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UK Medicine · 2027 Entry
St Andrews Medical School2027 Entry Requirements & Interview Format
Location St Andrews, UKEstablished 1413Interviews December - MarchDecisions March onwards
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Step-by-step: entry requirements, UCAT prep, personal statement, interview format and the key deadlines.
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Format breakdown, school-specific sample questions, FAQs and prep tips from tutors who interviewed here.
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About St Andrews
St Andrews offers a 3-year BSc Honours in pre-clinical medicine before transferring students to a partner school for clinical training, with a famously casual interview.
What makes it different
Three-year pre-clinical course at St Andrews followed by transfer to a partner medical school for clinical years. SJT not used (was used many years ago, not now or in future). Scottish students face much lower cut-offs than RUK applicants.
Course & teaching
Traditional curriculum. First 3 years at St Andrews leading to BSc (Hons) Medicine. Most students then transfer to a partner clinical school for years 4-6 of MBChB.
Research strengths
St Andrews has notable research strength in Photobiology, Cancer research, Cardiovascular medicine, Neuroscience.
Intercalation
Built-in BSc within the first 3 years.
Interview
St Andrews interviews via Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI). MMI format with chatty, casual interviewers across multiple stations. Topics include ethical scenarios, role-play and motivation for the unusual three-year BSc Honours course before transferring to a partner medical school.
Intake
RUK ~24 places, Scottish ~150, International ~30 (3-year pre-clinical only - clinical years at partner schools).
At a glance
Founded in 1413, based in St Andrews. Programmes offered: Medicine, Medical Sciences, Gateway to Medicine.
TrueScore
Predicted UCAT for St Andrews
TrueScore
What is TrueScore?
A data-driven estimate of the UCAT score you'll likely need to be invited to interview at St Andrews for 2027 entry entry — based on its published cut-offs and recent admissions data. Treat it as a target to aim past, not a guarantee.
- Scottish1850
- Contextual1700
- Rest of UK2100
- International1900
Entry requirements
What you need to apply to St Andrews
A-Level requirements
AAA at A-level (offer and predicted) including Chemistry and one of Biology, Mathematics or Physics
Contextual A-Level offer
AAB at A-level for widening-access applicants
Required A-Level subjects
Chemistry plus one of Biology / Mathematics / Physics
GCSE requirements
Minimum 5 GCSEs at grade 7/A in one sitting (achieved A-level applicants may be considered with fewer). GCSE grade 5 in Biology, Mathematics, and English (Language or Literature) required if not offered at A-level. GCSE resit allowed.
Scottish Highers
Standard entry: AAAAB in S5, predicted to achieve at least BBB in Highers, Advanced Highers or a mix in S6. Minimum entry: AAABB in S5, predicted at least BB in S6.
Scottish Advanced Highers
Mix of Highers and Advanced Highers in S6 acceptable - minimum BB
International Baccalaureate
38 points overall, 6,6,6 at Higher Level + 6,6,6 at Standard Level. Minimum: 36 points (6,6,5 HL + 6,6,5 SL). Must include HL Chemistry and HL in one of Biology / Mathematics / Physics. If Maths not at HL, applicants must have SL in Biology, Maths and English. Either Maths Analysis & Approaches or Applications & Interpretation accepted.
Graduate-entry degree requirement
ScotGEM applicants must have achieved (or be predicted to achieve) a 1st or 2:1 Honours degree in any discipline (Arts, Science, etc.). Plus: Chemistry Higher or A-level (grade A or B) or equivalent; Mathematics at Standard Grade Credit 1/2, Intermediate 2 (A or B), National 5 (A or B), or GCSE (B). GAMSAT required.
UCAT Selection at St Andrews
Weighting
Pre-interview: applicants ranked by UCAT, top ~500 invited to interview. WP applicants get 10% UCAT uplift. Personal statement assessed for minimum requirements (academic ref + work experience). UCAT also used as tie-break post-interview.
SJT band
No use of SJT (was many years ago but not any more or in the future)
Contextual / WP eligibility
Widening Participation applicants get a 10% UCAT uplift, effectively lowering the threshold by ~10%. Scottish applicants face a much lower bar than RUK (mean offer-holder ~2024 vs ~2236).
Scottish - lowest invited
17482022 entry16952023 entry17932024 entry
Rest of UK - lowest invited
19732022 entry19282023 entry20782024 entry
International - lowest invited
16502022 entry19582023 entry16652024 entry
Top ~500 ranked applicants invited to interview. WP applicants get 10% UCAT uplift. SJT not used. A990 Canadian Programme ~1950+.
SJT Band
No use of SJT (was many years ago but not any more or in the future)
Specialities offered
Medicine, Medical Sciences, Gateway to Medicine
Interview
How St Andrews interviews applicants
Format
Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI)
Interview window
December - March
Decision date
March onwards
Post-interview chances
RUK Student (2025): 123/162 = 74%; Scottish + RUK: 411/505 = 81%; International (2023): 56/82 = 68%
Tutor insight
St Andrews' relaxed style rewards applicants who think aloud and let the interviewer follow their reasoning. Be ready to explain why a 3-year BSc before transferring to clinical years suits your goals - that "why this course" question is unique to St Andrews.
Practice
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Interview questions matched to St Andrews
Two questions our tutors flagged as a strong fit for St Andrews’s interview style. Try answering them out loud, then open Prometheus for the model answers and follow-up tips.
Intercalation
Do you plan to intercalate, and why?
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St Andrews — frequently asked questions
Contextual applicants: ~1700+ /2700 with WP 10% uplift. International applicants: ~1900+ /2700 (2024 entry lowest ≈ 1665; large variance). Top ~500 ranked applicants invited to interview. WP applicants get 10% UCAT uplift. SJT not used. A990 Canadian Programme ~1950+.
AAA including Chemistry and Biology
Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI). MMI format with chatty, casual interviewers across multiple stations. Topics include ethical scenarios, role-play and motivation for the unusual three-year BSc Honours course before transferring to a partner medical school.
St Andrews typically interviews in December - March.
Decisions are released March onwards.
Three-year pre-clinical course at St Andrews followed by transfer to a partner medical school for clinical years. SJT not used (was used many years ago, not now or in future). Scottish students face much lower cut-offs than RUK applicants.
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