glasgow university medicine personal statement

Applying to Uni
Apprenticeships
Health & Relationships
Money & Finance

Personal Statements

Postgraduate
U.S Universities

University Interviews

Vocational Qualifications
Accommodation
Budgeting, Money & Finance
Health & Relationships
Jobs & Careers
Socialising

Studying Abroad

Studying & Revision
Technology
University & College Admissions

Guide to GCSE Results Day

Finding a job after school or college

Retaking GCSEs

In this section

Choosing GCSE Subjects

Post-GCSE Options

GCSE Work Experience

GCSE Revision Tips

Why take an Apprenticeship?

Applying for an Apprenticeship

Apprenticeships Interviews

Apprenticeship Wage

Engineering Apprenticeships

What is an Apprenticeship?

Choosing an Apprenticeship

Real Life Apprentices

Degree Apprenticeships

Higher Apprenticeships

A Level Results Day 2024

AS Levels 2024

Clearing Guide 2024

Applying to University

SQA Results Day Guide 2024

BTEC Results Day Guide

Vocational Qualifications Guide

Sixth Form or College

International Baccalaureate

Post 18 options

Finding a Job

Should I take a Gap Year?

Travel Planning

Volunteering

Gap Year Blogs

Applying to Oxbridge

Applying to US Universities

Choosing a Degree

Choosing a University or College

Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

Clearing Guide

Guide to Freshers' Week

Student Guides

Student Cooking

Student Blogs

Top Rated Personal Statements

Personal Statement Examples

Writing Your Personal Statement

Postgraduate Personal Statements
International Student Personal Statements
Gap Year Personal Statements

Personal Statement Length Checker

Personal Statement Examples By University

Personal Statement Changes 2025

Personal Statement Template

Job Interviews

Types of Postgraduate Course

Writing a Postgraduate Personal Statement

Postgraduate Funding

Postgraduate Study

Internships

Choosing A College

Ivy League Universities

Common App Essay Examples

Universal College Application Guide

How To Write A College Admissions Essay

College Rankings

Admissions Tests

Fees & Funding

Scholarships

Budgeting For College

Online Degree

Platinum Express Editing and Review Service

Gold Editing and Review Service

Silver Express Editing and Review Service

UCAS Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

Oxbridge Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

Postgraduate Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

Mature Student Personal Statements
Aberystwyth
Anglia Polytechnic University
Bath Spa University College
Bournemouth University
British College of Osteopathic Medicine
British School of Osteopathy
Canterbury Christ Church University College
Central School of Speech and Drama
Chester A College of The University of Liverpool
City College Manchester
Coventry University
De Montfort University
Edge Hill College of Higher Education
Falmouth University
Farnborough College of Technology
Glamorgan Centre for Art and Design Technology
Glasgow Caledonian University
Goldsmiths College
Heriot-watt
Heythrop College
King's College
Kingston University
Leeds Metropolitan University
Liverpool Hope
Liverpool John Moores University
London Metropolitan University
London South Bank University
Loughborough
Loughborough College
Middlesex University
Napier University, Edinburgh
Newcastle College
Northumbria University
Nottingham Trent
Oxford Brookes
Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh
Queen's, Belfast
Regents Business School London
Roehampton University of Surrey
Royal Holloway
Royal Veterinary College
Sheffield Hallam University
Southampton
Southampton Institute
St George's Hospital Medical School
St Mary's University College
Staffordshire University
Strathclyde
Swansea Institute of Higher Education
Thames Valley University
The Arts Institute At Bournemouth
The Glasgow School of Art
The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts
The London Institute
The Manchester Metropolitan University
The North East Wales Institute of Higher Education
The Robert Gordon University
The Surrey Institute of Art and Design
The University of Bradford
The University of Buckingham
The University of Gloucestershire
The University of Huddersfield
The University of Salford
University College Northampton
University College Worcester
University of Abertay Dundee
University of Brighton
University of Central Lancashire
University of Derby
University of East London
University of Glamorgan
University of Greenwich
University of Hertfordshire
University of Lincoln
University of Plymouth
University of Portsmouth
University of Sunderland
University of Teesside
University of The West of England, Bristol
University of Ulster
University of Wales College, Newport
University of Wales Institute, Cardiff
University of Wales, Bangor
University of Westminster
University of Wolverhampton
Writtle College
York St John College
Personal Statements By Subject
Personal Statement Editing Service
Personal Statement Writing Guide
Submit Your Personal Statement
Personal Statement Questions 2025

Glasgow University Personal Statements

These UCAS personal statements have been kindly provided by students applying to University of Glasgow. You can click on one of the links below to view the entire statement and find out if the applicant was offered a place.

