How do interviews differ between Glasgow and Ulster University Medical School?

Glasgow uses Panel interview: Panel interview. Ulster University Medical School uses Multiple Mini Interviews: Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI). The two formats reward different skill sets. Plan separate prep streams for each, with at least 3 full mock interviews per format before sitting either. Interview windows: December - February (Glasgow); December - March (Ulster University Medical School).

Where are Glasgow and Ulster University Medical School located, and how does that affect cost?

Glasgow is in Glasgow, UK. Ulster University Medical School is in Londonderry, UK. Scottish-domiciled applicants funded by SAAS pay no tuition fees at Scottish medical schools — a substantial funding advantage worth tens of thousands of pounds over the degree. Rest-of-UK applicants still pay £9,250/year.

When does each school release decisions?

Glasgow typically releases medicine decisions March onwards. Ulster University Medical School releases medicine decisions March onwards. If one is earlier than the other, you may need to hold a decision while waiting for the second school — be ready to compare in real time.

Medical school comparison

Glasgow vs Ulster University Medical School

Q: How are GCSEs weighted at Glasgow vs Ulster University Medical School?

Glasgow — GCSE English Literature or English Language at grade 6/B or above. GCSE Biology at grade 6/B if not studied at A-level. GCSE retakes are accepted. Ulster University Medical School — Min 5 GCSEs at grade 6 (B) including Maths, English Language, dual-award Science.

Glasgow and Ulster University Medical School are both UK medical schools, but the path to an offer at each is meaningfully different. Glasgow is based in Glasgow (Scotland) while Ulster University Medical School sits in Londonderry (London), and the regional context shapes everything from fee status to NHS-deanery destination.

The interview formats diverge — Panel vs MMI — and the prep approaches for the two are fundamentally different. Glasgow is the older institution (founded 1451); the other (founded 2021) has shaped its medical school around modern integrated-curriculum thinking.

Side-by-side comparison

Show only differences

Side-by-side comparison: Glasgow and Ulster University Medical School.
Comparison field	GlasgowGlasgow	Ulster University Medical SchoolLondonderry
Quick comparison
Location	Glasgow, UK	Londonderry, UK
A-Level offer	AAA including Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics. International A-level applicants need AAA including Chemistry, Biology and one of Physics or Mathematics. Grades must be achieved at one sitting and at the first attempt - resits and extra time to sit qualifications are not permitted, and a mix of qualifications at the same level is not accepted.	Graduate entry - 2:1 or above in any honours degree
TrueScore	Glasgow TrueScore 1870	-
UCAT home cut-off	-	-
Interview format	Panel interview	Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI)
Post-interview chance	Scottish: 473/565 = 84% (2025); RUK: 128/216 = 59%; International: 114/161 = 71%	-
Decision date	March onwards	March onwards

A-Level offer	AAA including Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics. International A-level applicants need AAA including Chemistry, Biology and one of Physics or Mathematics. Grades must be achieved at one sitting and at the first attempt - resits and extra time to sit qualifications are not permitted, and a mix of qualifications at the same level is not accepted.	Graduate entry - 2:1 or above in any honours degree
Contextual A-Level offer	-	-
Required A-Level subjects	Chemistry plus one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics	-
A-Level resit policy	Resits or additional time to sit qualifications not permitted - required grades and subjects must be obtained at one sitting and at the first attempt	Resits accepted.
GCSE requirements	GCSE English Literature or English Language at grade 6/B or above. GCSE Biology at grade 6/B if not studied at A-level. GCSE retakes are accepted.	-
GCSE scoring methodology	-	-
Scottish Highers	AAAAB at Higher in S5 including Chemistry, Biology and one of Physics or Mathematics, plus BB at Advanced Higher in S6 and National 5 English at grade B. Offers are conditional on S6 performance, and Highers taken in S4 do not count towards the S5 requirement.	-
Scottish Advanced Highers	BB at Advanced Higher in S6 (in addition to S5 AAAAB Highers above)	-
International Baccalaureate	38 points overall, 6,6,6 at Higher Level including HL Chemistry and Biology, plus SL Physics or Mathematics at 6 and SL English at 6	-
Graduate-entry degree requirement	2:1 or above in a relevant science degree, obtained within 7 years of the entry date. UCAT still required.	2:1 (Upper-second-class Honours) or above in any honours degree (Arts, Science, Humanities all accepted)
Alternative qualifications	-	Graduate-entry only. UCAT NOT used - Ulster uses GAMSAT (Graduate Medical School Admissions Test). Recent GAMSAT thresholds have been ~61. Plus 2:1 honours degree and MMI interview. Strong Northern Ireland regional focus.

