So you have decided to study medicine
Currently there are around 10 applicants for every available place at Medical School and achieving the grades required for entry is not enough. Your personal qualities are just as important as your academic ability and medical schools want applicants to show evidence of commitment, ability to work effectively under pressure, team-working skills, leadership and compassion.
The following resourses are designed to support you in your journey to Medical School.
Do I have the right grades in the right subjects?
The entry requirements for entry to each university can vary but excellent grades in science subjects such as chemistry and biology are essential.
Generally speaking you are aiming to achieve at least 5 Highers, usually at AAAAB or AAABB grades in S5 and SQA Advanced Highers at AB or BBB in S6, however consideration will be given to factors which may affect you achieving these grades.
Scottish Medical Schools are committed to ensuring that a person’s background or life circumstances are not a barrier to them studying medicine.
This means that Medical Schools will consider all circumstances which may prevent you meeting their standard entry requirements and make adjusted offers of entry accordingly.
This process is called contextualised admission and consideration is given to potential barriers such as disability, care experience*, carer responsibilities, refugee status and challenging financial or family circumstances. View more about the Adjusted Entry Criteria for the University of Glasgow.
- Care experienced applicants are people who live/have lived with foster parents/kinship carers or who live/have lived in a residential children’s setting/secure unit.
I’m not a school leaver and I don’t have these highers – can I still apply?
You can find out more about applying to study medicine and links to specific entry requirements for each university, including other accepted academic qualifications.
You may also apply to study medicine through the ScotGEMS Graduate Entry Programme.
If you are not a University Graduate you may also be able to apply via the Scottish Wider Access Programme here.
Aside from good grades what else do I need?
Having the right grades is just the start of the application process. Most Universities will need you to sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT). UCAT is designed to test your attitudes and identify the professional behaviours required for new doctors and dentists to be successful in their clinical careers. You can try some sample tests here
I don’t think I can afford to study Medicine – is there funding available?
If you are resident in Scotland and study full-time in Scotland, the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) should pay your tuition fees. For all enquiries relating to SAAS, please consult them directly.
SAAS student loans
If you are a Scottish student, you can apply for a SAAS student loan when you apply for tuition fee funding. Loan payments are paid monthly; and you should receive the first instalment within 3 or 4 days of registering as a student. Make sure you have enough money to support yourself for those first few days and please check whether the loan payment is in your account before spending money.
Grants
If you are eligible, SAAS can offer supplementary grants or a Young Student’s Bursary. Please consult SAAS for more information on grants.
Further information about SAAS eligibility, support available and how to apply can be found here:
Bursaries, Scholarships and Other Financial Support
You may also be able to apply for additional funding directly from your University. Use the links below to find our more about each universities arrangements:
Does a disability, Illness or mental health condition mean I can’t apply to study medicine?
A disability, chronic illness or mental health condition will not necessarily prevent you from becoming a doctor. The General Medical Council (independent regulator for doctors in the UK) states that “we firmly believe disabled people should be welcomed to the profession and valued for their contribution to patient care”.
You can also find out more about support available to you here Disability Guidance | Disabled Doctors Network.
Before you submit an application for medical school via UCAS, you should contact medical schools to request advice about your individual circumstances. Each medical school has a disability support adviser who can help.
All Universities offer confidential support services for disabled students.
This includes students with physical and sensory impairments, mental health difficulties and dyslexia.
You can find out more about what support is available by clicking the links below:
Do I need to pass an interview?
Yes, but you will be given guidance and support in advance of your interview and it’s designed to be a conversation rather than an a question and answer session.
While each medical school has its own interview process it is a vital part of the application and selection wherever you are applying. There are several sources of interview guidance online and it is worth practising with anyone you can – whether that is family, friends or teachers.
Remember that just like there is no “right” person for medicine, there is rarely a “right” answer in an interview. It is a conversation and your score will depend much less on what you say but more on how you say it. Try to have a reason behind any answer you give, make your answers as personal to your own experiences as you can and speak as clearly and confidently as you can. Enthusiasm and commitment are the key things an interviewer will be looking for.
