HCP-Med for Healthcare Professionals MBChB Level: Undergraduate Subject: HCP-Med Year of entry: 2026 Key facts Award MBChB Duration of study 5 years Delivery Part-time Study location Multiple campuses Start date September 2026 School Edinburgh Medical School College College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine Accreditation Available Placement Mandatory Open days and events Overview About the degree programme HCP-Med for Healthcare Professionals is an innovative five-year medical degree specifically designed for experienced healthcare professionals, clinical scientists and veterinary surgeons living and working in Scotland.For the first three years, you will study part-time and online, while continuing part-time in your current employment. You will also have clinical attachments (general practice and hospital) and three compulsory residential weeks in Edinburgh each year.For Years 4 and 5, you will join the main undergraduate Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBChB) programme full-time and be based in Edinburgh.While emphasising teaching in general practice, HCP-Med for Healthcare Professionals will allow you to follow a career in any medical speciality.Admissions eventsBook your place on one of our events to find out more about our MBChB for Healthcare Professionals (HCP-Med) programme.HCP-Med Admissions Events How long it takes to complete this degree programme This degree programme takes five years to complete. Programme rankings 5th for medicine in the UK in the Complete University Guide Subject League Table 2025.6th for medicine in the UK in the Guardian University Guide 2025 subject rankings.20th for medicine in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025. Programme benefits You will graduate as an excellent communicator and team player, prepared for complex and uncertain situations. You will be equipped for ongoing personal development and will receive training which will give you a strong foundation for high levels of professional achievement and leadership.You will gain a thorough understanding of primary care through your longitudinal placement in general practice, and you will have a thorough understanding of evidence-based medicine.You will receive clinical training from the earliest stages and throughout your studies, preparing you to become a competent, ethical and reflective doctor. The best thing about starting medical school is spending time with our GP mentor in the clinic. Really enjoyable and constant learning in a clinical setting. Tom Newton 3rd Year HCP-Med student Entry requirements A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a science or healthcare subject. We will also consider non-science based degrees supplemented with SQA Higher/GCE A level Chemistry at C or above. We will also consider a UK 2:2 honours degree or an Ordinary degree, or their international equivalents, providing they are in a science or healthcare subject. Applicants who are on, or have been on, a medicine degree course will not be considered. You need to have worked as a qualified healthcare professional, clinical scientist or veterinary surgeon, for at least two years prior to the start of the programme and be registered with one of the following: Association of Physician Assistants (anaesthesia) Faculty of Intensive Care General Medical Council (for Physician Associates) General Dental Council General Optical Council General Pharmaceutical Council Health and Care Professions Council Nursing and Midwifery Council Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons If successful, you will need to provide evidence of support from your current employer as a condition of the offer. Additional requirements Interviews You will need to attend an interview as part of the selection process for this programme. Find out more in Applying (see Interviews) Fitness to practise The University has a responsibility to ensure that students enrolled on a degree that involves practical training in a clinical environment, and that leads to a professional registerable qualification, are fit to practise. This is assessed according to the requirements and standards of the profession the student wishes to enter. Further information about fitness to train is available on the Higher Education Occupational Physicians/Practitioners website. Higher Education Occupational Physicians / Practitioners You should notify us of any condition that could affect your fitness to practise at the application stage. However, if a condition develops or is diagnosed after this point please notify us so we can look into support arrangements with you. University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) You must sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) and your score will be assessed as part of your application. We have no minimum score requirement. We accept tests taken between July 2023 and September 2025. We also consider the Situational Judgement section of the UCAT test separately. If you score a Band 4 in the Situational Judgement section of the UCAT test, you will not be considered for entry. University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) website Health clearance checks If you gain a place on this programme, you will need to complete health clearance checks. Find out more in Applying (see After you apply) English language requirements You must prove that you can read, write, listen and speak in the English language at a level that will allow you to succeed in your studies.This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.You can meet our English language requirements with qualifications from school or an English language test. School qualifications we accept We accept any of the following, at the specified grade or higher:SQA National 5 English at CGCSE English at C or 4Level 2 Certificate English at CInternational Baccalaureate (IB) Standard Level English at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry)Before you apply, check the required subjects for this programme, as you may need a higher English grade to meet the academic requirements.Other qualifications we acceptWe also accept other qualifications from around the world.English language qualifications and tests we accept English language tests we accept If you don’t have school qualifications that meet our requirements, we accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher: IELTS Academic: total 