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Careers

Choosing a medical school

It is essential to do your research before you apply to study medicine. This will help you discover each medical school's entry requirements, widening access options, selection process, course structure, and teaching style.

Find the right medical school for you

Your Med Future offers essential information you should consider when choosing which medical schools to apply to. This includes:

  • Course types and length of study.
  • Teaching methods and course structure, including optional components that offer some choice.
  • Entry requirements.
  • Selection methods.

We also provide a guide to making the most of open days and other ways to seek information about what is important to you.

Other factors may also influence your decision, such as:

  • Teaching facilities.
  • Opportunities to undertake research.
  • How any support needs you may have will be assessed and accommodated.
  • The town or city location and access to activities that are important to you.
  • Availability and cost of suitable accommodation and transport.

Explore medical school websites, read prospectuses, and search online to expand your knowledge. 

Which medical school?

Which medical school?

If medicine is the career for you and you're likely to meet the entry requirements, you must do your research. Think about where you would like to spend the next 4 to 7 years studying medicine.

Researching the different medical schools early in the process is important for various reasons because you'll:

  1. Learn what is expected of you so you can tailor your application and choose the medical schools that match your strengths.
  2. Find out about the course structure and teaching methods. You may already know how you study best, so choose a school that matches your preferred teaching style.
  3. Discover the different course types and length of study:
    1. Standard entry is 5 years, increasing to 6 years if the programme includes a compulsory intercalated year.
    2. Graduate entry is 4 years unless you're a healthcare professional applying for the HCP-Med course at Edinburgh Medical School. This course includes part-time and full-time study over 6 years.
    3. Gateway programmes include a preparation year before you join the standard entry course at the same medical school. The length of study can be up to 7 years.
    4. SWAP Access to Medicine is a one-year preparation course delivered by local colleges. You can then apply for a standard entry programme at a university affiliated with your college.
  4. Learn about and explore the location of the medical schools. Depending on your chosen course type, you'll spend between 4 and 7 years in the town or city. Sociability, the sports and music scene, and the safety and comfort of the place you'll live cannot be overlooked! Consider living costs and the availability of suitable, affordable accommodation. The proximity of medical school to the primary care and hospital sites where you'll be training is also essential.

This information is based on Study Medicine: Applying for Medical School and Becoming a Medical Student, a free course on FutureLearn. It was developed by the University of Glasgow and used here with kind permission.

Discover more

Medical schools in Scotland

There are 5 medical schools in Scotland. Use the map to find out more about each location.

University of Aberdeen School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition

Polwarth Building
Foresterhill Road
Aberdeen
AB25 2ZD

For more information about the medical school, please visit the University of Aberdeen website.

University of Dundee School of Medicine

Ninewells Hospital and Medical School
Dundee
DD1 9SY

For more information about the medical school, please visit the University of Dundee website.

Edinburgh Medical School

Usher Institute
Usher Building
The University of Edinburgh
5-7 Little France Road
Edinburgh BioQuarter - Gate 3
Edinburgh
EH16 4UX

For more information about the medical school, please visit the University of Edinburgh website.

University of Glasgow School of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing

Wolfson Medical School Building
University Avenue
University of Glasgow
Glasgow
G12 8QQ

For more information about the medical school, please visit the University of Glasgow website.

University of St Andrews School of Medicine

North Haugh
St Andrews
KY16 9TF

For more information about the medical school, please visit the University of St Andrews website.

Your UCAS application

You can choose up to 4 medical schools on your UCAS application form, and the Medical Schools Council recommends you use all 4 choices for Medicine. Your remaining UCAS choice can be a related undergraduate degree programme that can be used as a backup.

Find out more about the medical school application process.