University of Edinburgh for Chinese Applicants: Regular High School Diploma Not Accepted for Direct Entry, International Foundation Programme Requires 80% in Grade 12 and IELTS UKVI 5.5

On its undergraduate entry requirements page for applicants from China, the University of Edinburgh states that a regular Chinese high school graduation certificate generally does not meet the minimum requirement for direct entry; most degrees require further study first.

Qualifications accepted for direct entry

• A-Level, IB, Scottish qualifications, U.S. qualifications, and the Maple Leaf World School Program (MLWSP) diploma.
• MLWSP requirements: The College of Science and Engineering requires 80% in five Grade 12 courses with 86% or above in required subjects (calculus where maths is required); the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences requires 80% in five courses; Clinical Medicine requires an 86% overall average, 90% in chemistry and two other sciences, and the UCAT.

Other routes into science and engineering

• Gaokao: Applicants with outstanding gaokao results are considered case by case.
• One year at a Chinese university: Students who have completed a year at a leading Chinese university may be eligible for science and engineering degrees.
• Ambright programme: Applicants can apply through the Ambright education group and sit written exams in biology, chemistry, maths, physics and English at test centres in China.
• Internal entrance exam: Where there is no matching foundation pathway for the chosen degree, the College may set an internal entrance exam. Eligibility is limited to applicants with exceptional subject grades who also perform very well in the exam. The university says this exam will be phased out over the next few years as new foundation pathways launch.

International Foundation Programme (IFP)

The programme is one year of full-time, on-campus study for international students who cannot enter a degree directly.

• Eligibility: English is not your first language; your high school qualification was completed within the last four years; and it does not qualify you for direct degree entry.
• Academic requirements (as published for 2026): Completion of regular high school with at least six relevant academic subjects in both semesters of Grade 12, an overall Grade 12 average of 80%, and 80% in Grade 12 in any required subjects.
• English: Must be a UKVI-approved test: IELTS for UKVI 5.5 with at least 5.5 in each component (standard IELTS is not accepted), or PTE Academic UKVI 54 with at least 54 in each component. Scores must be from within two years of the start date.
• Pathways (2026/27): Art and Design (including Architecture); Humanities and Social Sciences; and Science (biology, chemistry, biomedical and environmental sciences). Humanities and Social Sciences students who want degrees requiring maths, such as business, accounting, finance, economics or psychology, need strong Grade 12 maths; the Science pathway requires strong Grade 12 maths and chemistry; Art and Design students progressing to art or design degrees must submit a portfolio, but not for architecture.
• Progression: About 95% of foundation students progress to undergraduate study each year, at Edinburgh or elsewhere, generally with a foundation average of 60% or above and the English requirement for their chosen degree. The Humanities and Social Sciences pathway leads to over 150 degrees, including business, law and international relations, with some language degrees and joint maths degrees excluded. The Science pathway leads to over 30 science degrees in the Colleges of Science and Engineering and of Medicine, most commonly biological sciences, biomedical sciences, environmental science and chemistry, excluding medicine and veterinary medicine.
• Dates and fees: Applications for 2026/27 have closed; applications for September 2027 open in autumn 2026. In 2027/28, arrival is September 11–12 and classes start September 20. Tuition for 2026/27 is £29,600, payable in full before the course starts.

Undergraduate English requirements

English requirements vary by degree; check the university's Degree Finder. IELTS and TOEFL scores must be from within two years before the first day of the month the course starts and achieved in a single sitting; IELTS One Skill Retake and TOEFL MyBest scores are not accepted. The Degree Finder lists requirements for both the old and new TOEFL scales. Meeting the English requirement at the time of application may make you more competitive.

Sources: https://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/international/country/asia/east-asia/china; https://cahss.ed.ac.uk/international-and-study-abroad/foundation-programme; https://science-engineering.ed.ac.uk/studying/undergraduate/applying/entrancerequirements/college-of-science-and-engineering-selection-test; https://study.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/entry-requirements/english-language. Check the official sources for the latest policy.