You can also view our entire collection of personal statements or view personal statements for application at other universities .

Psychology Personal Statement Example 2 Psychology surrounds us. I often observe my class mates and ask myself why they are so different, struggling with attention or eating disorders. While looking for reasons, I also want to find ways to help them and I am confident that psychology will give me the means to do so...

Environmental Science and Geography Personal Statement Example I am aware of a Native American proverb which perfectly summarises my passion for studying Environmental Geography: "We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children". The idea of preserving this wonderful world for future generations inspires and motivates me to learn as much as I can about the earth...

Mechanical Engineering Personal Statement Example 1 Understanding and discovering how mechanical products work has always been an interest of mine. When I was younger, I would spend hours building complex structures using Lego or K-Nex which is where my passion for engineering began...

Astrophysics Personal Statement Example As a child, I would often read books about space and astronomy and wonder what made it possible. This has developed into a much deeper, scientific interest in the subject. Studying Physics at GCSE and A-Level, along with Chemistry and Mathematics, has helped me further develop my interest...

Spanish and Economics Personal Statement Example My aspiration to study Spanish and Economics has not only been influenced by my curricular education but also from experiences I have had throughout life. I am intrigued in the effects caused by the failing Euro zone, and I consider communication among speakers of different languages essential in progressing forward...

Scottish History Personal Statement Example “Swap Access to Degree Studies” Whenever I walk through the village where I live in Polmont, and look just beyond the Westquarter valley where the tree line of the Callendar woods are visible, I close my eyes, and I am transported back to one of the most fateful days in Scotland’s history...

Plant Biotechnology Personal Statement Example I have became fascinated with Science in my early childhood. It came from the first glance through the microscope at Paramecium. Since that time I have shown a pertinacity to learn about the world imperceptible by human eyes...

English Literature Personal Statement Example 3 When I was seven years old, I first read 'Twist of Gold' by Michael Morpurgo. When reading the book I was captivated by the absorbing plot, beguiling characters and incredibly vivid imagery. Since that time, I have been a passionate reader, particularly admiring the fluidity and profound depth of character and emotion that can be found in work by authors such as Sylvia Plath and Doris Lessing...

Aerospace Engineering Personal Statement Example 12 The time I first saw an aircraft fly over our house, I was three. Out of curiosity I asked my father about it. To avoid complexity he simply explained that it was like a gigantic flying bus. I was awed...

Psychology Personal statement Example 46 Marathon, madness or pleasure? What motivates a person to run 42 195 meters under a burning sun, on a hot summer’s day with a temperature of around 40 degrees Celsius? Well, it is a justified question if you’re not a fan of long distance running or if you are a student in the field of psychology...

Aerospace Engineering Personal Statement Example 14 For as long as I can remember, aircraft have always been a primary interest of mine. Being a typical young boy my early interests and aspirations were to become a fighter pilot or an astronaut. However, as I grew older and my eyes were opened to the wonders of physics, my interests were turned to the engineering behind the machines themselves, from the 11 ton Eurofighter Typhoon to the 2000 ton Space shuttle...

Medicine Personal Statement Example 46 My fascination with the innermost workings of the human body began at the age of twelve when my excellent, if somewhat eccentric, science teacher dissected a pig's heart in front of the class. From that point onwards my interest in human physiology has only increased, and from the common cold to coronary heart disease I have always queried their possible causes and solutions...

Languages/Linguistics Personal Statement Example My decision to study languages at University stems from a fascination of the complexity of language and the changes which languages go through. As I am Scottish, I often speak in a regional dialect and I find myself engrossed as to why people speak in dialects and why speakers of the same language can have difficulties understanding each other...

