Applying to Medical School from Scotland

Chemistry is clearly a good subject to take at Higher and Biology is often required too. You may also want to opt for another science subject, just to be safe. Note that, if you’re just applying for Scotland, you don’t need a clean sweep of scientific subjects.

Scottish universities state that outside the subjects they specify, there is no advantage to choosing ‘more medical’ courses. So we recommend that you choose subjects that you enjoy and are good at, as you’ll need at least 4 As and a B to be in with a shot. ‍

Take a look at the entrance requirements for English universities. 

Be certain to thoroughly investigate any universities you might later consider when choosing your Highers and Advanced Highers. It is also worth checking if you have any extenuating circumstances that could lower your entrance requirements.

Applying to Oxbridge from Scotland

Getting into Oxford and Cambridge to study medicine can be very challenging for Scottish applicants. As previously mentioned, these medical schools often don’t lower their entrance requirements for Scottish qualifications. This means even students who receive an offer will often have it conditional on 2 A1s and an A, or a similar requirement. 

At Advanced Higher, this can be particularly difficult. For example, in 2019 only 1.2% of learners achieved 2 A band 1s. In contrast, in 2020-21, 25% of students in England at A-level got 3A*-A grades or better. So if you’re thinking of applying to Oxford or Cambridge, be prepared to put in the work to get the grades you need.

The Clydeside Project is definitely worth considering - it pairs applicants with current Scottish Oxbridge students who can offer advice and insight into the application process. Best of all, it’s completely free. 

Finally, make sure that you want to go to Oxbridge for the right reasons. The novelty of being able to say ‘I study medicine at Oxford/Cambridge’ will undoubtedly wear off after some time.

There’s no denying that these universities provide a superb education, but remember whichever university you go to, the end goal is the same. And very rarely does a patient care about where you studied!

Students Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS)

SAAS is the organisation responsible for funding university places in Scotland for Scottish students. If you’re a Scottish student, you will also apply to them for your student loan and an additional bursary, depending on your household income. 

If you’re studying outside of Scotland but still within the UK, you can apply for a tuition fee loan as well.

Find out more about support and funding available.

It’s vital that you get your SAAS application in as soon as possible, ideally before the 30 June deadline each year. Applications open in April and you’ll need to apply even if you aren’t sure if you’ll get in. You can always cancel it later if things don’t go to plan. 

Make sure to take the time to see if you’re eligible for any bursary, or an increased student loan. You need to reapply to SAAS every year so that they can pay your tuition fees for the upcoming period of study. 

There’s no need to worry about SAAS until you’ve finished your exams and interviews. Towards the end of May and early June, it’s definitely worth doing some research. 
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Summary

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