University of Glasgow Medical School Guide

The University of Glasgow provides a Medical School based in Glasgow. University of Glasgow has one of the largest Medical Schools in the UK which enhances the university experience with access to areas for studying and socialising creating an enjoyable university experience. A fantastic feature available at Glasgow Medical School is their Stratified Medicine Scotland Innovation Centre which is working on developing new forms of personalised treatment for chronic diseases. Furthermore, University of Glasgow offers intercalation opportunities after the third year of the MBBS program.

Glasgow Medical School is a campus based University with access to a multitude of facilities that ensure great progression during Medical School. It also creates a community sense which helps to nurture and settle students during their transition to Medical School. 

Glasgow Medical School Entry Requirements 

Academic Requirements 

A Levels	AAA A Levels Chemistry and Biology or Physics or Mathematics.
Scottish Advanced Highers	AAAAB Higher at end of S5 + BB Advanced Higher  Higher Chemistry, Biology and Physics or Mathematics. National 5 English at Grade B.
International Baccalaureate	38 points with an HL 6 in three subjects including Chemistry and Biology, SL Physics or Mathematics at 6 (HL Recommended), and SL English at 6.
GCSE	These are in addition to the Level 3 (A-Level) requirements.    GCSE English at Grade B. GCSE Biology at Grade B (if not studied at A Level).

Admissions test 

The University of Glasgow requires the UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test). Interviews are allocated using a UCAT score and a minimum academic requirement screening. The minimum interview threshold for 2024 entry was 2450 for Scottish applicants, 2500 for UK applicants, and 2800 for International and EU applicants. 

Work Experience 

Work experience is not a requirement to apply to Glasgow Medical School however it is expected that applicants will have spoken to a doctor or found out about a career in medicine through reading careers books or newspapers. An awareness of challenges being faced in healthcare is also key. Similar skills can be demonstrated through voluntary or paid work such as showing an interest in caring for others. 

Interview 

Online panel interview consisting of two sections at 30 minutes in total, 15 minutes long each. 

Panel A focuses on exploring what it means to be a doctor and related topics. 

Panel B takes a more applicant-focused approach and includes a discussion of an ethical scenario. Applicants are given two scenarios to choose from. 

Widening Participation 

Glasgow Medical School has a Widening Participation team to create opportunities for underrepresented pupils across the West of Scotland which provides support to students as they pursue their goal of studying medicine. Crucially, this program aims to help aspiring medical students navigate their path and gain valuable insights into the field.

Additionally, Glasgow Medical School offers the Medicine with Gateway year (A104) course as part of its widening participation efforts. This course provides an opportunity for individuals from diverse backgrounds to access medical education. Moreover, by offering a gateway year, the school aims to create a more inclusive and accessible pathway for students who have faced barriers in pursuing a medical degree. The Gateway Year provides an alternative route to students who meet the necessary criteria. Glasgow also has a Widening Access to Medicine Society (WAMS) and offers a Sutton Trust Summer School annually. 

Glasgow also offers Access Glasgow SQA Higher Adjusted Entry Requirements (by the end of S6)

• AAABB or AAAAC* Higher at end of S5 + BB Advanced Higher.
• Additional requirements:
  • Higher Chemistry, Biology and Physics or Mathematics.
  • National 5 English at grade B.
  • UCAT & Interview
  • Successful completion of Reach.
  • Offers conditional on S6 performance. *C grade cannot be in Chemistry

Graduate Entry at Glasgow Medical School

Applications to Medicine will be considered from graduates provided they have a minimum of 2.1 Honours degree in a relevant science degree, obtained within seven years of the entry date. Applicants whose degree was obtained more than seven years from the date of entry, or who graduated in a non-science degree will be required to have A-level/Scottish Higher Chemistry and A-level/AS-level/Scottish Higher Biology to be sat within seven years of entry (minimum grades AB, or AA with AS-level Biology). Graduates with a minimum of 2.1 Honours degree obtained more than seven years ago plus a Masters or PhD in a relevant field (obtained within seven years of the entry date) may compensate for not having Higher/A-level Chemistry and Biology. Graduate applicants must also complete the UCAT to be considered for interview.

UK BDS Graduates are also considered for entry into Year 3 of the MBChB course depending on meeting the requirements available in the following link. 

International Students Entry Requirements for University of Glasgow Medical School

Glasgow Medical School accepts applications from all over the world. Many national school qualifications are acceptable, including European, SAT & AP if applying from the USA, and CICSE or CBSE if applying from India. International applicants must sit an English Language Proficiency test. All test reports must be no more than 2 years old. Each applicant must meet the minimum entry requirements based on their country. 

How many places are there for home and international students at Glasgow Medical School?

Approximately 300 places are available each year with an additional 22 places for international applicants with an English Language Proficiency requirement.

University of Glasgow Medical School Ranking 

Ranked 3rd in the UK by the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (Medicine). QS World University Rankings also place the University of Glasgow in the top 50. 

Glasgow Medical School Fees

The current fee status for RUK students at Glasgow Medical School is £9,250 per annum. International student fees for Glasgow Medical School are £58,890 per annum for 2024/2025. 

Home Students and International Students Acceptance Rate 

There are only 22 places for international applicants with an English Language Proficiency requirement. Approximately 300 places are available each year with applications in the region of 1500-1800. 

Course Structure at Glasgow Medical School

A range of teaching styles are utilised by Glasgow Medical School including small group teaching, problem-based learning, lectures, vocational and clinical studies, labs and e-learning. The MBChB follows a spiral curriculum with content being revisited at different depths and levels of focus. 