Physics Personal Statement Example 10 My fascination for how things work is something that has always been a part of me. Why am I pulled back towards the ground when I jump? How can an airplane that weighs so much fly? In later years I learned that these questions, these as I thought to be unexplainable phenomena, could all be answered through Physics...

Economics and Management Personal Statement Example 1 The theoretical aspects of economics and business management have for the past years been one of my greatest interests and developing as an entrepreneur has been my goal. I am fascinated by strategies in management and the behaviour of companies in the theory of the firm...

English Literature and Personal Statement Example At the war cemeteries of El Alamein in Egypt, I spent an hour or two combing through the British Commonwealth cemetery for Royal Dragoons from my Grandpa’s division and found myself struggling, from the sheer number of headstones, to choose between condemning our capacity for violence and admiring the extent of our sacrifice...

Creative Writing Personal Statement Example 2 To me, fiction is like the magic carpet of Aladdin. It takes me to travel through time and space and explore the slices of human experience. In the wonderful trips, I am guided by the author and accompanied by the characters...

Medicine Personal Statement Example 57 My enthusiasm for the advances of medical science, understanding and technology drive me towards medicine. I yearn to discover further the wonder and complexities of science, and have a greater understanding of the illness' and diseases we face...

Medicine Personal Statement Example 62 When two, I suffered a large third degree burn on my chest. Living in a small town in Romania, I was not able to get appropriate treatment, so I grew up with complexes about the aesthetical appearance of the scar...

Medicine Personal Statement Example 63 My passionate interest in the sciences has been a major influence upon the choices I have made in terms of my academic studies. From a young age I wanted to understand how and why everything worked. In particular, I became fascinated with the sheer complexity of the human body and the way the different body systems work together seamlessly...

Medieval History/History Personal Statement Example My grandmother’s maiden name is Marx. Her uncle, the world-renowned landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx, was Karl Marx’s great-nephew. This fact, while seemingly trivial, has worked to strengthen the spark history has ignited within me since I was old enough to read...

Dentistry Personal Statement Example 10 My interest in Dentistry initially arose from my own experiences with Dentists. When I was younger, I suffered from cyclic neutropenia which led to many dental problems, and was always grateful to my dentist and dental hygienist for all their help...

Postgraduate Psychology Personal Statement Example 1 My enthusiasm to study psychology began as a child due to living with an alcoholic. Through observing and being around someone with such a social problem I was gaining first hand experience of what it was like to live with someone with an addiction...

Psychology Personal Statement Example 67 I first became interested in psychology whilst discussing the underlying causes of criminal behaviour and non-conformity with my father. The nature-nurture debate gave me a huge desire to increase my knowledge and understanding of the human condition...

Psychology Personal Statement Example 68 For me human beings have always been fascinating, and even mysterious, because, though we are all humans, we all think differently and behave so differently. I wonder why those impoverished people who live with little can have a happy life, whereas some millionaires who have status, reputation and money choose to commit suicide...

Mathematics & Physics Personal Statement Example 2 My enthusiasm for Mathematics and Physics comes from the fact that they are both used to further our understanding of the universe and have applications in all other areas of science. My main area of interest in Physics is particle physics as this tells us how fundamental parts of our universe interact with each other...

German Personal Statement Example 8 Studying German at an advanced level strikes me as a very natural choice due to my cultural heritage and my strong interest in the subject. I have been brought up in the French-speaking part of Switzerland in a very multicultural family with an Italian father and a German-Iranian mother...

University specific personal statements
All personal statements

We use cookies

Necessary cookies.

Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.

Analytics cookies

Analytical cookies help us improve our website. We use Google Analytics. All data is anonymised.

Clarity helps us to understand our users’ behaviour by visually representing their clicks, taps and scrolling. All data is anonymised.

School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing

Undergraduate Medical School

International
Partner Medical Schools
Certificate of Higher Education (Pre-med, Pre-dent)
Gateway to Medical Studies Programme
Dentistry Graduates
Community Orientated Medical Experience Track (COMET)

Academic FAQs

What are your minimum academic entry requirements?

For Scottish Highers / A Levels / International Baccalaureate / Graduate entry, please see details of our minimum entry requirements .

For International entry requirements, please see details of our minimum entry requirements here: International Entry Requirements .

