Glasgow medicine interview and selection guide
Glasgow allocates interviews by UCAT score among applicants who pass its academic, personal statement and reference screening, with separate thresholds for Scottish, rest-of-UK and international applicants. Its 30-minute online interview has two parts, and the final decision rests solely on interview performance. This guide covers the thresholds, the interview and Glasgow's published admissions data.
Facts checked against Glasgow's official pages on .
Independent service: Key2MD is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the University of Glasgow. Everything below is general guidance drawn from publicly available information, may change between cycles, and is not official advice. Always confirm current requirements, fees and program details on Glasgow's official pages.
Read facts and coaching advice separately. Facts on this page are taken from Glasgow's published pages and linked in the sources list. Preparation advice is Dan's independent guidance. This page does not reproduce confidential interview questions, and your invitation from Glasgow takes precedence over anything here.
On this page
Published selection and interview guidance
-
Screening
Minimum academic requirements, a satisfactory personal statement and reference.
- Required grades must be achieved at one sitting and at the first attempt. Resits and extra time to sit qualifications are not permitted.
-
Interview selection
Ranked by UCAT score, with thresholds set separately for each applicant group.
- Glasgow uses the three cognitive subtests and does not consider the SJT.
- Thresholds for 2027 entry are set in November 2026 and published only after the cycle ends in September 2027.
- Invitations come by email between November and March, on a rolling basis, with at least 10 days' notice where possible (7 days for late-November interviews).
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Interview and decision
Online, late November 2026 to March 2027. Decision solely on interview performance.
- No interview score adjustments are made for anyone, including widening participation applicants or illness on the day.
- Decisions are made on a rolling basis, aiming for UCAS by 31 March but sometimes into April. An applicant interviewed in November may wait until March.
- Applicants unsuccessful after interview who are eligible may receive a change of course offer to the Gateway to Medical Studies programme (A900).
- Pathway covered
- Five-year MBChB (A100)
- Entry cycle / source status
- 2027 entry
- Published format
- Online interview of 30 minutes in two sections: Panel A (motivation, teamwork) and Panel B (communication and an ethical scenario chosen from two), with the same two interviewers throughout
- Interview selection
- UCAT score (cognitive subtests only), among applicants who meet academic requirements and have a satisfactory personal statement and reference
- Offers
- Solely on interview performance; no score adjustments
Official sources: University of Glasgow: MBChB interviews; University of Glasgow: UCAT.
Selection facts checked: . This check covers the pathway and interview summary above. Fees, eligibility exceptions and course details must be checked separately. Your university invitation takes precedence for your assessment.
UCAT thresholds and admissions data
| Lowest UCAT interviewed | Scottish | Rest of UK | International and EU |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 entry (new 2700 scale) | 1870 | 1990 | 2150 |
| 2025 entry (old 3600 scale) | 2520 | 2610 | 2950 |
| 2024 entry (old 3600 scale) | 2450 | 2500 | 2800 |
Glasgow notes it only has one year of data on the new UCAT format. For context, the 2026 national mean was 1918, so the Scottish threshold sat just below average and the international threshold well above.
| 2026 entry | Applications | Interviews | Offers | Intake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scottish | 1,002 | 721 | 494 | 268 |
| Rest of UK | 527 | 318 | 128 | 49 |
| International and EU | 511 | 129 | 103 | 32 |
| Total | 2,040 | 1,168 | 725 | 349 |
Rest-of-UK interviewees received far fewer offers per interview (128 from 318, about 40%) than Scottish interviewees (494 from 721, about 69%), reflecting the places available to each group.
The interview
| Panel A | Motivation to become a doctor, teamwork and related topics. |
|---|---|
| Panel B | Communication, including discussion of an ethical scenario. You read two short scenarios (two or three sentences each) and choose one. Extra time is built in for this. |
| Interviewers | Two interviewers cover both panels. They know nothing about you except your name. |
| Style | Conversational. No writing at any stage; the only reading is the two Panel B scenarios. |
| Rules | No AI software, phones, other devices or written resources. Do not record the interview or discuss its content. Glasgow treats breaches as a fitness to practise issue. |
| Rescheduling | Only for a clashing medicine interview elsewhere, a school or university exam, illness or significant technical problems. The next available slot may be weeks later. |
Glasgow suggests preparing by reading its MBChB programme information, revisiting your personal statement, thinking of examples of your achievements and skills, reflecting on past experiences and knowing current issues in the NHS.
