Medical Sciences (Extended International Pre-Med)

The Medical Sciences (Extended International Pre-Med) programme offers students the potential to move on to a degree in medicine at the University of St Andrews.

This is a two-year programme of study with four taught semesters. During the first year, you will focus on studying sciences and learning to present and interact effectively in an academic environment. You will also start to reflect on how you can build knowledge about medicine. In the second year, you study modules focusing on the academic knowledge and skills required to study medicine.

The interactive teaching and learning experiences will help students understand what it means to study medicine and to be a doctor.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

See typical academic requirements for the Medical Sciences (Extended International Pre-Med) programme.

If your qualification is not shown, please email ifp@st-andrews.ac.uk about the grades needed from your high school system.

You can demonstrate that you have met the academic requirements with a high school transcript from your final year at school. Any high school qualification you use as evidence of your academic ability should be from the last year you attended high school and dated within the previous three years.

You should apply before your final results are available, as the University can make you a conditional offer based on your past exam performance and predicted grades.

English language requirement

All International Foundation applicants must submit a Secure English Test (SELT) as evidence of their English language ability, unless they do not require a student visas to study in the UK.

You will be required to submit a UKVI IELTS academic test score for progression onto BSc Medicine so you must take a UKVI IELTS academic test to meet English language entry requirements for the Medical Sciences (Extended International Pre-Med) programme.

See a list of approved English language tests and required scores for this programme.

You do not need to have your result when you apply, as this can be a condition of an offer made by the University.

Do I need to have studied this subject before?

You need to have studied sciences throughout high school. Strong grades in English, chemistry, biology, and physics or mathematics would make your application more competitive.

Application requirements

The University will ask you to provide the following documents as part of your application:

• your most recent high school transcript
• a personal statement
• an academic reference from your high school on their letterhead or from a school email
• your official English language test result

Application deadline

The deadline for applications is Monday 14 July 2025. You only need to provide your high school transcript and personal statement when you submit your application. You can provide your academic reference and your English language evidence later.

How to apply

Your future

Requirements to progress from Year 1 to Year 2

To progress from Year 1 to Year 2 of the Medical Sciences (Extended International Pre-Med - September entry), students must pass all modules in the year and achieve a minimum grade of 11.0 in English for Academic Purposes (EAP) modules, and a minimum grade of 7.0 in all other modules. Modules are marked according to the University’s 20-point scale.

In addition, students must achieve a competitive score in UCAT in the year of entry onto Year 2 of the Medical Sciences (Extended International Pre-Med - September entry) programme. This is a requirement of the School of Medicine for entry onto the BSc Medicine (A100). If this condition is not met in the year of entry to Year 2, the competitive score on UCAT can also be achieved in the year of graduation from the Medical Sciences (Extended International Pre-Med - September entry) programme, prior to entry onto BSc Medicine (A100).

Additional information

Resit scores may be used to meet the overall GPA requirement for movement onto Year 2 of the programme.

Students are advised to undertake a period of clinical observation before starting Year 2.

Students who do not meet the progression requirements from Year 1 to Year 2 may exceptionally be allowed to continue onto Year 2 of the Medical Sciences (Extended International Pre-Med - September entry) programme, but with no automatic right to move onto the BSc in Medicine (A100) at St Andrews following completion of the programme. Progression in these circumstances will be at the discretion of the Director of Foundation Studies. Any students who progress under these circumstances will be encouraged and supported to explore other institutions where they can continue their studies after completion of the programme.

Students entering the Medical Sciences (Extended International Pre-Med) programme in September 2025 will receive a conditional offer in Autumn 2026 for a place on the BSc Medicine (A100) starting in September 2027. 

When you successfully complete the programme with the required module results listed above, and you have met the above entry requirements for the School of Medicine at the University of St Andrews, your offer to enter the BSc Medicine (A100) will become unconditional. 

Requirements to move from Year 2 onto the BSc in Medicine (A100)

To move from Year 2 onto the BSc in Medicine (A100) at St Andrews, students must have met the progression requirements from Year 1 to Year 2, and then must pass all modules in Year 2, achieving:

• an average grade of 11.0 or above at first sitting across the following modules:
  • Foundations for Medicine 1 (IE1101)
  • Foundations for Medicine 2 (IE1201)
  • Human Biology (IE1252)
• a grade of 12.0 or above at first sitting in the following modules:
  • Introductory Inorganic and Physical Chemistry (CH1401)
  • Biology 1 (BL1101)
  • Organic and Biological Chemistry (CH1601)

Results are graded on the University's 20-point scale.

Students must also meet the following entry requirements of the School of Medicine:

• A competitive score in UCAT, achieved in the year of entry onto Year 2 of the Medical Sciences (Extended International Pre-Med - September entry) programme. If this condition is not met, the competitive score on UCAT can also be achieved in the year of graduation from the Medical Sciences (Extended International Pre-Med - September entry) programme, prior to entry onto BSc Medicine (A100).
• Satisfactory performance on the multiple mini interviews with the School of Medicine.
• Applicants who use English as an additional language and who cannot provide their English language ability through their school-leaving qualifications must achieve 7.0 in all four components of the International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) exam, to be taken at one sitting. This is irrespective of any other English qualification achieved. The final four consecutive years of secondary or high school education in an English-medium school may in some cases be considered as evidence of English language ability. This will be considered on a case-by-case basis. IELTS scores have a recommended two-year validity period, and this time limit will be applied.
• Fulfilment of the 'fitness to practise' criteria listed on the School of Medicine entry requirements webpage.

Additional information

The programme director for the Medical Sciences (Extended International Pre-Med - September entry) programme is required to comment on your fitness to practise Medicine at the end of your studies, when you are considered for the BSc Medicine degree. Under the School of Medicine’s policy, any concerns about your health or previous conduct or both may be considered at the time of application or prior to entry to the medical course. For more information, please refer to the entry requirements for BSc Medicine.

Provided that you meet the above entry requirements for the School of Medicine at the University of St Andrews, you will be given an unconditional offer to enter first year of the BSc Medicine (A100).

Studying a Science degree instead of BSc Medicine (A100)

Students who do not move on to medicine but meet the academic requirements for the Faculty of Science may be able to study a science degree at the University. Such requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account both student performance and capacity within the relevant subject area, and date of application. Students can also apply to secure a place at another institution. Programme directors will offer assistance in achieving the best possible outcome for you.

Join a live question and answer session

IELLI offers question and answer sessions to prospective International Foundation students who would like more information about St Andrews, university life and the application process at the University.

Meet us in your country

Staff of the University of St Andrews are always pleased to meet prospective students in person. We visit many schools, colleges and higher education fairs to talk about the University and provide support and information for those thinking about applying. Find out how you can meet us in your country.

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Join us for one of our information events where you can find out about different levels of study and specific courses we run. 

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.