Founded in 1582, the University of Edinburgh has been home to many influential figures who helped shape the modern world - among them 12 Nobel laureates; a signatory of the American Declaration of Independence; and many authors, the most prominent being Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes) and Robert Louis Stevenson (Treasure Island, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde), and many more. The university ranks 4th for the quality and depth of its research according to the Research Excellence Framework 2014, with 83% of it classified as "world-leading" or "internationally excellent". The university's scientists created Dolly the sheep. Peter Higgs developed his theory of the Higgs boson there. The university developed the first genetically engineered vaccine for hepatitis B, as well as technologies used in today's smartphones. The University of Edinburgh is ranked 21st in the World University Rankings 2015/2016 and 4th in the UK for research. It is in the top 10 for subjects such as architecture, arts, chemistry, law, medicine, engineering, sociology, veterinary medicine, sports science and music. The university has 12 Nobel laureates and is currently home to over 27,500 students from all over the world
Edinburgh is the capital and second largest city of Scotland. Elegant, cosmopolitan, bustling with life, full of cultural attractions and rich in history, Edinburgh is one of the most sought-after destinations for students worldwide. The city has a population of 477,000 and a student population of over 50,000. Edinburgh is famous for its many festivals in all kinds of fields - from science to tattoo festivals.
Main programs and majors (For a detailed list, ask one of our advisors)
- Archaeology
- Architecture & Landscape Architecture
- Art
- Biological Sciences
- Biomedical Sciences
- Business
- Celtic & Scottish Studies
- Chemistry
- Classics
- Cognitive Science (Humanities)
- Computer Science (Informatics)
- Design
- Earth Sciences
- Ecological and Environmental Sciences
- Economics
- Education
- Engineering
- English
- Geography
- History
- History of Art and Fine Art
- Languages, Countries & Cultures
- Law
- Linguistics
- Mathematics
- Medicine & Health
- Music
- Nursing Studies
- Philosophy
- Physics and Astronomy
- Politics and International Relations
- Psychology
- Social Anthropology
- Social Policy
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Sport
- Sustainable Development
- Theology and Religious Studies
- Veterinary Medicine
Key information
Duration of study:
3-5 years for Bachelor's programs
1-2 years for Master's programs
Academic year:
2 semesters - September and January
Start of the year:
September and January (for some Master's programs only)
Admission deadline:
October 15 for medicine and veterinary medicine.
January 15 is the recommended deadline for most majors. The final cutoff is June 30, but those applications will not be given priority.
There is no deadline for Master's and PhD/doctoral programs, but the university advises applying as early as possible.
Admission requirements:
High school diploma with a GPA of 5.00, and no less than 5 in all subjects in the final year
TOEFL
For humanities and social sciences:
- Business - 100+; minimum 20 in each section
- Nursing - 100+; minimum 25 in each section
- All other programs - 92+; minimum 20 in each section
For science and engineering:
- All programs - 92+; minimum 20 in each section
For medicine and veterinary medicine:
- Biomedical and medical majors - 92+; minimum 23 in each section
- Veterinary medicine and dentistry - 100+; minimum 23 in each section
- Medicine - 110+; minimum 25 in each section
IELTS
For humanities and social sciences:
- Business - 7.0; minimum 6.0 in each component
- Nursing - 7.0; minimum 7.0 in each component
- All other programs - 6.5; minimum 5.5 in each component
For science and engineering:
- All programs - 6.5; minimum 5.5 in each component
For medicine and veterinary medicine:
- Biomedical and medical majors - 6.5; minimum 6.0 in each component
- Veterinary medicine and dentistry - 7.0; minimum 7.0 in each component
- Medicine - 7.5; minimum 7.5 in each component
CAE
For humanities and social sciences:
- Business - 185 with a minimum of 169 in each component
- Nursing - 185 with a minimum of 185 in each component
- All other programs - 176 with a minimum of 162 in each component
For science and engineering:
- All programs - 176 with a minimum of 162 in each component
For medicine and veterinary medicine:
- Biomedical and medical majors - 176 with a minimum of 169 in each component
- Veterinary medicine and dentistry - 185 with a minimum of 185 in each component
- Medicine - 191 with a minimum of 191 in each component
Scholarships and loans
Tuition in Scotland is £1,820 for EU and Scottish citizens. Students can apply to have their fees paid by the Scottish Government and, provided they meet certain conditions, they will not have to repay anything after graduation.
Accommodation:
University residence halls cost between £4,752 and £5,053 per year. Private accommodation in a house or apartment outside the university residence halls costs £4,010-£4,837 per year.