The Royal College of Surgeons (England) has prepared a list of possible questions to help you prepare.
So why do you want to be a Doctor?
Source – Medic Insight Dundee
What’s it like being a medical student?
Once at university there are frequent assessments and you will have a more hectic schedule than most other students, but there is an immense camaraderie amongst fellow medical students and a sense of growing confidence in your own ability.
Each Medical School has a slightly different structure to their course, but broadly speaking the first couple of years are spent learning the basic science behind human physiology and disease, and the later years are spent learning how to apply this clinically. As you progress through medical school you will not only learn the knowledge to become a doctor but also the skills and attitudes you will need.
You will be taught by doctors, nurses and a whole range of other healthcare professionals and each one is committed to making you the best doctor you can possibly be.
After medical school you will progress through the different grades before qualifying as a Consultant or a General Practitioner – with competitive entry to each grade and post-graduate exams. These things should not put you off but it is important to be aware that the challenges continue long after university.
You can find out more about training to be a Doctor or visit the NHS Scottish Medical Training website.
Life as a Medical Student – Video Resources
Each student has their own experience of life at medical school but there are some things which are common to everyone. There is a huge feeling of being “in it together” and although there are regular challenges the support of your colleagues is always there. Most doctors still consider their time at medical school to be the most enjoyable time of their life.
Here is a selection of interviews with current medical students at Glasgow University to see how they feel about certain aspects of medical school.
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Thinking of Studying Medicine?
Medicine is one of the most challenging but rewarding careers available. The combination of daily academic stimulation, technical procedural skills and working with patients, their families and the wider healthcare team is one which few other professions can offer.
Medicine is a profession that is open to everyone. There is no “right” person to be a doctor but all doctors are united by a passion for patient care and a dedication to their profession.
Working as a Doctor means you will train in and probably spend the majority of your career working within the National Health Service (NHS).
The NHS is Scotland’s largest single employer and one of the largest healthcare employers in the world. The Chief Executive of NHS Scotland heads the directorates and is accountable to ministers for the efficiency and performance of the service and the work of the 14 NHS Boards and 8 Special Health Boards.
The life of a doctor is not for everyone – long hours and witnessing distressing illness in patients at times can be stressful and emotionally demanding. But for those who are passionate about the profession the job satisfaction cannot be beaten.
If you are considering applying to study medicine we have created a number of resources you can access from the menu below to help you gain an insight into the career.
Please note that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde supports a number of programmes but is not responsible for content of an external website or involved in the selection of candidates for programmes.
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So you have decided to study medicine…
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Main workstreams
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As part of our commitment to widening access to NHS employment we host a number of pre employment training programmes in partnership with the DWP and a number of employability agencies across Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
Our programmes provide training, work experience and application support to people experiencing barriers (real or perceived) to employment enabling them to become competitive job applicants.
Everyone who successfully completes our programmes will be guaranteed to be offered Job Interviews for suitable vacancies across our Health board area.
Healthcare Support Workers (Nursing Assistants) – Programme under review for 2026
This five week Sector Based Work Academy programme has been developed with support from our nursing leads and the NHSGGC Practice Education Team.
This is an unpaid training programme however trainees registered with the DWP (Job Centre) or who are eligible to register with one of our Employability Partners will receive support for travel and other programme expenses for the duration of the programme. Job Centre Clients will not be required to attend their local Job Centre during the programme and will continue to receive their benefits.
This programme is designed to support candidates who have not previously worked in Healthcare Support Worker role to develop the skills and experience to help them begin their career as a Healthcare Support Worker.
The programme includes Core induction sessions on NHS Policies and Procedures, Ward Skill sessions delivered by our Practice Education Nursing team in a simulated ward environment and a 3 week hospital based work placement followed by application support and interview preparation.
All training is delivered by NHS Professionals and placement activity takes place on NHSGGC Hospital locations.
In addition all participants complete the Statutory and Mandatory NHS training (Learnpro) and issued with certificates and will complete the training required and are issued with the NHS Scotland Manual Handling Passport.
