Eligibility

Find out if you are eligible to participate in an exchange programme.

Our exchange programmes are open to students on most, but not all, undergraduate programmes in CAHSS and CSE. Most students within the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine (CMVM) are not eligible to participate in exchanges, though there are some exceptions. 

Applicants must normally have completed 120 credits in their first year and must pass all second year courses at first sitting.  Students who have not completed a full 240 credits of courses at the end of the May exam diet will not be permitted to proceed with their exchange.  Students on 5 year programmes should ensure they have completed the equivalent, required credits at first sitting.

The application process for some exchange destinations and programmes may be extremely competitive and no student is guaranteed a place even if they meet all the eligibility and application criteria.  The availability of exchange places can also vary from year to year and may be limited by the number and types of agreements set up.

Students taking degrees in the following subjects are not eligible to participate in University-wide exchanges but can apply through the Subject-specific route.

  • Business
  • Chemistry
  • Law
  • Social Work 
  • Primary Teaching 
  • Art, Design, Architecture or Landscape Architecture 

Biomedical Sciences students on the following programmes are eligible to participate in exchanges:

  • Anatomy & Development
  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology
  • Physiology
  • Infectious Disease
  • Reproductive Biology

For more information, please see the Biomedical Sciences Exchange website:

Biomedical Sciences Exchange website

Students studying a language as a formal part of a degree in languages are eligible to participate in an exchange, but they must ensure that they study in a country relevant to their degree programme.  Please check with your School for details.


Students taking joint honours can normally apply for exchanges - for clarification of any academic requirements or caveats, please double check with your School(s).

University-wide exchanges may offer the most flexible option as these exchanges have been set up at institutional level, rather than School or departmental level.

For Subject-specific exchanges, students must check, before submitting an application via their main subject area, that the institution(s) they plan to apply to offer(s) enough suitable courses in both of their degree subjects and that Exchange Coordinators in both their subject areas support their application. You should apply for exchanges listed under your main subject area (ie. the subject area which 'owns' your degree).

Due to the nature of Subject-specific agreements, we cannot guarantee access to courses at the host institution outside the agreement discipline. It is your responsibility to research the course options at prospective host universities to ensure that you can satisfy your academic requirements for both subject areas.


If you entered the University of Edinburgh directly into second year it may be possible for you to apply for an exchange.  Selection for Subject-specific exchanges is a School level decision, and it would be at the discretion of the relevant School Exchange Coordinator whether a direct entry student would qualify for a place.  For University-wide exchange, this is a College decision:

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Science (CAHSS)

  • CAHSS will consider applications from students who transferred to Edinburgh having completed a full academic year at another UK university and who can provide a transcript to indicate their marks from that first year.
  • Unfortunately students who have entered directly into second year from secondary school cannot be considered for university-wide exchanges.
  • If you have transferred to the University of Edinburgh from a Further Education College, or from an international higher education institution, please speak with your School and CAHSS College Office to check whether it will be possible for you to apply for exchange.

College of Science and Engineering (CSE)

The College of Science and Engineering will consider applications from direct entry students. Applicants will be required to provide a full transcript from their previous education establishment and any offer will be conditional on successful passes in the December exam diet.

Biomedical Sciences

Direct entry students in the Deanery of Biomedical Sciences wishing to apply for exchange should speak directly with their School and the CMVM College Office to check whether this will be possible.


Students studying on 5 year degree programmes may be permitted to go abroad in their 3rd or 4th year of study.  Some Schools may only allow their students to go abroad in their penultimate year of study. Please check with your School before applying.


Students with a disability or specific learning need are encouraged to apply to study abroad. Some destinations may be more suitable for you than others so it would be useful to investigate options at an early stage with your Student Adviser, the Disability and Learning Support Service and/or the Study and Work Away Service.

Please note that we cannot guarantee the same type or level of support offered at Edinburgh will be available at our partner institutions.


Students can study in English at most of our non-European partner universities but for study at many European institutions, competence in the native language will be required.

Find out more about language requirements


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