ScotGEM academic requirements

To be considered for interview, ScotGEM applicants must have achieved (or be predicted to achieve) a 1st or a 2.1 Honours degree, or equivalent. Honours degrees in Arts, Science and other disciplines will be accepted.

In addition, applicants must have achieved (or be predicted to achieve) the following academic requirements over and above the Honours degree:

Chemistry Higher or A-Level (grade A or B), ILC H2 or equivalent
Mathematics at Standard Grade (Credit 1 or 2), Intermediate 2 (grade A or B), National 5 (grade A or B), or GCSE (grade B), ILC Ordinary Level O3 or equivalent

Guidance

Degree

Applicants will not be considered if their first degree does not meet the degree requirement, even if they subsequently gain further degrees (2.1 or 1st class Honours degree, Masters or PhD).
Applicants who are on, or have been on, a medicine degree course will not be considered. This includes transfer students or those on an intercalating degree.

Chemistry

Examples of qualifications or study that might be accepted in lieu of Higher or A-Level Chemistry:

20 credits of undergraduate-level Chemistry at high grades
Modules of mixed science (for example, Biochemistry) would not be accepted – modules must be pure Chemistry.
Open University Module – 'Chemistry: Essential Concepts' (S215) – 60% or above
Please note this module is no longer available to new students.
Open University Module – ‘Concepts in Chemistry‘ (S218) – 60% or above.
Please note this module starts in October 2024.
University of Glasgow – Access to Higher Education: Chemistry (ADED11406E) – grade B
Other access courses and HNC qualifications are generally not accepted as they do not offer enough Chemistry. Some HND Chemistry units may be accepted but will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Maths

If an applicant does not have the appropriate grade in Maths from their school leaving qualifications, we may be able to accept 20 credits of undergraduate-level Maths at high grades. However, the module content must be diverse and not focus on one specific aspect of Maths (for example, Calculus, Geometry etc.).

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

Whether you will need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability depends on your educational background.

If you have completed your final four years of secondary or high school education in an English-medium school, this may be considered as evidence of English language ability. This will be considered on a case-by-case basis at the point of application, and the University of St Andrews reserves the right to ask for additional evidence of English language ability.

IELTS scores have a recommended two-year validity period, and this time limit will be applied.

The School of Medicine will accept the Academic version of the IELTS only.
Degree classification

The School does not consider applicants who have obtained a lower second class Honours degree (or lower). Extenuating circumstances put forward for consideration in this respect would not be considered as the School expects the university awarding the degree to have taken into account any relevant circumstances.

Subject requirements over and above degree

Extenuating circumstances that affected the qualifications required over and above the degree will not be taken into account if they were achieved prior to application.

If extenuating circumstances affect the sitting of qualifications required as part of the conditions of offer for the medical degree programme (other than degree classification), then consideration may be given to applicants whose achieved qualification grades mean they are ‘borderline’ for meeting the entry requirements for ScotGEM.

Please email scotgem-admissions@st-andrews.ac.uk for guidance or see the policy on extenuating circumstances for A101 ScotGEM.

ScotGEM academic requirements

Guidance

Degree

Chemistry

Maths

English language requirements

Extenuating circumstances