UK qualifications

• SQA Highers and Advanced Highers

  To be considered for interview, applicants must have achieved the following grades:

  • Standard entry grades: AAAAB in S5. Predicted to achieve at least BBB in Highers or Advanced Highers or a mix of Highers and Advanced Highers in S6.
  • Minimum entry grades: AAABB in S5. Predicted to achieve at least BB in Highers or Advanced Highers or a mix of Highers and Advanced Highers in S6.
  • Gateway to Medicine: BBBB in Highers in S5

  Highers must include Chemistry and one of Biology (or Human Biology), Mathematics or Physics, to be taken at the same sitting. If not passed at Higher, applicants must also have National 5 grade B in Biology (or Human Biology), Mathematics, and English. 

  Find out more about Standard, Minimum and Gateway entry requirements using academic entry explained and see which entry requirements are appropriate to you using the entry requirements indicator.

  For applicants to Medicine to be considered with the Minimum entry requirements, they would need to be assessed as:

  • residing in the lowest 40% most deprived areas of the UK. 
    or
  • being looked after as a result of a local authority order. See information on care experienced applicants. 
    or
  • being registered as a young carer. See information on young carers. 
    or
  • being estranged. See information on estranged applicants.
    or
  • being a refugee.

  Guidance

  Applicants should also note the following entry exceptions:

  • Higher qualifications should normally be obtained at the same sitting in S5. Exceptions may be made for candidates who attend schools which are unable to present pupils for five Highers at one sitting.
  • Lifeskills Maths and Applications of Maths will not be accepted to meet the National 5 Maths requirement. 
  • Higher ESOL may be taken to meet the National 5 English requirement if National 5 English is not offered. National 5 ESOL will not be considered to meet this requirement. Only one of Higher ESOL or Higher English will be considered as one of the 5 Highers required in one sitting.
  • Students not taking the required sciences or mathematics in S5 may take the missing subjects in S6. Two science subjects must be sat in the same year (to include Chemistry) – either S5 or S6.
  • A mix of Highers and Advanced Highers in S5 would be considered. Advanced Highers, new Highers, or a mix of Advanced Highers and new Highers would be acceptable for S6 study. 
  • Offers made will be conditional and based on S6 programmes of study.
  • An applicant’s referee should include predicted grades for S6 in the application.
  • An A grade at Higher or Advanced Higher would not balance out a C grade in another subject.
  • Applicants sitting Highers earlier than S5 gain no advantage in the School's admissions assessment.
  • Applicants sitting six Highers in S5, as opposed to five Highers, gain no advantage in the School's admissions assessment.
  • Applicants sitting the Scottish Baccalaureate gain no advantage in the School's admissions assessment, other than for the Advanced Highers associated with it. However, the development of research skills will be useful for entrants to the course. 
  • Over and above the subjects required for entry, the School does not have a preference for other subjects in S5 or S6; applicants should choose subjects they are interested in or will do well in.

• GCE A-Levels

  To be considered for interview, applicants must have achieved, or be predicted to achieve, the following grades:

  • Standard entry grades: AAA
  • Minimum entry grades: AAB

  These grades must include Chemistry and one of Biology, Mathematics or Physics. If not passed at AS or A-Level, applicants must have GCSE grade 5 or B  in Biology, Mathematics, and English (either Language or Literature). We accept CCEA GCSE grade C* as equivalent to grade 5 in numerical grading. 

  In addition, a minimum of five GCSEs at  grade A or 7 to be taken at one sitting, will be required. Applicants with achieved A-Levels, may be considered with less than five A grades (grade 7 in numerical grading) at GCSE. 

  Find out more about Standard and Minimum entry requirements using academic entry explained and see which entry requirements are appropriate to you using the entry requirements indicator.

  For applicants to Medicine to be considered with the Minimum entry requirements, they would need to be assessed as:

  • residing in the lowest 40% most deprived areas of the UK. 
    or
  • being looked after as a result of a local authority order. See information on care experienced applicants. 
    or
  • being registered as a young carer. See information on young carers. 
    or
  • being estranged. See information on estranged applicants.
    or
  • being a refugee.

