Medical school and your GP career path

This is where your journey to becoming a doctor begins. Medical school is where you will build your core scientific knowledge and develop clinical skills. You'll also get your first real taste of what a career in General Practice is like.

GP in the curriculum: Early exposure

Early exposure to General Practice is a fantastic way to shape your career. Unlike traditional courses that might keep you in lecture halls, Scotland's medical schools are designed to get you into the community early.

All Scotland's medical schools have a curriculum designed to give you a broad understanding of all areas of medicine. As a medical student, you'll have rotations in GP practices, allowing you to:

Observe GPs at work—See the rewarding connections doctors build with their patients and communities.
Understand holistic care—Learn how to treat the "whole person" rather than just a set of symptoms.
Master chronic management—Gain skills in patient-centred care and managing long-term conditions like diabetes or heart disease.
See the team in action—Understand how GPs collaborate with nurses, pharmacists, and allied health professionals in the community.

For specific module details, visit the official medical school websites:

Customise your degree: Electives

Your medical elective is a unique opportunity to explore an area of medicine you are passionate about. It is your chance to shape your learning to fit your own goals.

Choosing a General Practice elective allows you to gain in-depth experience in a specific setting. You could choose to:

Go rural—Spend time in a remote or rural GP practice to experience the unique challenges of island or highlands medicine.
Specialise—Focus on a particular field within community care, such as sports medicine or addiction support.
Travel—Take your GP skills abroad to experience healthcare in a different culture.

Medical student societies and networks

You don't have to study alone. Most Scottish universities have active GP societies and medical student groups. These offer opportunities to attend workshops, network with senior doctors, and learn more about different specialties.

The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) also supports these groups through its Society Partnership Network. This provides resources and a direct link to your local RCGP Faculty, helping you build your professional network before you even graduate.

Find out more about the RCGP’s Society Partnership Network.

Get involved with your local student society:

Not a student yet? It's time to prepare your medical school application

Thinking about applying to medical school in Scotland? Get the best possible start with Your Med Future, a dedicated resource from NHS Education for Scotland.

Created in collaboration with all five of Scotland's medical schools, it provides clear, trusted guidance to help you navigate the entire application process.