Studying Medicine & Dentistry in Scotland: Universities, UCAT, Costs

The admissions system: UCAS, Highers, and UCAT

As in England, applications are submitted exclusively through UCAS, with the same early deadline of 15 October 2026, 6 p.m., for study starting in autumn 2027. Scottish applicants usually sit Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers rather than A-Levels; international applicants more commonly submit A-Levels or the International Baccalaureate. All five medical faculties require the UCAT, though there are no fixed minimum scores — universities weight test results and school grades differently depending on the faculty (at the University of Dundee, for example, the ratio is 60:40 in favour of grades).

One distinctive feature is the joint programme ScotGEM from the universities of St Andrews and Dundee: an undergraduate medical degree specifically designed to prepare students for general practice in rural areas of Scotland, with a preference for Scottish applicants who have a connection to underserved communities — in practice largely inaccessible to international students.

The five medical faculties

Four of the five universities offer a complete, standalone MBChB programme. St Andrews is a special case: only the first two years of study are completed there, after which all students transfer to a partner university for the clinical years. For international students (fee status "overseas"), this transfer is not a matter of choice: they go exclusively to the University of Manchester in England, whereas home students can also choose between Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, or Queen Mary London.

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Dentistry: faculties and costs

Dentistry (BDS) is offered in Scotland at three universities — Aberdeen, Dundee, and Glasgow. All three require the UCAT and usually an interview. The figures below are rough estimates rounded to the nearest hundred.

How to apply, step by step

1. Sit the UCAT in the summer before the application year (2026 test window: 13 July – 24 September)
2. Create a UCAS account; choose up to four medicine or dentistry courses plus one alternative
3. Submit your personal statement and school reference — deadline 15 October, 6 p.m.
4. If invited: attend a selection interview or Multiple Mini Interview, usually between November and March
5. Receive a conditional offer tied to your final school results
6. Provide proof of English language proficiency, usually IELTS Academic with at least 7.0 in each component
7. Apply for a Student visa and complete enrolment

Tuition fees and living costs at a glance

Unlike in England, Scottish and many EU students pay no tuition fees thanks to SAAS funding — a privilege that has not applied to applicants from Germany or other EU countries since Brexit. They fall under the same "Overseas" rates as students from outside Europe. Living costs outside Edinburgh and Glasgow are typically £900–1,200 per month; in the two major cities, closer to £1,100–1,500.