Dundee University is offering would-be doctors £3,000 to delay starting their courses, it has emerged.
The medical school is looking for around 10 volunteers who are willing to wait until next year to begin their training because it has too many applicants who meet the entry requirements this year.
It is understood a financial incentive is being made available, but the university has declined to confirm this.
The National Union of Students said universities should not expect students to delay their education and Tory education spokeswoman Liz Smith described the move as ”fraught with problems”.
But the university insisted it was acting in the face of ”intense demand” for places at the medical school.
A spokesman said: ”This year, we have seen a significantly higher proportion of students around 10% more accept the offer made to them by our medical school over those from competing institutions.
”While we are delighted that so many students achieved the high grades that allowed them to meet the conditions of these offers, it does mean that we have more students due to commence at Dundee in the autumn of 2012 than anticipated.
”As the number of students that we can take for medicine is restricted, we are asking some of our new students to defer entry for one year with an absolute guarantee of a place in 2013. We are looking for around 10 students to defer to next year and are progressing discussions.”
He added that all offers, deferred or not, will be honoured.
”Volunteers are being sought for deferment and the option is open to all Scottish/EU and rest of UK students,” he said.
Medicine is one of several controlled subjects, whose intake is decided on by the Scottish Government. Dentistry, nursing and teaching are also on the list.
NUS Scotland president Robin Parker, said: ”In this economic climate, universities shouldn’t expect students to delay getting a start on their education. We hope that Dundee University, like all Scottish universities, would accept every student they possibly can who has the potential to succeed.”
Liz Smith said: ”To ask some of those who have already accepted a place for academic session 2012-13 to defer for a year is fraught with problems, especially if the students concerned have already turned down places at other institutions.”