The University of Edinburgh is located in the city of Edinburgh, known as the ‘Athens of the North’, which is the capital of Scotland and one of the cities that have been at the forefront of the European Enlightenment since the 18th century. Countless thinkers, artists and scientists have left their ideas and research at the University of Edinburgh, making it one of the most distinguished universities in Europe and the English-speaking world. As a stable Top 5 institution in the UK, the University of Edinburgh is one of the top universities in the UK in terms of ranking, popularity, and research strength. This blog will dive deep into the University of Edinburgh acceptance rate. What are the chances of getting accepted to the University of Edinburgh? What are the majors with the highest and lowest acceptance rates? What are the chances of being accepted to the University of Edinburgh and more?
University of Edinburgh: Overview
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583 and steeped in history, is the 4th University in Scotland and the 6th in the entire English-speaking world. In terms of academic ranking, the University of Edinburgh has long been ranked among the top universities in the UK and even in the world. It is a comprehensive research university, one of the seven classical universities. It is a member of the Russell Group of Universities, the Coimbra Group of Universities, the European Research Universities Consortium, the same European Universities Consortium, and organisations such as Universitas 21, RENKEI, etc. The University is also ranked among the best universities in the world.
University of Edinburgh Rankings
- 2026 QS World University Rankings: 34th in the world
- 2025 THE World University Rankings: 29th in the world
- 2026 Complete University Guide: 18th in the world
Understanding Acceptance Rate
The offer rate is not equal to the final acceptance rate. As we all know, UK undergraduate applications usually start one year in advance, so when applying, all the results submitted are the estimated results. In this case, the UK universities will first make a conditional offer, in which the university will state the requirements that the applicant must fulfil to get a final offer. If the applicant can satisfy the conditions listed in the conditional offer, they will be offered an unconditional offer; if not, they may not be able to get a final offer. Now that we know the difference between the offer rate and the acceptance rate, we can get a better understanding of Edinburgh’s acceptance rate.
University Of Edinburgh Acceptance Rate
The University of Edinburgh has a low acceptance rate. During the 2024/2025 application cycle, the University of Edinburgh received a total of 66,293 applications, of which 31,132 were offered admission, with 7,302 ultimately accepting the offer. The acceptance rate for the 2024/25 academic year was approximately 50%, with a final acceptance rate of approximately 11%.
Trends of University Of Edinburgh Acceptance Rate
| Cycle | Applications | Offers | Offer Rate | Acceptances | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020/21 | 62,224 | 31,510 | 51% | 7,344 | 11.80% |
| 2021/22 | 68,960 | 32,434 | 47% | 8,083 | 11.72% |
| 2022/23 | 75,444 | 25,212 | 33% | 6,111 | 8.10% |
| 2023/24 | 69,377 | 27,608 | 40% | 6,409 | 9.24% |
| 2024/25 | 66,293 | 31,132 | 50% | 7,302 | 11.01% |
Over the past five years, the number of applicants to the University of Edinburgh has shown an overall upward trend, peaking at 75,444 in 2022. In 2023, the number of applicants dropped to 69,377, with 6,409 admitted, resulting in an admission rate of approximately 9.2%. Notably, both the number of applicants and the admission rate increased annually from 2019 to 2021, but the admission rate plummeted to 33% in 2022, the lowest point in five years. Although the admission rate rebounded to 40% for the 2023/24 academic year, it remains highly competitive. By the 2024/25 academic year, the number of applicants further decreased to 66,293, while the admission rate significantly increased to 50%, with the admission rate rising to 11.01%. This indicates that although the number of applicants has decreased from its peak, the University of Edinburgh has clearly relaxed its standards for issuing admission offers in the latest admissions cycle, resulting in significantly reduced admission competition compared to the previous two years. Suppose the number of applications to the University of Edinburgh does not rebound in the 2025/26 academic year and the admission strategy remains unchanged. In that case, the admission rate is likely to remain within the 10–11% range, though certain popular programmes will still be highly competitive.
Top Programmes at the University of Edinburgh
In 2002, the University was re-organised to consolidate the nine faculties into three large colleges, which are:
- College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
- College of Medicine & Vet Medicine
- College of Science & Engineering
Each of these colleges is subdivided into smaller colleges, with 21 schools under the three colleges. According to the latest QS subject rankings, the University of Edinburgh is ranked in the top 5 in the UK for 17 subjects, including Education, Computing, Mathematics and Linguistics. There are some popular majors at the University of Edinburgh.
Business
The University of Edinburgh Business School is a triple-accredited business school by AACSB, EQUIS, and AMBA. It offers specific specialisations in Accounting and Finance, Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Finance, Human Resource Management, International Human Resource Management, Marketing, and International Business.
Law
The University of Edinburgh’s Law School is ranked in the top 30 globally. With a history of more than 300 years, the School of Law has been committed to providing a full range of high-quality legal teaching, with law programmes covering areas such as commercial law, corporate law, criminal law, criminology, human rights law, intellectual property law, international law, economic law, medical and ethical law, and financial law.
