How to Apply

The academic department offering the taught course or research opportunity that interests you should be your first point of contact and they will advise you when it is appropriate for you to complete the form, 'Application for Admission as a Postgraduate Student'. This application form is a standard form that should be completed as thoroughly as possible, signed and returned with a photograph to the appropriate academic department.

The application form and further information is available to download from the University Postgraduate Offfice. Please note that applicants must sign the application form, so you will need to send a signed paper copy by post.

When you submit your application form you should include, if at all possible, two academic references (if the department hasn't already been sent them), evidence of your first degree, evidence that you have sufficient finance to cover the cost of your study and evidence of your proficiency in the English language, if appropriate.

If the department wishes to recommend that your application for admission is accepted they will send all these papers and your application form to the College Office of Science and Engineering and you will be made either a conditional offer or an unconditional offer, depending on whether we require any further information from you, e.g. if the result of your first degree is pending. If you are sent a conditional offer it will be made clear what the conditions of your offer are and how to fulfill them.

You are encouraged to submit your application and any necessary papers as long before your intended start date as possible.

All taught MSc/Dip courses start on the first day the academic year (usually the second week in September). A research degree may be started on the first day of any month.

You may wish to read our information about fees and funding.

If your first language is not English, you must provide up-to-date evidence of proficiency in English at the level shown below. Your offer of admission will be conditional upon evidence of your English Language proficiency unless you have already sent evidence. Copies or faxes of this evidence are NOT acceptable and the tests should not have been taken more than two years before admission.

The English Language Requirements for postgraduates in the College of Science and Engineering are as follows (please note that the MSc/Dip in Signal Processing and Communications asks for a slightly higher score):

• IELTS
  An overall score of at least 6.5 with a score of at least 6.0 in all sections



• TOEFL - Paper based test
  An overall score of at least 580 with a score of at least 55 in all three sections and 4.0 in the Test of Written English (TWE). Please note that if you take the paper-based version of TOEFL, then the Test of Written English is compulsory. You should ascertain when booking your TOEFL test that this test is available.



• TOEFL - Computer based test (CB-TOEFL)
  An overall score of at least 237 with a score of at least 21 in all three sections and 4.0 in the writing section



• TOEFL - Internet based test (TOEFL-iBT)
  An overall score of at least 92 with a score of at least 23 in all four sections)



• University of Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English Grade B or above



• University of Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English Grade A or above



• A degree from a UK University

Before you enroll for your course, you will be required to take a short English test at the Institute of Applied Language Studies in Edinburgh. Depending on the results of this, you may be recommended or required to take further tuition in specified areas. This tuition is free of charge and is taken alongside your academic studies in the Autumn or Spring terms.

If you have questions regarding the application process please contact the College Office Postgraduate team. We look forward to receiving your application.