一、Choosing
With such a wide range of subjects available, choosing which degree to study can be a very challenging decision. There are a number of things to consider when selecting your course.
Each student will have their own motivations for the choice they make. These may be:
Study related – a subject which is related to your Highers, HNC/D or Access course
Vocational – a subject which leads to a specific profession
New found – a subject you are interested in but you have never studied before
Whatever your own personal motivation, it is important to explore all the options and choose a subject area you believe you will enjoy and do well in.
You can find out more about the degree programmes we offer in the Degree Finder:
Degree finder
Once you have decided which subject you want to study, there are a few things you should investigate to help you understand what the degree programme will be like, how it will be taught, and what will be expected of you as a student. This will help to make sure that your choice is right for you.
Teaching methods
Teaching at university can be very different from teaching you may have experienced before, with a mixture of lectures, seminars, tutorials, lab sessions, practical activities, placements and self-study.
If you are studying a practical science or a vocational subject you may spend most of your time in structured activities, while students taking humanities or social science subjects may find that there is much more self-directed study.
You can find out more about our different teaching methods here:
How you will learn
Assessment methods
It is also important to understand how you will be assessed during your degree. You may find that the methods used, and what is expected of you, are very different to what you are used to at college.
As well as final exams, most courses have a continuous assessment component. This can take the form of essays, lab reports, or research exercises.
The proportion of the final mark achieved by continuous assessment varies with each course. Information about how your degree programme will be assessed is included in the Degree Finder entry.
Degree course flexibility
The four-year degree structure offers flexible learning, allowing you to discover your preferred degree path.
In first year you will normally study three subjects. You continue two of these subjects in your second year, at the end of which you decide which subject to take to degree level.
Even if you know exactly what you want to do, you can study additional subjects alongside your core programme, adding depth to your education.
You can find out more about the four-year degree structure here:
The four-year experience
Studying part-time
There are a small number of part-time degree programmes available in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Applications for these programmes are made directly to the University.
二、Applying
Most people begin their application enquiries about a year before the September in which they plan to start university.
Apply to your chosen programmes via UCAS
If you would like to apply to any of our full-time undergraduate degree programmes, you need to do so via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
The UCAS system manages applications for undergraduate programmes at UK universities and colleges.
The system allows you to apply for up to five different degree programmes or universities through one application. If you apply to other universities as well as the University of Edinburgh we will not be able to see your other choices and it will have no impact on how we assess your application.
Can I apply for more than one degree programme at the University of Edinburgh?
You can, if you wish, apply for more than one programme at the University of Edinburgh. If you plan to do this, we would advise you to discuss your choices first with the relevant College admissions office, and to make clear in your application which is your first choice.
University of Edinburgh admissions offices
UCAS application form
There are a number of sections on the application that need to be completed: personal details, academic qualifications, your personal statement and your reference.
Deadlines
Applications for Medicine and Veterinary Medicine must be submitted by 15th October of the year before you wish to start your degree. Applications for all other undergraduate degrees must be submitted by 15th January of the year in which you intend to start your degree. Please note that if your application is not complete by the relevant deadline, we may not be able to consider it at all. If you have any difficulties, for example in deciding who should provide your reference, please contact the relevant College admissions office to discuss this before the UCAS deadline.
Qualifications
You should include all the qualifications you have already achieved, and any you are currently studying for. The UCAS form includes drop down menus which contain most common qualifications but if you can't find yours, or if you have any other difficulties in completing this section of the application form, you should contact the relevant College admissions office to discuss this before the UCAS deadline.
Predicted grades
If you are currently studying and do not yet have a final result for some of your qualifications, we will need to see your predicted grades. Without these we do not know whether you will meet our minimum entry requirements and we cannot compare your application with others through our selection process.
Normally your predicted grades will be entered on your application by the same person who completes your reference (see below). This will generally be someone in your college such as your course tutor. You should confirm with that person that they will be able to include your predicted grades.
If you have any difficulty in relation to providing predicted grades, you should contact the relevant College admissions office to discuss this before the UCAS deadline.
Personal statement
Your personal statement is an essay you write about yourself, setting out the reasons why you have decided to go to university and why you have chosen the particular subject(s) you are applying for.
Many students find it challenging to write about themselves so openly, but it is a very important exercise. Your personal statement is your opportunity to tell us about yourself, and to show us your commitment to studying for your chosen degree. We will take it into account when we decide whether or not we can offer you a place.
There is more advice on what to include in your personal statement here:
Your personal statement
Reference
If you are applying from a college or registered UCAS centre, a teacher or tutor who knows you - your referee - will write your reference before submitting your application.
