Dundee vs University of Greater Manchester

Dundee requires AAA including Chemistry and Biology.

University of Greater Manchester requires Minimum AAB offer/prediction, must include chemistry or biology and one further subject from biology/chemistry/physics/maths. Completed in one sitting across a maximum of two years. May consider resits. GCSEs: 5 subjects at grade 6, must include maths, English language and two sciences; will consider resits in GCSE English language or maths.

GCSE profile matters at both schools — Dundee: Biology, English and Maths required at GCSE grade 6/B (if not studied at A-Level). Higher GCSE/National 5 grades essential due to high academic weighting in shortlisting. University of Greater Manchester: Min 7 GCSEs at grade 7+ including Maths, English Language, dual-award Science (similar to main Manchester programme).

Dundee uses Traditional (Two-part selection (~1h40m): observed 30-minute group discussion, then a structured traditional one-to-one discussion with an assessor); University of Greater Manchester uses MMI (Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI)). These two formats reward different skills — Traditional emphasises academic reasoning and thinking aloud through unfamiliar problems, while MMI rewards breadth and quick recovery.

If your strengths lie in conversational depth, either may suit you more. If you prefer discrete capsule answers under time pressure, University of Greater Manchester is the better fit.

Interview windows: Dundee interviews in December - February; University of Greater Manchester in December - March.

Dundee runs a Spiral curriculum; University of Greater Manchester runs a PBL curriculum. The teaching philosophies are different — Dundee delivers more didactic lectures with structured systems-based progression, while University of Greater Manchester centres learning around clinical cases.

Specifics: Five-year MBChB spiral curriculum - concepts revisited with increasing complexity. Clinical placements across NHS Tayside, NHS Fife, NHS Highland, and Five-year MBChB built around problem-based learning. Manchester-affiliated with Greater Manchester NHS placements.

Intake size: Dundee — Home (Scottish + Contextual) ~825 places; RUK ~130; International ~156 (2025 entry).; University of Greater Manchester — ~50 places per year (smaller satellite cohort).. A larger cohort means more peer breadth; a smaller cohort means more tutor contact.

Dundee: Scottish medical school renowned for anatomy teaching and medical research. Shortlisting weights 60% academic / 40% UCAT for school leavers (40/60 for graduates). Both A-level predictions and GCSEs feed the academic score.

University of Greater Manchester: Potentially open to UK applicants this year - enquire for more details. International students can apply directly in addition to their 4 UCAS medical choices.