Edinburgh, Scotland

University of Edinburgh Partnership

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Program Overview

With a shining reputation for academic excellence that stretches back to 1583, Edinburgh also offers 290 societies and 60 sports clubs (trampoline, anyone?). Take time out to recharge in one of the city’s countless green spaces, explore the streets that influenced the wizarding world of Harry Potter, and marvel at towering Edinburgh Castle.

Details at a Glance

Application deadline

Fall: April 15
Spring: Oct. 15
Academic Year: April 15

Minimum GPA

3.00

Credit load

15

Housing

Apartment/Flat, Residence Hall/Dormitory, Single Room Option

Instruction language

English

Language prerequisites

None

Visa required?

Not in most cases. Learn More.

Apply Now

Academics

CHART Your Course
Find the classes you need fast with CHART. Our easy-to-use tool shows you classes recently taken by IFSA students.

View up-to-date course options on the University of Edinburgh’s course catalog.

To find courses that will give you a unique introduction to Scotland:

  • Scottish History can be found in the School of History, Classics and Archaeology
  • Celtic Studies can be found in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures

Credit Conversions
A full course load for one semester is 60 SCQF (University of Edinburgh points), or 15 U.S. semester credit hours.

1 SCQF credit = .25 U.S. semester credit hours

Lab & Field Trip Fees
Please review syllabi and course materials when registering for direct-enroll classes. Certain classes may have a one-off lab or field trip fee disclosed in the syllabus or during the first meeting of the class. These fees are not included in your IFSA program fee. You will be responsible for these fees, whether they are billed and paid by IFSA or billed to you.

There are a number of restricted and/or competitive classes at the University of Edinburgh. A full list is available here.

Due to high demand, many departments will only allow you to pre-enroll in a limited number of classes before arrival. If you wish to enroll in an additional class beyond this limit, you must wait until the class change period (typically the first two weeks of the academic semester) before making a request to add a class. Please be aware that there is no guarantee of available space for study abroad students.

Biology
Fourth year Biology classes are typically not open to study abroad students.

Business
Students wishing to take 2nd first-year Business classes at Edinburgh will need to have already taken an introductory level business course and received a grade of B or better. There are currently no 1st year Business courses available to study abroad students.

Classics & Ancient History
Students who want to take a 3rd year class in any Classics subject area must have completed three Classics or Ancient History classes at grade B or above. Study abroad students may only pre-enroll in two 3rd year Classics classes before arrival.

Computer Science/Informatics
Study abroad students may enroll in a maximum of 20 Scotland credits in this department per semester.

Creative Writing
These classes are not open to visiting students.

Divinity
Study abroad students wanting to take a third-year Divinity class should have completed at least three Divinity/Religious Studies college-level classes and earned a B or higher grade by the time of submission.

Economics
Study abroad students must have an equivalent of at least 4 semester-long Economics classes at grade B or above for entry to Entry into 3rd year Economics classes at Edinburgh. This must include classes in Intermediate Macroeconomics (with calculus); Intermediate Microeconomics (with calculus); and Probability and Statistics. If macroeconomics and microeconomics classes are not calculus-based, then, in addition, Calculus (or Mathematics for Economics) is required.

Edinburgh College of Art
Students can take Architectural History, History of Art and Music classes at Edinburgh College of Art, but studio classes in Architecture, Art or Design are typically not open to study abroad students. Study abroad students may only pre-enroll in one 3rd year History of Art and/or Architectural History class before arrival, due to high demand. Spaces on Music classes are also limited, and students’ eligibility must be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Education
These classes are typically not open to visiting students.

English Literature
Students who want to take third year classes in the English department must have taken four English literature classes for grades of B or better. Edinburgh does not count interdisciplinary, composition, creative writing, or comparative literature classes, workshops, or freshman year seminars toward this prerequisite. Study abroad students may only pre-enroll in one third-year English literature class before arrival.

Health
Study abroad students may only pre-enroll in one 3rd year Health class before arrival.

History
Students who want to take a 3rd year class in any History subject area must have completed three History classes at grade B or above. Study abroad students may only pre-enroll in two 3rd year History classes before arrival, due to high demand.

Law
These classes are typically not open to study abroad students. On the rare occasion that space is made available, it will only become available at the start of the relevant semester, and only students who have completed at least three Law classes at grade B or better will be considered.

Nursing
These classes are typically not open to study abroad students. On the rare occasion that space is made available, students can be pre-approved for only one Nursing class prior to arrival.

Philosophy
Third-year Philosophy classes are typically not open to study abroad students. On the rare occasion that space is made available, it will only become available at the start of the relevant semester, and only students who have completed at least three philosophy classes at grade B or better will be considered.

Politics & International Relations
To be considered for 3rd year Politics or International Relations classes, students will need to have taken four previous politics or international relations classes and received grades of a B or better. Study abroad students may only pre-enroll in one Politics class before arrival.

Psychology
Third-year Psychology classes are typically not open to study abroad students. On the rare occasion that space is made available, only students who are majoring in Psychology and have completed at least three psychology classes at grade B or better will be considered. Students can be pre-approved for only one 3rd year (honours) Psychology class prior to arrival.

