51cg

The School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition

Entry Requirements

In this section
Entry Requirements

Drawing on existing best evidence from the widening access literature and practice across the UK , we have tailored our entry requirements to the specific Scottish context of potential applicants. Applications are very warmly welcomed from across Scotland.

We have academic and non-academic criteria that are both required for entry on to the G2M programme.

Academic Entry Criteria:

  • A minimum of 4 Highers at AABB over one or two sittings (over S4-S6). This must include any two sciences from Chemistry, Maths, Biology/Human Biology and Physics.

OR

  • National Certificate Level 6 Applied Sciences Group award, to be achieved with 18 credits plus a science Higher at grade A achieved over one academic session and accompanied by a suitable reference from course tutor.

OR

  • HNC Applied Science to be achieved with 15 credits, a grade A in the graded unit all achieved at the first attempt.

and

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Applicant is resident in an area with a SIMD20 (Quintile 1) postcode as classfied by the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation
  • Applicant is a young person who is care experienced (e.g. looked after by the local authority in care or care leaver)

OR - meets a minimum of TWO from the below list:

  • SIMD40
  • Young Carer*
  • Estranged - i.e. living without a family support network
  • Applicant is eligible for the Educational Maintenance Allowance
  • Applicant is eligible for Free School Meals
  • You are a eligible refugee or asylum seeker
  • Resident in a Remote and Rural area (4, 5, 6, 7, 8 on the 8 fold URC). You can .
  • First generation applicant to higher education (neither of your parents attended higher education)
  • Prior to secondary school, the applicant was not schooled in English (e.g. the applicant did not speak English when starting secondary school in Scotland)
  • Applicant attends one of these target schools.
  • Applicant can provide verifiable independent evidence (e.g. from School Head Teacher) of severe sustained financial hardship that is not reflected in current SIMD categorisation

*Young carers - A young carer is a someone 18 years old or younger who cares, unpaid, for a family member who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction, who cannot cope without their support, on a long-term basis”. You are required to upload 3rd party evidence to UCAS at the point of application. Accepted evidence is receiving a young carer's grant, or having a young carer's statement. Young carer status will then be reviewed and awarded at the discretion of the admissions committee. Applications for young carer status after the date of application will not be considered.

Further Application Information

If you apply for the G2M programme you will need to complete mandatory eligibility forms. These will be emailed directly to you after the January UCAS deadline. One form must be completed by you and the other by your education provider. 
You must be eligible at the point of application and provide evidence of this when you return your eligibility form as specified above. 
The eligibility forms and supporting evidence must be returned to us by the specified date, otherwise we will not consider your application .

The following are not eligible for the Gateway to Medicine programme
- Graduates 
- Non-Scottish domicile applicant
- International applicants
- Those who have previously enrolled on a higher education programme

Non-Academic Requirements

Applicants must also be able to demonstrate that they possess a range of skills and attributes that are required to study medicine. In order for you to demonstrate this to us and set yourself apart from all other applicants, you need to submit an excellent personal statement. All personal statements will be reviewed prior to interview invitations being sent out.

Things to consider when writing a personal statement include:

  • Motivation to study medicine
  • An insight in to your own strengths and weaknesses (these may be learnt through work experience, paid employment and personal experiences)
  • Can communicate effectively
  • Are able to interact with others
  • Resilience and the ability to deal with difficult situations
  • Empathy and the ability to care for others.

The Medical Schools Council (MSC) have produced " A Statement on the Core Values and Attributes needed to Study Medicine " which may be helpful when writing a personal statement.

Interview

All eligible applicants will be invited for interview.

Interviews will likely take place April. Teaching will begin late August.

UCAT

We do not require this for application to G2M but it will be required for progression to Medicine. Those applicants who have taken the UCAT in the summer prior to applying for the G2M programme may not be required to retake the test. Those who have not previously taken UCAT will be required to do this upon completing G2M for progression into Medicine and this will be a condition of your offer.

English Language Requirements

The requirement for English language for G2M will be the same as for the current pre-medical programme, i.e. a minimum grade of 6.0 IELTS with ≥ 6.0 in speaking test. Pupils who require English language support during G2M will have support from appropriate staff from and the 51cg. For entry to Year 1 MBChB students must have achieved a minimum grade of IELTS 7.0 overall with 7.0 in the speaking test by 1 August of the academic year.