🏅 QS World Rank #35
University of Edinburgh — Full Profile & Ranking 2026
One of Scotland’s four ancient universities — QS World Rankings 2027 #35
The University of Edinburgh is a public research university in Scotland’s capital, founded in 1583 and one of the country’s four ancient universities. In the QS World University Rankings 2027 (published June 2026) it is 35th in the world. This guide covers programmes, entry, fees, scholarships, advice for applicants from Pakistan and the questions applicants ask most. Every figure is labeled with its year or ranking edition.
Edinburgh Overview
Edinburgh was founded in 1583 and is one of Scotland’s four ancient universities, alongside St Andrews, Glasgow and Aberdeen. It is a member of the Russell Group.
It is a world leader in artificial intelligence and informatics, and also strong in medicine, veterinary science, the humanities and the sciences. Most Scottish honours degrees run for four years.
Edinburgh Rankings — QS World University Rankings 2027
The University of Edinburgh is 35th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) in June 2026. A third-party summary also lists it 29th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, which shows how methods differ.
This is a QS-specific result, not one universal ranking. Times Higher Education, U.S. News and ARWU use different methods and can order universities differently.
Source: QS TopUniversities (QS World University Rankings 2027, 18 June 2026).
Key Strengths & Programs
Edinburgh is known for:
- Artificial intelligence and informatics — one of Europe’s largest informatics schools
- Medicine and biomedical sciences
- Veterinary science — the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
- Literature, philosophy and the humanities
- Physics, mathematics and the natural sciences
- Roslin Institute — the research institute linked to the cloning of Dolly the sheep in 1996
See the official website for the full list.
Explore Related Guides & Rankings
Admission Requirements
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Requirements are set by each degree. Confirm all details on Edinburgh’s official pages.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Application | Undergraduate applications are made through UCAS |
| Entry | Set by each degree and may include specific subjects, an admissions test, a portfolio or an interview. International qualifications are checked against published country equivalencies. |
| English | Most programmes ask for about IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each part, and some ask for 7.0 or higher. IELTS, TOEFL and PTE are accepted (third-party summary). |
| Degree length | Most Scottish honours degrees take 4 years |
| Documents | Transcripts, references, personal statement and English evidence |
Official source: Edinburgh — Undergraduate study.
Edinburgh Acceptance Rate
Edinburgh does not publish one acceptance rate that applies to every degree, and selectivity varies widely by subject. The old “about 40%” figure on this page was not tied to a source and has been removed.
Practical Application Checklist
- Choose your programme and read its entry and language requirements
- Check the application deadline for your intake
- Book an English (or other required) language test
- Prepare transcripts, identification and any required documents
- Apply and accept your offer
- Meet the visa or residence-permit conditions for your destination
- Plan funding for tuition and living costs
- Verify every date, fee and requirement on Edinburgh’s official website before submitting
Tuition & Costs
Edinburgh sets international tuition by degree, and fees differ widely, with medicine and veterinary programmes at the top. The old “£25,000 to £35,000” range was not tied to a year or source, so check the exact fee for your degree and year on the official tuition fee finder. Edinburgh rent and living costs are also high, so budget for them as well.
Source: Edinburgh — Tuition fees. Fees, dates and rules change each year.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
- Edinburgh Global Undergraduate Mathematics Scholarships: for international applicants with outstanding academic performance in mathematics
- Global Talent Fund BIG Scholarships: for students who have won medals in international Olympiads
- School-specific awards: for example, international scholarships for veterinary medicine (BVM&S)
- UK government awards: Chevening and Commonwealth schemes fund some master’s students from Pakistan
- Other aid: compare options in our fully funded scholarships for 2027 guide
Scholarships are competitive and not automatic, and each has its own rules.
Edinburgh for Pakistani Students
Pakistani applicants follow the standard UK international process:
- Entry: check A-level, IB or other accepted qualifications against the country equivalencies
- English: prepare an accepted test. Our IELTS preparation guides can help.
- Scholarships: check Edinburgh and UK government awards early
- Visa: a UK Student visa is required and its rules change
- Budget: plan for tuition plus Edinburgh rent and living costs
Campus & Student Life
- The university has several campuses across Edinburgh, including Old College, the Central Area, King’s Buildings and Easter Bush
- Edinburgh is a compact, historic capital city that hosts major international festivals
- Halls of residence and private rentals are both common
- Student societies cover culture, sport and academic interests
Research & Career Opportunities
- Edinburgh is research-intensive, with notable work in AI, medicine and the sciences
- Edinburgh is a hub for finance, technology and the public sector in Scotland
- The university has strong links to the technology and biosciences sectors
- Edinburgh does not guarantee employment, salary or visa outcomes
Notable Alumni
- Charles Darwin studied medicine at Edinburgh in 1825 to 1827 but left without a degree
- David Hume, the philosopher, studied at Edinburgh
- Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes, graduated in medicine from Edinburgh
- Peter Higgs, Nobel Prize in Physics 2013, worked at Edinburgh as a professor
Contact & Location
The University of Edinburgh
Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh EH8 9YL, United Kingdom
Official website: ed.ac.uk
Frequently Asked Questions
The University of Edinburgh is ranked 35th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026.
Yes. Founded in 1583, it is one of Scotland’s four ancient universities, alongside St Andrews, Glasgow and Aberdeen.
Edinburgh is best known for artificial intelligence and informatics, medicine, veterinary science and the humanities.
It depends on the degree and year. Check the official tuition fee finder for your programme. Medicine and veterinary degrees cost the most.
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Each degree sets its own entry requirements.
Many programmes ask for about IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each part, and some ask for 7.0 or higher. Check your degree.
Yes, including mathematics, Olympiad and school-specific awards, plus UK government schemes at master’s level. They are competitive.
Yes. Pakistani applicants follow the international route and should check qualifications, English tests and visa rules.
Edinburgh does not publish one overall rate. Selectivity varies by degree.
Check Edinburgh’s official admissions and tuition fee pages. Fees, deadlines and rules can change.
Compare Edinburgh With Other Top Universities
Disclaimer: This page is based on the QS World University Rankings 2027, Edinburgh’s official pages, and other publicly available sources, last checked in October 2026. Fees, rankings, deadlines, and admission rules change, and no admission, funding, visa, or employment outcome is guaranteed. Always verify current details directly with the university before applying.