The 5-year MBChB is split into 4 phases.

During phase 1 you are introduced to modules based on biomedical sciences. You will also undertake Vocational and professional studies and have a clinical visit to an A&E ward or GP. This concludes the first half of Year 1.  

Phase 2 occupies the second part of Year 1 and the whole of Year 3 covering anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and biochemistry. 

Phase 3 occupies the first half of Year 3 by integrating pathophysiology into clinical systems with small-group teaching that focuses on clinical cases. Using case-based learning with a clinical tutor to further develop an understanding of the fundamentals. You will have one day per week of clinical practice as well as receiving clinical procedural skills teaching. 

Phase 4 (the final phase) provides the opportunity to extend studies to include an external elective as well as continuing to complete the MBChB. There is a greater focus on clinical exposure including both primary and secondary care settings. 

SSCs (Student-selected components) are also utilised in Years 2,3 and 4 allowing students to personalise their learning experience by covering topics from the core curriculum as well as topics outside of Medicine. 

Electives are completed at the end of Years 3 and 4. 

Glasgow Medical School Term Dates 

For the 2024-2025 academic year term dates are as shown below: 

Year 1: 

• 16 September 2024 to 13 December 2024          
• 13 January 2025 to 28 March 2025           
• 22 April 2025 to 02 June 2025                        

Year 2:

• 16 September 2024 to 20 December 2024
• 13 January 2025 to 28 March 2025
• 22 April 2025 to 6 June 2025

Year 3:

• 09 September 2024 to 20 December 2024 
• 13 January 2025 to 04 April 2025 
• 22 April 2025 to 30 June 2025 

Year 4: 

• 09 September 2024 to 23 December 2024 
• 13 January  2025 to 4 April 2025
• 22 April 2025 to 14 July 2025                

Year 5:           

• 09 September 2024 to 23 December 2024
• 07 January 2025 to 06 June 2025

Glasgow Medical School Hospitals 

• Crosshouse Hospital
• Gartnavel General Hospital
• Glasgow Royal Infirmary
• Hairmyres Hospital
• Monklands Hospital
• Inverclyde Royal Hospital
• Royal Alexandra Hospital
• Southern General Hospital
• The Victoria Infirmary
• Western Infirmary
• Wishaw General Hospital
• Ayr Hospital

Glasgow Medical School Elective 

Glasgow Medical School offers the opportunity of having two electives (each for four weeks) at the end of Years 3 and 4. This allows students to become better versed in obtaining personal, professional and clinical experiences for development.

Glasgow Medical School interview format and questions 

Online panel interview consisting of two sections at 30 minutes in total, 15 minutes long each. 

Panel A focuses on exploring what it means to be a doctor and related topics. 

Panel B takes a more applicant-focused approach and includes a discussion of an ethical scenario. Applicants are given two scenarios to choose from. 
Interview criteria states that they typically expect you to: 

• Revisit your personal statement
• Examples of achievements and skills 
• Personal Characteristics 
• Awareness of current issues/challenges within the NHS 

Life as a Medical Student at Glasgow Medical School 

Glasgow Medical School has multiple stages to its spiral curriculum alongside clinical experience, clinical skills teaching and lectures. Glasgow has a lovely city to explore and close transport links to access other parts of Scotland and England! It’s campus based University means that everything is in close proximity, with beautiful buildings and teaching facilities. Students will have access to hands-on experience at world-renowned teaching hospitals including the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital building an enhanced skill set of practical skills and patient interaction.

Intercalated Degree at University of Glasgow Medical School 

The University of Glasgow offers intercalation opportunities after the end of the third year of the MBBS program. Students are provided with the opportunity to choose from various highly regarded Bachelor of Science. This allows students to delve deeper into specific areas of interest within medicine before starting fourth year of Medicine whilst obtaining an additional degree.

FAQs 

Does the University of Glasgow  Offer a Bachelor of Science (BSc) Degree?

At the end of the third year, selected students may be permitted to undertake an intercalated course. 

How Much of the University of Glasgow Medicine Course is Clinical vs Preclinical?

The University of Glasgow’s course structure provides a great balance between clinical and preclinical education. From Year 1 you will be introduced to clinical experience allowing you to apply the subject material from the spiral curriculum structure of teaching. In the first half of Year 3, you will spend one day a week in clinical practice (in hospital or General Practice). After this, you are based in hospitals and general practice with dedicated academic days.  

Does the University of Glasgow Offer Medicine Scholarships?

Yes! University of Glasgow offers multiple routes into Medicine including Widening Participation Scholarship programmes and other bursaries. 

Is the University of Glasgow a Good Medical School?

University of Glasgow Medical School is currently ranked at 47th in the World for clinical, pre-clinical and health in the Times Higher Education World University Subject Rankings and provides a comprehensive education including state-of-the-art facilities and world-class research.

Support with Getting Into the University of Glasgow Medical School 

UCAT Tutoring 

As Glasgow uses the UCAT to rank students for interviews and offers, it is really beneficial to aim for a competitive UCAT score. At MedicHut we provide different packages and UCAT tutoring that helps students improve by targetting strengths and weaknesses through our UCAT Masterclass and 1-1 tutoring services. 

Medicine Interview Tutoring 

Once achieving an interview for Glasgow, it’s vital to perform competitively to ensure a higher chance of receiving an offer! Interview tutors can help practice the MMI interview style and make sure you are confident and feeling prepared ahead of your interview. At MedicHut we provide a range of different interview tutoring services including the opportunity to have a tutor specific to your desired university.