Which Highers are Needed for Medicine to Prepare Scotland's Future Doctors?

Contents

1. General information about Highers for medicine
2. Which Highers are needed to become a doctor?
3. What does Widening Access mean?
4. What are the best universities for medicine in Scotland?
5. Medical school requirements in Scotland
6. Highers for medicine: What UCAS points do I need for medicine?
7. Which Highers are needed for medicine at the University of Aberdeen?
8. Which Highers are needed for medicine at the University of Dundee?
9. Which Highers are needed for medicine at the University of Edinburgh?
10. Which Highers are needed for medicine at the University of Glasgow?
11. Which Highers are needed for medicine at the University of St Andrews?

Medicine is one of the most demanding courses you can do at university, so the medical school requirements in Scotland are pretty tough. This is because universities need to see evidence that you can work hard enough to successfully complete their courses. It’s also because so many people want to become a doctor (there are around 4,986 students studying medical degrees in Scottish Universities) that there are not enough places on courses for everyone. So, the universities can be very choosy!

Read on to find out all the details about which Highers are needed for medicine at each university. 🩺

General information about Highers for medicine

The majority of medical school requirements in Scotland are very similar.  When it comes to Highers for medicine

most ask for five As and one B as a standard, while just one university asks for five As. However, for students from certain backgrounds who qualify for various Widening Access programmes, the requirements are lower.

All of the universities’ medical school requirements in Scotland say they prefer or require you to achieve your grades in one sitting. This means they take all the results from the exams you do at the same time and they won’t consider any exams you have to resit. In a nutshell, you need to aim to get the best results you can on the first go if you want to study medicine in Scotland.

However, some students may be unable to do all the Highers for medicine in one sitting because it’s not possible at their school or college. If this is your case then you may be able to do the missing subjects in S6, but you need to confirm this with each university you want to apply to. 📞

If you can’t meet a university’s exact medical school requirements in Scotland because you developed a serious illness or injury or have other unusual circumstances, it may be possible to get the university to make an exception for you. Contact the university as soon as possible and be able to provide evidence to prove your situation. 

Which Highers are needed to become a doctor?

People often wonder is Higher Physics necessary to become a doctor or what are the best Higher choices for being a doctor? The answer is that while Physics is not essential, all the medical courses in Scotland definitely do require a Higher in Chemistry. Biology is also necessary for the University of Glasgow along with Physics or Maths.

For the other universities, your Chemistry Higher must be done along with Physics, Maths, Biology, Human Biology or Applications of Mathematics. 

What does Widening Access mean?

In 2019 universities in Scotland started using lower entry requirements to help students in special situations get into courses. This means there are now two standards for admission to medical courses depending on your background: standard for most people and minimum for Widening Access students.

If you fall into one or more of the following categories you are considered to be a “Widening Access” student:

• Live in a certain area where not many people go to university
• Go to a certain school or college where fewer people than average go on to study at university
• Have lived in care
• Are not in contact with your family (estranged)
• Are a refugee or asylum seeker
• Are a carer for a relative, partner, or friend
• Have parents in the armed forces currently or in the past
• Are of Gypsy, Roma or Traveller heritage

If any of these describe you then you may qualify for an offer of a place on a medical course with minimum results in your Highers or A-Levels. Each university may evaluate your situation differently, so you need to check the websites of the universities you are interested in for more detailed information. 💻

What are the best universities for medicine in Scotland?

This is a tough question to answer as the five universities in Scotland that offer medicine are some of the best universities in the UK. According to the Complete University Guide, with a 99% score for graduate prospects and 86% for satisfaction, the best university for medicine in Scotland is the University of Dundee.

The University of Edinburgh is in second place, followed by the University of Glasgow, then the University of Aberdeen and the University of St Andrews in fifth place.

However, in terms of student satisfaction and employment prospects for graduates, all five universities are incredibly close and the exact ranking can vary from one year to another. If you get accepted to any of these, don’t worry, you’re on the right track! 🚅

Medical school requirements in Scotland

Here’s our handy summary of all the medical school requirements in Scotland:

Highers for medicine: What UCAS points do I need for medicine?

If you’re interested in applying to study to be a doctor elsewhere in the UK, you’ll need to convert your Highers and Advanced Highers into UCAS points and consult the requirements of the universities that you want to apply to. 

Here are two more handy tables to help you convert your SQA Highers and Advanced Highers into UCAS points:

You should remember that you cannot add your Higher score and Advanced Higher together for a single subject.

Which Highers are needed for medicine at the University of Aberdeen?

Standard medical school requirements in Scotland’s University of Aberdeen are five Highers at AAAAB or better.  Aberdeen requires these AAAAB grades to be earned from five full academic Highers and/or Advanced Highers taken at one sitting in S5. In S6 you should get at least BBB.

Your Highers can be taken at any year in the Senior Phase from S4 to S6. In your Highers you need a minimum of grade B in Chemistry, plus two more subjects from either Biology, Human Biology, Maths, or Physics and also two other Highers. There is no requirement to do the sciences, including Maths, in one year.

If you don’t get AAAAB in S5 you can still qualify for an offer but the requirements are more complicated. 

