The University of Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh is in a historic, iconic location, full of stories of the past. It’s actually the sixth-oldest university in the UK. Despite its long history, Edinburgh is a modern and exciting place to get an education, with over 45,000 students enrolled across five campuses around the city.

There are lots of opportunities to learn, have fun and make friends at the University of Edinburgh, and the standard of education is second to none. The University of Edinburgh was awarded the highest rating possible for its student learning experience.

It’s an institution that prides itself on student wellness and satisfaction, regularly encouraging students to participate in surveys that will allow the establishment to grow and get better over time.

To go to UofE, there are minimum entry requirements to meet. These change from course to course, but a good understanding of the English language always needs to be demonstrated, with most courses requiring an IELTS score of 6.5 or higher. Evidence of qualifications, a reference, a personal statement, and proof of English language skills will be needed to apply.

Once accepted into the university, scholarships and funding support packages are available, with a team always ready to answer urgent questions. Accommodation is easy to secure, with excellent halls of residence on offer (and both catered and self-catered options available).

Between learning from lecturers and studying in beautiful buildings, students of all backgrounds will find loads of opportunities to have fun and connect with classmates and peers. The International and Exchange Student Society, run by volunteers, encourages people of international backgrounds to meet up and socialise, forming a close community. Events include subsidised trips and parties.

After a student’s study programme ends, there’s no need to panic, as the University of Edinburgh is ranked in the top 10 UK universities for graduate employability. There’s also an award-winning careers service at the university that makes the transition from education to employment as smooth as possible.

Find out more about the University of Edinburgh:

Teaching quality

Entry requirements

Scholarships & funding

University structure

Facilities

Student support

Graduate outcomes

Teaching Quality

The University of Edinburgh gives quality teaching to its students, a fact proven in the latest report from the Quality Assurance Agency, which awarded it the highest rating for the student learning experience. The university takes its roles and responsibilities very seriously, and prioritising student learning is one of the many reasons for its success.

Within the university, School Directors of Quality are responsible for providing effective leadership and keeping up high standards of teaching. Plus, the university regularly conducts student surveys. Once the data is revealed, it’s used to shape future decisions and improve the student experience.

The National Student Survey (NSS) is run every year, enabling final-year undergraduates an opportunity to comment on all aspects of their higher education experience. The Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) is also run every year, giving postgraduates the chance to provide the same kinds of feedback on learning and teaching at their institution.

The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) is run every two years from March to May, and The Pulse Survey runs every two months, so students can provide feedback more often.

Not only does the University of Edinburgh provide excellent teaching quality, but it also proudly holds a position as one of Britain’s leading research universities. This was confirmed by the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) results. REF rates 90 per cent of UofE’s research activity as world-leading or internationally excellent, placing it fourth in the UK.

Entry Requirements

Once a potential student has decided on the University of Edinburgh and one of its courses, they should find out whether they meet the entry requirements. Each undergraduate degree course will have its own requirements, whether an applicant possesses Scottish Highers, A-Levels, the International Baccalaureate or something else.

When researching university requirements, most degrees will list their minimum entry requirements and required subjects, their standard entry requirements and their English language requirements. Applicants should meet all of these.

While it’s essential to understand university entry requirements, it’s also important to know that each degree will have specific grades that need to be met. Grades are usually expressed as ‘upper-grade level’ and ‘lower-grade level’. They are the university’s standard entry requirements unless an applicant is a widening access student eligible for a Plus flag.

If an applicant has met or done better than/is predicted to meet or do better than the lower grade level, they will automatically be placed into the selection process. Due to intense competition, applicants are expected to achieve the upper-grade level to receive an offer.

English Score Required

To study at the University of Edinburgh, a certain level of English language ability must be demonstrated. The requirements will vary between degrees, and several assessment methods are accepted, but an IELTS score of 6.5 (or higher) is standard, with no individual band scores below 6.0.

These tests/scores can’t be over three and a half years old, or two years old for IELTS, TOEFL and Trinity ISE. Completion of all Foundation English for Academic Purposes (FEAP) modules to a certain standard can also be counted toward meeting the University of Edinburgh’s English language requirements.

When students decide on their course and make an application, all qualifications will need to be verified. If an applicant’s certificate is not in English, they must submit a certified translation. Applicants should ensure that all the required documents are included in their application to avoid slowing down the process.

