PGPEP FAQs

We do not require evidence of an offer for a postgraduate degree programme when you apply for the PGPEP programme.

However, you should be intending to go on to study a postgraduate degree programme at a University in the UK and you should check the level of English you would be required to achieve in order to be able to study on your chosen degree programme as requirements vary according to the degree programme and institution.

We are not qualified to give visa advice. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure they have the correct permission to study on our programme. Students who do not have appropriate permission will not be able to matriculate as a student at the University of Edinburgh and therefore will not be able to study with us on the PGPEP programme.

Please contact Student Immigration Services for information regarding visa requirements:

Visit the Student Immigration Service website here >

Contact the Student Immigration Service here >

The tests we can accept are:

• UKVI Academic IELTS
• Non-UKVI Academic IELTS
• TOEFL IBT
• Cambridge Certificates (CAE and CPE)
• PTE Academic in-person test

Certificates must be valid by the start of the course. We cannot accept results from more than one certificate.

Please note that if you are intending to apply for a Student Route Visa (previously Tier 4) specifically then you must provide us with an Academic English IELTS for UKVI or PTE for UKVI certificate in order for us to provide you with a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) for your English language studies.

If you apply with a test other than IELTS or PTE when applying note this in the field asking for your IELTS TRF/PTE SRC number and send us a scan of the certificate by email clearly labelled with your name and University of Edinburgh student number (UUN), if you have this. If you have an Academic English IELTS then you only need to provide the TRF number.

Whether you require a CAS will depend on which type of Visa you intend to apply for and you must seek advice about this independently. 

We can provide you with a CAS if you are applying for a Student Route Visa (previously Tier 4 visa) however you must make the decision that this type of visa would be the most suitable for your requirements.

Please note: It is expected that students on the PGPEP programme will return home in order to apply for a visa for their degree programme, but should contact Student Immigration Services for advice regarding this matter:

Visit the Student Immigration Service website here >

Contact the Student Immigration Service here >

In order to process your application we require all sponsored applicants to provide us with a recent letter from their sponsors confirming their sponsorship covers English language studies. If you are unable to provide this then you would be expected to make the pre-payment. Please note that this is different from the Financial Guarantee Letter which must be provided once you start your programme of study with us. Please note that you will be responsible for any course fees not paid to us by your sponsors.

You will have the option of requesting university self-catering accommodation on your PGPEP application form. For further details, click on the link below:

Find out more about accommodation here > 

We are planning PGPEP as a face-to-face course. Each course will be in a classroom with a teacher unless government health advice changes.

There is a variety of assessments in PGPEP, related to the language and skills covered in each course. Assessments in Semester 1 are formative, intended to give you feedback on your progress. Semester 2 assessments are summative, and you must achieve grades that correspond to the minimum language entrance requirements for your intended PG programme.

You will be assessed during PGPEP in Semester 2 and applicants with an offer to study on a postgraduate degree programme at the University of Edinburgh who meet the English language requirement of their degree programme will be able to use this to demonstrate they have met the English language requirements of their degree programme.

If you have an offer from, or intend to apply to a different institution for postgraduate studies, you will need to check with your chosen institution to confirm their English language requirements. They may or may not accept PGPEP as meeting their entry requirements. 

We cannot advise on your degree course application including any queries about the English language requirements or what will happen regarding your studies on your degree programme. Please contact the Admissions Office handling your degree programme application for specific information.

Further information for prospective students will also be updated on the University of Edinburgh COVID-19 update web pages.