If you get AAABB or AAAAC in your first S5 attempt you can make up for these results in S6 if you get or are predicted to get: 

• One new grade A Higher and two Advanced Highers with a minimum of BB.
• Or two new AA  Highers and one new Advanced Higher with a minimum grade of B 
• Or three ABB Advanced Highers which must be Chemistry plus one other science

However, most people get into Aberdeen medical school with AAAAB or better at their first attempt in S5.

For Widening Access students the University of Aberdeen has adjusted the entry requirements of four Highers of grades AAAB. 

If you only do four Highers a score of AAAA at first sitting may be ok if it is your school’s policy, you can prove very unusual personal problems or you qualify under the university’s Widening Access Policy.

The University of Aberdeen says that if you did only three Highers at first sitting it is unlikely your application will be considered.

If you don't sit your Highers until S6 or you do five S5 Highers without continuing your studies in S6 your application will only be considered if you can prove very serious personal problems, like illness,  with supporting evidence. In this case, you absolutely need AAAAA in five Highers done at one sitting including Chemistry and two of Maths, Biology, or Physics, along with your two other Highers.

In your National 5s you must have got at least a Grade B in English and Maths. Physics and Biology are not compulsory but you should aim for at least a grade B minimum in these to maximise your chances.

An overall mix of grades A and B at Standard Grade particularly in science subjects is also necessary.

Which Highers are needed for medicine at the University of Dundee?

The University of Dundee asks for Higher/Advanced Higher results of AAAAB in one sitting for standard entry and 

AAABB for Widening Access students. You may get a conditional offer if you get three BBB grade Advanced Highers in 6th year. 

In your Highers, you need Chemistry and another science subject: either Biology, Maths or Physics.

For your other three Highers, you can choose whatever subjects most interest you or that you think you will do well in.

Dundee also asks for a grade A in biology at and grade B in mathematics and English at National 5, if you don't do these for your Highers.

The university also requires an interview, a University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) and disclosure check before you can be accepted on the course. 

Which Highers are needed for medicine at the University of Edinburgh?

To get into medicine at the University of Edinburgh the standard entry requirement is for you to finish S5 with  AAAAB and come out with BB in Advanced Higher. 

For widening access to applicants the university expects you to finish S5 with AAABB and get CC at Advanced Higher level.

As with the other Scottish universities Higher Chemistry is required and you need two Highers from either Biology, Human Biology, Mathematics, Applications of Mathematics or Physics. If you can't take all the required subjects at S5 because your school or college doesn't allow it, you can do the remaining subjects in S6. 

In your National 5s you need a B in Biology, Chemistry, English and Mathematics. If you don’t get a B in Maths at National 5 level you can substitute a C in Higher Applications of Mathematics instead.

You also need to get a minimum UCAT score, pass health clearance checks and may need to attend an interview.

Which Highers are needed for medicine at the University of Glasgow?

The University of Glasgow’s standard Highers for medicine entry requirements are to get AAAAA Higher by the end of S5 and a BBB in Advanced Higher or AB in Advanced Higher with a B Higher in S6. Highers in Chemistry, Biology and Physics or Mathematics and grade B in National 5 English are required subjects. Glasgow also needs applicants to do a UCAT and attend an interview.

For Widening Access students the adjusted entry requirements are to finish S5 with AAABB Higher and BBB in Advanced Higher or AB Advanced Higher and B Higher by the end of S6. 

You also need Highers in Chemistry, Biology with Physics or Mathematics and National 5 English grade B. 

Other requirements are to attend an interview, take the UCAT test, successfully complete the Reach Scotland access programme, and pass health and police checks.

Which Highers are needed for medicine at the University of St Andrews?

The University of St Andrews asks for AAAAB Highers for medicine in S5 and a prediction of BBB or better in Highers or Advanced Highers or a variety of Highers and Advanced Highers in S6 for standard entry.

Widening Access students must get a minimum of AAABB in S5 and a predicted minimum of BB in Highers or Advanced Highers or a variety of Highers and Advanced Highers in S6.

To access St Andrews’ one-year Gateway to Medicine programme you need to get BBBB in Highers in S5. This programme lets you transfer to the six-year medicine course if you complete it successfully. 

Like the other medical degrees, St Andrews requires your Highers to include Chemistry and either Biology, Human Biology, Mathematics or Physics, done in one go. You’ll also need a B in National 5 Biology or Human Biology, Mathematics, and English if you don’t do them for your Highers. 

If you don’t do the necessary science subjects or mathematics in S5 you can make them up in S6. Chemistry must be done in the same year with one of your other science subjects in either S5 or S6. St Andrews accepts a mix of Highers and Advanced Highers in S5 and Advanced Highers, and new Highers, or a mix of Advanced Highers and new Highers in S6. 

The bar for medical school requirements in Scotland is set very high, but it’s not an impossible goal. If you have your sights set on becoming a doctor you can get there with some hard work, willpower and perhaps a little extra help.

GoStudent’s experienced and professional tutors are always on hand to give you a personal one to one tutoring in all the Highers for medicine. Sign up for a free trial class today and see what a difference a GoStudent tutor can make to your plans for the future.