How to Apply to Life Sciences and Medicine at the University of Edinburgh: Biological Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience, Pharmacology, Nursing and the Six-Year MBChB, With Biology and Chemistry Core Prerequisites, for UK, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

Life sciences and medicine degrees at the University of Edinburgh sit in three colleges: the School of Biological Sciences in the College of Science and Engineering; the Edinburgh Medical School in the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, which offers Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience, Pharmacology, Anatomy and Development, Reproductive Biology and Medicine; and the School of Health in Social Science in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, which offers Nursing. Here is what you need to know for September 2027 entry, based on Edinburgh’s official information, for UK applicants, international applicants (including those from China) and students who want to transfer or join Year 2. Psychology has its own guide and is not covered here.

1. Programmes and degree types

• Length: Scottish BSc (Hons) degrees normally take 4 years; Biological Sciences MBiol 5 years; Medicine MBChB 6 years; Nursing BN (Hons) 4 years. Edinburgh says the four-year structure lets you study subjects outside your degree in Years 1 and 2.
• Biological Sciences (College of Science and Engineering, King’s Buildings): BSc (Hons) C100 (3 or 4 years). Edinburgh says there are 12 specialisations to choose from for the honours years: Biochemistry C700, Biotechnology J700, Cell Biology C130, Development, Regeneration and Stem Cells C140, Ecology C180, Evolutionary Biology C182, Genetics C400, Immunology C550, Molecular Biology C720, Molecular Genetics C440, Plant Science C200 and Zoology C300. Whichever you apply to, you explore aspects of each in the early years and can then choose.
• Biological Sciences MBiol: C900 (4 or 5 years). Edinburgh says it includes a placement year in industry or research, with the extra year given to a year-long research project or industry placement. BSc students can move to the MBiol at the end of Year 2 with an average of 60% across Years 1 and 2.
• Biological Sciences with Management: BSc (Hons) C1N1, 4 years, a joint programme combining School of Biological Sciences and Business School courses.
• Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Medicinal and Biological Chemistry (a chemistry degree) and others: also in the A to Z, not covered here; see Edinburgh’s website.
• Biomedical Sciences (College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine): BSc (Hons) C190, 4 years. Edinburgh says Years 1 and 2 share a common foundation, with more specialist courses from Year 3 and the option to specialise in Year 4 in anatomy and development, reproductive biology, pharmacology, neuroscience or infectious diseases; you can change specialism at the end of Years 2 and 3. The same suite also has Neuroscience B140, Pharmacology B210, Anatomy and Development C183 and Reproductive Biology C142, all BSc (Hons) over 4 years.
• Nursing Studies: BN (Hons) B700, 4 years, with practice learning across an extended academic year; Edinburgh says graduates meeting the requirements are eligible for Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registration as an adult nurse, and that the programme is being modified so its content may differ from what is advertised.
• Medicine MBChB: A100, 6 years (section 7).
• Exchange: the Biological Sciences and Biomedical Sciences pages say you can study in Year 3 at a partner university; the Placement field on the Biological Sciences BSc page reads “No”.
• Sport science and veterinary medicine are also in the A to Z and are not covered here.

2. How admission works: apply to a named programme and specialise later

• Biological Sciences: Edinburgh says all students take the same core courses in Year 1, including laboratory techniques, research skills, group work, ethics and writing, with fieldwork at local sites such as the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh; you also choose option courses, with biological chemistry recommended. Year 2 continues the core (DNA replication and repair, natural selection and the origin of species, cellular metabolic processes, regulation of biological systems, programming for data analysis) with optional plant or microbial courses. In Year 3 you choose a specialisation and, with the right course combination, can swap honours programmes at the end of Year 3; Year 4 goes deeper and includes an individual research project in an academic laboratory.
• Biomedical suite: Year 1 has three compulsory courses (biomedical sciences, medical biology, molecular and cellular biology) plus options, with at least one biological chemistry course expected; Year 2 compulsory courses are Biomedical Sciences 2, Microorganisms, Infection & Immunity 2 and Cells to Organisms 2; Year 3 has Biomedical Sciences 3; Year 4 has Biomedical Sciences and Critical Analysis Skills in Biomedical Sciences plus a major research project under supervision (laboratory-based, or data or literature analysis).
• Nursing: theory and practice are weighted equally, as the NMC requires; practice learning covers community and inpatient settings such as emergency care, critical care, rehabilitation, and surgical and medical wards; there is an optional four-week clinical elective in the UK or abroad; Year 1 offers the chance to study subjects outside nursing.
• The pages describe course structure but give no grade thresholds for choosing specialisations; these are not published.

