The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies Bicentenary

Access to Medical Studies

SWAP offers an Access to Medical Studies programme which we accept for consideration for entry to year one of Veterinary Medicine from eligible applicants.

We welcome applicants from this route, though it should be noted that undertaking the Access to Medical Studies SWAP course gives no guarantee of an offer to Vet Medicine.

Successful applicants to our Vet Medicine degree from this route will be asked to achieve AAA in the three graded components of the Access course – mathematics, biology and chemistry.   Applicants will be asked to achieve 80% or more in each subject component, as well as an overall pass of the entire Access programme. 

In order to be eligible to be considered for a place on this SWAP programme, applicants needs to have no previous experience of university-level study (which also includes having started and not completed a degree, unless under exceptional circumstances). Furthermore, potential students need to fulfil either of the additional eligibility criteria below:

  • have been out of full-time education for at least 3 years AND have no qualifications above SCQF level 5 (National 5, Intermediate 2, Standard Grade, GCSE or equivalent);  OR
  • have been out of full-time education for at least 5 years if applicant already has qualifications at SCQF Level 6 or above (Highers, A Levels, HN).

Note that students who have previously undertaken the SWAP Access to Life Sciences course may also be considered for entry into the SWAP Access to Medical Studies programme.

Potential SWAP students also need to be able to commit to college on a full-time basis (around 18-20 hours a week). They also need to have evidence of previous study of Biology, Chemistry and Maths at minimum level of National 5, Intermediate 2, Standard Grade, GCSE or equivalent, and will be expected to have recent, varied and practical work experience.

For full information about the content and assessment of the SWAP Access to Medical Studies programme - and how to apply - please follow the links to the SWAP East and SWAP West websites:

SWAP East

SWAP West

For any further queries about the SWAP Access to Medical Studies programme, including eligibility criteria please contact SWAP directly.

Contact SWAP