Entry requirements and how to apply

Please read these guidelines carefully.

Applications for the September 2025 intake are now closed.

Applications for the September 2026 intake will open in September 2025.

HCP-Med applications will be processed directly by the University of Edinburgh and not through UCAS. Applicants must apply for the programme using our online application form.

 

Entry requirements

These entry requirements are for the 2026/27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the following academic year will be published beginning of March 2026.

Applicants will have to meet our entry requirements, as well as have sat the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT).

Entry requirements:

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a science or healthcare subject. We will also consider non-science based degrees supplemented with SQA Higher/GCE A level Chemistry at C or above.

We will also consider a UK 2:2 honours degree or an Ordinary degree, or their international equivalents, providing they are in a science or healthcare subject.

Applicants who are on, or have been on, a medicine degree course will not be considered.

You need to 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
  • General Medical Council (for 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

If successful, you will need to provide evidence of support from your current employer as a condition of the 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
  • SQA Higher(s) at grade C or above in Chemistry, Biology, Physics, or Human Biology, or Open University modules in a science subject (pending approval by the admissions and recruitment team) at 60% or above (minimum 20 credits)
  • academic studies at SCQF Level 9, 10, or 11, such as MSc modules, PGCert, or PGDip (minimum 20 credits)

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 (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:

  • first degree and any further academic study (15%)
  • UCAT score (17.5%) and situational judgement test banding (7.5%)
  • personal statement (10%)

The remaining 50% is attached to the interview.

To qualify for this tuition fees funded programme, you must also:

  • 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 2025.
  • 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 2025 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

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.

English language requirements

 

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 2023 and September 2025 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.

Criminal record check

 

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 specific 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

This programme is funded by the Scottish Funding Council for candidates who meet the entry and residency requirements.

 

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

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