3. Prerequisites: Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics

The figures below come from Edinburgh’s 2027-entry pages; “most applicants needed” ranges are Edinburgh’s own guidance.

• Biological Sciences (C100, C900, the specialisations above and C1N1):
  • Highers: grades most applicants needed in recent years were AABB (achievement by the end of S5 preferred), with BBB in one year; the Highers must include Biology (or Human Biology) at B and Chemistry at B, with an A in at least one of Biology (or Human Biology), Chemistry, Mathematics (or Applications of Mathematics) or Physics; Advanced Higher Biology and Chemistry are recommended; you also need National 5 English at C and Mathematics or Physics at B (Higher Applications of Mathematics at C is accepted in place of National 5 Mathematics at B).
  • A-level: the range was AAA to ABB in one set of exams, including Biology at B and Chemistry at B, with an A in at least one of Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics; GCSE Mathematics or Physics at B or 6 and English at C or 4.
  • IB: the range was 37 points with 666 at HL to 32 points with 655 at HL; HL must include Biology at 5 and Chemistry at 5; SL must include Mathematics (either course) or Physics at 6, and English at 5.
• Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience, Pharmacology, Anatomy and Development, Reproductive Biology:
  • Highers: AABB (S5 preferred) in recent years, including Biology at B and Chemistry at B; Higher Mathematics or Physics and Advanced Higher Biology and Chemistry are recommended; National 5 Mathematics at B and English at C (Higher Applications of Mathematics at C is accepted in place of National 5 Mathematics at B).
  • A-level: AAB in recent years, including Biology and Chemistry (one at A and one at B), with Mathematics or Physics recommended; GCSE Mathematics at B or 6 and English at C or 4.
  • IB: 34 points with 655 at HL in recent years, with Biology and Chemistry at HL (one at 5 and one at 6) and Mathematics or Physics recommended; SL English at 5 and Mathematics (either course) at 5.
• Nursing (B700): Highers ABBB by the end of S5 or AABB/ABBBB by the end of S6 in recent years, no specific subjects, National 5 English at C and Mathematics or Applications of Mathematics at C; A-level ABB with no specific subjects, GCSE Mathematics at C or 4 and English at C or 4; IB 34 points with 655 at HL with no specific subjects, SL English at 5 and Mathematics at 4. Nursing needs a higher English level (section 5). Costs also include occupational health appointments (about £150, depending on your medical history) and Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme membership (about £60 to £70).
• Laboratory and project work: Biological Sciences has weekly practical sessions and a final-year individual research project; Biomedical Sciences has a major research project in Year 4.
• Admissions test or interview: the Biological Sciences, Biomedical Sciences and Nursing pages read do not mention an admissions test or an interview; for Medicine see section 7; for the test for applicants from China, see section 6.
• Widening access: eligible permanent UK residents (Plus Flag) have lower minimums; see Edinburgh’s widening access offers page.

