Study Abroad programme

The Study Abroad programme allows students taking an undergraduate degree elsewhere to spend a year or a semester at the University of Edinburgh.

The programme at a glance

You can apply for the Study Abroad programme if you are currently enrolled in your first year (or above) of study at your home institution. The Study Abroad programme provides the opportunity to study at the University of Edinburgh for Semester 1, Semester 2 or the Full Academic Year.

What can I study?

We offer a huge range of courses for Study Abroad students, with no fixed study programmes. The only thing limiting your course selection is whether you meet the course entry requirements.

You will receive credit from your studies to transfer back to your home university.

To apply, you must:

  • Be studying at a university and transferring the credit you receive at the University of Edinburgh back to your home institution
  • Have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or over on a 4.0 scale or equivalent (B average)
  • Have completed a minimum of one full year of studies at your home institution*
  • Provide a strong personal statement
  • Provide evidence of your English skills if English is not your first language

*Applicants to the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences will be required to provide a transcript at the point of application demonstrating they have completed a minimum of one full year of study at their home institution. Where one full year has not yet been completed, study at a previous institution will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants to the College of Science and Engineering will be required to provide a transcript demonstrating that they have completed 1 semester of study.

An academic reference is not required for the Study Abroad Programme. The Visiting Student Offices reserve the right to request a reference after receiving an application, if they require additional supporting information.


If you wish to apply for the Study Abroad programme and English is not your first language, you will be required to provide an approved international English qualification or English Language test in order to demonstrate your English language abilities. The qualifications we accept meet both our minimum English language proficiency requirements and the minimum standards for Student route visas.

English language qualifications we accept and their expiration dates (calculated from the start date of the programme you are applying to study):

 Must be no more than two years old

  • IELTS (Academic module) – overall 6.5 with 5.5 in each component
  • TOEFL iBT (including Special Home Edition) – 92 or above with 20 in each section
  • Trinity ISE –  ISE II (distinction all components) / ISE III (pass all components)
  • PTE Academic (Pearsons) – overall 62 with 54 in each component
  • Oxford ELLT (Global or Digital) – overall 8 with 6 in each component

Must be no more than three and a half years old

  • Cambridge CAE/CPE – 176 overall (162 component), grade A-C
  • Additional qualifications listed on our central English language requirements website

Visit the English language requirements website

If you wish to take third / fourth year (Level 10) courses in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences you will be required to demonstrate a slightly higher level of English language ability, as these courses require an advanced capability to express ideas and arguments clearly in writing.

Please contact the Visiting Student Office directly for further information about the relevant scores required to request enrolment in Level 10 courses.

Contact our Visiting Student Office via email: CAHSSvisitingstudents@ed.ac.uk

The above English language requirements may not apply if you are studying at an institution approved by the University of Edinburgh where English is the medium of teaching. 

Approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries


Tuition fees

Tuition fees for the Study Abroad programme are payable directly to the University of Edinburgh (and not your home institution).

2024/25 Period Tuition fee
Full Academic Year September 2024 to May 2025 £22,600 (includes discount)
Semester 1 (Autumn) September 2024 to December 2024 £11,500
Semester 2 (Spring) January 2025 to May 2025 £11,500

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