Sport Science
These classes are not open to visiting students.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Eligibility

  • You must be at least 18 years of age. Students under 18 may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
  • You must be currently attending or recently graduated from a U.S. or Canadian community college, technical college, two-year college, four-year college, or four-year university.
  • You must have completed at least one (1) full-time semester of study at your home institution before the beginning of the semester program or one (1) full-time year of study at your home institution before the beginning of the year program.

Recommendation Letter
Not required.

 

TRANSCRIPT
Upon completion of your program, IFSA will send an official Butler University transcript to your home university with your coursework converted to the U.S. semester credit hour system. You will also have access to an unofficial transcript in your IFSA Student Portal. The transcript reflects classes taken, credits attempted, and grades earned during your term abroad. This service is included in your study abroad program at no additional cost. See our Transcripts page for more information.

Excursions

Activities and excursions are designed to pull you into the communities you visit and encourage cultural connections of every kind. There’s no extra fee to participate in these optional outings—everything is included in your program fee.

Below are examples from previous terms; outings may be different for your program. We’ll make every effort to run them all, but sometimes things we can’t control, such as local regulations and health protocols, get in the way. As result, we cannot guarantee activities and excursions.

Activities

  • City Walking Tour: During IFSA Orientation, learn about the city on foot and attend a walking tour of the social, cultural, and historical sites of Edinburgh.
  • Scottish Parliament Tour: See behind the scenes on a guided tour through the chambers of the Scottish Parliament, how the Scottish Government makes new laws on devolved matters, and how it debates the issues of the day.
  • Glasgow Mural and Street Art Walking-Tour: Glasgow has created a Mural Trail featuring the diverse range of art within easy walking distance of the city center. Follow the trail of a huge range of artwork on display which has something to suit all tastes, from conservative to radical, quirky to bizarre. Enjoy discovering the hidden public art, with assistance from digital resources, with this self-paced walking tour.
  • Ceilidh Dancing to Scottish Folk Music: A Ceilidh is a fun-filled night of wild dancing, good music, and Scottish culture! A live Scottish folk band plays through traditional music as one of the band members calls out the dance steps to the group, teaching how the dance goes. As the music takes off, the fun begins.

Excursion

  • Highlands Trip: On your first day of the Highland’s excursion, delve into the past and discover how Scottish Highland ancestors lived, how they built their homes, how they tilled the soil, and how they dressed. Then visit the Culloden Battlefield, location of the final Jacobite Rising. It was the last and most harrowing battle to be fought on British soil and its impact ripples into present day Scotland. On day two, sail across the waters of the legendary Loch Ness to learn about the history of the renowned loch and what makes it so famous. Perhaps have a look for the Loch Ness Montser yourself! Immersed yourself in the verdant and impressive rolling hills and mountains of the highlands with spectacular views of the Three Sisters Mountains in Glencoe. Also experience the poignant history of Stirling at the Wallace Monument and learn about the history of the battles fought at this strategically located city.

Housing and Meals

Housing

Apartment/Flat, Residence Hall/Dormitory, Single Room Option

Meals

Most Included;Self-Catering

Details

Most students live in shared furnished apartments provided by university housing partners. Apartments generally house groups of four to six. Most have a single room for each student and shared bathrooms, kitchens, and living space. Pollock Hall residences have dining halls—keep in mind that if you’re placed in this housing, there is a supplemental fee to cover your meals. In all other locations, students prepare their own meals or eat out.  

Apartments are typically a 10- to 30-minute walk from campus, close to restaurants, shops, and many of Edinburgh’s prime sites.  

Some housing options feature extra amenities—like private bathrooms—that warrant higher rent. Please note that if you’re placed in more expensive housing, you’ll need to pay an additional fee to cover these costs. 

Sample housing 

Take a look at Fraser Court to see what your home away might be like:  

  • Location: 10-minute walk from George Square, where the College of Humanities, Social Science, and Arts is located; 30 minutes to Kings (College of Science and Engineering); near Pollock Halls, a large student housing complex.   
  • Living space: Students live in apartments in groups of three to five. Students have single bedrooms, each with a bed, desk, chair, and storage, and share a bathroom, living space and a kitchen with oven, stove, refrigerator, kettle, microwave, and ironing board. Students provide bedding, towels, and basic kitchenware. We’ll share details on affordable options to rent what you need.  
  • Meals: No meal plan. Students prepare and eat their own meals, and often say cooking and sharing meals is a fun, social part of their day. 
  • Additional details: 24/7 security. Laundry. Outdoor seating.  
  • Nearby: The Meadows. National Museum of Scotland. Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat. The Royal Mile.   

Dates and Fees

Term
Term begins
Term ends
Program costs
Application deadline
Fall 2024
September 7, 2024
December 21, 2024
$23,775
April 15, 2024
Academic Year 2024-2025
September 7, 2024
May 24, 2025
$48,050
April 15, 2024
Spring 2025
Mid-Jan. 2025
Late May 2025
$25,275 (estimated)
Oct. 15, 2024

Get Started

Sean Campbell

Sean Campbell

Student Engagement Manager