4. UK applicants

• Qualifications: Scottish students use Highers/Advanced Highers; students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland use A-levels (Edinburgh groups these under “English, Welsh and Northern Irish qualifications”); the IB is also accepted. For other UK qualifications, see “Other UK qualifications” and the entry requirements pages. Grades and subjects are in section 3.
• Widening access: eligible permanent UK residents (Plus Flag) have lower minimum requirements; the conditions and the life sciences and medicine grades are on each programme’s entry requirements page and Edinburgh’s widening access offers page.
• Fees: students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and the Channel Islands pay the RUK rate: £10,050 for 2027/28 (£9,790 for 2026/27), rising each year with the UK Government fee cap. Edinburgh says this is the annual RUK fee for all full-time undergraduate programmes except the graduate-entry veterinary medicine programme; for Nursing, Edinburgh’s nursing page says students eligible for a SAAS bursary can reclaim travel expenses incurred during clinical placements. Scotland-rate students may have tuition paid by the Scottish Government if they normally live in Scotland and are studying for a first degree full-time.
• Loans and living costs: students who normally live in a part of the UK outside Scotland or in the Republic of Ireland may be entitled to a government tuition fee loan, and can apply to Student Finance for living-cost loans and bursaries (see Edinburgh’s funding page).

5. International applicants

• Qualifications: A-levels, the IB, Scottish and US qualifications and others; the programme page shows requirements once you pick a country and qualification (loaded dynamically, so check the website).
• English: everyone, including UK nationals, must show English. School qualifications: SQA National 5 English at C, GCSE English at C or 4, Level 2 Certificate English at C, or IB SL English at 5 (ab initio is not accepted). Tests: IELTS Academic 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component (One Skill Retake not accepted); TOEFL iBT from 21 January 2026 4.5 with at least 4.0 in each component (before that, 92 with at least 20 in each; MyBest not accepted); C1 Advanced/C2 Proficiency 176 (162 in each component); Oxford ELLT 7 (5 in each); Oxford Test of English Advanced 145 (125 in each). IELTS, TOEFL, Oxford ELLT and Oxford Test of English Advanced results must be no more than two years old at the start date; other types up to three and a half years. Nursing and Medicine need higher English: Nursing requires IELTS Academic 7.0 with at least 7.0 in each component and TOEFL iBT (from 21 January 2026) 5.0 with at least 5.0 in each; Medicine (MBChB) requires IELTS Academic 7.5 with at least 7.5 in each component and TOEFL iBT (from 21 January 2026) 5.5 with at least 5.5 in each; see each programme page for other tests.
• Fees: international students pay a fixed annual fee set by their start date, unaffected by annual increases. The 2027/28 amount was not shown on the fee pages read (it is loaded dynamically); check the fee lookup on Edinburgh’s website. If you are given direct entry into Year 2, you pay the rate of the year group you join.
• Living costs: Edinburgh estimates £1,546 a month for a single undergraduate in 2026-27, about £13,914 for a 39-week academic year and £18,552 for a full year (excluding tuition).
• Scholarships: the international undergraduate funding page lists the Asylum Seeker Scholarship, Edinburgh Global Undergraduate Mathematics Scholarships, the Global Talent Fund BIG Scholarships for international Olympiad medallists, the Defne-Muhtar Kent Scholarship for students from Turkey, a veterinary studies scholarship and the Rosedale OSSD scholarship (£10,000 in the first year). None is described as specific to life sciences, biomedical sciences, nursing or medicine; the programme pages only point to Edinburgh’s funding section, so check the funding page and the scholarship search. Whether any award is assessed automatically is not published.
• Visa, funding evidence and credential verification: the international fees page says that if you need a Student visa you pay a visa application fee and a healthcare surcharge. Specific funding evidence and credential verification are not stated on the pages read; ask the admissions office.