Along with the university’s English language requirements, the UK Home Office sets its own minimum standards for applicants who require a Student Route Visa. However, the university’s requirements are set at a level which meets the requirements of the UK Home Office. If a student is covered for one, they’re covered for the other.

Admission

When deciding which university to go to, the University of Edinburgh tells applicants to ask themselves the following questions:

• What subjects do they enjoy?
• Will they enjoy that same subject in a couple of years?
• Which subjects do they excel in?
• Are they interested in any new subjects?
• Do they have a career in mind?

Once a student is confident in their choice, they should research available opportunities, looking into how a course will be taught, what will be studied and how things will be assessed. All student admission applications for undergraduate courses should be completed through UCAS. The University of Edinburgh asks its applicants to present:

• The relevant qualifications
• A reference
• A personal statement
• Evidence of English language proficiency

Some Edinburgh degree programmes and courses will ask potential students to come for an interview (this can be virtual, especially if a student is applying from a different country), sit an admissions test, submit a portfolio, or share evidence of relevant work experience. The university holds itself to strong admission principles, always aiming to:

• Encourage students with excellent academic potential
• Keep growing the university as an international institution
• Offer equal opportunities to all applicants
• Increase diversity on campus

Throughout the process, the university offers admission support. Online overseas applicant information sessions are available for possible future undergraduate and postgraduate students. Plus, virtual visits offer an applicant the chance to explore what it’s like to study and live in Edinburgh via a phone/laptop/computer/tablet.

Scholarships & Funding

The cost of studying at the University of Edinburgh can change from course to course and based on a student’s circumstances. An international student’s yearly tuition rate will generally be between GBP 23,000 to GBP 33,000. These fees will change if the applicant is interested in studying medicine or veterinary medicine, if they are a visiting student, a study away student or a part-time student.

If international or EU students are looking for funding, it will be disappointing to learn that EU students can’t access tuition support from the Scottish Government anymore. There are still other funding support avenues and scholarships available, though, like:

• The Asylum Seeker Scholarship
• Edinburgh Global Undergraduate Mathematics Scholarships
• Robertson International Scholarships
• The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies International Scholarship

Along with those options, UK government agencies and external funding sources might provide financial assistance when there’s a need. The university also offers a decent number of general and subject-specific funding schemes, and honours:

• The 529 Savings Plan
• The AmeriCorps National Service Award
• The RMBF Medical Student Hardship Fund
• The US Veterans Affairs Benefit

Depending on where international students are based, there are loans available for applicants looking to study at the University of Edinburgh. It’s a recognised institution for certifying Canadian student loans, and Scholarships and Student Funding Services will handle TL11A Canadian tax forms.

There’s loan help available from the Icelandic Student Loan Fund, as well as loans provided by the US Government to certain students on specific programmes of study. The University of Edinburgh is an approved Title IV institution.

University Structure

There are over 350 courses available at the University of Edinburgh, and talented tutors and lecturers are determined to make the student experience positive and enriching. A staff survey recently completed shows that there are just under 16,000 members of staff, with just over 11,000 of these in full-time employment.

The faculty operates across five main university campuses, which are:

• Western General Hospital
• Edinburgh BioQuarter (Little France)
• Easter Bush
• The University Central Area (George Square)
• The King’s Buildings

And the schools and departments are split into the following categories:

• College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences:
  • Business School
  • School of Divinity
  • School of Economics
  • Edinburgh College of Art
  • Moray House School of Education and Sport
  • School of Health in Social Science
  • School of History, Classics and Archaeology
  • School of Law
  • School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
  • School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences
  • School of Social and Political Science
  • Centre for Open Learning
• College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine:
  • Edinburgh Medical School
  • Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
• College of Science and Engineering:
  • School of Biological Sciences
  • School of Chemistry
  • School of Engineering
  • School of GeoSciences
  • School of Informatics
  • School of Mathematics
  • School of Physics and Astronomy

Facilities

For prospective students looking to study at the University of Edinburgh, many facilities offer useful services. These include generous, flexible access to nine campus libraries, IT resources and study spaces. The main library in George Square is an exciting student activity centre open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Students can enjoy:

• 10 million journal article downloads
• Eight million eBook chapter downloads
• 700,000 eBooks
• 100,000 eJournals
• 700 licensed databases

Further facilities include a Chaplaincy Centre, which provides a meeting place for groups and individuals of any religion. This centre regularly holds recreational events for students, including social gatherings, fundraisers, fairs, meditation, lunches, yoga and tai chi.

