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We compile these profiles from each university's own published admissions pages and review them monthly. Entry requirements do change mid-cycle, and universities sometimes publish updates without announcing them.
Use this page to get oriented quickly, build your shortlist, and work out which questions to ask — then confirm the specifics that your application depends on (grades, admissions test, fees, eligibility) directly with the university before you apply. If you spot something that looks out of date, tell us and we will check it.
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Entry year covered: 2027
Considering Aberdeen Medicine? Here's a complete breakdown of entry requirements, admissions criteria, and the application process for 2026 entry.
The University of Aberdeen is home to one of the UK's oldest and most respected medical schools, with a history of medical education stretching back to 1497. The School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition offers an integrated curriculum that combines early clinical exposure with strong scientific foundations.
Aberdeen is renowned for its supportive community, excellent student experience, and unique opportunities for rural and remote medicine. The city offers an exceptional quality of life with lower living costs than other major UK cities, while the medical school provides outstanding clinical training across NHS Grampian and the wider Scottish healthcare system.
Considering University of Aberdeen? Future Doc's Predictable Offer Protocol™ coordinates every element of your application as one interconnected system, from UCAT preparation to university selection to interview readiness. 93% of our students receive at least one offer. Find out how it works.
UCAS Code: A100 | 5 years
The standard 5-year undergraduate medicine programme for school leavers and graduates. Open to UK and international applicants with strong academics and UCAT scores.
You are viewing this courseUCAS Code: A1A1 | 1-year gateway year + 5-year MBChB
A foundation year plus 5-year medicine programme for Scottish applicants from widening access backgrounds. Successful completion guarantees a place on Year 1.
View full entry requirements| Route | UCAS Code | Length | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicine MBChB | A100 | 5 years | School leavers and graduates; UK and international applicants |
| Gateway2Medicine (with NESCOL) | A1A1 | 1-year gateway year, then the 5-year MBChB | Scottish domiciled school leavers from widening access backgrounds only |
UCAS codes verified in October 2026 on Aberdeen's own A100 programme page and Gateway2Medicine "How to Apply" page (institution code A20). Aberdeen does not run a graduate-entry medicine route.
The following requirements apply to the standard 5-year Medicine MBChB programme (A100). For the Gateway2Medicine programme, see the dedicated page linked above.
| Qualification | Requirement |
|---|---|
| A-Level Grades | AAA including Chemistry |
| Required Subjects | Chemistry plus one from Biology, Mathematics, or Physics |
| Preferred Third Subject | Biology strongly recommended |
| Not Accepted | General Studies, Critical Thinking |
| Qualification | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Higher Grades | AAAAB by end of S5, or AAAA by end of S5 |
| Required Subjects | Chemistry and Biology at Higher (minimum grade B) |
| Advanced Highers | Not required but can demonstrate academic ability |
All applicants must sit the UCAT in the same year they apply. Aberdeen uses UCAT scores as a significant factor in their selection process, alongside academic achievement.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cut-off Score | No published cut-off — competitive applicants have historically scored around 1875+ on the current 2,700-point UCAT scale (roughly 2500 on the pre-2026 scale, which was marked out of 3,600) |
| How UCAT is Used | Combined with academic performance for shortlisting |
| SJT Consideration | Yes, SJT band is considered in the selection process |
| UCAT Weighting | Significant weighting alongside academics |
"Aberdeen values a well-rounded application. Your UCAT score matters, but so does your academic profile and evidence of commitment to medicine. I've seen students with good but not exceptional UCAT scores secure offers because their overall application was strong and they performed brilliantly at MMI. It's about presenting the complete package."
— Dr. Ash, Future Doc
Note: The UCAT format changed in July 2025 with the removal of Abstract Reasoning, reducing the maximum score from 3,600 to 2,700. Cut-off scores and statistics from previous years may not directly apply to the current format.
Aberdeen uses the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format. Candidates rotate through several stations, each designed to assess different competencies required for a career in medicine.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Format | Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) |
| Number of Stations | Typically 6-8 stations |
| Station Duration | Approximately 7 minutes each |
| Interview Period | December to March |
| What's Assessed | Communication, ethical reasoning, empathy, problem-solving, motivation |
Important: Each station is independently assessed, so a poor performance in one station does not necessarily impact your overall score. This format allows you to recover from any difficult moments.
Preparing for your University of Aberdeen interview? Future Doc's Think Like a Doctor™ module includes university-specific practice, high-pressure simulations, and an intensive In-Person Interview Day. Our near-100% interview-to-offer conversion rate reflects months of preparation across the full application, not just last-minute coaching. Learn more.
