For the purposes of medical education and training, the nation of Scotland is divided into four regions within the Scotland Deanery:

  • North (including Aberdeen, Inverness) - NHS Grampian, NHS Highland & island boards where relevant
  • East (Dundee, Perth) - NHS Forth Valley, NHS Tayside
  • West (Stirling, Glasgow, Ayr) - NHS Glasgow & Clyde, NHS Ayrshire & Arran, NHS Lanarkshire, NHS Forth Valley, NHS Dumfries & Galloway
  • South East (Edinburgh, Borders, Fife) - NHS Lothian, NHS Borders, NHS Fife

The Deanery is part of NHS Education for Scotland (NES). For more information on each region and our training programmes please visit the following websites:

In Scotland, training in medical specialties is overseen by the Scotland Deanery. The lead dean for medical specialties is Professor Adam Hill, based in the West Region, and the programmes are managed by the training management team, also based in the West Region. There is a Specialty Training Board (STB), chaired by Dr Stephen Glen, Associate Dean in the West Region, which provides an advisory overview of the programmes. You can find out more information about the STB on the Scotland Deanery website.

Dual specialty training in GIM and your parent specialty are available in all four regions and all rotate through district general hospital and tertiary hospital placements.

Visit the specialty programme pages of the Scottish Medical Training website for more details on medical specialties, locations and training opportunities. There are many opportunities for OOP experience depending on the parent specialty.

Scotland is the furthest north of the four nations that make up the United Kingdom. It boasts some of the most beautiful and dramatic landscape in the world. And even living in the biggest cities, you are never far away from the countryside or the coast.

It has a population of around 5 million - much of which are in remote and rural communities. Scotland's largest cities - Edinburgh and Glasgow - both have beautiful historic and modern architecture, museums, theatres, galleries and a huge range of cultural and social opportunities. Scotland has a rich and diverse cultural heritage as well as a modern and dynamic vision of itself in the world.

Many people who live and work in Scotland feel that it enables them a good quality of life - with relatively short commuting times - almost 90% of Scotland’s workers live within 25 kilometres of their workplace, geographical proximity to a wealth of outdoor activities (from skiing to mountain-biking to fishing and rambling), excellent transport links, free education, good public services, and relatively affordable housing.

Scotland is a hub of learning, and has some of the oldest and best universities in the world; while Scots are renowned for contributions to engineering, medicine, science, philosophy and art. As well as its ‘water of life’; whisky, Scotland boasts delicious fresh produce and some amazing chefs.

Scotland offers free universal healthcare - provided by the National Health Service, regardless of social security contributions.