Published by Glasgow
- The two-panel structure and topics
- UCAT thresholds by group for past years
- Applications, interviews and offers by group
- That decisions rest only on the interview
Not published
- The interview scoring scheme
- The interview score needed for an offer
- The 2027 UCAT thresholds (until September 2027)
Entry requirements
| Scottish Highers | AAAAB in S5 plus BB at Advanced Higher in S6, including Higher Chemistry, Biology and Physics or Maths; National 5 English at B. Adjusted entry (Access Glasgow, completing Reach): AAABB or AAAAC (C not in Chemistry) plus BC at Advanced Higher. |
|---|---|
| A-levels (UK) | AAA including Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Maths. GCSE English at 6 (B), and GCSE Biology at 6 if not taken at A-level. |
| IB | 38 points with HL 666, including HL Chemistry and Biology; Physics or Maths at SL 6 (HL recommended); SL English 6. |
| Graduates | At least a 2:1 Honours degree in a relevant science, obtained within seven years of entry. Older or non-science graduates need recent Chemistry and Biology at A-level or Higher. |
| One sitting | Required grades must be obtained at one sitting and the first attempt. Highers taken in S4 do not count towards S5 requirements. |
| UCAT | Required in the year of application; the SJT is not used. |
Dan's preparation advice for Glasgow
The following is independent coaching advice, not Glasgow's rubric.
- Your interview is everything. With decisions based solely on the interview, 30 minutes decides your offer. Prepare as if nothing else counts.
- Choose your ethical scenario quickly. Pick the one where you can see more than one side most clearly, not the one that sounds easiest.
- Bring your personal statement to life. The interviewers have not read it. Have two or three stories ready that show motivation and teamwork.
- Know the NHS in Scotland. Glasgow lists current NHS issues. Read about pressures on the Scottish health service specifically.
Fees and funding
| Scottish students | Tuition for eligible Scottish-domiciled students is normally funded through the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS). |
|---|---|
| Rest of UK and international students | See Glasgow's undergraduate tuition fees page for current fees. |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Glasgow medicine interview like?
An online interview of 30 minutes in two parts: Panel A on motivation and teamwork, and Panel B on communication with an ethical scenario you choose from two. The same two interviewers cover both.
What UCAT do I need for Glasgow?
For 2026 entry the lowest UCAT interviewed was 1870 for Scottish applicants, 1990 for the rest of the UK and 2150 for international applicants. Thresholds change every year.
How does Glasgow decide medicine offers?
Solely on interview performance, with no score adjustments for any applicants.
Is the Glasgow medicine interview online?
Yes. For 2027 entry, interviews are online between late November 2026 and March 2027.
Does Glasgow use the UCAT SJT?
No. Glasgow considers only the cognitive subtests.
What grades do I need for Glasgow medicine?
AAAAB in S5 Highers plus BB at Advanced Higher, or AAA at A-level including Chemistry and Biology, Physics or Maths, or 38 IB points with HL 666.
When will I hear from Glasgow after my interview?
Decisions are rolling, aiming for 31 March but sometimes later. Applicants interviewed in November may not hear until March.
How Key2MD fits
Key2MD is independent practice for the skills an interview rewards, not a copy of Glasgow's interview.
- 255 MMI stations and 100 CASPer scenarios across ethics, teamwork, communication, professionalism and current health topics.
- Ethical scenarios to practise choosing and discussing quickly, like Glasgow's Panel B.
- On-camera practice for Glasgow's online format.
- Feedback on six criteria, including communication, reasoning and empathy, with your progress tracked over time. Your first AI-marked review is free.
Sources
Facts on this page come from the sources below, checked on .
- University of Glasgow: MBChB interviews: format, invitations, rescheduling, decisions
- University of Glasgow: UCAT: thresholds, how UCAT is used
- University of Glasgow: MBChB admissions data 2023 to 2026: applications, interviews, offers, intake, UCAT
- University of Glasgow: Medicine: 2027 entry requirements
- Student Awards Agency Scotland: tuition funding for Scottish students
Practise interview answers for Glasgow
Key2MD offers independent practice and feedback. Its stations and scores do not reproduce Glasgow's interview, questions or selection rubric.
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