Aspire North: eligibility, deadline and what it gives you
Aspire North is the Scottish Funding Council's Schools for Higher Education Programme for the north of Scotland, run from Aberdeen and Inverness for selected S3 to S6 pupils at partner schools. Pupils are referred by their school's contact teacher and get workshops, 1:1 interviews, campus visits, a free S5 residential and UCAS and personal statement support across their time at school. It is not medicine-specific, but St Andrews lists it as a widening access programme that unlocks its minimum entry grades.
- Closes
- Not published
- For
- S3 to S6 students, medicine
- Where
- Scotland
- Gives you
- Lower offer, then AAB instead of AAA
What you get
Completing Aspire North gives you a lower offer and an offer of AAB instead of AAA for medicine.
- St Andrews counts Aspire North participants as widening access students, who are considered on minimum entry grades: AAB instead of AAA at A-level, or AAABB in S5 plus BB in S6 instead of AAAAB plus BBB
- The St Andrews Medicine page lists only SIMD40, care, young carer, estranged and refugee routes to minimum entry, so confirm with medical.admissions@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Not recognised by Aberdeen Medicine, whose widening access list names Reach instead
To get it, you must
- Declare your participation on the St Andrews qualification indicator and your UCAS form
Who can apply
You need to
- Attend a partner school in Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Moray, the Highlands or the Islands
- Be nominated by your school's Aspire North contact teacher
- Have the academic ability to achieve at least 2 Highers
Plus at least one of
- Care-experienced
- Refugee or asylum seeker
- Deprived postcode
- Free school meals
- Young carer
- Disabled or long-term health condition
Dates
- Applications open
- Not published, referral through your school at the start of each session
- Applications close
- No closing date, school-led
- Programme runs
- In school from S3 to S6, with an S5 residential and S6 application sessions from Aug to Nov
- Apply to university
- UCAS deadline 15 October 2027 for 2028 entry
How to apply
Apply through the Aspire North for pupils page. It is run by Aspire North, hosted by the University of Aberdeen and funded by the Scottish Funding Council. Questions go to anne@aspirenorth.co.uk.
Frequently asked questions
Does Aspire North guarantee an interview?
No. Aspire North gives a lower offer rather than a guaranteed interview. St Andrews counts Aspire North participants as widening access students, who are considered on minimum entry grades: AAB instead of AAA at A-level, or AAABB in S5 plus BB in S6 instead of AAAAB plus BBB.
Who is eligible for Aspire North?
Attend a partner school in Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Moray, the Highlands or the Islands. You need to be nominated by your school's Aspire North contact teacher, have the academic ability to achieve at least 2 Highers, and meet at least one of its widening participation criteria, such as care-experienced, refugee or asylum seeker, deprived postcode.
When is the Aspire North deadline?
This cycle's closing date has not been published. No closing date, school-led. Applications not published, referral through your school at the start of each session.
What offer do Aspire North students get?
Students who complete the programme are made an offer of AAB instead of AAA. The St Andrews Medicine page lists only SIMD40, care, young carer, estranged and refugee routes to minimum entry, so confirm with medical.admissions@st-andrews.ac.uk
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