Is medicine for you?
Maybe. There are more than 60 types of doctors in NHS Scotland, and they're all very different, more than you might think. This section explains what doctors do every day, so you can see if the job is right for you. There's nothing to sign up for and no tests to pass, so you can just start exploring.
Where to start
- What doctors do: The day-to-day job, the different settings, and who you'll work with.
- Types of doctors: The 4 different shapes a medical career can take.
- What life is really like: The rewarding parts and the harder elements of the job.
- What makes a good doctor: The personal qualities that matter most and why you need them.
Not sure where to start?
Answer a few quick questions about how you like to work, and we'll suggest an area to look at first. It only takes about 5 minutes, and there are no right or wrong answers. It doesn't decide anything for you, but it might help point you in the right direction.
If you're in S2 to S4
For now, the best thing you can do is keep your options open. Nearly every Scottish medical school asks for Chemistry, and Biology, Maths, or Physics are often required too. You do not need a detailed plan yet — just try to choose subjects that keep medicine as a possible option.
Doctors come from everywhere
There isn't a single type of person who becomes a doctor, and you don't need to come from a specific background. There's also more than one route into the profession, including dedicated options for people whose grades were affected by personal circumstances.
What if the answer is no?
That's useful to realise now, rather than finding out a couple of years into your MBChB degree. Medicine is just 1 of more than 350 careers in NHS Scotland. Nursing, midwifery, allied health professions, pharmacy, and healthcare science all involve treating patients.
If the answer is yes
You don’t need to be completely sure yet. If medicine feels like a possible career pathway for you, discover the entry routes and what you’ll need to apply to medical school in Scotland.
Try our interactive pathfinder tool
Not sure which medical pathway feels right for you? Answer a few questions in our interactive tool to discover more.
Try our pathfinder
Ready to start exploring?
The best place to begin is by looking at what doctors do each day and learning more about the people they work with.
Read what doctors do