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Studying medicine at uni as an S5

I'm hoping to study medicine at a Scottish university after getting my Highers in S5 (therefore skipping 6th form). Does anyone know of Unis which will allow me to do this/ does anyone who has done it themselves or know someone who was done it have tips on how I could go about it? Thanks.

Reply 1

Original post by ifeoddy
I'm hoping to study medicine at a Scottish university after getting my Highers in S5 (therefore skipping 6th form). Does anyone know of Unis which will allow me to do this/ does anyone who has done it themselves or know someone who was done it have tips on how I could go about it? Thanks.


All medical schools in Scotland require both highers and advanced higher as minimum entry requirements. Most medical schools also require a minimum age of 18 before starting the course (england)
Look at the entry requirements for each medical school you wish to apply to.

Reply 2

Original post by Lewis T K
All medical schools in Scotland require both highers and advanced higher as minimum entry requirements. Most medical schools also require a minimum age of 18 before starting the course (england)
Look at the entry requirements for each medical school you wish to apply to.

Hi, thanks for answering. I’m in s4 atm so i don’t
Know much about the whole application process. Would you know why some unis don’t list their s6 requirements on their entry requirements pages?

Reply 3

Original post by ifeoddy
Hi, thanks for answering. I’m in s4 atm so i don’t
Know much about the whole application process. Would you know why some unis don’t list their s6 requirements on their entry requirements pages?


I believe this is typically as your S6 marks will be used in your conditional offer.
Usually the entry requirements will be something like ‘AAAAA by end of S5 and BB at Advanced Higher in S6’, or ‘AAAAB at Highers taken at one sitting, with offers being conditional, based on three Advanced Highers / 'crash' Highers taken in 6th year, at BBB grades’.
Therefore the advanced highers will be in your conditional offer and subject to what you are sitting.
Some medical schools, such as Glasgow and Edinburgh are very transparent with what they want for advanced highers, some less so.
Either way, all medical schools in Scotland will require both higher results from S5 and higher/advanced higher results from S6, the only way to have an unconditional offer is if you already have these results, i.e. have taken a gap year.
Also remember that UCAT will make up a very large component of your application, thus it’s really good to look through each universities requirements and weighting on academics/UCAT/work experience before submitting your application to have the best and most strategic application to your strengths.

Best of luck with your applications.

Reply 4

Original post by Lewis T K
I believe this is typically as your S6 marks will be used in your conditional offer.
Usually the entry requirements will be something like ‘AAAAA by end of S5 and BB at Advanced Higher in S6’, or ‘AAAAB at Highers taken at one sitting, with offers being conditional, based on three Advanced Highers / 'crash' Highers taken in 6th year, at BBB grades’.
Therefore the advanced highers will be in your conditional offer and subject to what you are sitting.
Some medical schools, such as Glasgow and Edinburgh are very transparent with what they want for advanced highers, some less so.
Either way, all medical schools in Scotland will require both higher results from S5 and higher/advanced higher results from S6, the only way to have an unconditional offer is if you already have these results, i.e. have taken a gap year.
Also remember that UCAT will make up a very large component of your application, thus it’s really good to look through each universities requirements and weighting on academics/UCAT/work experience before submitting your application to have the best and most strategic application to your strengths.
Best of luck with your applications.

Thanks this is so helpful!

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