If you are not currently in education and are applying independently, you can ask a registered school, college or centre you recently attended, or an employer, if they would be willing to write a reference. Once you have agreement from your referee, add their details to the reference page of your application and UCAS will contact them for a reference.
三、Entry requirements
All applicants are expected to meet the University’s minimum entry requirements for the degree programme they are applying to, and to demonstrate through recent academic study that they are ready to study at degree level.
However, we know that many adult learners will have had a break in their formal education and will be returning to education with a very different academic profile to school or college leavers. We consider these students to be adult returners.
An adult returner is someone who had a break of at least three years in their formal education, and who has not yet achieved a degree. An adult returner may be under the age of 21 and so will not necessarily be defined as a “mature student”.
We know that if you are returning to education, you may have qualifications which are not listed amongst our standard entry requirements. If you are an adult returner, we can accept a range of alternative qualifications in place of standard entry qualifications, such as:
SWAP Access programmes
HNC / HND
University of Edinburgh Credit for Entry
Other college Access courses
Open University modules
If your qualifications are not listed here, you should contact the appropriate College admissions office to discuss whether we can accept your qualifications.
Admissions offices
Further information about arrangements for adult returners can be found in our Adult Returners Policy:
Adult returners (undergraduate) - University policy (314.8 KB PDF)
Previous undergraduate degree
Some adult learners may have already achieved an undergraduate degree. While this does not prevent you from applying to the University, you should be aware that where competition is high, preference will be given to students who have not had a previous opportunity to study at degree level. You may wish to discuss this with the appropriate College admissions office prior to making an application.
Recognition of Prior Learning
In some cases, we may be able to consider professional qualifications or work experience to meet part of your entry qualifications, for example as evidence that you meet subject specific entry requirements. If you think that this could apply to you, you must speak to the relevant admissions office before submitting an application.
Further information can be found in our policy on Recognition of Prior Learning in Admissions:
Recognition of Prior Learning in Admissions policy (319.4 KB PDF)
Recent study
We need to make sure that students are properly prepared for university-level study, otherwise there is a risk that they will struggle to succeed on their chosen degree programme. We therefore look for evidence of recent study, which usually means within three years of the start of your degree.
There are a few exceptions for courses involving Mathematics where we require your Mathematics entry qualification to have been achieved within two years. You can find a list of these exceptions on the “Understanding our entry requirements” page of our website:
Understanding our entry requirements
Articulation
The University of Edinburgh has no formal articulation arrangements with guaranteed progression from an HNC or HND programme in college to a degree programme at the University. However, the University does accept some HNC and HND qualifications for entry to some specific degree programmes, and entry with advanced standing to Year 2 of the degree is possible for students who have achieved high grades in their HN qualifications.
四、Visiting
Visiting allows you to meet staff and students, to have a look at the facilities and to satisfy yourself that the University of Edinburgh is the right choice for you.
Visiting the University is a really good way for you to find out more about what it will be like to study here, and how the University works.
There are a number of different visiting opportunities available to you.
Open Days
These are held three times a year, in June and September/October.
Open Days provide an opportunity to meet staff and find out more about the degree programme you are interested in. You can also attend talks on a wide range of student-related topics including student finance, accommodation, careers, study abroad, and visit many of the University's facilities.
For information about University of Edinburgh Open Days, or to book a place:
Undergraduate Open Days
I found Open Days to be very useful, although a little daunting. You can feel an almost invisible line surrounding the University, but you just need to cross this and have the courage to approach the staff - it's the best way to find the answers to all the questions you have.
Jennifer Saunders
History student
Visits organised by your college
Some College tutors have close links with University staff in specific academic areas and organise yearly visits. Check with your tutor to find out more.
Your College may also mention the SWAP Study Skills day. This is a really valuable event which brings you onto the University campus to practice some university-level study skills such as taking notes in a lecture or participating in a seminar or tutorial. You will also meet former SWAP students who are now at university and who can tell you what it's actually like to make the transition.
Post-offer visits
If you are offered a place by the University, you may be invited to attend a post-offer visiting day.
These days typically take place between February and April and are more person centred than Open Day.
You will have the opportunity to spend more time with academic staff from your chosen subject area, tour the facilities you will use as an undergraduate, and attend lectures on student support.
This particular kind of visit is helpful if you are deciding between a few offers of admission from different institutions. It is also important if you have already decided that this is where you would like to study, as you are provided with an up close view of where you will be spending your time.
Post-offer visits
Other opportunities
For a general overview of the main University campus, there are two options.
The student-led campus tour is organised by Student Recruitment and Admissions, and normally takes about one hour. Advance booking is required.
Student-led tour booking form
If you would rather investigate the campus at your own pace, there are two self-guided tour leaflets. There is one for the George Square Campus and surrounding area, and one for the King’s Buildings Campus.
Self-guided tours
