Alternative Routes into Medicine
What's Gateway to Medicine?
Gateway to Medicine courses are “pre-med” years that pupils who fulfill strict widening access criteria may apply for. These additional years do NOT guarantee you a place in Undergraduate Medicine - you must still apply to the standard course once you near the end of your Gateway year. However, Gateway courses can provide you with accepted qualifications to meet Undergraduate Medicine entry requirements.
These additional years are desirable for pupils who have not yet met entry requirements for standard courses. Edinburgh University does not offer a Gateway course - this is probably because they have a compulsory intercalated year in their standard course, which is already 6 years long.
Please note that you can only apply to these courses if you have not previously enrolled on a higher education programme (you are not eligible if you have already attended university, for example). You do not need to complete the UCAT before applying for Gateway courses, only for Undergraduate Medicine courses. You may be interviewed for Gateway courses, as well as for Undergraduate Medicine courses.
Continuing study in S6 is again strongly advised, unless your school do not offer Advanced Highers, in which case some universities consider these circumstances. Application deadlines for Gateway courses are usually in January, as opposed to October.
Gateway to medicine eligibility criteria
University of Aberdeen
University of Dundee
University of Glasgow
University of St Andrews
What's Graduate Entry Medicine?
All Scottish medical schools accept applicants with a minimum of a 2:1 Hons. degree to their standard Undergraduate Medicine courses. This means you would apply with the same cohort of school leavers. You cannot jump to second year entry.
Some medical schools are specific about requiring certain science degrees, while others are flexible and do not explicitly state this. If you are applying with a non-science degree, you are usually required to have obtained additional Chemistry qualifications. If you have not achieved at least a 2:1 Hons., you cannot replace this with a Masters or even a PhD level qualification.
While Glasgow allow for 7 years between obtaining your first degree and applying to Medicine, other Scottish medical schools only allow for 3 years. We've summarised the main requirements of each university here but, as always, it's best to check their websites directly too.
University of Aberdeen:
Additional requirements:
-
B in Higher Chemistry “although this requirement may be satisfied in individual cases by appropriate courses of study and achievement during the first degree”
University of Dundee:
Additional requirements:
-
Degree must be in a relevant life science subject
University of Edinburgh:
Additional requirements:
-
Preference for medical related subjects, e.g. Biomedical Sciences, Nursing etc.
-
Non-science degrees are accepted if applicants have also achieved a B in Higher Chemistry
-
"Graduates do not qualify for any additional consideration under our widening access offer policy unless they are care experienced or are an asylum seeker/refugee.”
University of Glasgow:
Additional requirements:
-
Non-science degrees are accepted if applicants have also achieved an A Higher Biology and a B in Chemistry
-
“Graduates with a minimum of 2.1 Honours degree obtained more than seven years ago plus a Masters or PhD in a relevant field (obtained within seven years of the entry date) may compensate for not having Higher Biology and Chemistry.”
University of St. Andrews:
Additional requirements:
-
Science or equivalent degree
-
B in Higher or Advanced Higher Chemistry
-
B in National 5 Biology, Maths and English
ScotGEM (Scottish Graduate Entry Medicine)
The only Scottish course specific to Graduate applicants is ScotGEM, based across St. Andrews and Dundee. This is 4 years long and aims to encourage students into remote and rural General Practice (however, you are still trained to enter any branch of medicine). Tuition is fully funded by the Scottish Government.
The application to ScotGEM is quite different in that you are required to sit the GAMSAT. If you are applying to both ScotGEM and standard Undergraduate Medicine courses, you must sit the GAMSAT and the UCAT. As well as submitting an application through UCAS, you must also complete an online questionnaire in early November.
Entry requirements:
-
2:1 Hons. degree (does not have to be science)
-
B in Higher Chemistry *please see their website for a full list of alternative qualifications accepted
-
B in National 5 Maths (or 2 in Standard Grade, or B in Intermediate 2)
*please see their website for a full list of alternative qualifications accepted
What's SWAP?
SWAP stands for “Scottish Wider Access Programme”. It is similar to Gateway in that it gives mature students (those who have been out of education for an extended period of time) the opportunity to complete a 1 year college course, so that they can meet entry requirements for the standard Undergraduate Medicine course. Again, this course does NOT guarantee you a place at medical school.
You are only eligible if you do not already have a degree. If you previously started a University degree and were unable to finish it, you may be considered depending on your circumstances. SWAP also state the following: “Young people aged 16-18 who have experienced severe disruption to their secondary schooling (e.g. through illness) and have, as a consequence, gained no qualifications above SCQF level 4, may be considered on a case-by-case basis. In these exceptional cases, the student, or someone with the authority to speak on behalf of the student, should contact SWAP to determine whether or not eligibility can be granted. Care experienced students may be considered eligible without being out of full-time education for three/five years. This may also apply to refugees and asylum seekers. In the aforementioned cases, students must contact SWAP for further guidance.”
Most students have their tuition fully covered and are also eligible for a college bursary. SWAP is offered across Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow. The programme is split into East and West divisions.
Dundee and Angus College:
Entry requirements:
-
Must have been out of education for a minimum of 3 years, or 5 years if you have already studied at Higher level
-
Biology, Chemistry and Maths to grade B at National 5 level
-
Recent healthcare work experience
Entry requirements:
-
Must have been out of education for a minimum of 3 years
-
Biology, Chemistry and Maths to National 5 level (grade not specified)
-
Recent healthcare work experience
Entry requirements:
-
Must have been out of education for a minimum of 5 years
-
Biology, Chemistry and Maths preferably to Higher level (grade not specified)
-
Recent healthcare work experience
Entry requirements:
-
Must have been out of education for a minimum of 3 years
-
Maths to National 5 level (grade not specified)
-
Recent study of Biology and Chemistry (it is unclear what they mean by this)
-
Recent healthcare work experience
West College are running a new pilot programme that is 2 years long. It is an option for those who do not meet National 5 entry requirements for other SWAP courses.
SWAP Entry Requirements
HCP-Med for Healthcare Professionals is a 5-year medical degree designed for experienced healthcare professionals, clinical scientists and veterinary surgeons living and working in Scotland. The first 3 years are part-time and online, allowing students to continue their current employment alongside their studies. In year 4, they then join the standard Undergraduate programme for clinical placement. This course is only available at Edinburgh University.
Entry requirements:
-
2.2 Hons., or a standard 3 year degree (without Hons.), in a science/healthcare related degree
-
2.1 Hons. in a non-science/healthcare related degree, if supplemented with a C in Higher level Chemistry
-
Must have worked as a qualified healthcare professional, clinical scientist or veterinary surgeon for a minimum of 2 years prior to the start of the programme
-
Must be registered with one of:
-
Association of Physician Assistants (anaesthesia)
-
Faculty of Intensive Care
-
General Medical Council (for Physician Associates)*
-
General Dental Council
-
General Optical Council
-
General Pharmaceutical Council
-
Health and Care Professions Council
-
Nursing and Midwifery Council
-
Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists
-
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
-