Gateway to Medicine 2025 entry

The Gateway to Medicine programme at the University of St Andrews is designed to provide talented students from under-represented backgrounds the opportunity to pursue a career in medicine. This year-long, full-time programme offers an opportunity to study in the sciences at first-year undergraduate level, helping to develop the academic foundations required for the study of medicine.

In addition to academic studies, students on the programme will benefit from content introducing core skills related to medical studies and confidence building, along with the skills necessary to progress to a medical degree. By focusing on widening access and providing tailored support, the Gateway to Medicine prepares students for the challenges of medical school, fostering personal growth and a deeper understanding of the medical profession. 

The programme is ideal for students who have the potential to succeed in medicine but may not meet the traditional entry requirements due to personal circumstances or other barriers. Upon successful completion, students may progress to one of the two medical degrees offered at St Andrews.

UCAS code
LQV9
Start date
September 2025
Duration
One year
School
Access and Widening Participation
How to apply Register your interest

Entry requirements

To be considered for the Gateway to Medicine programme, applicants must demonstrate academic potential as well as a genuine interest in a career in medicine.

You may apply to the Gateway programme during S5 or S6 if you are predicted to miss, or have narrowly missed, the academic requirements to study Medicine.

The entry requirements include:

  • Applicants currently in S5
    • BBBB in Scottish Highers obtained at one sitting in S5, which must include Chemistry and one other from Biology, Mathematics or Physics
    • If Biology, Mathematics or English have not been passed at Scottish Higher level, each must normally have been passed at grade B in Scottish National 5
  • Applicants currently in S6
    • All requirements for S5 entry should be met
    • CC at Higher or Advanced Higher in S6 subjects
    • If Higher Chemistry has not been taken in S5, B in Higher Chemistry will also be required in S6

Please note that B in Higher Chemistry is required for this programme and must have been achieved at first sitting. Retakes of Higher Chemistry will not be considered, and Advanced Higher Chemistry is not considered instead of achieving B at Higher.  

Eligibility

This programme is targeted at Scottish students who meet specific widening access criteria, ensuring that those from under-represented backgrounds have an equal opportunity to access medical education.

Eligibility is based on several factors, including:

  • attending a school in Scotland who live in the lowest 20% of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD20)
  • attending a school in Scotland which has low attainment in relation to Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers
  • are being looked after, or have been looked after, as a result of a local authority order
  • engagement with a Reach project

Note: Meeting at least one of the above eligibility criteria is essential for applicants to the Gateway to Medicine programme. Applicants who do not meet any of the criteria will not be considered.

The entry indicator tool will help you determine if you meet any of the above criteria for our Gateway to Medicine programme.

Applicants from Overseas will not be considered, but may qualify for our International Foundation Medicial Sciences programme.

Course details

The Gateway to Medicine programme is a one-year course in the Faculty of Science, but with contributions from staff in the Faculty of Medicine.

Students will enter the University on a BSc General degree and have the opportunity to progress to the six-year A100 Medical degree or our five-year Medicine MBChB (ScotCOM) programme on successful completion of the Gateway year.

During the Gateway year students will undertake first-year undergraduate modules in Biology and Chemistry along with modules in one other subject. Students will also be enrolled in additional ‘Preparation for Medicine’ modules, which provide tutoring, medical related content and skills development.

Assessments are carried out through a combination of exams, coursework, practical assessments, and presentations.

Progression after the Gateway year

The aim of the Gateway year is to prepare students to progress to one of our medical programmes, however, the Gateway to Medicine also leaves options open for those who are unable to progress to medicine or have a change of career goals during the year. 

In order to progress to one of our medical degree programmes, students must have:

  • passed all first-year modules at grades specified at the time of entry to the Gateway
  • achieved a suitable UCAT score (to be specified by the School of Medicine) achieved either before entry to the Gateway or in the summer immediately after the Gateway year
  • achieved a pass in the multiple mini-interviews (to take place during the Gateway year)

Students who do not meet the entry requirements for progression to our medical degree will remain in the Faculty of Science and could transfer onto the second year of either the Gateway to Arts or Gateway to Science programme and continue their studies on a different degree pathway.

Additional support during the Gateway year

The University of St Andrews is committed to providing comprehensive support throughout the Gateway to Medicine programme. This includes:

  • Academic support: specific Gateway to Medicine Advisor of Studies
  • Personal support: named contact person within the Widening Access team for general support and guidance
  • Financial support: Gateway to Medicine specific scholarships

The University of St Andrews operates on a flexible modular degree system by which degrees are obtained through the accumulation of credits. More information on the structure of the modules system can be found on the flexible degree structure web page.

Modules

To pass the Gateway to Medicine programme, you must take six compulsory modules along with two optional modules.

