A levels AAB including Chemistry and one of Maths, Biology or Physics. If Biology is not studied at A level, it should be attained at AS with a minimum grade B. General Studies is excluded. Re-sit candidates will not be considered.
Scottish Highers AAAAB to include Chemistry and Biology and either Maths or Physics.
International Baccalaureate 36 points including 6 in HL Chemistry.
All applications are screened to ensure they meet the entry requirements for the programme in terms of academic achievements and projected grades, UKCAT results and a demonstration through the personal statement that the candidate has seriously considered the implications of a medical career and that they display the characteristics required for a career in medicine in terms of their commitment, motivation and enthusiasm. Specific work experience in a hospital or general practice is not essential, but applicants are expected to have spoken to doctors to gain an understanding and an insight into the realities of a career in medicine. They are also expected to have a thorough awareness of the current issues facing the medical profession, through reading newspapers, journals and the internet. Applicants should show an interest in caring for others, which can be demonstrated through voluntary/paid work in a community setting.
Applications are then ranked by UKCAT score. Those scoring below the national average UKCAT score (2400-2500) are unlikely to be considered further. This range will vary from year to year. Invitations for interview will then be processed from the top UKCAT total score and approximately 800 applicants will be called for interview.
The interview is semi-structured with a panel of two interviewers who will be medical school staff, clinicians and honorary members of the University. All interviews take place in person at Glasgow University between November and March and invitations to interview are not allocated to applicants in order of preference.
The interview will be recorded and all recordings are deleted at the end of the admissions cycle. Candidates will be assessed on the following criteria:
Save 24% of Recommended Retail Price by purchasing our Complete Pack for Medical School Entry Preparation. This comprehensive package will help you with your UCAS personal statement, your UKCAT exam and your medical school interview practice. Buy now. Only £41.99 (Full RRP is £55.00).
Glasgow is Scotland’s biggest city and boasts a very diverse population. The University was established in 1451, making it one of the oldest and most established Universities in the world.
The medical school is located in the Wolfson Building which is a purpose built centre with superb state of the art facilities which complement the modern PBL medical curriculum on offer.
Two major research facilities are located next to the medical school in cardiovascular and biomedical research and the University is known and respected for its being a leading pioneer in this field.
The Glasgow medical school undergraduate course is 5 years duration and consists of the following:
Topics covered in Year 1: Students will be introduced to the skills required for PBL, including the personal skills associated with effective group-work. Themes covered in this year include:
Topics covered in Year 2: In Year 2, more sophisticated forms of PBL using more complex scenarios are developed. The themes of the second year include:
In Years 1 and 2, students will have 3-hours Vocational Skills classes each in week, in which groups of 8 to 9 are taught clinical skills, communication skills, medical ethics and law and professional responsibilities by a practising GP. Each group is assigned a general practice in which they develop these skills in a clinical environment. Visits to hospital wards will relate to the PBL topic being studied that week.
There is one SSC which is a 5 week period part-way through Year 2. There are a vast range of subjects are available to study from breast cancer: who lives and who dies? European languages, health in the 21st century and sports medicine, to name a few. Students should submit a report of 2,500-3,500 words which will be assessed.
Topics covered in Year 3: Year 3 focuses on clinical disorders based on body systems and the themes include:
Students are challenged by the use of scenarios where their PBL facilitator acts as a ‘patient’ and they must take a history and try to diagnose the condition. These sessions are backed up by Fixed Resource Sessions (FRSs) which can be either lectures or anatomy teaching and plenary sessions. Students alternate between hospital and GP visits each week to improve their history taking and clinical skills. During the GP attachment, students will undertake a Longitudinal Care Project where they see two patients with long-term health issues and follow them for a year in order to submit a report at the end of the year.
Students must take a 5 week SSC in Years 3 and 4 on a topic of their own choice or chosen from a wide variety of subjects available. Students should submit a report of 2,500-3,500 words which will be assessed.
The final two years takes the form of clinical attachments rotating through:
Students will also receive clinical skills training in: catheterisation; IV skills; pharmacology; advanced life support and; radiology.
Exams in Year 1 consist of two written papers, one on a PBL scenario with short answer questions and a longer essay questions and a second paper which consists of short answer questions then a reading passage on which students must answer questions. In Year 2 exams also consist of two papers which are based on a PBL scenario with short answer questions. There is also an OSCE at the end of Year 2. Year 3 end of year exams comprise an OSCE and 2 written papers. In addition, Year 3 coursework is also part of the summative assessment. There are no exams in Year 4. Year 5 finals are in February and comprise 2 written papers and 1 OSCE of 50 stations.
Anatomy teaching at Glasgow occurs in Years 1 to 3 as part of a PBL scenario and backed up by a FRS (laboratory based) in the anatomy dissecting room or histology lab. Anatomy is covered in a block in Year 1 and students are split into groups of 8 to dissect cadavers under supervision. There are also anatomy based SSCs available in Years 2 and 3 for students with a particular interest in this subject, where they will spend 3 hours a day for 5 weeks dissecting cadavers and a 1 hour lecture each day. Anatomy is also available as an optional intercalated degree.
The medical degree programme is centred around PBL techniques. All medical students are introduced to clinical scenarios from the very beginning of the programme. Simulated ward areas and examination rooms are available where students can practise their clinical skills such a blood pressure monitoring and reflex testing and includes ‘Harvey’ – a cardiovascular simulator dummy which mimics the signs of 26 different heart diseases as well as a normal heart. Actors are used in role-play exercises to allow students to practise their interview skills and bedside manner. Audio-visual links allows students and tutors to watch and comment on each other’s techniques.
Students take two elective periods - a 4 week block at the end of Year 3 (Junior Elective) and then a further 4 weeks at the end of Year 4 (Senior Elective). Electives may be taken anywhere in the world and are design to help students develop their own area of interest. Some students choose to stay in the UK for their Junior Elective and overseas for their Senior Elective, but the choice is theirs.
Students have the opportunity to intercalate after Year 3 for a one year BSc (MedSci) or two year BSc (Hons). Degree programmes available include:
The information on this page is correct as of August 2010
