Postgraduate study
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Doctor of Medicine MD

Awards: MD

Study modes: Full-time, Part-time

Funding opportunities

Programme website: Doctor of Medicine

The MD is a higher degree undertaken by clinically qualified staff normally during their postgraduate medical training. Applicants must be working in the South East of Scotland, either employed as a member of staff of the University of Edinburgh, or as an NHS employee, or as a research worker employed or self-financed or grant-funded, in the University of Edinburgh or an associated institution or an NHS establishment.

A thesis for the degree of MD must deal with one or more of the subjects of study in the curriculum for the degrees of MBChB or with subjects arising directly from contemporary medical practice.

We have interests in:

  • Cancer
  • Cardiovascular
  • Clinical Brain Sciences
  • Cognitive and Neural systems
  • Genetics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Inflammation
  • Medical Education
  • Molecular Medicine
  • Neuroscience
  • Population Health Sciences
  • Regenerative Medicine
  • Reproductive Health

Generic training in presentation skills, project management and writing skills is delivered through the University's transferable skills programme.

We have excellent facilities on our campuses at the Western General Hospital, Little France and in the Central Area.

These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.

An accredited medical degree (MBChB or equivalent). You must also have at least one year of experience in scientific work bearing directly on your profession, or be in the practice of medicine or surgery.

Your primary place of work will be within the South East of Scotland NHS Postgraduate Deanery either employed by the University of Edinburgh or by South East of Scotland NHS.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

  • IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
  • PTE Academic: total 62 with at least 59 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old* at the beginning of your programme of study. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)

Find out more about our language requirements:

Tuition fees

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MDMedicine2 YearsFull-timeTuition fees
MDMedicine3 YearsPart-timeTuition fees
MDMedicine4 YearsPart-timeTuition fees

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

  • your programme
  • the duration of your studies
  • your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

  • Postgraduate Office
  • Chancellor's Building
  • 49 Little France Crescent
  • Little France
  • Edinburgh
  • EH16 4SB

We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.

You must submit two references with your application.

Applicants must have at least two supervisors who can demonstrate that they have received up-to-date training in postgraduate student supervision and are members of academic staff of the University or honorary members of staff, and have appropriate expertise in research. They will be located in the University of Edinburgh or in NHS facilities within the supervision of the NHS Education for Scotland in the South East of Scotland.

Before making an application, you must first make contact with your potential supervisor/s and write a research proposal. See our list of our research centres for staff contact details:

You will be formally interviewed (in person, by video-conferencing or Skype).

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

Further information

  • Postgraduate Office
  • Chancellor's Building
  • 49 Little France Crescent
  • Little France
  • Edinburgh
  • EH16 4SB