6. Applicants from China

• Qualifications accepted for direct entry: the China page lists A-levels, the IB, Scottish and US qualifications and the Maple Leaf World Schools Program (MLWSP) Diploma; for competitive subjects, grade requirements may be higher.
• College of Science and Engineering (Biological Sciences) and the MLWSP Diploma: five 1.0-credit Grade 12 subjects at 80%, with required subjects at 86% or above; where Mathematics is required, it must be Calculus.
• College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine: for Biomedical Sciences, an MLWSP Diploma with Biology and Chemistry at 86% or above and three more 1.0-credit Grade 12 subjects at 80%, with Grade 11 Mathematics Futures at 80% or above if Mathematics is not taken in Grade 12; for MBChB Medicine, an MLWSP Diploma at 86% or above overall, with 90% in Chemistry and two other sciences (Biology, Mathematics or Physics) and two further 1.0-credit Grade 12 subjects at 86% or above, again with Grade 11 Mathematics Futures at 80% or above if Mathematics is not taken in Grade 12; applicants must also take the UCAT.
• College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (Nursing): five 1.0-credit Grade 12 subjects at 80%.
• Gaokao (College of Science and Engineering, including Biological Sciences): the College of Science and Engineering will consider applicants with excellent Gaokao results on an individual basis; no score is published, so contact undergraduate admissions through the enquiry form. Applicants who have completed a year at a leading Chinese university may also be eligible to apply for the College’s degrees.
• Ambright and the AST: applicants from China can apply with the assistance of the Ambright Education Group and sit written subject-dependent Aptitude Scholastic Tests in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and English at centres in China.
• College Internal Admissions Test: where there is no IFP pathway, you may be eligible for the College’s Internal Admissions Test, but eligibility is limited, requires exceptional grades in specific subjects and an outstanding test result; Edinburgh says these tests will be phased out over the next few years as new IFP pathways are introduced.
• Gaokao and medicine, biomedical sciences and nursing: the China page mentions the Gaokao only in its College of Science and Engineering section; whether the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine or the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences considers it, and any score, is not stated on the pages read, so contact undergraduate admissions.
• Edinburgh degrees taught in China: Edinburgh also lists two “based in China” programmes, Integrative Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Informatics, both 4 years, based at the Zhejiang University International Campus in Haining and taught in English by the ZJU-UoE Institute, a collaboration between Zhejiang University and Edinburgh; graduates receive degrees from both universities. Edinburgh says applications and admissions for Chinese nationals go through the usual Chinese national university admission process; for non-Chinese passport holders the requirements are similar to the UK Biomedical Sciences degrees (Highers AABB, A-level AAB, IB 34 points with 655 at HL, including Biology and Chemistry); fees, scholarships and how to apply are on the ZJU-UoE Institute website, which was not read for this guide.
• Chinese Senior High School Certificate: Edinburgh says applicants with this certificate must do further study for most subjects because it does not normally meet minimum entry requirements.
• International Foundation Programme (IFP): a full-time one-year programme for international students who are not eligible for direct entry, offering a route into many undergraduate programmes; which degrees have a matching IFP pathway is not listed on the pages read, so check Edinburgh’s website.
• Interview and accreditation bodies: the China page does not state any interview or accreditation-body requirement specific to Chinese applicants; this is not published, so contact the admissions office through the enquiry form.
• The China page shows a publication date of November 2024, so check the website for updates.

The China page gives only MLWSP figures for life sciences and medicine; see section 3 for the A-level and IB requirements, and ask admissions directly how Chinese school results or the Gaokao are assessed.