Students must take four modules in Semester 1, three compulsory and one chosen: 

  • Biology 1: provides an introduction to molecular and cellular biology, covering cell diversity and the origins of life, evolution, cellular structures, and fundamental processes.
  • Introductory Inorganic and Physical Chemistry: covers origin of the elements and the periodic table, atomic structure, shapes and properties of molecules, chemistry of the elements, properties of solutions, thermochemistry, thermodynamics and kinetics, and mathematical tools for chemistry.
  • Preparation for studies in medicine 1: provides a preparation for studies in medicine, including mentoring in appropriate academic subjects, critical thinking and study skills, as well as some opportunities to practise communicating with patients. The module will include some preparation for the University clinical aptitude test (UCAT) and the Mini Multiple Interviews (MMi).
  • One further first-year module: from the range of modules available in either the Arts or Science faculties. We recommend students consider Psychology for this option.

Students must take four modules in Semester 2, three compulsory and one chosen: 

  • Biology 2: provides an introduction to the diversity of life on Earth and addresses key elements of organismal, behavioural and ecological aspects of life.
  • Organic and Biological Chemistry 1: covers the structure and nomenclature of simple organic compounds, basic stereochemistry, fundamental organic reaction mechanisms, organic functional groups and their reactions, introductory bioorganic chemistry, and organic spectroscopy.
  • Preparation for studies in medicine 2: provides a preparation for studies in medicine, and includes mentoring in appropriate academic subjects, introductory classes in topics relevant to medicine and presentation skills, as well as some opportunities to practise communicating with patients. The module will also include preparation for the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) and the Mini Multiple Interviews (MMi).
  • One further first-year module: from the range of modules available in either the Arts or Science faculties. We recommend students consider Psychology for this option.

The compulsory modules listed here must be taken in order to graduate in this subject. However, most students at St Andrews take additional modules, either in their primary subject or from other subjects they are interested in. For Honours level, students choose from a range of Honours modules, some of which are listed above. A full list of all modules appropriate to the programme for the current academic year can be found in the programme requirements.

Teaching

Biology and chemistry modules are taught through a combination of:

  • lectures
  • laboratory classes
  • small-group tutorials

Students are provided with teaching microscopes and are taught in state-of-the-art teaching laboratories. All lecture courses have web-based support materials, and additional teaching support is given for selected topics, such as mathematics.  

When not attending lectures, tutorials and other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve:

  • working on individual and group projects
  • undertaking research in a laboratory
  • undertaking research in the library
  • preparing coursework assignments and presentations
  • preparing for examinations

All modules are assessed by a combination of coursework and written examinations. Coursework includes laboratories, tutorials and transferable skills exercises. 

Most examinations are held at the end of the semester during a dedicated exam diet and revision time is provided beforehand.

The School of Biology and the School of Chemistry provide feedback on every assessment within three weeks to help you improve on future assessments.

Undergraduates must achieve at least 7.0 on the St Andrews 20-point grade scale to pass a module, however, to progress to our Medical programme, students must achieve the academic and non-academic requirements set at the point of entry.

You will be taught by an experienced teaching team with expertise and knowledge of biology and chemistry. Postgraduate research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of laboratory classes and seminars under the supervision of the module leader.

In addition to your studies, optional academic support is available through practical study skills courses and workshops hosted within the University.

The University’s Student Services team can help students with additional needs resulting from physical or learning disabilities and long-term medical conditions. More information can be found on the students with disabilities webpage.

The University’s Student Services team can help students with additional needs resulting from disabilities, long-term medical conditions or learning disabilities. More information can be found on the students with disabilities web page.

Fees

Home students only: £1,820

Gateway to Medicine Scholarship

Financial support is available for Gateway to Medicine students, and all applicants are encouraged to apply for the St Andrews Access Award to ensure they are considered for this funding.

After the Gateway year is completed, students receiving the Gateway to Medicine Scholarships will continue to receive funding through the St Andrews Access Award, provided that their Access Award scholarship application is successful, and that the information provided falls within the bandings of guaranteed funding set out on the St Andrews Access Award webpage.

More information on tuition fees can be found on the undergraduate fees and funding page.

Accommodation fees

Find out about accommodation fees for University accommodation.

The University of St Andrews offers a number of scholarships and support packages to students each year.

Careers

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.

What to do next

Online information events

Join us for one of our information events where you can find out about different levels of study and specific courses we run. There are also sessions available for parents and college counsellors.

Undergraduate visiting days

We encourage all students who are thinking of applying to the University to attend one of our online or in-person visiting days.

Contact us

Phone
+44 (0)1334 46 2346
Email
gatewayto@st-andrews.ac.uk
Address
Access and Widening Participation

Admissions
University of St Andrews
St Katharine's West
The Scores
St Andrews
KY16 9AX