Visiting, Non-Graduating and ERASMUS students

Information on policies and procedures for all visiting, non-graduating and ERASMUS students.

It is University Policy that all visiting students who attend the University for any period between two weeks and 12 months must be registered on the University’s student record system, EUCLID. This applies to anyone who is an Undergraduate or Postgraduate Student registered on a degree programme in another institution, or an individual who is not registered on a degree programme at this or another higher education institution, and who wishes to take one or more taught courses (usually postgraduate) or undertake supervised research at the University.  For further information on the policy please see the Visiting Students Policy. 

All visitors must seek approval from the School/Deanery that will be hosting their stay. Applicants should submit their application at least one month in advance of the date they wish to visit the University. Applicants who require a visa to study in the UK may have to apply earlier.

All students are subject to the University’s regulations, policies and codes of practice.

Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, the UK government decided not to participate in the next ERASMUS+ programme (2021-27). This decision does not affect the UK’s participation in the current ERASMUS+ programme (2014-2020). We are continuing to participate in the current programme until the end of our 2020 project, which has now been extended to 31 May 2023. An alternative programme – The Turing Scheme – has been proposed. Details are yet to be confirmed. This means we can continue to receive exchange students under the current ERASMUS+ programme for 2021/22 and 2022/23 academic years, as long as the students home university has also been granted an extension. Students should check with their own home university for more information.

ERASMUS was the first scheme put in place and focuses on higher education student’s mobility, this later evolved and was replaced by ERASMUS+ in 2014. ERSASMUS+ is a much wider programme and includes more opportunities to train, study, volunteer etc abroad.

Entry Requirements, Fees and Visa requirements

Entry Requirements

All visiting students must meet College entry requirements for our degree programmes, including English language requirements.

Entry Requirements for Postgraduate Students

Fees

It is very important that visitors check if they will have to pay any fees in order to visit The University of Edinburgh. For details on postgraduate fees please visit the link below.

Postgraduate fees for visiting students

Visa Requirements

If the applicant is a non-UK national, the Edinburgh Global Office can advise on what type of visa will be required to come here as a visiting student.

Visas and Immigration

Student visitors can fall into 4 categories:

1. Visiting Students
2. Non-Graduating Students 
3. ERASMUS+ Students
4. ERASMUS+ Traineeships - restricted to a maximum of 12 weeks

1. Visiting Students

Visiting Students are students who are studying or conducting research at the University for a short period of time, i.e. for less than or up to one year. Visiting Students are students who are registered on a programme of study at another higher education institution (their home institution), from which they plan ultimately graduate, who take taught courses and/or conduct research at the University of Edinburgh.

There is an application and approval process. For an application form please contact: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk

Visiting Students may only be permitted in the College in the following areas:

2. Non-Graduating Students

Non-Graduating Students (NGS) are individuals who are not registered on a degree programme at this or another higher education institution, who take one or more taught courses (usually postgraduate) or undertake supervised research at the University.

There is an application and approval process. For an application form please contact: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk

NGS may only be permitted in the College in the following areas:

3. ERASMUS+ Students

The College only has a small number of reciprocal ERASMUS|+ agreements for visiting students. Students may only visit if an existing Erasmus exchange agreement is in place.

There is an application and approval process. For an application form please contact: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk

We have ERASMUS agreements in place with the following institutions:

4. ERASMUS+ Traineeships

Erasmus+ Traineeships are part of the Erasmus+ programme, and provide students with an Erasmus grant (which is administered by their home institution) to support them in undertaking a placement somewhere in Europe.  Students may apply for placements in many types of organisation, not just at universities; they must last at least two months and normally count in some way towards their degree programme (as with Erasmus study exchanges).  However, unlike study exchanges, there are no inter-institutional contracts and no reciprocity requirement (they are therefore not considered an 'exchange'), and each placement is for an individual student and normally a single event.

Further details can be found on the British Council's website.

Applications can enter the College through many routes - either directly to a School/Deanery or individuals within it, to the College Offices, or to Edinburgh Global (formerly the International Office). Schools/Deaneries are not obliged to accept Erasmus+ Trainee applications - if they are not willing to take trainees then the application will be automatically rejected.

