Graduate and mature applicants

We welcome applications for the six-year programme from non-medical graduates and mature non-graduates.

Graduate applicants

We do not offer a four-year fast-track graduate programme. However, it is possible for graduates to bypass the research / intercalated year within the 6 year programme.

Graduate applicants are in competition with school leavers and other applicants for our limited places available within each fee category.  We therefore do not have a set number of places that are specifically set aside for graduates.

We can only accept applications if you have completed your degree or are in your final year of study.  Preference will given to those applying with a medical-related subject for example: Biomedical Sciences/Medical Sciences/Nursing/Paramedic Science.

Minimum entry criteria for graduate applicants is available on the online University Degree Finder:

Degree programme requirements for the MBChB

As for all applicants, recent relevant academic study must have been taken within the past three years prior to the start of the programme.

Financial support for a second undergraduate degree may not cover the full duration of the MBChB. You should check with your funding body what financial assistance they would be able to provide.

Graduates applying for our undergraduate medicine degree do not qualify for any additional consideration under our widening access offer policy unless they are care experienced or are an asylum seeker/refugee.

MBChB for healthcare professionals

For graduate applicants who are qualified healthcare professionals that live and work in Scotland, we offer HCP-Med (MBChB for healthcare professionals), which is a five-year undergraduate medical degree that provides a unique route for experienced healthcare professionals, clinical scientists and veterinary surgeons to become doctors.

Degree programme requirements for HCP-Med (MBChB for healthcare professionals)

Mature non-graduate applicants

No special concessions are made to mature, non-graduate applicants. All applicants are required to have achieved the same minimum entrance requirements as school leaving applicants:

Degree programme requirements for the MBChB

The minimum qualifications should have been obtained within the three year period prior to the start of the programme.

Supporting information

Graduate and mature applicants are welcome to send a supporting second reference, quoting their UCAS number, to the Admissions Office by 15th October deadline. This gives you the opportunity to provide information that you are unable to fit on your UCAS application. An application will not be disadvantaged if this information is not submitted. Please make sure that the reference is on letterheaded paper and is signed. Alternatively, the reference can be sent directly from the referee's email address, providing it is not their personal account.

Assessment days (interviews)

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an Assessment day, during which they will have an opportunity to find out more about studying medicine in Edinburgh, as well as undergoing a series of short interviews. Candidates invited for assessment day will be provided with more information about the structure of the day.

Assessments will be based on the core attributes required of medical doctors, outlined in the document from the Medical Schools’ council: https://www.medschools.ac.uk/media/2542/statement-on-core-values-to-study-medicine.pdf