Student life at the University of Edinburgh means individuals will automatically be made members of the university’s Students’ Association. The Association provides specialist services, councils to represent the student body, and union buildings.

The association supports over 320 student-led societies and clubs and runs four student union buildings, which house bars, retail spaces and catering outlets. The perfect way to spend an afternoon after hours spent learning in a lecture theatre.

One of the best facilities on offer at UofE for international students is Edinburgh Global. Edinburgh Global gives all non-UK applicants and students assistance, support and advice. It’s a fantastic centre that lets students easily engage in university life, providing all the information and support needed before and after they arrive, including immigration assistance and visa advice.

The university welcomes international students and can help settle them in, from airport welcome services to arranging activities. There’s even an International Day, an orientation event for non-UK students.

International students can also join the International and Exchange Student Society, run by volunteers. Throughout the year, the society has a calendar of events like subsidised trips around Scotland, social evenings, coffee gatherings and parties.

Accommodation

For international students, finding accommodation can be a scary process. The University of Edinburgh has lots of options and is right there to help new students find the right fit when they’re exploring university accommodation options and availability.

University-managed accommodation is available to first-year undergraduates, with a choice of catering options and Residence Life support. The most common choice of student accommodation is the halls of residence, which are a collection of two to 10-person flats. In these halls, students will enjoy:

• Cleaning of communal areas every two weeks
• Wireless internet with outlets for wired connection
• Laundry facilities operated by an App/via the purchase of a laundry card
• A Residence Life team to support, safeguard and advise

If a student is interested in living independently, whether in a student house or a self-contained flat, the university can help. Individual flats are available in a housing unit, and UofE also owns a limited number of apartments across the city.

Accessible accommodation is available too. Students must contact the university if they need specific information about accessibility facilities.

Student Support

Students at the University of Edinburgh have access to lots of support services, including personal support services to solve any concerns (academic or otherwise). The Advice Place is an example of a free information centre at UofE, run by EUSA and offering independent, confidential help.

Student study support is also available. Staff are on hand to guide students on how best to study and there’s a system of peer support through student-staffed helpdesks, academic families, buddying, mentoring and information points.

While going to university is exciting, it can also be a scary time, at which students would like to be guided in the right direction on many different topics. A student counselling personal support service is available at the University of Edinburgh which is free and confidential.

Students can get short-term professional help with any personal concerns, whether related to academic stressors or not. Plus, a range of self-help workshops and self-help literature options are on offer.

Student services don’t stop when a person is out of lectures and outside academic buildings, as there’s residential support in the student accommodation thanks to the Residence Life team. This team is professional, trained, and helps students make the change from home to university more easily.

Along with the in-depth student support programme outlined above, there’s a University Health Centre on site. It’s an independent NHS partnership that offers convenient, full medical care (including antenatal services, contraceptive advice, nursing, and child welfare services).

Graduate Outcomes

Leaving university can be a stressful and confusing experience, as students worry about their job prospects and all that the future might include for them. Thankfully, the University of Edinburgh acknowledges that employers want more than ‘someone with a degree’, and it has created award-winning career services to help make each graduating student much, much more.

The university has a strong reputation with recruiters, and according to High Fliers Research, it’s ranked as the 13th most targeted university in the UK for 2020/21. Not only that, but the university is ranked in the top 10 in the UK for the employability of graduates, and six months after graduating, 96.5 per cent of all students are in employment or postgraduate study.

For those who want support with their career search, the award-winning employment service helps students explore their options and ambitions, giving practical advice about how to progress and find great employment.

To prepare before reaching graduation, the university also offers students a range of internship opportunities, all of which are likely to increase their chances of finding a good job after graduation. These include:

• On-campus summer internships
• Part-time internships for PhD students
• Opportunities with local employers
• Work shadowing with alumni based locally and nationally
• International summer internships

Along with internships, the university supports students’ bright ideas. It has helped launch more than 140 new student start-ups, and the range of services available to people aiming to start a business includes:

• One-to-one business advice meetings
• Start-up workshops and bootcamps
• Competitions and awards
• Events and networking opportunities