Under the Erasmus Charter the University of Edinburgh is not permitted to charge any fees to a student coming on an ERASMUS programme and therefore the period of Traineeship should be restricted to a maximum of 12 weeks. If you wish to accept an ERASMUS+ trainee for a longer period, then the University fee must be paid by your unit: it cannot be passed on to the trainee, even if s/he is willing to cover the cost.

Applicant types

Traineeship applications can be broken down into three groups:

TYPE 1

Those who wish to take a period of traineeship where their tasks are of a ‘work’ nature.

• This is not permitted in the University and applications of this nature will be rejected.

TYPE 2

Those who are undertaking a period of Postgraduate research at their home institution and wish to carry out some research at the University of Edinburgh, which will contribute to the research degree at their home institution. These individuals will be considered as Visiting Research students, and handled in exactly the same way as other Visiting Research students. Under the Erasmus Charter the University of Edinburgh is not permitted to charge any fees to a student coming on an ERASMUS programme and therefore the period of Traineeship should be restricted to a maximum of 12 weeks. If you wish to accept an ERASMUS+ trainee for a longer period, then the University fee must be paid by your unit: it cannot be passed on to the trainee, even if s/he is willing to cover the cost. This period should start at the beginning of a month.

Non-EU nationals are permitted by ERASMUS if their home institution is an ERASMUS member but will generally have to apply to use the Student Visitor Visa route.

TYPE 3

Those who are undertaking an Undergraduate degree at their home institution and wish to undertake a period of research at the University of Edinburgh or are required by their programme at their home institution to undertake a research placement. These individuals will be considered as Visiting Research students, and handled in exactly the same way as other Visiting Research students. Under the Erasmus Charter the University of Edinburgh is not permitted to charge any fees to a student coming on an ERASMUS programme and therefore the period of Traineeship should be restricted to a maximum of 12 weeks. If you wish to accept an ERASMUS+ trainee for a longer period, then the University fee must be paid by your unit: it cannot be passed on to the trainee, even if s/he is willing to cover the cost.

Erasmus+ Traineeships are not open to all applicants. There are various restrictions in place:

• An applicant must be a matriculated student (undergraduate or postgraduate) at a Higher Education institution in a participating country.
• An applicant must apply as a single individual agreement - no group agreements will be entered into.
• An applicant must be planning to undertake research alongside a member of Academic Staff who must be specified in the application.
• No applications for work in administrative departments will be accepted.
• The traineeship should not last longer than 12 weeks. Under the Erasmus Charter the University of Edinburgh is not permitted to charge any fees to a student coming on an ERASMUS programme and therefore the period of Traineeship should be restricted to a maximum of 12 weeks. If you wish to accept an ERASMUS+ trainee for a longer period, then the University fee must be paid by your unit: it cannot be passed on to the trainee, even if s/he is willing to cover the fee.
• The Academic Department must be willing to take on a trainee. There may be a variety of reasons why they are unable to, such as resourcing or timing.
• The application must be submitted to the University of Edinburgh no less than six weeks prior to the start of the programme. Applicants who require a visa to study in the UK may have to apply earlier.
• The trainee is not covered by Accident Insurance but is covered by Liability Insurance. Trainees are expected to arrange for their own travel insurance.
• The trainee programme spans full calendar months only (i.e. start on the 1^st and end on the 28^th/29^th/30^th/31^st). With permission of the Supervisor, Trainees may arrive after the start of the programme but cannot continue after the end of the programme.

The Academic Department must provide or undertake the following:

• A suitable member of academic staff to supervise the student.
• A work space and access to any facilities required.
• Complete any reporting and other documentation that is required by ERASMUS+. This involves the signing of an Erasmus+ Training Agreement at the point of application and one or all of: Certificate of Attendance / Arrival / Departure which is done when the student is in front of you.
• A department may be asked to enter into an agreement with the sending institution for multiple of repeated trainees. These are not permitted as each agreement is individual.

• The Supervisor must inform the relevant School/Deanery Administrator about the arrival of the trainee.
• The trainee programme spans full calendar months only (i.e. start on the 1^st and end on the 28^th /29^th/30^th/31^st). With permission of the Supervisor, Trainees may arrive after the start of the programme but cannot continue after the end of the programme. This is due to the restrictions in place with EUCLID (other Admissions).

There is an application and approval process for ERASMUS+ Traineeships. Further details on how to apply can be found in the table below.  

If a School/Deanery decides to admit ERASMUS+ Traineeships they may only be permitted in the College in the following areas: