Aberdeen

About The Course

The University of Aberdeen’s five-year Medicine programme gives students a step-by-step approach that helps you develop not only knowledge and skills, but also professional attitudes that you’ll need as a doctor.

Ranked 4th in Complete University Guide, the University of Aberdeen’s Integrated Course begins by introducing two major body systems: the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Alongside this teaching, clinical cases are used so students can understand the right course of investigation and treatments.

Aberdeen University prides itself on providing students with innovative experiences and teaching in General Practice and the community, continued throughout the course. It also provides you with early patient contact, and there is an opportunity to experience Remote and Rural Medicine in Inverness or the Scottish Highlands.

Structure Of The Course

Year 1

Throughout Year 1, you will learn about the main principles of normal function of the human body, as well as disease development and principles of General Practice.

You will also gain an understanding of human anatomy and start getting familiar with the necessary clinical skills.

Year 2

In both Years 1 and 2, you will have student-selected modules where you can study a topic in depth. There will be further anatomy and clinical skills teaching and opportunities to practice your clinical skills within each system throughout Year 2.

You will also study the Alimentary system, Head/Neck/Dermatology, Nervous system, Advanced Infection, the Musculoskeletal system and Medical Ethics & Law in that year.

Year 3

Year 3 moves on to the Reproductive system and various specialities, which include: Medicine of Old Age, Anaesthetics, Clinical Genetics and Clinical Pharmacology, with the continuation of General Practice teaching.

Year 3’s second term concludes with Psychiatry, Haematology/ Immunology and Paediatrics teaching, as well as providing you with bi-weekly clinical attachments.

Finally, you will get introduced to Clinical Effectiveness and start the first of nine five-week clinical rotations that will continue throughout Year 4.

Year 4

Year 4 at Aberdeen Medical School contains a heavily clinically-based curriculum, centered on helping students develop clinical reasoning, diagnostic and management skills.

You will undertake seven six-week clinical blocks, gaining experience in different clinical areas and disciplines including:

Acute medicine and critical care
Surgery and critical care
Reproductive and child health
General Practice
Long term conditions and integrated care
Mental health
Diagnostics and student preference attachments

Year 5

Finally, Year 5 is an apprentice year aimed at helping you put all you’ve learned into practice.

You will gain professional experience as a member of a clinical team, including three eight-week clinical attachments in the broad areas of Medicine, Surgery and Community Health (General Practice or Psychiatry), where students will be able to specialise.

You will also undertake a Professional Practice Block course, meant to help you transition from student to Foundation Doctor.

Academic Requirements

GCSEs: Grade 6 passes in English Language and Maths are required. Biology is recommended; Physics is recommended (or Dual Award Science). A combination of Grade 6-9 passes at GCSE is expected, especially in science subjects.

A-levels: AAA Predicted to achieve AAA in three A-Levels taken together at first sitting. Chemistry is required; one subject from Biology/Human Biology, Maths and Physics is required. Combinations of Chemistry, Biology plus a Non-Science subject are as acceptable as all-science combinations. General Studies & Global Perspectives and Research are not acceptable.

Scottish Higher: Standard Entry: Five Highers at AAAAB. Chemistry (Grade B minimum). Two subjects are required from Biology/Human Biology, Maths, Physics.

Scottish Advanced Higher: As above

International Baccalaureate: 36 points overall (including core), with three appropriate subjects at HL each to achieve grade 6 and three appropriate subjects at SL with an average of 6. Three subjects at Higher Level (HL) at Grade 6 or better. Chemistry is required; one of Maths/ Biology/Physics; one other subject. Plus three other subjects (including one science if three not offered at HL) at Standard Level at an average of Grade 6.

IELTs (International applicants only): Band 7.0 overall with a minimum of 7.0 in Speaking section.

Bachelor's Degree (Graduates only): 2:1(Hons) degree or equivalent

Further Entry Requirements

Work experience: Students are expected to show their commitment to medicine in their personal statements and during interviews. This can be achieved by job shadowing, undertaking paid or unpaid work of a caring nature, or volunteering.

Personal statement: All personal statements will be reviewed prior to interview invites being sent out. If you are invited to interview, your personal statement will be assessed during the interview.

Admissions Process

The admissions process includes assessing all aspects of an application, with the following breakdown: academic attainment/predictions (30%), UCAT (20%), and the subsequent interview performance (50%).

Admissions Tests:

UCAT ✅
A score is allocated based on the applicant's overall performance in UCAT compared with all other applicants to Aberdeen. Aberdeen will not normally consider those applying with UCAT SJT Band 4. Last year’s lowest UCAT (invited to interviews) was 2340 for Scottish/EU students and 2500 for UK students while the average was 2630 - 2800.

Interview Type: MMI

Interview Topics: Candidates should expect to answer a range of questions related to how prepared they are for a career in medicine, discussing their research into undergraduate curricula and postgraduate training, implications of the profession and their related work experience.

They should also be able to:

Consider a new situation and discuss their thoughts or suggest a solution to solve a problem
Outline any learning points from previous experiences
Reflect upon their own and others’ skills and abilities
Consider their potential contribution to the care of others

In addition to scoring communication and interpersonal skills, students’ answers are assessed on the following basis:

Ability to express ideas freely and coherently
How well they use their existing knowledge to formulate answers to unknown areas
Their ability to follow a reasoned argument and to formulate an opinion
The degree to which they are prepared for questions
Their ability to discuss different aspects (advantages & disadvantages) of a problem/situation
The degree of motivation, commitment, reflection and sensitivity demonstrated

If you’d like to see recent interview questions asked in Aberdeen Medicine interviews plus university-specific tips, check out our guide to Aberdeen medicine interview questions.

Admissions Statistics

Total number of applicants:	1695
Total number of places:	298
Total number of entrants:	304
Acceptance rate:	17.94%

Fees

Home students:	£1820 pa
Rest of UK:	£9250 pa
International students:	£50100 pa (the confirmed rate will include the mandatory national levy to cover the cost of tuition in the NHS)

Teaching Methods

Teaching style: Students can expect their teaching to take different approaches, including interactive lectures, small group workshops and tutorials, and practical laboratory classes in its world-class Science Teaching Hub.

Intercalation mode: Aberdeen Medical School offers intercalated BSc degrees in the following disciplines:

BSc (Hons) in Medical Sciences (Medical Humanities)
BSc (Hons) in Medical Sciences (Honours Year)

There are also 13 intercalated MSc degrees offered, available to students who have already completed 4 years of MBChB study or those who hold a Bachelor’s degree.

Graduate Prospects

About 98% of all graduates from Aberdeen’s Medicine course go on to work and/or continue their studies within 15 months after the end of the course. The average earnings are initially £35,000, rising to £51,000 after 5 years.

Overall, 95% of graduates are using what they learned during their studies in their current work and 93% are employed as medical practitioners.

FAQs

Is Aberdeen Medical School hard to get into?

Aberdeen is a very competitive medical school to get into, especially for non-Scottish students. Although there are no UCAT cut-off scores for interviews, those with averages of 2630 – 2800 are usually invited to interviews, with a requirement of AAA in three A-Levels for UK students or 36 IB points for international students.

Is Aberdeen a good university for Medicine?

Aberdeen is an excellent Medical School with its extensive research facilities and skilled professors. It was ranked 1st in the UK for Medicine in the Guardian University Guide 2024 rankings.

How many people apply for medicine at the University of Aberdeen?

For the 2023 entry, 1695 students applied to study medicine at the University of Aberdeen. Out of them, 304 were admitted: 253 were Scottish/EU, 31 were UK and 20 were international students.

What is the UCAT cut-off for Aberdeen University medicine?

Aberdeen does not have a UCAT cutoff but the lowest UCAT Score for invited to interview UK students for 2023 entry was 2500. The average score was about 2760-2800.

How long is Aberdeen’s medicine course?

5 years.