7. Medicine MBChB (separate section)

• Basics: Medicine MBChB at Edinburgh Medical School, UCAS code A100, 6 years full-time. Edinburgh says it is the only Scottish institution offering a six-year MBChB, which includes a full year of research-based study in Year 3 so graduates hold both a BMedSci (Hons) and an MBChB; clinical training runs throughout, with placements in Edinburgh’s teaching hospitals, regional sites mainly across the south of Scotland and general practices. The programme is accredited by the UK General Medical Council and recognised by some overseas accrediting bodies. Edinburgh says the degree is full-time and leaves minimal time for part-time work.
• Prerequisites: Highers AAAAB by the end of S5 and BB at Advanced Higher in S6 in recent years, including Chemistry and two from Biology/Human Biology, Mathematics/Applications of Mathematics or Physics; National 5 Biology B, Chemistry B, English B and Mathematics B; A-level AAA in one sitting, including Chemistry and one from Biology/Human Biology, Mathematics/Further Mathematics or Physics, with GCSE Biology, Chemistry, English and Mathematics at A or 7; IB 38 points with 666 at HL, with Chemistry at HL and one of Biology, Mathematics or Physics; SL Mathematics at 6 and English at 6 (ab initio not accepted) and Biology at 6 if not at HL. All grades must be obtained at the first attempt; applicants with resit qualifications are not entered into selection except in very exceptional circumstances.
• Admissions test and interview: you must sit the UCAT in 2026 before submitting your UCAS application; exemptions are considered only in very exceptional circumstances agreed with the Medicine Admissions Team by 15 July 2026. Academic results are combined with weightings for the Situational Judgement Test and total UCAT score and applications are ranked; approximately the top 800 applicants are invited to a half-day assessment day (interview), at the Medical School or online.
• International applicants: Edinburgh says places for international students are limited and international students who receive an offer must pay a fee deposit equal to one-third of the first year’s fees; the international fee amount was not shown on the pages read. International graduates of UK medical schools can register provisionally and work in the UK as foundation doctors but must check their own country’s rules for returning home to work.
• Other points: no deferred entry (except one year for National Service in your home country); you are not eligible if you have just started or are midway through a degree in the year you apply; graduate applicants for first-year entry need a UK 2:1 honours degree or international equivalent; Edinburgh’s transfer page says transfers into medicine are not normally considered, except pre-clinical medical students from Oxford, Cambridge and St Andrews.
• Timeline: the 2027-entry UCAS deadline was 15 October 2026, 6:00pm GMT, for UK, EU and international applicants, and has now passed; check Edinburgh’s website for the next cycle’s deadline. If you use an English test that is not part of your school studies, Edinburgh suggests providing results by 30 June 2027.

8. Direct entry to Year 2 and transfers

• Direct entry to Year 2: Edinburgh’s “apply for entry to second year” page says many science, engineering and biomedical sciences programmes accept Year 2 applications, while other programmes consider them only in exceptional circumstances; grades are on each programme page. The Biological Sciences programmes (including the specialisations and MBiol) show “Second year entry: Available”, if places are available and you meet the requirements, with extra requirements of Advanced Highers AAA in Biology, Chemistry and either Mathematics or Physics; A-level A*AA in one set of exams in the same subjects; IB 38 points with 766 at HL including Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics or Physics at 6.
• Biomedical suite: the entry requirements pages say places for second-year entry are limited, meeting the grades does not guarantee an offer, and you will not be considered if you are applying with resit qualifications, took final examinations over more than one academic year or have a gap in study; the requirements are Advanced Highers AB in Biology and Chemistry, A-level AAB in one year including Biology and Chemistry, or IB 36 points with 666 at HL including Biology and Chemistry. However, the key facts on those programme pages do not list second-year entry, so the two do not match; ask the admissions office.
• Second-year entry for Nursing and Medicine is not stated on the pages read; ask the admissions office (for Medicine see section 7).
• Transfer from another university (Edinburgh’s transfer page): you must apply through UCAS and the normal deadlines still apply, with some flexibility case by case in exceptional circumstances; places for transfer students are “extremely limited”, and some programmes do not consider transfers except in exceptional circumstances. If you have studied more than a year at your current institution, you are not given priority over qualified applicants who have not yet studied at degree level.
• “False start”: if you apply to transfer during your first year elsewhere, or leave your original university during or at the end of your first year and apply in a later year, you may be classed as a false start and treated as a new applicant in the competitive process.
• Year 1 or Year 2 transfer: you may restart Year 1 on a different programme or transfer to the same programme in Year 1 or Year 2; it is not normally possible to transfer beyond Year 2. For Year 2 you must provide information about the courses you have studied so Edinburgh can assess the curriculum match, and you are still considered like a Year 1 applicant and must meet all published Year 1 entry requirements including required subjects. How credits are converted is not published; contact the admissions office before submitting your UCAS application.

