Undergraduate entry requirements by region

United States of America

Undergraduate entry requirements for applicants from United States of America.

The University of Edinburgh accepts a wide range of qualifications for entry. If your qualification is not listed below then please contact us for further information:

Required subjects

Many of our degree programmes require that you have some experience of the subject at high school. This means that one or more of your entry qualifications must include specific subject requirements, such as an AP score in a certain subject relevant to the degree you are applying to.

Please check the relevant subject area below for your required subjects:

English language requirements

You must demonstrate a level of English language competency that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence. 

If you are not a national of a country on the UK Government’s list of majority English speaking countries and you need a Student route visa you will also need to meet the UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) English language requirements. The English language qualification that you use for admission must be included in our list of accepted qualifications.

Undergraduate English language entry requirements  

If you are a national of a country on the UK Government’s list of majority English speaking countries we accept the following qualifications to meet our academic English language requirements:

•           USA High School Grade 11 English at C or equivalent.

•           ACT – score of 25 in both the English and Reading components.

•           SAT - 650 in Evidence Based Reading and Writing

•           SAT Subject Test Literature

•           USA Associates degree - Grade C or equivalent in suitable English modules (Language or Literature)

UK Government list of majority English speaking countries 

English Language advice

Specific English language requirement by programme

Sending your scores

If you have taken examinations through the College Board or ACT, it is important that you make the official scores available to us. Our institution number is as follows:

College Board: SAT and AP scores: 0917

ACT: 5390

Further information on sending your scores can be found on the ACT, SAT and AP websites.

ACT Website

SAT Website 

AP Website

Transfer Students

Completed study at another institution and want to apply to Edinburgh to complete your degree?

Transfer students

Applicant support

Our representatives for the USA are Hillary Cementina, Mikaela Spencer and Aly Stewart. You can contact us for advice and support by emailing:

usa.enquiries@ed.ac.uk 

Browse our events calendar to see if we are hosting an event in your area:

Events calendar

Review student visa requirements on our Student Immigration Service website:

Student Immigration Service

About Edinburgh

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Open Day and events

Student numbers

There are around 1,525 students from the USA currently studying at the University of Edinburgh.