The University of Edinburgh
Scotland's capital-city university, founded in 1583, where most undergraduate degrees run for four years.
- Offer rate
- 53%
- 2025 UCAS cycle (entry September 2025)
- Students
- 48,820
- 29,660 undergraduates
- International
- 50%
- of students
- Tuition
- £31,100
- From · 2027-28
- Founded
- 1583
About Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh was founded in 1583 and its buildings are spread across the centre of Scotland's capital, from the historic Old College to George Square, home of the Main Library. It is organised into three colleges: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Medicine and Veterinary Medicine; and Science and Engineering, which together teach almost 30,000 undergraduates.
Like other Scottish universities, Edinburgh runs mostly four-year degrees, which the university describes as giving a broad, flexible education; some programmes take three, five or six years. Admission is organised by selection area, with applicants compared against others of the same fee status (Scotland, rest of UK or international), and interviews are used only for a handful of professional programmes such as medicine and veterinary medicine.
It is also a very international university: in 2025/26 about half of its 48,820 matriculated students came from outside the UK. Edinburgh suits students who want a large research university in a capital city, a four-year degree with room to explore, and a wide choice of joint honours combinations across arts and sciences. Offer rates are published by selection area and fee status, which helps applicants judge how competitive a programme really is.
Why students choose Edinburgh
Most degrees run for four years, which the university describes as a broad, flexible education, with many joint honours combinations.
Edinburgh ranks 35th in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and 29th in the THE World University Rankings 2026.
Accommodation is guaranteed for new single undergraduates from outside the City of Edinburgh who apply by 31 July and hold an unconditional firm place by 31 August.
Interviews and admissions tests are not normally used, so for most programmes the decision rests on grades, personal statement and reference.
Admissions
2025 UCAS cycle (entry September 2025)
About 1 in 2 applications receives an offer
36,195 offers from 68,862 applications
Offer rate: 68,862 applications, 36,195 offers (53%) and 7,626 acceptances in 2025. Offer rates vary widely by selection area and fee status, because Scottish Government policy limits the intake of Scotland fee-rate students; Edinburgh publishes separate statistics for Scotland, rest-of-UK and overseas applicants.
Typical entry requirements
| A-levels | Varies by programme; ranges most offer-holders needed in recent years run from A*A*A* to AAB for Computer Science and A*A*A to AAB for History |
|---|---|
| IB Diploma | Varies by programme; e.g. 43 points (777 HL) to 34 (665 HL) for Computer Science, 37 (666 HL) to 34 (655 HL) for History |
| SQA Highers | Programme-specific; see the degree finder (widening access offers available) |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 92 Typical requirement (e.g. Computer Science, History): IELTS Academic 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component; TOEFL iBT 92 with at least 20 in each component for tests before 21 January 2026, or 4.5 overall (4.0 per component) on the new scale. Some programmes may set different levels; check the degree finder. |
Deadlines
- UCAS (Medicine and Veterinary Medicine) Non-binding Next deadline · In 9 days15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time
UCAT required for Medicine; Veterinary Medicine applicants also submit a Work Experience Summary.
- UCAS equal consideration deadline Non-binding In ~3 months13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
All other programmes; most close on this date.
Applicants who apply by the UCAS deadlines receive a decision no later than the UCAS reject-by-default date in May 2027.
How to apply
Apply through UCAS with qualifications, a personal statement and a reference. Most programmes close at the 13 January 2027 equal consideration deadline; Medicine and Veterinary Medicine close on 15 October 2026. Decisions are made by selection area, and applicants are compared with others of the same fee status.
What admissions looks for
- Achieved or predicted grades that meet the programme's entry requirements, including any required subjects (for example Mathematics at A for Computer Science).
- Everything in the application considered together, including the personal statement and reference, once entry requirements are met.
- Context: widening access applicants can be made lower offers.
- For portfolio and interview programmes, evidence of creative work or, for medicine and veterinary medicine, performance in multiple mini-interviews.
Tips for applying to Edinburgh
- 1 Check the admissions statistics for your fee status and selection area: offer rates for Scotland, rest-of-UK and overseas applicants can differ within the same subject.
- 2 If you already meet the English language requirement when you apply, Edinburgh says your application may be considered more competitive.
- 3 For Medicine, take the UCAT in 2026 before submitting your UCAS application by 15 October 2026.
