Choosing a medical school

Researching medical schools

Imagine yourself as a medical student. Think about the different routes to medical school and how you’ll meet the entry requirements. Which one will nurture your passion for medicine and help shape your future career? 

Doing your research early in the application process is recommended. 

Check out this blog post from Medics and Me about Deciding where to apply – breaking down the big decisions.

How to make informed decisions about medical school

Each medical school in Scotland is different, and you'll want to find out which ones are just right for you.

Before you apply, there are lots of things to consider. Your Med Future offers loads of great information to help you choose which medical schools to apply to. This includes:

• Course types, including standard entry, graduate programmes, and preparation courses.
• How long your chosen course takes.
• What the courses and teaching styles are like.
• What the academic requirements for study are.
• How students are selected.

We've also put together a handy guide to help you get the most out of those open days! [INSERT LINK] Plus, we've got links to other resources to help you figure out what matters to you when choosing a medical school. 

What else might you need to know?

Other things to think about:

• What are the teaching facilities like?
• Are there opportunities to do research?
• How will the medical schools help if you need extra support or reasonable adjustments?
• Do you like the town or city? Is there access to activities you enjoy?
• How easy is it to find suitable and affordable accommodation?
• Is it easy to get around?

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

Scottish medical schools

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. The Medical Schools Council recommends you use all 4 choices for medicine, including gateway programmes. Your remaining UCAS choice can be a related, non-medical undergraduate degree programme as a backup.

Find out more about the medical school application process.