Support for postgraduate applicants affected by conflict in the Middle East

Some awarding bodies and universities have cancelled examinations or moved to alternative methods of assessment, and these changes along with wider regional challenges may have led to uncertainty about your plans.

The following advice and guidance is designed to provide clarity and reassurance about how we will consider your application. 

If after reading this guidance, you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at:

futurestudents@ed.ac.uk

Admissions

We continue to welcome applications from affected students. 

Exam and assessment disruption

If you have experienced exam and assessment disruption we will consider grades that have been awarded and ratified by awarding bodies and universities, where this has been based on alternative evidence such as portfolios of evidence or coursework. 

If you cannot meet the requirements of your offer

We are unable to amend the requirements of any offer you have received. You should inform your university or awarding body of your extenuating circumstances, as they are in the best position to make decisions on how your circumstances affected your final grades. However, if you have not already told us in your application of any challenging circumstances that have affected you, you can send us supporting information by email to:

futurestudents@ed.ac.uk

If you are a postgraduate applicant who will not receive your final degree or qualification certificate in time to start your studies, please contact us at: 

futurestudents@ed.ac.uk

You should include your University of Edinburgh Universal User Number (UUN) and the programme you have applied for in your email. We may be able to accept a transcript of results that contains details of your final classification, grade or GPA.

English language requirements

All applicants to the University are required to demonstrate that they meet our English language requirements.

Postgraduate English Language entry requirements

If you are unable to access an in-person English Language test centre, we accept a small number of online English Language tests.

If, as a result of the conflict, you cannot access any of the English language tests we accept, please contact us at:

futurestudents@ed.ac.uk

Deferrals

Under certain circumstances we may be able to offer deferred entry for some applicants.

We do not normally offer deferrals to postgraduate applicants, but for certain programmes we may be able to accept a limited number of offers for deferred entry.

If you are applying for a postgraduate programme and are no longer able to start your studies with us in September 2026 due to a change in your personal circumstances, you can request a deferral through our enquiry form. 

Deferring your offer

Visas for on-campus programmes

If you will be studying an on-campus programme you may need to be eligible to apply for a Student visa; in addition to meeting our entry requirements. 

Find more information on travelling to the UK on the Student Immigration Services website

If you have paid a tuition fee deposit

If your situation changes as a result of the conflict after you have applied and paid a deposit for your degree, we will review requests for a deposit refund on a case-by-case basis. Contact us at: 

futurestudents@ed.ac.uk

Support during your studies

The University can support you in a variety of ways during your time studying with us. This includes support for academic studies, health and wellbeing support and access to facilities and resources.

Postgraduate support

Advice for members of our University community affected by the conflict in the Middle East