Undergraduate entry requirements by region

Other countries

Undergraduate entry requirements for applicants from Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestinian Territories, Syria and Yemen.

Undergraduate entry requirements for students from the Middle East

Applicants from the countries in the Middle East are admitted with a range of qualifications: GCE A Levels, the IB, the American High School Diploma with SAT’s or AP’s.

A Levels

International Baccalaureate (IB)

American High School Diploma

Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestinian Territories, Syria or Yemen

If you are from one of the countries listed above and you have taken local qualifications including:

  • Al Thanawiya (General Secondary Education Certificate) 
  • Tawjihiya (Secondary School Leaving Certificate) 
  • Certificate of General Secondary Education 
  • Sixth Form Baccalaureate
  • Baccalauréat General 
  • Shahadat-al-thanawia-al-a'ama (General Secondary School Certificate) 
  • Secondary Education Certificate 
  • General Secondary Certificate
  • Or any other national high school certificate

You will usually be required to complete a foundation year before gaining admission for undergraduate study.

Foundation year

College of Science and Engineering

If you are applying to the College of Science and Engineering from Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine or Syria we can consider you with the following grades plus successful completion of our internal admissions tests.

Internal admissions test

Bahrain

Applicants with the Tawjihiyya General School Certificate with an overall average of 85% including 85% in required subjects will be considered for entry on successful completion of internal admissions tests.  A suitable English Language certificate is also required.

Egypt

We consider the Certificate of Nile International Secondary Education (CNISE). Entry requirements for CNISE candidates are three Level 3 exams at specific grades. CNISE Level 3 exams equate directly to the GCE A Levels referred to in the prospectus so please refer to individual degree programmes for subject and grade requirements. Where a subject is required at GCSE level, this should be achieved at the equivalent grade at Level 1.

Undergraduate degree finder

Jordan

Applicants with the Tawjihiyya General School Certificate with an overall average of 85% including 85% in required subjects will be considered for entry on successful completion of internal admissions tests.  A suitable English Language certificate is also required.

Lebanon

Applicants with the Baccalaureat General with 85% overall including 85% in required subjects will be considered for entry on successful completion of internal admissions tests. A suitable English Language certificate is also required.

Oman

Applicants with the Tawjihiyya General School Certificate with an overall average of 85% including required subjects will be considered for entry on successful completion of internal admissions tests.  A suitable English Language certificate is also required.

Palestine territories

Applicants with the Tawijihiyya/Thanawiya General School Certificate with an overall average of 85% or above including 85% in required subjects will be considered for entry on successful completion of internal admissions tests. A suitable English Language certificate is also required.

Syria

Applicants with the Thanawiya General School Certificate with an overall average of 85% or above including 85% in required subjects will be considered for entry on successful completion of internal admissions tests. A suitable English Language certificate is also required.

Iran

If you are from Iran and you have completed the High School Diploma, you will usually be required to complete a foundation year.

Foundation year

Iran- College of Science and Engineering

4 year High School Diploma at 17 overall and 17 in required subjects, plus successful completion of our internal admissions tests. A suitable English Language certificate is also required.

Internal admissions tests

Israel

For the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Bagrut with 80/100 in each subject with a total unit value of 24, to include a minimum of two subjects at unit value 5.

If you apply for degree courses in the College of Science and Engineering with the Bagrut, you will be required to obtain 7/10 in each of six subjects with a total minimum unit value of 24. This includes a 7/10 (70%) in Mathematics at unit value of 5, unless Mathematics is a required subject, in which case 8/10 (80%) would be required. Any required subjects should be taken at unit value 5 and a score of 8/10 (80%) would be required. There should be a scientific bias to the specialist subjects studied (measured by the unit values).

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 the Middle East is Aly Stewart. 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

Support in your country

We currently work with education agents in many different countries and regions globally:

View our agents in your country

About Edinburgh

Virtual Visit of the campus

UniBuddy - chat to our students

Open Day and events

Student numbers

There are over 560 students from countries across the Middle East currently studying at the University of Edinburgh.