If your qualifications are not listed, please email the Admissions Team with a detailed account of your qualifications obtained or still to complete: [email protected] .

I’ve done an access or foundation course at a different institution, can I apply?

No, I’m afraid we do not consider applications from applicants who have studied an access or foundation course at a different institution. To be considered, you would need to meet our year 1 minimum entry requirements or apply via our graduate route.

Do you have any preference over my other subject choices?

No, apart from the key subjects that we ask for, we have no preference over other subject choices, and all are considered equal (except where specified).

Do you accept A-Level, Highers or Advanced Higher resits?

No, we do not normally accept re-sits or additional time to sit qualifications. The required grades and subjects must be obtained at one sitting and at the first attempt.

Mitigating factors should be taken into account at the time of the exams rather than retrospectively by the Medical School. We will honour grades obtained from successful appeal/re-mark procedures by the applicant’s school (subject to them meeting our minimum entry requirements).

Resits would only be considered in exceptional circumstances. Applicants with exceptional circumstances should contact the Admissions Team prior to submitting an application.

Do you accept GCSE or Nat 5 resits?

Yes, we will allow for GCSE or Nat 5 resits.

I’m studying A-Levels. Do I need GCSE English?

Yes. All students studying A-Levels in the UK or International A-Levels are required to have GCSE English at Grade B/6 or above OR equivalent. If providing an equivalent, this must be an official qualification. We ask for GCSE level English as we need evidence that an applicant will be able to meet the rigorous academic nature of the course in regard to essay and exam writing.

We will accept either GCSE English literature or GCSE English language. IGCSE in either English literature or English language is also acceptable (B/6 or above).

We will not accept yearly school reports as evidence. IELTS or any other English language proficiency test does not count as meeting the GCSE English requirement or vice versa.

If you are a graduate applicant with a degree from a majority English speaking country, then you will not need to meet the GCSE English requirement.

Does the Undergraduate Medical School take extenuating circumstances into consideration?

We appreciate that a candidate's exam sitting could have been adversely affected by extenuating circumstances, but any special consideration must be applied by the relevant Examination Board, via the candidate’s school or university. Mitigating factors should be taken into account at the time of the exams rather than retrospectively by the Medical School. We will honour grades obtained from successful appeal/re-mark procedures by the applicant’s school (subject to them meeting our minimum entry requirements).

Applicants should notify the Admissions Team by email of their intention to appeal their exam grades. Applicants should also notify the Admissions Team of the outcome of their appeal as soon as possible. If the appeal has not taken place in time for the appropriate administration to take place before the start of the academic year, a deferred offer may be granted for the following year providing the conditions set are achieved.

Please note that submitting evidence does not automatically guarantee extenuating circumstances will be granted.

Can I apply as a graduate?

Graduate applicants are considered for entry to the Undergraduate Medicine course. We do not have a quota for graduate places and graduate applicants are considered in the same way as all applications for entry in the current year. Graduate entry is for year 1 only.

Applications to Medicine will be considered from graduates provided they have a minimum of 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent in a relevant science degree, obtained within seven years of the entry date.

Applicants whose degree was obtained more than seven years from the date of entry, or graduated in a non-science degree will be required to have A-level/Scottish Higher Chemistry and A-level/AS-level/Scottish Higher Biology to be sat within seven years of entry (minimum grades AB, or AA with AS-level Biology).

Graduates with a minimum of 2.1 Honours degree obtained more than seven years ago plus a Masters or PhD in a relevant field (obtained within seven years of the entry date) may compensate for not having Higher/A-level Chemistry and Biology.

A list of relevant science degrees, can be found here: Relevant Science Degrees . Please note, the list isn’t exhaustive.

If you have achieved your undergraduate degree from outside the UK or are unsure if your degree has enough Chemistry and Biology to meet our requirements, then please get in touch with our Admissions Team. Please send official academic transcripts and degree certificates to be reviewed: [email protected] .

Graduate applicants must also complete the UCAT and may be invited for interview.

How do I know if I am eligible for an adjusted/contextual offer?

We operate a system of contextualised admissions for applicants living in Scotland only . This means we consider all circumstances faced by individual applicants, which may have prevented them meeting our standard entry requirements and make adjusted offers of entry accordingly.