7.5 with at least 7.5 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements. TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 110 with at least 25 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements. C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 191 with at least 191 in each component. Oxford ELLT: total 9 with at least 9 in each component. Other English language tests we accept We also accept other types of English language tests. English language qualifications and tests we accept How old your English language qualifications can be Qualifications no more than two years oldQualifications from the following English language tests must be no more than two years old from the start date of this programme, regardless of your nationality:IELTSTOEFLOxford ELLTQualifications no more than three and a half years oldAll other types of English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of this programme.If you are a national of a majority English-speaking country, there is no time limit on how old these other types of English language qualifications can be.Check the UKVI list of majority English-speaking countries Fees and funding Additional costs You will need access to a smart device or laptop to submit coursework. You also need to have your own stethoscope.TravelTeaching takes place at multiple campuses including:Edinburgh BioQuarterKings BuildingsCentral CampusYou will also attend regional placements across Scotland which will incur travel costs. Travel can be claimed back if on peripheral placements.Local travelNine-month and 12-month Student Ridacards are available from Lothian Buses.Lothian Buses - Students Accommodation and living costs You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.We estimate that a single student can potentially spend a maximum of £920 to £2,257 on living costs each month, depending on your accommodation.This estimate covers the costs of:accommodationfoodutility billstravel within Edinburghhealth and wellbeing costsSee a breakdown of living costs Scholarships and funding Funding information Funded programmeThis programme is funded by the Scottish Funding Council for candidates who meet the entry and residency requirements. See more details in Applying. Funding information Programme details What you will study Years 1 to 3 (part-time)In Years 1 and 2, you will study clinical sciences such as anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology. You will also study the social and ethical aspects of medicine.You will learn practical clinical skills such as:resuscitation and interviewing patientsdeveloping your clinical reasoningdecision-making skillsYou will also:take a Knowledge to Clinical Practice module.undergo a general practice (GP) attachment.In Year 3 you will gain clinical experience through placements in secondary and primary care.Years 4 and 5 (full-time)In Years 4 and 5, you will join Years 5 and 6 of the main Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBChB) in Edinburgh and you will rotate through a number of specialities, working on hospital wards as part of a team.In Years 4 and 5, full-time study will be expected and a variety of shifts will be required for the clinical years, including late/overnight shifts. Year 1 In Year 1 you will study Foundations of Medicine 1, the first of two, year-long courses. Comprising three biomedical modules, the course will contribute to a comprehensive foundation in biomedical, social and clinical sciences and link that knowledge to clinical practice.Alongside this you will study:Social and Ethical Aspects of Medicine (SEAM), emphasising the importance of understanding health and illness from a holistic, biopsychosocial perspective.Research and Evidence Based Medicine (REBM) which will equip you with the skills needed for critical appraisal of scientific research and its application to clinical scenarios.Knowledge to Clinical Practice (KCP), which is mainly taught in the general practice placement and emphasises the relevance of scientific and clinical knowledge to clinical practice.Professional Skills, which includes communication, clinical skills and professionalism.In your general practice (GP) attachment, which is half a day per week in Years 1 and 2, you will learn history-taking and examination and gain an understanding of how GPs assess and manage patients.In Years 1 and 2, HCP-Med has a longer academic year than the main MBChB, running for up to 40 weeks.Thirty-seven weeks are taught online and in GP placements, during which you will need to commit 21 hours per week to the programme. The 21 hours per week breaks down as follows:4 hours a week general practice (GP practice). You will arrange the timing of these with your host practice.8 hours a week online learning, always on Thursdays.9 hours self-directed learning. You will need to accommodate this around your work and personal commitments.You will be informed of the exact dates not later than one month before the beginning of each academic year. Find Year 1 courses Year 2 In Year 2, you will cover the Foundations of Medicine 2, which builds on the learning in Year 1.You will continue to study biomedical modules, alongside:Social and Ethical Aspects of Medicine (SEAM)Research and Evidence Based Medicine (REBM)Knowledge to Clinical Practice (KCP)Professional SkillsTime commitment in Year 2 follows the same pattern as in Year 1. Find Year 2 courses Year 3 In Year 3, you will gain clinical experience through placements in secondary and primary care. Clinical placements take up one day per week.You will study core specialities such as respiratory medicine and cardiology. Online teaching will be reinforced using case-based learning in clinical attachments. Find Year 3 courses Year 4 At the start of Year 4, you will join the main programme full time. Years 4 and 5 of HCP-Med equates to Years 5 and 6 of the main MBChB programme, because all students in the main programme undertake an additional BSc in their third year.You will move around a number of specialities, including obstetrics, gynaecology and psychiatry, working on hospital wards as part of a team.In addition to further clinical placements in a range of disciplines, you will complete a group teaching project in partnership with a clinical tutor. Find Year 4 courses Year 5 In Year 5, you will consolidate your learning from previous years and work on an apprenticeship model to prepare for employment