose prior learning has taken place overseas directly into medical school places here in Scotland.  These includes issues around certifying prior learning, matching curriculums and the diversity of study needs of students. 

It is recommended that affected individuals contact their education provider in Ukraine to understand what support they will be providing to study remotely. We know that universities in Ukraine are striving to maintain the education of their students under extremely challenging conditions.  The Scottish Government are working closely with the Scottish Medical Schools Board and the Medical Schools Council who are liaising with Medical Schools in Ukraine to help ensure online learning materials are available to students, to help them maintain their skills and continue their education remotely.

Those who are unable to continue with their Ukrainian medical degree, may wish to consider applying to study at a related course from September 2022. There are many opportunities to study related subjects within Scotland and UCAS is ready to support anyone who would like to know more about their options. All courses and guidance on applying can be found on the UCAS website. If applying, prospective students can enter all qualifications they have or are currently taking as well as list the course and modules they are currently studying in Ukraine.

Alternatively, they may wish to apply in the normal way through a competitive process to study at a Scottish Medical from Year 1 for Academic Year 2023/24 and beyond. It will not be possible to transfer credits.  Prospective students would need to apply as a new year 1 undergraduate student, and therefore need to consider if this option is right for them and their circumstances. During the application process, students could declare their study in Ukraine as part of their UCAS personal statements so that providers would be aware of this at application.  Prospecitve students are applying on the basis of the Highers/Advanced Highers or A-Level results already achieved and should therefore ensure that minimum academic requirements are met.  Applicants should note that academic performance is only one of the slections criteria.  Full details of the University of Aberdeen's entry requirements can be found here..