Medicine for Healthcare Professionals (HCP-Med)

A unique route to a career in medicine

Are you a healthcare professional or clinical scientist working in Scotland? The HCP-Med programme offers you a unique route to become a doctor.

Your current clinical and patient-care skills are really valuable, and HCP-Med puts them to use. This 5-year programme allows you to study online and part-time for the first 3 years while you continue working in your current role. In years 4 and 5, you’ll join the main MBChB programme, studying full-time in Edinburgh.

HCP-Med at a glance

• Duration: 5 years.
• Format: Part-time online in years 1 to 3, then full-time on campus in years 4 and 5.
• Location: Online, with clinical attachments in your local area where possible. You’ll also attend residential weeks in Edinburgh.
• Cost: Tuition fees are fully funded by the Scottish Funding Council for eligible students.

How the programme works

The University of Edinburgh Medical School has designed this programme to fit around your life as a working healthcare professional.

Years 1 to 3: part-time and online 

You’ll work 21 hours per week on your studies while keeping your current job part-time.

• Online learning: Engage with pre-recorded lectures, live tutorials, and discussion forums.
• Clinical attachments: Spend time in general practice (GP) and hospital settings. The medical school aims to place you close to home, though this cannot be guaranteed.
• Residential weeks: You’ll visit Edinburgh for 3 residential weeks each year to practise clinical skills like resuscitation and patient interviews.

Years 4 and 5: full-time in Edinburgh 

You’ll join the main undergraduate MBChB programme full-time.

• On campus: Study in Edinburgh for the final 2 years.
• Clinical rotation: Rotate through various medical specialties.

Entry requirements

To apply, you must be a qualified healthcare professional living and working in Scotland. You’ll also need at least 2 years of post-qualification work experience before the programme starts.

Professional registration 

You must be registered with a healthcare regulatory body, such as:

• Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
• Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS)
• Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)

View the full list of accepted regulatory bodies on the Edinburgh Medical School website.

Academic qualifications

• Undergraduate degree: A UK 2:1 honours degree, or international equivalent, in a science or healthcare subject.
• Alternative: The medical school may consider a 2:2 honours degree or an ordinary degree in a science or healthcare subject.
• Non-science degrees: The medical school may consider a non-science undergraduate degree if you also have an SQA Higher or GCE A level in Chemistry at grade C or above.

Sitting the UCAT

You must sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) prior to applying. Find out more about UCAT.

Residency

To qualify for funding, you generally need to have lived in the UK for 3 years and be ordinarily resident in Scotland from 1 August of the year prior to entry.

How to apply for HCP-Med

You can only apply for HCP-Med on the University of Edinburgh Medical School website.

Your application score 

The University of Edinburgh Medical School looks at more than just grades:

• Academic engagement (15%): Recent study in the last 3 years (e.g., a second degree, Open University modules, or professional certificates).
• UCAT score (25%): Combined cognitive score and situational judgement.
• Personal statement (10%): Evidence of teamwork, professionalism, and patient interaction. Find out more about preparing your personal statement.
• Interview (50%): If shortlisted, you’ll be invited to an assessment day.

Ready to take the next step?

Visit the University of Edinburgh’s HCP-Med programme page for full details on the application timeline, fee status, and curriculum.