in the postgraduate Foundation Programme.Your focus will be on developing practical skills and knowledge of:general and acute medicinegeneral practiceemergency medicinesurgeryanaestheticsintensive careYou will have the opportunity to assist a trainee doctor and will become a valued member of the healthcare team. Under supervision, you will carry out some of the duties of a Foundation Year 1 doctor.You will also arrange and complete an elective, either in the UK or abroad, from the end of February until May. This is a period of study at another medical school or clinical placement provider in an area aligned to your interests and aspirations. Many students choose to go abroad, but this is not essential. Find Year 5 courses Placements General practitioner (GP) placements involve:apprentice-style observation of surgeriespractice-based tutorialsshadowing of members of the primary care teamYou will be placed in a GP practice and hospital within a reasonable distance of your home address. You are placed with the same GP practice during Years 1 to 3. Placements video For information about clinical placements in Years 4 and 5 and guidance on professional standards on clinical placements, including dress codes, you will refer to the Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBChB) programme handbook. Teaching and assessment Teaching Years 1 to 3: Part-time (primarily online)Online teaching will use the following methods:video introductions to each module, which include the learning outcomespre-recorded narrated lectures which cover the main learning pointsdiscussion forumsonline quizzesvirtual tutorials which use problem-based or case-based learningpodcastscurated online resourcesFace-to-face teaching only takes place during the residential weeks, and will involve learning practical skills, group work and team building.You will also have clinical placements in general practices and hospitals in Years 1 to 3.Years 5 and 6: Full-time clinicalYears 5 and 6 are mostly based in clinical settings, with less formal teaching and more experiential and self-directed learning. Online resources are particularly valuable. Modules run constantly and you will rotate through them in different sequences.Modules are mostly based on attachments to particular specialities and locations, rotating around 30 or more attachments over three years. This gives you the experience of all types of patients and settings. Assessment You must be in Edinburgh for assessments. There may be times when assessments are outside of residential weeks.In Years 1 and 2, knowledge tests are held twice a year, with anatomy spot-test taking place in July.Year 2 clinical examinations, Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs), are held in April.In Year 3, your knowledge tests and clinical examinations (OSCEs) will be held in May.Medical Licensing AssessmentThe General Medical Council (GMC) are introducing a Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA).The MLA is intended to demonstrate that everyone who obtains registration with a licence to practise medicine in the UK has met a common threshold for safe practice.To obtain registration with a licence to practise, you will need to pass both parts of the MLA:a knowledge test, set by the GMCan assessment, delivered by the Medical SchoolThis will evaluate your clinical and professional skills. You must also demonstrate your fitness to practise. Support for your studies You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.We will assign you to a student adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need.Support for your studies Where you will study Study location For Years 1, 2 and 3, you will study part-time and online, while continuing part-time in your current employment.You will also have clinical attachments (general practice and hospital) and three compulsory residential weeks in Edinburgh each year.For Years 4 and 5, you will study full-time at our campus in Edinburgh. Academic facilities You will have access to University libraries and study spaces while you study with us. You will also be able to use hospital libraries on most sites. You will also have access to our Virtual Learning Environment, where our online teaching will be delivered and offers a wide range of online course resources. Career paths and further study Accreditation This programme is accredited by the UK General Medical Council and recognised by overseas accrediting bodies in: the USCanadaAustraliamany other countries Career paths We take part in the UK Foundation Programme Scheme. This places graduates in Foundation Doctor posts across the UK.Many graduates also go on to work with distinguished national and international research groups.What happens when you complete your MBChB?At the end of your programme, you will receive your Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBChB) degree, which is a Primary Medical Qualification (PMQ).Once you hold a Primary Medical Qualification and have passed the Medical Licensing Assessment, you qualify for provisional registration with the General Medical Council (as long as there are no Fitness to Practise concerns).Foundation Year 1 postsOnce you are a provisionally registered doctor, you can practise in approved Foundation Year 1 posts. You cannot undertake any other type of work.To obtain a Foundation Year 1 post, you will need to apply during the final year of your undergraduate programme. You should do this through the UK Foundation Programme Office selection scheme, which allocates posts to graduates on a competitive basis.So far, all suitably qualified UK graduates from Edinburgh have found a place on the Foundation Year 1 programme but this cannot be guaranteed in all instances, for example, if there were an increased number of competitive applications from non-UK graduates.The Foundation Year 1 programme usually takes 12 months to complete. On completion, you will be awarded a Certificate of Experience.Full registrationBefore you can begin unsupervised medical practice in the NHS or private practice in the UK, you must have full registration with a licence to practise.Once you have your Certificate of Experience, you are eligible to apply for full registration with the General Medical Council.Please be aware that these regulations may change from time to time.Outcome: what happens when you complete your MBChB Careers