study.ed.ac.uk

The University of Edinburgh offers study options across every stage of higher education: on-campus undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, online postgraduate qualifications, English language and foundation preparation, study abroad and exchange programmes, summer schools, and short courses open to the wider community. The right route depends mainly on your current qualifications, whether you can relocate to Edinburgh, and whether you want a full degree or a shorter, flexible commitment.

Degree study on campus

The degree finder on study.ed.ac.uk lets you search by study level and search term, covering:

• Undergraduate — full-time taught degrees for students beginning higher education.
• Postgraduate taught — master's-level programmes delivered on campus.
• Postgraduate research — research degrees supervised at the university's academic level.

The site positions these programmes for students who want to study at one of the world's top universities and build toward a future career or further research.

Online and flexible study

If you cannot move to Edinburgh or need to keep working, the university offers:

• Postgraduate online learning — study online, at your own pace, for an internationally recognised postgraduate qualification.
• Flexible study options — including for-credit and not-for-credit study that can fit around existing commitments.

This is the relevant route if your main constraint is location or schedule rather than academic level.

Preparation and language routes

Two options exist specifically for applicants who are not yet ready for direct degree entry:

• English language education — general and specialist English courses designed to improve your English before starting a degree in the UK.
• International Foundation Programme — a full-time, one-year programme for international students who are not eligible for direct entry to degree-level study.

If your school qualifications or English level fall short of direct entry requirements, start here rather than with a degree application.

Study abroad, summer school, and short courses

• Study abroad in Edinburgh — spend a year or a semester in Edinburgh through study abroad, international exchange, or European exchange programmes.
• Summer School — a summer period of study in Edinburgh.
• Short courses — hundreds of courses across a range of subjects, online or on campus, designed for lifelong learning, career progression, or learning something new.

These suit visiting students, people testing a subject before committing to a degree, or local learners who want a shorter commitment.

Choosing between the routes

Support for specific applicant groups

The site also provides dedicated information and support for widening access applicants, international students (including application support and visa and immigration requirements), mature applicants, online learners, teachers and careers staff, and parents and supporters of undergraduate applicants. Admissions policies, procedures, terms and conditions are published for applicants.

A practical next step is to open the degree finder, set the study level, and search your subject — then check the entry requirements against your own qualifications before deciding whether a preparation route is needed first.

study.ed.ac.uk is the University of Edinburgh's official study information portal. It is the site to use if you are considering or preparing for study at Edinburgh and want one place to explore programme types, search for degrees, and find admissions and applicant support information. It covers on-campus and online study at undergraduate, postgraduate taught and postgraduate research levels, plus English language courses, an international foundation programme, study abroad and exchange options, summer school, and short courses.

What you can do on the site

The homepage is built around a degree finder and a set of study-level and audience entry points. From there you can:

• Search the degree finder by study level — undergraduate, postgraduate taught, or postgraduate research — and by search term.
• Browse study types rather than specific programmes, if you are still deciding what kind of study fits you.
• Find applicant and admissions information, including admissions policies, procedures, terms and conditions.
• Get audience-specific advice, such as guidance for mature applicants, online learners, teachers and careers staff, and parents or supporters of undergraduate applicants.
• Access information for new and current students, so the site also serves people who have already applied or enrolled.

Study options covered

Who the site is for

The portal is aimed at prospective students first, but it also serves current students and the people around them. If you are an international student, there is dedicated information on applications, visas, and immigration requirements. If you are returning to study after a break, there is advice for mature applicants. If you support applicants — as a teacher, careers adviser, or parent — there is material for you too.

How to use it

1. Start with the degree finder if you already know your study level and subject area.
2. If you are undecided, browse by study type (for example, online learning or short courses) to see what format suits your circumstances.
3. Check the admissions policies and procedures page before applying, so you understand the terms and conditions attached to an application.
4. Use the audience pages — international students, mature applicants, new students — to pick up the support information relevant to your situation.

The site was published on 11 November 2024 and functions as a central hub rather than a single programme page, so expect to move between the degree finder and the support sections as you narrow down your options.

The University of Edinburgh offers online postgraduate study that you can take at your own pace, leading to an internationally recognised postgraduate qualification. This route suits you if you want a University of Edinburgh degree but cannot relocate to Edinburgh or need to fit study around work and other commitments. The main entry point is the Postgraduate online learning section of study.ed.ac.uk, and you should check the specific programme page for its start dates, entry requirements and how study is delivered before applying.

What online study actually means here

Online learning at Edinburgh is presented as a way to study "at your own pace" for a postgraduate qualification. That distinguishes it from the on-campus taught and research programmes listed alongside it on the same site.

The site separates its study options into distinct categories, which helps you pick the right one:

• Undergraduate – on-campus degrees
• Postgraduate taught – on-campus master's-type study
• Postgraduate research – on-campus doctoral study
• Postgraduate online learning – study online, at your own pace, for an internationally recognised postgraduate qualification
• English language education – general and specialist English courses
• International Foundation Programme – a full-time, one-year preparation programme
• Study abroad and exchange – a year or semester in Edinburgh
• Summer School – short seasonal study
• Short courses – hundreds of courses, online or on campus, for lifelong learning

If your goal is a postgraduate qualification without moving to Edinburgh, the online learning category is the one to start from.