  Guidance 

  Applicants should also note the following entry exceptions:

  • Dual award Science or Combined Science at GCSE are not acceptable in lieu of GCSE Biology. Students would be required to take Biology at either AS or A-level to meet the minimum subject requirement.
  • Human Biology and Biology are accepted.
  • GCSE programmes in Intensive English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) will not be accepted in lieu of GCSE English Language or Literature.
  • General Studies, Critical Thinking and Global Perspectives & Research are not accepted A-Levels.
  • A-Levels must be studied over a two-year period and completed in Year 13.
  • Only one of Mathematics or Further Mathematics will be considered for the three subjects required at A-Level.
  • Four A-Levels or a fourth subject at AS are not required and sitting a fourth A-Level is of no advantage for admissions assessment.
  • An A grade in one A-level would not balance out a B or C grade in another subject to meet the standard or minimum requirement.
  • An early or later sitting of an individual A-Level would not be counted towards the three A-Levels required for entry; all three A-Levels must be taken at the same examination sitting.
  • Over and above the subjects required for entry, the School does not have a preference for the third A-Level subject; applicants should choose subjects they are interested in or will do well in.

• Cambridge Pre-U

  To be considered for interview, applicants must have achieved (or be predicted to achieve) the following grades:

  • D3 in three subjects including Chemistry and one other from Biology, Mathematics or Physics.
  • A mixture of Pre-U and A-Levels will be considered.
  • If not passed at AS or A-Level or Pre-U, applicants must have GCSE 5 in Biology, Mathematics, and English.
  • In addition, a minimum of five A grades (grade 7 in numerical grading) at GCSE to be taken at one sitting will be required. Applicants with achieved Pre-U or A-Levels, may be considered with less than five A grades (grade 7 in numerical grading) at GCSE.

  Find out more about Standard and Minimum entry requirements using academic entry explained and see which entry requirements are appropriate to you using the entry requirements indicator.

  For applicants to Medicine to be considered with the Minimum entry requirements, they would need to be assessed as:

  • residing in the lowest 40% most deprived areas of the UK. 
    or
  • being looked after as a result of a local authority order. See information on care experienced applicants. 
    or
  • being registered as a young carer. See information on young carers. 
    or
  • being estranged. See information on estranged applicants.
    or
  • being a refugee.

  Guidance 

  Applicants should also note the following:

  • Dual award Science or triple award Science at GCSE are not acceptable in lieu of GCSE Biology. Students would be required to take Biology at either AS or A-level to meet the minimum subject requirement.
  • Human Biology and Biology are accepted.
  • General Studies, Critical Thinking and Global Perspectives & Research are not accepted Pre-U or A-Levels.
  • Pre-U or A-Levels must be studied over a two-year period and completed in Year 13.
  • Only one of Mathematics or Further Mathematics will be considered for the three subjects required at Pre-U or A-Level.
  • Four Pre-U or A-Levels or a fourth subject at AS are not required and sitting a fourth Pre U/A-Level is of no advantage for admissions assessment.
  • An early sitting of a Pre U/A-Level would not be counted towards the three Pre U/A-Levels required for entry; all three subjects (Pre U/A-levels) must be taken at the same examination sitting.
  • Over and above the subjects required for entry, the School does not have a preference for the third Pre U/A-Level subject; applicants should choose subjects they are interested in or will do well in.

• International Baccalaureate

  To be considered for interview, applicants must have achieved (or be predicted to achieve) the following grades:

  • Standard entry grades: 38 points (HL 6,6,6 plus SL 6,6,6)
  • Minimum entry grades: 36 points (HL 6,6,5 plus SL 6,6,5)

  These grades must include HL in Chemistry and HL in one of Biology, Mathematics or Physics. If not passed at HL, applicants must have SL in Biology, Mathematics and English. Either 'Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches' or 'Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation' are accepted as meeting the Mathematics requirement. Standard Level Mathematics Studies is not acceptable. Mathematics at GCSE 5 or better might be considered in lieu of Standard Level.