Service Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals.The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies.With the Careers Service, you can:access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengthstry different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you developget help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobsattend careers events and practice interviewsget information and advice to help you make informed decisionsVisit the Careers Service website Further study After you complete the MBChB programme, you may want to go onto further study at Edinburgh or a different university. You could progress to:a masters degreea postgraduate diploma or certificatea PhDa second undergraduate degreeFind out about options for further study Applying How to apply Applications are not made through UCAS. You need to apply through the University using our online application form. Apply onlineWho can applyTo be eligible to apply, you must have lived in the UK for three years prior to the start of the programme and have been ordinarily resident in Scotland from 1 August 2025. EU nationals living in the UK need to have settled or pre-settled status through the EU settlement scheme to be eligible for the Scotland tuition fee rate.As this programme is funded, there is no option to self-fund if you do not fall into these categories.For overseas nationals living in the UK, funding is not likely to be available, unless you meet certain conditions. For more details, see our information for overseas nationals living in the UK. Overseas nationals living in the UK What you need to apply As part of your application, you will need: your academic qualifications a personal statement evidence of your English language skills (with relevant qualifications) How we select In addition to assessing your performance in your first degree and UCAT, you will be assessed and scored on two broad criteria.1: Evidence of recent engagement with academic study and grounding in science subjects in the three years prior to the start of the programme. This could include, for example:a second degreeSQA Higher(s) at grade C or above in Chemistry, Biology, Physics, or Human Biology, or Open University modules in a science subject (pending approval by the admissions and recruitment team) at 60% or above (minimum 20 credits)academic studies at SCQF Level 9, 10, or 11, such as MSc modules, PGCert, or PGDip (minimum 20 credits)2: Evidence of working effectively as a healthcare professional, clinical scientist, or veterinary surgeon, such as:performance in current roleteamwork and professionalismeffective relationships with patients (some applicants may have limited experience working with patients; evidence of any patient contact will strengthen the application)Half of the total assessment is made up of:first degree and any further academic study (15%)UCAT score (17.5%) and situational judgement test banding (7.5%)personal statement (10%)The remaining 50% is attached to the interview. Interviews We invite selected applicants to an assessment day, which will involve an interview comprising four stations. If you are invited to an interview, your invitation will provide more information about the structure of the day. When to apply 2026 entry deadline: 15 October 2025 Applications for September 2026 entry open on 1 September 2025. After you apply Complete health clearance checks In accordance with Department of Health guidelines, students being admitted to HCP-Med need to undergo viral screening for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C and be immunised against hepatitis B. This is part of the induction process for the HCP-Med.Applicants holding places in these degrees will receive further information. A positive result in any test will not necessarily preclude entry to the HCP-Med.It is the responsibility of each individual to ensure they familiarise themselves with the most recent vaccination requirements.Read the General Medical Council's guidance on Good Medical Practice, particularly section 29:Good medical practice Join the PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) scheme for a background check If we give you an offer, you will need to join Disclosure Scotland's Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme before you start this degree programme.We will send you information on how to join the PVG scheme.PVG scheme information on the Scottish Government websiteIf you live outside the UKIf you live outside the UK, or have spent more than one year living outside the UK, then you will need to provide equivalent verification from the relevant national authority.If you have a criminal convictionIf you state you have a criminal conviction, we will not ask for any more details until we consider your application and decide you are eligible for an offer. Life at Edinburgh What our students say Mike Potts shares why he chose to make the move from his career as a dietitian to studying medicine.Medical Student Life - From dietician to HCP-Med studentYear 3 student Tom Newton talks about his path to HCP-Med and his experience of the programme so far.Medical Student Life - HCP-Med Q&A: Tom Newton Accommodation We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single undergraduate students from outside Edinburgh. To be eligible, you need to meet all criteria and apply for accommodation by 16 August in the year of your entry to the University.University accommodation websiteAccommodation guarantee criteriaIf you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place Societies and clubs Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.SocietiesSports clubs The city of Edinburgh Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life.Find out more about living in Edinburgh Exercise, leisure and support facilities Outside of your studies, we offer a range of facilities to daily life, including: sport and exercise facilitiesUniversity cafes and cateringEdinburgh University Students' Association venues and shopsa multi-faith chaplaincy for all faiths and nonea University nursery (based at King’s Buildings campus) Health and wellbeing support You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.The support services we offer include:a student counselling servicea health centre (doctor's surgery)support if you're living in University accommodationdedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustmentHealth and wellbeing support services Contact and events