Flexible study options

Edinburgh states that it offers a variety of flexible study options, including for-credit and not-for-credit. This matters because it changes what you get at the end:

• For-credit study counts towards a qualification, so it is the route to a postgraduate award.
• Not-for-credit study lets you take the learning without accumulating academic credit towards a degree.

Short courses are also offered both online and on campus, and are described as supporting lifelong learning — useful if you want to build knowledge or progress your career without committing to a full postgraduate programme.

Who online study is designed for

The site lists dedicated advice and support pages for several groups, including:

• Online learners
• Mature applicants
• International students
• New students and current students
• Teachers and careers staff
• Parents and supporters of undergraduate applicants

If you are an online learner, the "Online learners" advice page is the one aimed at you. International students have a separate support section covering application support and visa and immigration requirements — worth checking, since visa rules depend on whether you study in Edinburgh or online from your home country.

How to move from interest to application

1. Go to the degree finder on study.ed.ac.uk and set Study level to the postgraduate option that matches your goal.
2. Use the search term field to find your subject, then open the individual programme page.
3. Confirm on that page how the programme is delivered, its entry requirements and its start dates — the site's overview does not carry these per-programme details.
4. Check the admissions policies and procedures page for applicant terms and conditions.
5. If you are an international applicant, read the international students support page before applying.
6. If you are returning to study after a break, read the mature applicants advice.

Common sticking points

• "At your own pace" is not the same as "no deadlines." Programme pages set the actual schedule; check them rather than assuming full flexibility.
• For-credit vs not-for-credit changes your outcome. Decide whether you need a qualification or just the learning before you enrol.
• Online does not automatically mean no visa questions. If you are an international student, confirm your situation through the international students pages.
• Entry requirements are programme-specific. The study.ed.ac.uk overview describes categories of study, not the requirements for any single programme.

The site was published with this content on Monday 11 November 2024, so always treat the individual programme page as the current source when you apply.

The University of Edinburgh provides dedicated support for international students across four main areas: application help, visa and immigration guidance, English language preparation, and pathway programmes for applicants who don't meet direct entry requirements. It also runs study abroad and exchange options for visiting students. The right support for you depends on where you are in the process — applying, preparing your English, or already holding an offer.

Application Support and Visa Guidance

The university's international students section covers information and support for applicants from outside the UK, including help with the application process and guidance on visa and immigration requirements.

This is the starting point if you need to understand:

• What documents and qualifications your application requires
• Which visa route applies to your situation
• What immigration conditions attach to studying in the UK

Because visa and immigration rules are set by the UK government rather than the university, treat the university pages as guidance and confirm final requirements against official UK immigration sources before making travel or enrolment decisions.

English Language Education

If your English isn't yet at the level required for degree study, Edinburgh offers general and specialist English courses designed to improve your language skills before you start a degree in the UK.

This route suits you if:

• You plan to apply for a degree but need to raise your English level first
• You want subject-specific or general English preparation rather than a full degree
• You would rather build language skills in the UK before beginning academic study

The exact entry levels, course lengths, and progression conditions aren't specified in the available site content, so check the English language education pages directly for current course details.

International Foundation Programme

The International Foundation Programme is a full-time, one-year programme for international students who are not eligible for direct entry to degree-level study.

Choose this if:

• Your school qualifications don't meet the direct entry requirements for an Edinburgh degree
• You need a structured bridge year before starting undergraduate study
• You want to study full-time on campus rather than online

This is a pathway rather than a degree in itself — the purpose is to prepare you for degree-level study. Confirm progression requirements and which degrees the programme feeds into before applying.

Study Abroad and Exchange

Students who want to spend a limited period in Edinburgh rather than complete a full degree can use the study abroad, international exchange, or European exchange programmes to study for a year or a semester.

This fits if:

• You are enrolled at another university and want a term or year abroad
• You want to experience Edinburgh without committing to a full programme
• Your home institution has an exchange agreement, or you are applying as a study abroad visitor

Online Postgraduate Study

For international students who can't relocate, Edinburgh offers online postgraduate learning — study at your own pace for an internationally recognised postgraduate qualification.

This is worth considering if you need flexibility around work or family commitments, or if visa and relocation costs are a barrier. Note that online study generally does not carry the same visa entitlements as on-campus study, so check this if your plans depend on studying in the UK in person.

How to Decide Which Support You Need

Practical Next Steps

1. Identify which category above matches your situation.
2. Go to the corresponding section on study.ed.ac.uk and check current entry requirements and deadlines.
3. For visa and immigration questions, cross-check the university guidance against official UK government immigration information.
4. If you are unsure whether you qualify for direct entry, check the International Foundation Programme criteria before applying to a degree.

The main limitation to keep in mind: the available site information describes what support exists, but not the specific eligibility thresholds, fees, or deadlines for each route. Those details change and must be confirmed on the relevant programme pages before you apply.

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:

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.