- 4 Apply for accommodation by 31 July to qualify for the first-year accommodation guarantee.
Costs & financial aid
2027-28 · figures in GBP
Most home students fund their studies through SAAS (Scotland) or Student Finance (rest of UK). Edinburgh offers needs-based awards such as Access Awards and the Access Edinburgh Scholarship for UK widening access students, plus a limited number of scholarships for international students; these must be applied for soon after applying for admission.
- Fixed annual fee for the full degree
- International fee policy
- £1,820
- Scotland fee rate (2026 and 2027 entry)
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters
Computer Science (BSc/BEng)
Taught in Informatics; offer-holders in recent years typically had between A*A*A* and AAB, with Mathematics at A required.
Artificial Intelligence (BSc)
A dedicated undergraduate AI degree alongside a joint Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science programme.
Medicine (MBChB)
Selection uses the UCAT and multiple mini-interviews; international fee £59,700 a year for 2027 entry.
Veterinary Medicine (BVM&S)
One of the few programmes with interviews, using multiple mini-interviews and a Work Experience Summary.
History (MA)
A four-year Scottish MA, with joint honours options such as History and Politics or History and Scottish History.
Economics (MA)
Offered alone or with Accounting, Mathematics, Politics, Statistics, Finance or Management Science.
Research
- Peter Higgs, Nobel laureate in Physics for the theory of how subatomic particles acquire mass, was a professor at the University of Edinburgh.
- Edinburgh's Informatics community has its own teaching and computing base in Appleton Tower, with remote access to high-performance servers for students.
Schools & faculties
- College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
- College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
- College of Science and Engineering
Student life
Edinburgh's buildings are woven through the city, from Old College to George Square and its Main Library. The university guarantees first-year accommodation to eligible students from outside the city, with all-inclusive rents, no deposit or guarantor, and 24/7 Residence Life staff; its accommodation is managed by the university and designed around the transition to university. Clubs and societies run through the Students' Association, and each summer the city hosts its major festivals.
- Guaranteed accommodation for eligible first-years from outside Edinburgh.
- About half of students come from outside the UK.
- Most degrees last four years, with many joint honours combinations.
- University accommodation has all-inclusive rents with no deposit or guarantor required.
Housing. New single undergraduates from outside the City of Edinburgh are guaranteed an offer of University accommodation if they apply by 31 July and are Unconditional Firm by 31 August.
Location
Edinburgh is Scotland's capital, and the university's buildings sit in the heart of the city rather than on an out-of-town campus, so most students walk between lectures, libraries and home. The city hosts major festivals each summer. The university estimates living costs at £1,546 a month for 2026-27, or £13,914 for a 39-week academic year.
Nearest airport: Edinburgh Airport (EDI)
Notable alumni
- CD Charles DarwinNaturalist; began a medical degree at Edinburgh before turning to natural history
- SA Sir Arthur Conan DoyleCreator of Sherlock Holmes; studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh Medical School
- RL Robert Louis StevensonAuthor of Treasure Island; entered the university to study engineering
- DH David HumePhilosopher of the Scottish Enlightenment
- GB Gordon BrownUK Prime Minister; studied history and took a doctorate at Edinburgh
- JK J. K. RowlingAuthor of Harry Potter; trained as a teacher at Moray House School of Education
Frequently asked questions
What is the University of Edinburgh's acceptance rate?
Edinburgh publishes offer rates rather than an acceptance rate: in 2025 it received 68,862 applications and made 36,195 offers, an offer rate of 53%, with 7,626 acceptances. Rates differ a lot by selection area and fee status, so check the statistics for your group.
Does Edinburgh interview applicants?
Only for medicine, nursing, teacher education and veterinary medicine; medicine and vet medicine use multiple mini-interviews. Other programmes do not interview.
What is the deadline to apply to Edinburgh for 2027?
13 January 2027 for most programmes, and 15 October 2026 for Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, via UCAS.
How much are Edinburgh's fees for international students?
International fees depend on the programme and are fixed for the length of the degree. For 2027 entry, examples are £31,100 a year for History, £40,900 for Computer Science and £59,700 for Medicine; check the fee finder for your programme.
What IELTS score does Edinburgh require?
Many programmes, including Computer Science and History, require IELTS Academic 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component. Check the degree finder for your programme.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
Explore nearby in the world top 100
Universities ranked close to Edinburgh in the QS World University Rankings 2027.