Please click the link to see if you meet the widening participation criteria: widening participation criteria.

Applicants taking part in REACH do not automatically qualify for an adjusted/contextualised offer. They must also meet one of the widening participation criteria outlined above.

Graduate applicants are not eligible for consideration for contextualised admissions as they have already achieved a Higher Education qualification. Graduate applicants are also ineligible for our Gateway to Medicine programme.

Is the UCAT test required?

Yes, all those applying for admission to enter undergraduate medicine must complete the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) prior to application. For more information on how we use UCAT, please see our section on UCAT.

Applicants must book their test directly through UCAT.

UCAT is a mandatory component of our selection process. We will not consider any applicant who has not sat the UCAT. No exceptions will be made.

Will you consider any other medical entrance test instead of the UCAT?

To ensure fairness, all applicants must complete the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT). No other medical entrance test will be accepted.

Will you accept the UCAT ANZ?

Yes. We will accept the UCAT ANZ.

How can I prepare for the UCAT?

You are strongly recommended to book a test date early in the testing window. If you choose to book a late test date and then encounter illness or other issues which prevent you from attending your test appointment you may not be able to rebook within the testing window.

The test is designed to be a test of aptitude rather than academic achievement and does not draw on any particular body of knowledge or curriculum that you can learn in advance. We encourage you to practise answering the types of questions that will be presented in the UCAT and to familiarise yourself with the test format so that you know how to move the mouse, answer questions, and move through the test.

We encourage you to sit the practice questions on the website at least three times before sitting the actual test. UCAT offers free materials for students to support their test preparation; including preparation plans, question banks and practice tests. Click here for more information.

NOTE: The University medical and dental schools participating in UCAT do not endorse any commercially available preparatory course or material for the UCAT.

Application FAQs

How many places are available each year and how many applications do you receive?

Entry to this programme is highly competitive, attracting large numbers of applications from highly qualified and motivated applicants. Additionally, we are required to manage the number of students admitted to our programme in line with targets set by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Funding Council, which are set annually. We receive in the region of 1500-2000 applications per year. We invite in the region of 800-900 applicants to attend for interview, with approximately 300 places available.

Can I apply if I’m under 18 years old?

An applicant is welcome to apply at any age providing they meet our minimum entry requirements. Given the rigours nature of the programme and the application process we would advise any applicant to consider their experience and maturity prior to applying.

International applicants who are under 18 years old would need a signed parental consent prior to commencing studies.

Can I apply for the MBChB if I am currently an undergraduate on a different course?

It is not possible to directly transfer onto the MBChB at the University of Glasgow from another degree.

However, applicants who have commenced the first year of a degree programme other than medicine can apply through UCAS and have their application considered for entry to Year 1, providing they meet our standard entry requirements, with required grades/qualifications obtained within seven years of the proposed entry date.

Applicants who have commenced Year 2 or more of their degree studies will need to complete their undergraduate degree and apply via our graduate route.

How will my application be assessed?

All aspects of the application form (academic attainment, personal statement, and reference) are considered in the screening process. In November, the UCAT results are sent to the Medical School by UCAT and the results will be considered as the last element of the screening process. The range of UCAT scores considered varies each year as the performance of each admissions cohort varies. Candidates who are being considered further are normally interviewed in December. The format of the interview is outlined in the invite to interview letter, with a guide on areas assessed. For further information, please visit our interview section . Decision After interviews have taken place, interview results are processed in January-February. Medical School offers are then made to the required number of applicants (normally approx. 450) by the end of March, through UCAS.

Re-application Unsuccessful applicants can apply for the MBChB course in future years. All applicants must meet our minimum academic entry requirements for the current admissions cycle (with qualifications obtained within seven years of the proposed entry date). The school will consider a re-application as a “fresh application.” Please also note that if you reapply for admission, you must re-sit the UCAT test.

Can I apply through UCAS clearing?

Due to the number of applications received, it is unusual for places to be made available through UCAS Clearing or UCAS Extra for Medicine. If places become available later in the admissions process, we may contact applicants who narrowly missed an offer after an interview during that particular admissions cycle and who are not holding a place at another institution.