9. Cost summary

• RUK students: £10,050 (2027/28); Medicine fees are not given on the pages read, so check Edinburgh’s website.
• Scotland-rate students: the Scotland rate, which may be paid by the Scottish Government; see the fee lookup.
• International students: a fixed annual fee; the amount was not shown on the pages read; Medicine requires a deposit of one-third of the first year’s fees.
• Nursing extras: occupational health appointments (about £150) and PVG membership (about £60 to £70), plus travel and accommodation for clinical placements (travel can be reclaimed if you are eligible for a SAAS bursary).
• Year 3 exchange: related costs include tuition, accommodation and living costs, visas and insurance.

10. UCAS application and timeline

• Full-time undergraduate applications must be made online through UCAS, in the same way for international and UK applicants, with up to five choices. Check the application fee and personal statement format on the UCAS website. You need qualifications that meet the requirements, evidence of English, a personal statement and an academic reference.
• Timeline (Edinburgh, 2027 entry): applications open on 1 September 2026; 13 January 2027 is the UCAS equal consideration deadline, when most programmes close to all applicants; some may stay open and are listed on UCAS. Edinburgh says late applications are considered individually at its discretion and are not guaranteed; if you plan to apply late, contact the admissions team to check whether places remain.
• If you apply to more than one Edinburgh programme, Edinburgh advises asking for guidance first; a College may be prepared to make only one offer.
• Selection: Edinburgh says applications that meet, or are predicted to meet, all entry requirements enter selection, and those missing required subjects and similar requirements cannot be considered further; entering selection does not guarantee an offer. It considers academic qualifications, English qualifications, the personal statement, the academic reference and any programme-specific additional requirements. Applicants who applied by the deadline receive a decision no later than UCAS’s reject-by-default date in May.
• Medicine MBChB: the 2027-entry UCAS deadline was 15 October 2026 (section 7); Nursing, Biological Sciences, Biomedical Sciences and other programmes follow the 13 January 2027 date above.

Checklist

UK applicants:

• Biological Sciences: Highers Biology and Chemistry at B (recent offers AABB); A-level Biology and Chemistry at B (AAA to ABB); IB HL Biology 5 and Chemistry 5 (37 to 32 points)
• Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience, Pharmacology: Highers AABB, A-level AAB or IB 34 points, with Biology and Chemistry; Medicine: UCAT and UCAS by 15 October 2026 (2027 entry); other programmes by 13 January 2027

International applicants (including those from China):

• A-level, IB, MLWSP Diploma and similar; the Chinese Senior High School Certificate needs further study such as an International Foundation Programme; whether the Gaokao is considered outside the College of Science and Engineering is not published, so contact admissions
• IELTS 6.5 (5.5 in each) or TOEFL 4.5 on the new scale (4.0 in each); Nursing IELTS 7.0 and Medicine IELTS 7.5; check the international fee in the fee lookup; applicants from China may also consider the China-based programmes

Students wanting Year 2 entry or transfer:

• Biological Sciences Year 2 entry: Advanced Highers AAA / A*AA / IB 38 points with 766; transfers go through UCAS and the admissions office, and credit conversion is not published

Sources: The University of Edinburgh, Biological Sciences BSc; Biological Sciences entry requirements; Biological Sciences MBiol; Biological Sciences with Management; Biomedical Sciences BSc; Biomedical Sciences entry requirements; Neuroscience; Pharmacology; Anatomy and Development; Reproductive Biology; Nursing Studies BN; MBChB Medicine (6-year programme); MBChB entry requirements; Integrative Biomedical Sciences (based in China); Biomedical Informatics (based in China); Undergraduate programmes A to Z (2027 entry); Entry requirements for students from China; Tuition fee lookup; Fees for England, Wales and Northern Ireland; International tuition fees; Funding for international undergraduates; Living costs; When to apply; How applicants are selected; Apply through UCAS; Transfer from another university; Apply for entry to second year. Information is for September 2027 entry. Check Edinburgh for the latest details.