What Short Courses and Summer Schools Does the University of Edinburgh Offer?

Updated

The University of Edinburgh offers short courses across a range of subjects for lifelong learning, available both online and on campus, plus a Summer School that lets you spend a summer in Edinburgh. These options suit people who want to progress in a career, learn something new, or enhance existing knowledge without committing to a full degree programme. The university describes its short courses as designed to support lifelong learning, with hundreds of courses available.

Short Courses for All

According to the university's Study site, short courses span a range of subjects and are built around lifelong learning. The stated purposes are:

  • Progressing in your career
  • Learning something new
  • Enhancing your knowledge

You choose between studying online or on campus, so the format can fit around existing work or personal commitments. The site notes there are hundreds of courses available, which means the specific subject list is best checked directly on the university's short courses pages rather than assumed from this overview.

Summer School

The Summer School is presented as a way to enjoy a summer in Edinburgh, make new friends, and expand your knowledge. It is a distinct option from the year-long or semester-based study abroad and exchange programmes, which are aimed at visiting students rather than short-course learners.

If your goal is a short, immersive experience in the city rather than a qualification, the Summer School is the relevant entry point. If your goal is credit-bearing study over a semester or year, look instead at the study abroad and exchange routes.

Flexible Study Options

The university states it offers a variety of flexible study options, including for-credit and not-for-credit. This distinction matters when choosing:

Option What it typically means for you
For-credit Study that counts toward a qualification or recognised academic record
Not-for-credit Learning for interest or professional development, without academic credit
Online Study at your own pace, without relocating
On campus In-person study in Edinburgh

The site does not specify which individual short courses carry credit, so confirm this per course before applying if credit matters to you.

Who These Options Are For

The short course and Summer School routes sit alongside the university's other study opportunities: on-campus undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, online postgraduate study, English language programmes, the International Foundation Programme, study abroad exchanges, and summer schools. The Study site also lists advice pages for mature applicants, online learners, teachers and careers staff, and parents and supporters of undergraduate applicants.

If you are weighing a short course against a full programme, the practical question is commitment: short courses and the Summer School are the lower-commitment entry points, while undergraduate, postgraduate taught, and postgraduate research programmes are the full qualifications.

How to Find and Apply

The Study site's degree finder includes a search with study level filters (Undergraduate, Postgraduate taught, Postgraduate research) and a search term field. For short courses and the Summer School specifically, use the dedicated short courses and Summer School sections rather than the degree finder, since these are not degree programmes.

Before applying, check:

  • Whether the course is online or on campus
  • Whether it is for-credit or not-for-credit
  • The subject and level, since offerings span a wide range
  • Any admissions policies and procedures that apply to applicants

The university publishes admissions policies, procedures, terms and conditions for applicants, which is the authoritative place to confirm requirements.