Education
The School of Education at the University of Edinburgh has been teaching for more than 200 years, and its education programme is ranked in the top 50 in the QS Subject Rankings. The School of Education at the University of Edinburgh offers courses in Inclusive Education, Digital Education, Pedagogy, Language Education, TESOL and other courses, in addition to professional teacher training programmes.
Specialities with the Highest Number of Applicants
| Cycle | Applications | Offers | Offer Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Year | Programme Description | Number of Applications | Number of Offers |
| 2024/25 | MSc Management-1Year | 2,886 | 206 |
| 2024/25 | MSc Marketing-1Year | 2,137 | 159 |
| 2024/25 | MSc Creative Industries-1Year | 2,074 | 65 |
| 2024/25 | MSc Finance-1Year | 2,039 | 253 |
| 2024/25 | MSc Computer Science-1Year | 1,993 | 274 |
| 2024/25 | MSc Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages-1Year | 1,973 | 859 |
| 2024/25 | MSc Business Analytics-1Year | 1,896 | 168 |
| 2024/25 | MSc Education-1Year | 1,863 | 594 |
| 2024/25 | LLM Law-1Year | 1,735 | 148 |
| 2024/25 | MSc Accounting and Finance-1 Year | 1,456 | 100 |
Specialities with the Highest Number of Chinese Student Applicants
| Cademic Year | Programme Description | Number of Applications | Number of Offers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | MSc Creative Industries-1 Year | 1,970 | 41 |
| 2024/25 | MSc TeachingEnglish to Speakers ofOther Languages-1Year China | 1,807 | 765 |
| 2024/25 | MSc Education-1Year | 1,678 | 508 |
| 2024/25 | MSc Management-1Year | 1,410 | 43 |
| 2024/25 | LLM Law-1Year | 1,234 | 71 |
| 2024/25 | MSc Computer Science-1Year | 1,187 | 118 |
| 2024/25 | MSc Marketing-1Year | 1,153 | 34 |
| 2024/25 | MSc Ecological Economics (SAC)-1Year | 1,081 | 58 |
Admission Requirements for the University of Edinburgh
Admission to UK universities requires subject grades, IELTS, paperwork and even written interviews. The standards vary from institution to institution and from programme to programme. The following are the admission requirements of the University of Edinburgh.
Requirements for Undergraduate Programs
Application Materials
(1) High school transcripts, graduation certificate
(2) Language transcripts
(3) work/internship certificate (if necessary)
(5) Passport
(6) Online application form
(7) Letter of recommendation
(8) Proof of funds
Application Requirements
(1) IELTS: 6.5 and above (sub-score ≥ 5.5)
(2) TOEFL: total score of 92 or above (sub-score ≥ 23)
(3) Business/Nursing: IELTS 7.0 or above (sub-score ≥ 6.0), TOEFL 100 or above (sub-score ≥ 23)
(4) A-level: AAA-ABB, most require AAA
(5) IB: 34 and above
Requirement for Postgraduate Programs
Application Materials
(1) Undergraduate transcripts, graduation certificate, degree certificate
(2) Language transcripts
(3) Certificate of work/internship (if required)
(5) Passport
(6) Personal resume
(7) Letter of recommendation
(8) Proof of funds
Application Requirements
(1) Undergraduate degree certificate in related fields
(2) GPA: 80 or above; IELTS: 6.5; TOEFL: 580; TOEEL: 237
(3) MBA: Bachelor’s degree, GPA: 80 or above; two years of relevant work experience.
Conclusion
By analysing the 2024/25 admission data from the University of Edinburgh, it is clear that students should not blindly follow trends when applying for study abroad programs. Before pursuing majors labelled with buzzwords such as “future,” “data,” and “sustainability,” it is essential to thoroughly verify key data such as admission quotas and acceptance rates. Additionally, students should align their choices with their personal interests, academic strengths, and future career plans to make rational and precise decisions regarding their major selection.
FAQ
What is the University of Edinburgh's acceptance rate for 2025?
The acceptance rate for the University of Edinburgh in 2025 has not been disclosed. However, based on data from the past five years, it is estimated that University of Edinburgh acceptance rate in 2025 will remain within the range of 10–11%.
How has the University of Edinburgh's acceptance rate changed over the last five years?
The University of Edinburgh has seen a surge in applications over the last five years, with the highest number in 2022 at 75,438 but the lowest offer rate at 33% in five years. The number of applicants fell in 2022 to 69,377, but the offer rate picked up to 40%. While the 23rd Quarter numbers are significantly higher than the 22nd Quarter, they are still relatively competitive when compared to the 21st Quarter or earlier
Why Edinburgh University's offer and acceptance rates differ so much？
The significant difference between the University of Edinburgh’s offer and final acceptance rates has two leading causes.
- On the one hand, the vast majority of people will not apply to just one institution, and many people will give up the University of Edinburgh offer for various reasons and end up unsuccessful;
- On the other hand, many undergraduate offers under the UCAS unification have additional requirements, such as language, academic qualifications, etc. Students must meet these requirements tonter the university even if they get an offer.