Can I send you a direct application and not go through UCAS?

All applications must be submitted via UCAS by the October deadline. This is usually the 15th but may change. To keep up to date for your admissions cycle, please see UCAS’ Key Dates Timeline . Any application sent to us directly will automatically be rejected.

Can I defer my application?

We do consider applications for 1-year deferrals only.

Option 1: apply via UCAS by the October deadline in your current year (e.g. 2025) but put on your application the deferred year of entry (e.g.2027)
Option 2: apply the following October (e.g. 2026) for the next September entry (e.g. 2027).

We do not consider applicants who have deferred as lower priority. Please note, all applicants must complete the UCAT by the October deadline date in the same year as application and you must also meet the entry requirements/offer conditions in the year of application.

Will taking a gap year disadvantage my application?

We consider applicants who have taken one or more gap year before applying, providing they meet our standard requirements with qualifications achieved within seven years from the proposed date of entry. It is important to spend gap years wisely. We strongly encourage applicants spend the majority of their time out in a manner which will be of educational benefit. Gaining work experience or becoming involved in a voluntary project relating to care or community work may be useful in developing skills.

Can I apply for the MBChB if I have previously been enrolled on a medicine programme?

No. Applicants who have previously been enrolled on or are currently enrolled on a MBBS/MBChB programme at a different institution (in the UK or abroad) are not eligible to apply for or transfer to our medical school.

The only exceptions are:

If there is a formal transfer system between Medical Schools.
If a medical student is seeking asylum or has refugee status, under extenuating circumstances. All standard entry requirements must be met, and an interview will be required for those being considered further. Successful transfers are likely to be permitted entry into Year 1. Please contact [email protected] for further information.

Is work experience essential?

No, obtaining work experience in a medical setting is not necessary to study or obtain entry to medicine but it is expected that candidates will have a realistic understanding of what a career in medicine entails and be aware of current issues facing the medical profession. A commitment to caring for others is also expected, which can be demonstrated through voluntary or paid work in a community setting. Any commitment to work experience or similar is expected to last beyond the offer- making stage of the admissions process.

Can I submit multiple references?

To ensure fairness, we do not allow applicants to provide additional references. We will only consider the one reference that has been submitted as part of your UCAS application.

I've been rejected, what do I do?

We would welcome a new application the following year providing you still meet our published entry requirements for that year of application. Please note the UCAT must be sat in each year of application.

Applicants can undertake another degree and then reapply as a graduate , and we would recommend this for applicants that do not meet our minimum high school entry requirements.

We would also encourage applicants to research how each Medical School assesses an application and consider applying to those that play to their strengths.

How do I find out my fee status if I am unsure?

For information regarding how your fee status is determined, please see: Fee Status . Applications will be assessed in full before we can decide on your fee status. If your application is successful, we will advise you of your fee status and the fees that you will be liable for in your Offer Letter. I’m afraid the Medicine Admissions team does not make residential category/fee decisions.

If you disagree with your fee status, you will need to contact our Central Admissions team via the Fee Status Enquiry form . The form should be returned to the Recruitment and International Office for determination of your fee status and we uphold the decision made by them in relation to this.

Please note, you will hold this status during the whole MBChB course; fee status cannot be amended after you matriculate onto a degree programme. Your status must be determined before your unconditional offer is made. Once your status is set and you accept the offer it becomes locked for the duration of your study.

Can I visit the Medical School?

Yes, we encourage applicants to visit on one of our Open Days . You will be able to meet with current students and staff from the Medical School at these events. Applicants who are successful following interview are invited to attend our Offer Holders' Day usually held in March/April. Please note we are not normally in a position to arrange individual visits to the Medical School at other times, out with Open Days. If you cannot make one of our Open Days then please feel free to book a campus tour.

What facilities are available to medical students?

In addition to University facilities and support, the Wolfson Medical School Building offers excellent facilities specifically designed for our medical students, with group learning rooms, a Vocational Studies suite, a Clinical Skills area and a School Library. From Year 3, Medical students at the University of Glasgow regularly attend clinical placements in a number of hospitals throughout the Glasgow area and in the wider West of Scotland.

If your question isn’t answered below, please email the Admissions Team at: [email protected] .