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Annual Applications | Aberdeen does not publish a current figure — around 2,000 is the commonly quoted estimate |
| Total Places | ~180 |
| Interview Invitations | Not published by Aberdeen — around 600–700 is an estimate, not an official figure |
| Application to Place Ratio | Not published — roughly 11:1 on the estimates above |
| Scottish Domiciled Quota | Majority of places reserved for Scottish applicants |
Aberdeen expects applicants to demonstrate understanding of medicine as a career. While there is no strict minimum hours requirement, they are looking for evidence of:
If traditional clinical experience was not possible, Aberdeen will consider alternative evidence of commitment and understanding of healthcare. Quality and reflection matter more than quantity.
Exceptional circumstances only
Aberdeen does not normally consider applicants who have not met its minimum academic requirements, or those who are resitting their exams in order to upgrade their results, unless they have experienced very serious personal difficulties. Those difficulties must have been declared to the exam board at the time of the original sitting, so a resit application without that documented history is unlikely to progress.
Yes
Re-applicants are welcome to apply again. You will need to demonstrate how your application has improved since your previous attempt and show continued commitment to medicine.
A100 only
| Programme | International Students |
|---|---|
| Medicine MBChB (A100) | Accepted |
| Gateway2Medicine (A1A1) | Scottish domiciled only |
Note: International places are limited, and most places are reserved for Scottish and other UK applicants. English language requirement is IELTS 7.0 or equivalent.
A contextual offer is an adjustment a university makes for applicants whose circumstances have made their education harder than the grades alone suggest. Universities use them because they recognise that two students with the same predicted grades have not always had the same run at them. They are a formal, published part of the admissions process — not a favour, and not something you have to argue for.
What the adjustment actually is varies by school, and it matters more than most applicants realise. Depending on where you apply, qualifying can mean: a lower grade offer; being ranked against other widening participation applicants rather than the whole field; a guaranteed or prioritised interview; a lower admissions test threshold or extra shortlisting points; relaxed GCSE or subject requirements; or access to a separate gateway or foundation year route.
If you meet any of those conditions, Aberdeen may lower the grades it asks of you, boost your UCAT score before it ranks you for interview, and — if you are Scottish domiciled — guarantee you an interview. Evidence must reach medadm@abdn.ac.uk or UCAS by 15 October; SIMD and POLAR are verified automatically.
| How it helps | What that means for you |
|---|---|
| A lower grade offer | Your minimum academic requirement drops by one grade: AAAB at Scottish Highers instead of AAAAB, or AAB at A-level instead of AAA. Chemistry is still required, plus the usual second or third science. |
| A UCAT score uplift before ranking | Aberdeen adds 10% to the UCAT score of SIMD20 and/or care-experienced school leavers, and 5% to SIMD40 school leavers, before UCAT is used to rank applicants for interview. Because there is no UCAT cut-off score, the uplift moves you directly up the ranking rather than just over a threshold. |
| A guaranteed interview (Scottish domiciled) | If you are Scottish domiciled, meet the minimum academic requirements (including the adjusted widening access ones) and your UCAT sits in the top 75% of Aberdeen's applicant pool, your interview is guaranteed. Combined with the uplift above, this is the main practical benefit of widening access status at Aberdeen. |
| A guaranteed interview (care experienced) | The university's Widening Access Contextualised Admissions Policy guarantees an interview to care-experienced applicants on any course that interviews, and names Medicine explicitly, provided you meet or are predicted to meet the academic requirements. |
| A separate entry route: Gateway2Medicine | A one-year pre-medical programme run with NESCOL for Scottish widening-access pupils who cannot reach the A100 grades. Entry is AABB at 4 Highers over one or two sittings — far below the AAAAB standard offer — or an NC Level 6 Applied Sciences with 18 credits plus a grade A science Higher, or an HNC Applied Science with 15 credits and a grade A graded unit at first attempt. All eligible applicants are invited to interview (usually April), and UCAT is not needed to apply (though it is mandatory to progress into the MBChB). |
For a side-by-side comparison, see every UK medical and dental school's widening participation scheme.