All participants who successfully complete the programme are guaranteed interviews for Healthcare Support Worker vacancies across our Board area subject to satisfactory report from placement and attendance at all sessions.
Who can apply?
Candidates who are interested in applying for this programme must not be in employment or education, be genuinely interested in training as a Healthcare Support Worker, available to be interviewed for vacancies at the end of the programme and take up employment if offered.
When do applications open?
We run programmes throughout the year and you can register your interest in applying by speaking with your Job Centre Work Coach or contacting one of our Employability Partners. We also advertise this programme at www.jobs.scot.nhs.uk.
East Dunbartonshire: East Dunbartonshire Employability Services
East Renfrewshire: Work EastRen
Glasgow: Jobs and Business Glasgow
Inverclyde The Trust
Renfrewshire Invest In Renfrewshire
Rutherglen and Cambuslang Routes to Work South
West Dunbartonshire Working4U
Princes Trust Scotland The Prince’s Trust Wolfson Centre | The Prince’s Trust in Scotland (princes-trust.org.uk)
Project Search
The primary aim of Project SEARCH is to connect young people with learning disabilities and additional support needs with competitive employment. There are no formal entry requirements. However, applicants must participate in a selection process, where they may undertake assessments and interviews with a host business, and education partners, such as their school or local college to be accepted on Project SEARCH.
Interns are supported through placements within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. They get hands-on experience and are given the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and abilities while learning new complex and varied, practical and vocational skills to help ready them for the world of work.
The NHSGGC programme is open to Glasgow City Council area residents and runs for one year, delivered in partnership with Glasgow Clyde College. Other Project Search opportunities are offered by City of Glasgow College
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There is a lot of information available on line to support you in planning your career pathway. These are just some of the resources you can access.
You can also contact Skills Development Scotland, Scotland’s National Skills Agency who offer specialist support to individuals to build their career management, work-based and employability skills, throughout their career journey, from school, into further learning opportunities and employment.
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Course Overview
In this module you will examine some useful tools and methods that can help you understand the skills needed for good time management.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module you will be able to:
- Organise and plan your time
- Apply priorities to your tasks to manage your time effectively
- Recognise ways of scheduling time, managing distractions and managing e mail
- Use planning tools to maximise efficiency and productivity
Course Provider
- This course can be accessed online via LearnPro
Who Should Attend
- All staff are welcome to attend
Pre-requisites
- There are no pre requisites for this module
Duration
- Self-directed learning but should take approximately 45 minutes
KSF Links
- C2 – Personal and People Development
- C4 – Service Improvement
- C5 – Quality
- G5 – Services and Project Management
- G6 – People Management
e-Learning
This is e-learning course and is available via LearnPro. You will find it under the CPD category. For information and registration please click the link LearnPro .
If you need any further support to access this course, please contact the Learning and Education Support Team on 0141 278 2700 (Option 3).
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Course Overview
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is committed to providing a positive security culture throughout the organisation and to ensure personal safety at all times of patients, residents, staff and visitors. We have produced this short e-module in line with changes in legislation and to help ensure we embed security principles within our workforce.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course delegates will be able to:
- Understand the principles of the UK Counter Terrorism Strategy (CONTEST)
- Keep secure door codes confidential so that they are only known by those that require them for regular discharge of their duties
- Observe all personal safety and security rules at all times as described in the NHSGGC Security and Threat Policy
- Challenge those persons not wearing photographic identification badges unless to do so would place them at risk
- Wear an up to date photographic identification badge at all time during work
- Understand the process for reporting and recording Security incidents at a local level
- Understand the vulnerability factors that can make individuals susceptible to radicalisation or a risk to others and can seek advice from if they have concerns about an individual who may be being groomed into terrorist activity
- Ensure passwords and login details are kept secure at all times
- Access the NHSGGC Security and Threat Policy for further information
Course Provider
- This course can be accessed online via LearnPro
Who should attend
- All NHSGGC employees are required to complete this course
Pre-requisites
- No pre-requisites required
Duration
- Self-directed learning but should take approximately 40 minutes
KSF Links
- C1 – Communication
- C3 – Health, Safety and Security
- C4 – Service Improvement
- C5 – Quality
e-Learning
- Security and Threat training is delivered via LearnPro.