Contextual cut-off	-	-
Scottish (where applicable)	1870+ /2700 (2026 entry threshold for interview)	-
Rest of UK (where applicable)	1990+ /2700 (2026 entry threshold for interview)	-
International cut-off	2150+ /2700 (2026 entry threshold, International and EU)	-
Graduate cut-off	-	Not applicable - Ulster uses GAMSAT, not the UCAT. Recent thresholds have been around 61.
SJT band	Not considered	-
UCAT notes	Glasgow states plainly that it does not consider the SJT. Thresholds differ by applicant group because intake numbers for Home, Rest of UK and International are set by the Scottish Government and Scot…	GAMSAT is scored out of 100. Do not sit the UCAT for this course.

Degree awarded	MBChB	MBBS
Course length	5 years	4 years (graduate entry)
Teaching style	Spiral + Problem-based learning	Integrated
Anatomy teaching	-	Imaging and models
First patient contact	Year 1	-
Placement geography	Glasgow and the west of Scotland	Across Northern Ireland
Named placement sites	Glasgow Royal Infirmary (New Lister Building), Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (Teaching & Learning Centre)	-
Intercalation	A one-year intercalated BSc with over 20 options, or a two-year BSc (Hons), taken between years 3 and 4.	-
Course highlight	The COMET scheme funds an enhanced, immersive general-practice experience for selected students.	Based at the Magee campus in Derry~Londonderry, alongside other healthcare programmes.

Interview window	December - February	December - March
Interview details	One 30-minute session split into two parts, Panel A and Panel B, with the same two interviewers covering both. Panel A explores your motivation for medicine and teamwork; Panel B covers communication…	MMI format with multiple stations. Focus on serving Northern Ireland's healthcare needs alongside standard motivation, ethics and communication content.

Specialities	Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine	Medicine, Community Medicine
Established	1451	2021
Course type	Undergraduate	Undergraduate
What makes it different	One of the oldest medical schools in the English-speaking world. Your personal statement and reference are screened early, alongside achieved and predicted grades; UCAT scores arrive later in the cycl…	New medical school serving Northern Ireland. Strong regional focus, with the course oriented around local workforce needs. Cut-offs have not yet stabilised.
Official course page	https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/medicine/	https://www.ulster.ac.uk/courses/202627/medicine-41407

Glasgow

Quick comparison

Location: Glasgow, UK
A-Level offer: AAA including Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics. International A-level applicants need AAA including Chemistry, Biology and one of Physics or Mathematics. Grades must be achieved at one sitting and at the first attempt - resits and extra time to sit qualifications are not permitted, and a mix of qualifications at the same level is not accepted.
TrueScore: Glasgow TrueScore 1870
UCAT home cut-off: -
Interview format: Panel interview
Post-interview chance: Scottish: 473/565 = 84% (2025); RUK: 128/216 = 59%; International: 114/161 = 71%
Decision date: March onwards

Ulster University Medical School

Londonderry

Quick comparison

Location: Londonderry, UK
A-Level offer: Graduate entry - 2:1 or above in any honours degree
TrueScore: -
UCAT home cut-off: -
Interview format: Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI)
Post-interview chance: -
Decision date: March onwards

Glasgow vs Ulster University Medical School - in detail

A-Level and academic profile

Glasgow requires AAA including Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics. International A-level applicants need AAA including Chemistry, Biology and one of Physics or Mathematics.

Grades must be achieved at one sitting and at the first attempt - resits and extra time to sit qualifications are not permitted, and a mix of qualifications at the same level is not accepted.

Ulster University Medical School requires Graduate entry - 2:1 or above in any honours degree.

GCSE profile matters at both schools — Glasgow: GCSE English Literature or English Language at grade 6/B or above. GCSE Biology at grade 6/B if not studied at A-level. GCSE retakes are accepted. Ulster University Medical School: Min 5 GCSEs at grade 6 (B) including Maths, English Language, dual-award Science.

Interview formats

Glasgow uses Panel (Panel interview); Ulster University Medical School uses MMI (Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI)). These two formats reward different skills — Panel emphasises narrative coherence and the ability to develop a thread under follow-up questioning, while MMI rewards breadth and quick recovery.

If your strengths lie in conversational depth, Glasgow may suit you more. If you prefer discrete capsule answers under time pressure, Ulster University Medical School is the better fit.