Aberdeen has not yet set its 2027/28 tuition fees. The table below says so plainly, and names the university's latest confirmed rates (2026/27) underneath so you can see the scale of the numbers rather than being left guessing. Scotland runs its own fee system — the English £10,050 cap does not apply here.
| Fee Status | Annual Tuition |
|---|---|
| Scottish students (SAAS-funded) | 2027/28: TBC Latest published rate (2026/27): £1,820 — paid in full by SAAS if you meet its residence conditions. You must apply to SAAS every year. |
| Rest of UK (England, Wales, Northern Ireland) and Republic of Ireland | 2027/28: TBC Latest published rate (2026/27): £9,790. Aberdeen states the RUK fee will rise each year in line with the UK Government fee cap. |
| International | 2027/28: TBC Latest published rate (2026/27): £50,100, inclusive of the mandatory Additional Cost of Teaching (ACT) levy charged by the Scottish Government for NHS clinical teaching. Aberdeen states the levy for 2027 entry "has yet to be agreed"; for 2026 entry it was £10,000 a year. |
Verified October 2026 against the A100 degree programme page and the School of Medicine's own tuition fees page. Confirm the figure that applies to you with Aberdeen before you apply.
The MBChB programme at Aberdeen uses an integrated curriculum that combines basic science with clinical experience from Year 1:
Core biomedical sciences integrated with early clinical experience. Students learn anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and pathology while gaining exposure to patients and clinical environments from the start.
Deeper study of body systems with increased clinical focus. Integration of pharmacology, pathology, and clinical skills through problem-based learning and hospital placements.
Extensive clinical rotations across medical and surgical specialties. Students gain hands-on experience in hospitals, GP practices, and community settings throughout NHS Grampian and beyond.
Optional intercalated degree available, typically taken between Years 3 and 4. Popular options include BMedSci in Medical Sciences, Research, or Public Health.
Students benefit from clinical training across NHS Grampian and partner organisations:
"What sets Aberdeen apart is the combination of excellent teaching, early patient contact, and unique opportunities in rural medicine. You'll see conditions and gain experiences that students at big city medical schools simply don't get. The smaller cohort size means you really know your classmates and tutors, creating a supportive learning environment."
— Dr. Ash, Future Doc
Applying to medical school requires more than meeting the minimum entry requirements. Here are practical steps to strengthen your application:
For an overview of all UK medical schools and how they compare, see the UK Medical Schools hub page.
Aberdeen does not publish a specific UCAT cut-off. Historically, competitive applicants scored above roughly 2500 under the pre-2026 UCAT, which was marked out of 3,600. Since Abstract Reasoning was removed the UCAT is marked out of 2,700, so the equivalent figure is around 1875. Treat that as a guide, not a threshold. Your UCAT score is considered alongside your academic profile, so strong academics can help compensate for a slightly lower UCAT and vice versa.
Aberdeen uses the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format. You'll rotate through 6-8 stations lasting approximately 7 minutes each. Stations assess communication, ethics, problem-solving, empathy, and motivation for medicine.
Only in exceptional cases. Aberdeen does not normally consider applicants who are resitting their exams in order to upgrade their results, unless they have experienced very serious personal difficulties that were declared to the exam board at the time of the original sitting.
International students can apply to the standard 5-year MBChB programme (A100). However, places for international students are limited as the majority of places are reserved for Scottish applicants. International fees are significantly higher than UK fees.
Gateway2Medicine is a 6-year programme for Scottish applicants from widening access backgrounds. It includes a foundation year that prepares students for the medical degree. Successful completion of the gateway year guarantees a place on Year 1 of Medicine. See our dedicated Gateway2Medicine page for full details.
Focus on three areas: achieve strong academics (AAA at A-Level or equivalent), prepare thoroughly for the UCAT to score competitively, and gain meaningful work experience that you can reflect on articulately. Most applicants treat these as separate tasks, which is why the national success rate is just 16%. Future Doc's Predictable Offer Protocol coordinates every element as one interconnected system, which is why 93% of their students receive at least one offer.
Yes, Aberdeen is one of Scotland's leading medical schools with a proud heritage dating back to 1497. It consistently ranks highly for student satisfaction, offers exceptional clinical exposure from Year 1, and provides unique opportunities in rural and remote medicine. The supportive community and lower cost of living make it an excellent choice.
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Admissions email | medadm@abdn.ac.uk (School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition) |
| Admissions phone | +44 (0)1224 437923 |
| Course page | Medicine MBChB (A100) |
Most applicants treat the medical school application as a series of separate hurdles: the UCAT, personal statement, work experience, university selection, and interviews. They try to solve each one independently. This creates a fragmented approach where the pieces never add up.
Future Doc works differently. Through the Predictable Offer Protocol, a dedicated coach who knows your complete profile coordinates every element of your application as one interconnected system. Every decision is made with the full picture in mind.
The result: 93% of our students receive at least one offer. If they don't, they come back next year for free.
Find Out How It Works
Last updated: February 2026. Information verified against University of Aberdeen admissions pages and Medical Schools Council guidance.
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