- You will find it under the Statutory/Mandatory tab on your front page.
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Course Overview
This course will provide you with a basic knowledge of the Data Protection Act, 1998 and an understanding of your obligations to keep personal identifiable data confidential and secure.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course delegates will be able to identify:
- Store, transport and transfer Board records and data (including health records, staff records and sensitive corporate information) securely and effectively
- Understand the safe use of information and communication technology
- Inform individuals about the use of their data
- Understand the circumstances when consent should be sought prior to obtaining and using personal data
- Verify recorded data using processes for positive patient identification
- Record personal information accurately and consistently
- Ensure that recorded information is relevant and not excessive
- Use patient related data to support the delivery and management of healthcare
- Understand the circumstances in which information may be used for healthcare support purposes such as clinical audit and service monitoring
- Identify circumstances when personal data can, should and must be shared
- Respond appropriately to requests for all recorded information held by the Board, demonstrating awareness of access to information legislation and local compliance requirements
- Understand and apply rules for appropriate authorised access to personal and other sensitive data
- Ensure that conversations in relation to sensitive or personal information, whether face to face or by telephone, take place in an appropriate area.
Course Provider
- This course can be accessed online via LearnPro
Who should attend
- All NHSGGC employees are required to complete this course
Pre-requisites
Duration
- Self-directed learning but should take approximately 40 minutes
KSF Links
- G1 – Learning and Development
- C2 – Personal and People Development
- IK3 – Knowledge and Information Resources
e-Learning
- Safe Information Handling – Foundation training is delivered via LearnPro.
- You will find it under the Statutory/Mandatory tab on your front page.
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Course Overview
This e-module is designed for people who may be involved in the response to an emergency. This includes people from Category 1 responder organisations, third sector organisations, and staff in health and social care services.
There are three sections in the module. The goal is to understand when and how to provide Psychological First Aid (PFA) in the immediate aftermath of an emergency.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course you will be able to:
- Define Psychological First Aid
- Describe the 7 key components of effective Psychological First Aid
- Feel reasonably confident in delivering Psychological First Aid
- Adapt Psychological First Aid to different settings and populations
- Identify ways to take care of yourself while providing Psychological First Aid
Course Provider
- National Education for Scotland (NES)
Who Should Attend
- People who may be involved in the response to an emergency. This includes people from Category 1 responder organisations, third sector organisations, and staff in health and social care services.
Duration
KSF Link
- C3 – Health, Safety and Security
There is no classroom option for this topic.
e-Learning
An e-learning module is available for this topic via Turas Learn.
If you already use the Turas platform to access other Turas applications such as Turas Appraisal, Turas Professional Portfolio or Turas People you simply add Turas Learn to your Dashboard using the ‘Add Applications’ link on the homepage.
You can then use the search function to find and add specific learning resources and eLearning modules.
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Course overview
To successfully manage a project an understanding of project management methodology is required. This course will show how to use a combination of processes to manage time, cost, quality, change, risks and issues in order to manage a project effectively.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course delegates will be able to:
- Explain what a project is
- Explain what project management is and methodologies you can employ
- Develop a business case and initiate a project
- Decide on the best techniques for planning your project
- Identify methods for executing a project
- Describe how to close off a project and review the project completion
Course provider
- Learning and Education Team
Who should attend
- All staff are welcome to attend who have a leading role running a project
Pre-requisites
- There are no pre requisites for this module
Duration
- Guided learning time 45 minutes
KSF Links
- C1 – Communication
- C2 – Personal and People Development
- C4 – Service Improvement
- C5 – Quality
- G5 – Services and Project Management
- G6 – People Management
e-Learning
- An e-Learning option is available for this topic via LearnPro. You will find it under the CPD category. Information and registration for LearnPro.
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