  Find out more about Standard and Minimum entry requirements using academic entry explained and see which entry requirements are appropriate to you using the entry requirements indicator. 

  For applicants to Medicine to be considered with the Minimum entry requirements, they would need to be assessed as:

  • residing in the lowest 40% most deprived areas of the UK. 
    or
  • being looked after as a result of a local authority order. See information on care experienced applicants. 
    or
  • being registered as a young carer. See information on young carers. 
    or
  • being estranged. See information on estranged applicants.
    or
  • being a refugee.

  In addition, applicants must have a strong academic record. Applicants are expected to offer a minimum of five A grades at GCSE (or equivalent) to be taken at one sitting and to be predicted to achieve at least the minimum grades required in the relevant school leaving qualification. In addition, the hours of science studied in the final two years of a school leaving qualification will be assessed. Those applying having already achieved their school leaving qualification with appropriate subjects and grades, may be considered with less than five A grades at GCSE (or equivalent).

  For more information, email medical.admissions@st-andrews.ac.uk.

• Welsh Baccalaureate

  To be considered for interview, applicants must have achieved (or be predicted to achieve) the following grades:

  • Applicants from 2018 onwards are expected to obtain a grade A in the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate plus AA at A-Level in Chemistry and one other of Biology, Mathematics or Physics.
  • If not passed at AS or A-Level, applicants must have GCSE 5 in Biology, Mathematics, and English.
  • In addition, a minimum of grade A or 7 in 5 GCSEs  to be taken at one sitting, will be required. Applicants with achieved A-Levels, may be considered with fewer than five  GCSEs at those grades.

  Find out more about Standard, Minimum and Gateway entry requirements using academic entry explained and see which entry requirements are appropriate to you using the entry requirements indicator.

  For applicants to Medicine to be considered with the Minimum entry requirements, they would need to be assessed as:

  • residing in the lowest 40% most deprived areas of the UK. 
    or
  • being looked after as a result of a local authority order. See information on care experienced applicants. 
    or
  • being registered as a young carer. See information on young carers. 
    or
  • being estranged. See information on estranged applicants.
    or
  • being a refugee.

  Guidance

  • Dual award Science or triple award Science at GCSE are not acceptable in lieu of GCSE Biology. Students would be required to take Biology at either AS or A-level to meet the minimum subject requirement.
  • Human Biology and Biology are accepted.
  • General Studies, Critical Thinking, and Global Perspectives and Research are not accepted A-Levels.
  • A-Levels and the Welsh Baccalaureate must be studied over a two-year period and completed in Year 13.
  • Four A-Levels or a fourth subject at AS are not required and sitting a fourth A-Level is of no advantage for admissions assessment.
  • An early sitting of an Advanced level qualification would not be counted towards the Advanced Level qualifications required for entry; all Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate/A-Levels must be taken at the same examination sitting.
  • Over and above the subjects required for entry, the School does not have a preference for the third A-Level subject; applicants should choose subjects they are interested in or will do well in.

• Other UK qualifications, including Access and Foundation courses

  HNC, HND, BTEC and SQA National Certificate qualifications are not taken into consideration for places in Medicine.

  Advanced Diplomas currently available do not provide a progression route to Medicine at St Andrews. The School will continue to review each Advanced Diploma as it becomes available.

  Access to Medicine and Access to Science courses are not taken into consideration for places in Medicine.

  Other than the International Foundation programme for Medicine at the University of St Andrews, Foundation programmes will not be taken into consideration for places in Medicine, and applicants are expected to have met the required entry requirements in their school-leaving qualifications. 

  Foundation Apprenticeships

  Scottish Foundation Apprenticeships are not accepted for entry to Medicine.

• AQA Baccalaureate

  A pass in the Baccalaureate will be required, along with AAA (Advanced Levels) including Chemistry and one other of Biology, Mathematics or Physics.