Entrance requirements

Academic requirements

You should have completed high school in your own country and achieved good school leaving grades.   You will also have to supply an appropriate personal statement and references from your high school, and be interviewed by a member of our staff.

Because we accept students from many different countries, and many different education systems, and students often offer qualifications which are not recognised for direct entry to degree programmes, we will consider each application on its own merits.  Please just contact us to find out whether we would accept your qualifications.

UKCAT

All candidates applying to the School of Medicine at St Andrews, including international students, are required to take the UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT). It is vital that applicants for the International Foundation for Medicine take the UKCAT before beginning the Foundation programme. For more information about UKCAT requirements, please see our FAQ section.

Language requirements

We are looking for an English language level equivalent to IELTS 6.0.  We may also ask you to attend a 4-week pre-sessional programme before you begin the foundation programme.  We will also consider

• UCLES CAE or CPE
• TOEFL
• IGCSE in English
• GCSE in English

Personal requirements

It is important that applicants for this programme have good interpersonal skills and are prepared to spend time, before or during the foundation year, in obtaining some experience of what a career in Medicine might actually involve.  We hope that through direct work experience of hospital or community healthcare, or perhaps voluntary work in the wider community, you will gain insights into the responsibilities and realities of a career in Medicine.  One of the final assessments of the Medical Foundation programme will involve giving a presentation on this experience.