Entry requirements and how to apply
Please read these guidelines carefully.
Applications for the September 2025 intake will open on Monday 2 September 2024 and the deadline is Tuesday 15 October 2024.
Applicants must apply for the programme using our online application form.
HCP-Med applications will be processed directly by the University of Edinburgh and not through UCAS.
Entry requirements
These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the following academic year will be published beginning of March.
Applicants will have to meet our minimum entry requirements, as well as have sat the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT).
Minimum entry requirements:
- Be a qualified healthcare professional (includes clinical scientists and veterinary surgeons) with a degree in a science or healthcare subject, usually 2:1 honours or above. We will also consider non-science based degrees supplemented with SQA Higher/GCE A Level Chemistry at grade C or above.
- Have worked as a qualified healthcare professional, clinical scientist or veterinary surgeon for at least two years prior to the start of the programme and be registered with one of the following:
-
- Association of Physician Assistants (anaesthesia)
- Faculty of Intensive Care
- Faculty of Physician Associates
- General Dental Council
- General Optical Council
- General Pharmaceutical Council
- Health and Care Professions Council
- Nursing and Midwifery Council
- Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists
- Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
- Have lived in the UK for 3 years prior to the start of the programme and most importantly have been ordinarily resident in Scotland from 1 August 2024.
- EU nationals living in the UK need to have either settled or pre-settled status via the EU settlement scheme to be eligible for the Scottish rate of tuition fee.
- As this programme is funded, there is no option to self-fund if you do not fall into the above categories.
For overseas nationals living in the UK, funding is likely not available, unless you meet the following conditions:
- If you have been ordinarily resident in Scotland from 1 August 2024 and lived in the UK for 3 years prior to the start of the programme.
- Have permission to stay in the UK for a specific period of time (leave to remain/enter) where this period has not expired.
- Spouse/relevant family member of someone with the right to live in the UK (holding Indefinite leave to remain/leave to remain) and you meet the residency requirements above.
- Residence in the UK must not be solely attributable to the purpose of receiving education.
- Please review the link below in relation to your fee status if you have any queries.
Overseas nationals living in the UK
- Successful applicants will provide evidence of support from their current employer as part of the conditions of offer.
In addition to assessing your performance in your first degree and UCAT, you will be assessed and scored on two broad criteria:
1. Evidence of recent engagement with academic study and grounding in science subjects in the three years prior to the start of the programme. This could include for example:
- A second degree
- Further academic study at SCQF Level 9, 10 or 11 inclusive but not limited to MSc modules, PGCert or PGDip. The minimum credit value must be 20.
- Achievement of SQA Higher/s, grade C or above, taken as further graduate study in one of the following subjects: Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Human Biology.
Recent graduate applicants with no opportunity to undertake further postgraduate qualifications will not be disadvantaged.
2 . Evidence of working effectively as a healthcare professional, clinical scientist or veterinary surgeon. Such as:
- Performance in current role
- Teamwork and professionalism
- Effective relationships with patients. Although some applicants may have limited experience working with patients, evidence of any patient contact will strengthen the application.
Half of the total assessment is made up of the first degree and any further academic study (15%); UCAT score and SJT banding (25%) and personal statement (10%). The remaining 50% is attached to the interview.
English language proficiency
If you are from a non-majority English-speaking country and you have not studied in the UK, we will require recent proof that your proficiency in English will enable you to succeed in your studies.
We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:
- IELTS Academic: total 7.5 with at least 7.5 in each component.
- TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): 110 with at least 25 in each section. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
- C1 Advanced(CAE)/C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 191 with at least 191 in each component.
- PTE Academic: total 76 with at least 76 in each component.
We also accept a wider range of international qualifications and tests. Please contact us directly if your qualification is not listed above.
English language qualifications must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the degree you are applying for unless you are using IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL or Trinity ISE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.
Personal statement
After submitting the application form, applicants will receive an email to confirm receipt of their application and instructions about how to submit a personal statement.
How to write your personal statement
Using a maximum of 500 words, give examples - from your current or previous roles - of where you have achieved effective teamwork, professionalism and, where applicable, positive interactions with patients, which you think are relevant to becoming a doctor.
UCAT
As part of the application process, you will have sat the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT). Your UCAT score will contribute to the assessment process. We consider the Situational Judgement section of the UCAT test separately. Applicants who score a Band 4 in the Situational Judgement Test will not be considered further.
We accept all UCAT scores and have no minimum requirement. Tests taken between July 2022 and September 2024 will be accepted for consideration.
Find out more about the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)
The selection process: interviews
Selected candidates will be invited to an assessment day, which will involve an interview comprising of four stations.
If invited to an interview, you will be provided with more information about the structure of the day. The interview will further assess criteria 1 and 2 (above), explore your understanding of HCP-Med and your commitment to a career in medicine. The assessment day score makes up 50% of your total score. The total score will be used to rank your application.
Criminal convictions
You must complete the criminal convictions declaration on the application form.
The College may reject an application on the basis of certain criminal convictions, may require a search of police records and may require subsequent declarations of criminal convictions.
Successful applicants will be required to complete a criminal record check. You will be contacted with further information should you reach this stage of the application process.
Standards of Fitness to Train
Higher Education Occupational Physicians/Practitioners (HEOPS) have produced a document outlining the fitness standards expected of students. You can read this below:
HEOPS Students Fitness Standards
You should notify us of any condition at application stage. However, if a condition develops or is diagnosed after this point, even when you become a student, you should notify us so we can look into support arrangements for you.
Extenuating circumstances
If you have extenuating circumstances of which wish to advise us, please forward supporting documents to hcp-med@ed.ac.uk with your name, and details of the programme applied for by the applications' closing date to have them considered.
Requests for deferred entry
As this programme has a restricted number of places we are only able to consider deferrals over a limited time for the limited places we have available. Please note that there is no guarantee that your request will be successful. Each deferral granted takes a place away from the following year's cohort. Therefore, we limit this to a maximum of 2 places in extreme cases but aim to stick to 1 deferral being granted per year where the circumstances are appropriate and a deferral is warranted. Requests to defer are open to those holding an offer to begin their studies with us and must be submitted between February and June. Each request will be reviewed individually with final decisions made at the end of this time.
If your request for deferred entry is unsuccessful your current offer will still stand, however, if you are unable to take up your place and must withdraw please note that you are still welcome to submit a new application for the programme when you are ready.
Tuition fees
As long as the eligibility criteria are met, tuition fees will be paid by the Scottish Government.
Find out more about fees, funding and scholarships:
Get in touch
For any queries about HCP-Med, please email Johana Russotto Ramirez, Senior Admissions Officer, HCP-Med focus.
Email: HCP-Med@ed.ac.uk