Undergraduate entry requirements by region

Hong Kong-SAR China

Undergraduate entry requirements for applicants from Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)

With the exception of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, all HKDSE applicants will be required to pass the HKDSE with four core subjects achieved at Level 3 or above, or three core subjects achieved at Level 3 or above and one at ‘Attained’ in Citizenship and Social Development only, plus three elective subjects at Level 555. Where Mathematics is a required subject candidates will require Level 5 in both the Compulsory and Extended Parts of Mathematics.

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

For all degree programmes in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, any subject specific requirements as listed in the undergraduate prospectus must be achieved at Level 5 at either core or elective level.

College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine

Applicants for Medicine will require 3 elective subjects, with grades 5*5*5* to include Combined Science (Biology and Physics) plus Chemistry.

Applicants for Veterinary Medicine will require 3 elective subjects with grades of 5*5*5* to include Chemistry, Biology and one other elective subject. A minimum of grade 3 must be gained in all other elective subjects.

For Biomedical Sciences & Medical Sciences, HKDSE with four core subjects achieved at Level 3333 or above plus three elective subjects at Level 555 to include Biology and Chemistry.  To be exempt from taking a further English Language test you must achieve Level 4 overall in English with Level 4 in each component.

HKDSE English Language Requirements

Achievement at the following level/grade in English is accepted for entry by the University and HKDSE applicants are not required to provide a further English qualification.

Degree programmes in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and Science and Engineering - Level 4 overall with Level 4 in each component.

Degree programmes in Oral Health Sciences, Medical Sciences and Biomedical Sciences - Level 4 overall with Level 4 in each component.

Degree programmes in Medicine & Veterinary Medicine - Level 5 overall with Level 5 in each component.

Hong Kong Associate Degrees / Hong Kong Higher Diplomas

Applicants with a Higher Diploma or an Associate Degree from a recognised university / college may be considered for direct entry to some second year degree programmes (the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences does not allow advanced entry with this qualification).

Undergraduate Entry requirements – Other options

Other qualifications include:

Applicants with qualifications other than those listed above will usually be required to complete a Foundation Year before entering the University.

Foundation year

Further guidance on academic entry requirements

Each course may have further specific entry requirements. All applicants must meet these requirements. Staff in the Admissions Offices will be able to provide further guidance:

Undergraduate admissions contact form

English language requirements

All applicants are required to demonstrate a level of English language competency, regardless of their nationality or country of residence. These requirements are listed by programme.

English language advice

Specific English language requirement by programme

Applicant support

Our representative for Hong Kong is Esther Sum. You can contact us for advice and support by emailing:

futurestudents@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

Virtual Visit of the campus

UniBuddy - chat to our students

Open Day and events

Student numbers

There are around 7,250 students from Asia currently studying at the University of Edinburgh.