The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is one of the oldest and most famous universities in the English-speaking world, and Scotland’s capital is a beautiful, lively city to study in. It’s a member of the Russell Group, and it’s very popular with international applicants. Like most Scottish universities, Edinburgh’s undergraduate honours degrees usually last four years, giving you time to explore other subjects before you specialise.
For most Edinburgh courses starting in September 2027, the UCAS deadline is 13 January 2027, so there’s still time to apply. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on Edinburgh’s own guidance. If you’re applying for a master’s or PhD instead, see the section near the end.
1. Understand the four-year Scottish degree
Most Edinburgh honours degrees, such as Economics MA (Hons), take four years. In the first two years you usually study other subjects alongside your main one, and you specialise in years three and four. This flexibility is a big advantage, but it means an extra year of fees and living costs compared with most English universities, so include that in your plans.
2. Know the difference between standard and minimum requirements
Edinburgh publishes two sets of grades for most degrees. Standard entry requirements apply to most applicants, while lower minimum requirements are for widening access applicants in the UK. Requirements are often given as a range. For example, for 2027 entry, Economics asks for A*A*A* to A*AA at A level, or 40 points with 766 at Higher Level down to 37 points with 666 at Higher Level in the IB. Your qualifications must be from the last three calendar years. Edinburgh Economics entry requirements.
3. Check whether you need a test, interview or portfolio
Most Edinburgh degrees don’t interview or use an admissions test. The exceptions include medicine, veterinary medicine, nursing and teacher education, which use interviews, and medicine also needs the UCAT. Art and design degrees ask for a digital portfolio. If you’re hoping to study medicine or dentistry, note that the UCAS deadline for 2027 entry was 15 October 2026, and you’d also have needed to sit the UCAT, so you’d now be planning for 2028 entry.
4. Make your personal statement fit your degree
Your UCAS personal statement now has three questions: why you want to study the course, how your studies have prepared you, and what else you’ve done to prepare outside education. You have 4,000 characters in total, with at least 350 for each answer. Edinburgh lists a personal statement that doesn’t suit the degree as a reason for rejecting applications, so make sure your statement clearly matches the programmes you’ve chosen. Write about what you’ve read, explored or made, and what you think about it, rather than listing achievements. See our 50 sample SOPs for ideas on structure, but keep your own voice.
5. Use the flexibility of the Scottish system in your plans
Because you’ll take courses outside your main subject in your first years, Edinburgh welcomes curious students with wide interests. Show in your application that you’re excited about learning, not just about one exam subject. For example, mention a related subject you’d like to explore, or how two of your interests connect.
6. Get a strong reference
Your UCAS application includes a reference from your school, which explains your predicted grades and describes you as a student. Ask your teachers early, give them a short summary of your interests and achievements, and tell them about any circumstances that affected your studies so they can mention them.
7. Apply by 13 January 2027
The UCAS deadline for most Edinburgh courses starting in September 2027 is 6pm UK time on 13 January 2027. Every application received by then gets equal consideration, so there’s no advantage in rushing: use the time to make your application as strong as possible. Edinburgh’s degree pages note that you can search UCAS after that date to see whether any degrees still have places.
8. Meet the English requirement for your degree
English requirements vary by degree. For Economics, for example, Edinburgh asks for IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each part. Edinburgh doesn’t accept the IELTS One Skill Retake, and your test must be no more than two years old on the first day of the month your degree starts. Practise with our free IELTS, TOEFL and PTE practice tests.
9. Plan your budget for four years
International students at Edinburgh pay a fixed annual fee, set when they start, so it won’t rise during their degree; find the exact figure for your degree in the degree finder. Remember that you’ll usually pay for four years. Edinburgh estimates that living in the city costs about £1,546 a month for a single undergraduate in 2026–27, or £13,914 for a 39-week academic year. Check Edinburgh’s scholarships and student funding pages for international awards.
10. Get ready for your Student visa
Most international students need a UK Student visa. Once you’ve accepted Edinburgh as your firm choice and met your offer conditions, Edinburgh will issue your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), which you need to apply for the visa. You’ll also need to show that you can pay your fees and living costs. After graduating, you can usually stay in the UK to work under the Graduate Route, which is due to be shortened from two years to 18 months for applications made from 1 January 2027. Check GOV.UK for the latest rules.
Applying for a master’s or PhD at Edinburgh?
Edinburgh offers a large range of one-year taught master’s degrees and PhD programmes, including well-known programmes in informatics, AI and data science. Each programme sets its own requirements and deadlines. You apply directly to the university, not through UCAS. Most programmes ask for a good first degree (often a UK upper second-class degree or the equivalent), a personal statement, references and, for international applicants, an English test. See our 50 sample SOPs, free GRE and GMAT practice tests, and our guide to the best AI master’s degrees in the UK.
Be ambitious, but apply to a balanced list
Edinburgh turns down many strong applicants every year, because there are more excellent students than places. Use your five UCAS choices wisely: apply to Edinburgh if it’s right for you, and include universities where your chances are good. Read our guides to other Russell Group universities, including Glasgow, Durham, UCL and Manchester. Our guide to studying in the UK explains how UK universities work, and our free study abroad assessment can help you build a shortlist.
Information was taken from the University of Edinburgh’s official degree finder, entry requirement, English language and fees pages, and checked in October 2026. Entry requirements, deadlines, tests, fees and visa rules can change, so always confirm the details on Edinburgh’s undergraduate website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with the University of Edinburgh.