Interview windows: Glasgow interviews in December - February; Ulster University Medical School in December - March.

Curriculum and teaching style

Glasgow runs a PBL curriculum; Ulster University Medical School runs a Integrated curriculum. The teaching philosophies are different — Glasgow leans on small-group case-based learning from year 1, while Ulster University Medical School uses a more traditional lecture-led structure.

Specifics: Five-year MBChB built around problem-based learning groups, with early clinical exposure from Year 1. Four-year accelerated MBBS for graduates. Clinical placements across Northern Ireland NHS sites (Magee Campus, Western HSC, Northern HSC).

Intake size: Glasgow — ~40-50 RUK + ~22 international + ~190 Scottish places per year (A100).; Ulster University Medical School — ~70 places per year (small cohort, NI-focused).. A larger cohort means more peer breadth; a smaller cohort means more tutor contact.

What makes each distinctive

Glasgow: One of the oldest medical schools in the English-speaking world. Your personal statement and reference are screened early, alongside achieved and predicted grades; UCAT scores arrive later in the cycle and are then used to allocate interviews among applicants who have already cleared that screen. Glasgow does not use the SJT at all.

Ulster University Medical School: New medical school serving Northern Ireland. Strong regional focus, with the course oriented around local workforce needs. Cut-offs have not yet stabilised.

Which is right for you?

Regionally, the choice often comes down to cost of living and NHS-deanery preferences — Glasgow feeds into the Scotland foundation programme network; Ulster University Medical School into the London network. If you learn best in small-group case discussion, prefer Glasgow; if you prefer lecture-led foundations, the other suits better.

Your firm/insurance choice should ultimately weight: where your UCAT and predicted grades sit relative to each school's threshold, which interview format you can prepare for most credibly, and where you'd actually want to live for five or six years.

Common questions

Neither school publishes a single fixed UCAT cut-off; both use UCAT as part of a composite shortlisting score alongside GCSE and personal-statement weighting. Glasgow guidance: Glasgow states plainly that it does not consider the SJT. Thresholds differ by applicant group because intake numbers for Home, Rest of UK and International are set by the Scottish Government and Scottish Funding Council, and they move each year with the strength of the cohort. Personal statement and reference are screened before UCAT is applied, not afterwards.. Ulster University Medical School guidance: GAMSAT is scored out of 100. Do not sit the UCAT for this course..

Glasgow requires AAA including Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics. Ulster University Medical School requires Graduate entry - 2:1 or above in any honours degree. Most successful applicants achieve these grades on first sitting with strong predicted grades from their school. Resit policies differ: Glasgow — Resits permitted only with exceptional circumstances; standard expectation is one-sitting AAA.. Ulster University Medical School — Resits accepted..

Glasgow's selection methodology: A staged process running October to March. Applications are first assessed on achieved and predicted qualifications, personal statement and reference; UCAT scores are released to the admissions team later in the cycle and used to allocate interviews among those who cleared that screen. Interview scores are then accumulated and offers made, with most processed by the end of March. Applicants who narrowly miss may be revisited if places free up. Ulster University Medical School's selection methodology: Graduate-entry only: a 2:1 honours degree in any discipline plus GAMSAT (recent threshold ~61 out of 100), then MMI. Strong Northern Ireland regional focus. Understanding each school's exact algorithm is the single highest-leverage piece of pre-application research — it tells you whether your profile is competitive before you spend an application choice.

Glasgow runs a PBL curriculum. Ulster University Medical School runs a Integrated curriculum. The teaching philosophies differ — pick the style that matches how you learn best. Glasgow specifics: Five-year MBChB built around problem-based learning groups, with early clinical exposure from Year 1. Ulster University Medical School specifics: Four-year accelerated MBBS for graduates. Clinical placements across Northern Ireland NHS sites (Magee Campus, Western HSC, Northern HSC).

You can — UCAS allows 4 medicine/dentistry choices in total, so listing both is feasible if your profile fits each school's selection algorithm. Apply to both only if your UCAT, GCSE and predicted-grade profile is competitive against each school's published weighting. A common mistake is using two of your four slots on similar schools when a more spread-out portfolio (one safe + one stretch) would maximise overall offer probability.

Where to go next

GlasgowEntry requirements, interview format and key dates in full

Ulster University Medical SchoolEntry requirements, interview format and key dates in full

Other medical school comparisons

School data reviewed by the NextGen MedPrep editorial team — last reviewed 19 September 2026.