Applying

Applications are now open.

The Online Pre-sessional programme is designed to help you meet your online degree programme entry requirements. As such, once you have been given an Online Pre-sessional placement you should not attempt to re-sit other English language tests. This is important for the following reasons:

  • The admissions department for your chosen degree programme may not accept revised English language test scores if you are registered on the Online Pre-sessional. You will be required to successfully complete the Online Pre-Sessional to gain entry to your degree programme
  • Once your 14 day cancellation period has expired, we will not refund Online Pre-sessional fees if you have been resitting other English language tests and achieve the scores needed for degree programme entry

  • Applicants must have a Conditional Firm (CF) offer for an online Postgraduate degree programme at the University of Edinburgh for September entry.
  • Applicants must also have a valid Academic English IELTS or PTE Academic certificate of an appropriate level, which will depend on the entry requirements of their online Postgraduate degree programme. Please note, we cannot accept results from more than one certificate.
  • The minimum age for applicants is 18.

Please ensure that your English level meets the requirements below. This will depend on the level of English you are required to achieve for your online Postgraduate degree programme.

IELTS Entry Requirement for degree programme:  

IELTS Requirement for Summer EAP programme: 6 weeks:  

6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each component  

6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component   

7.0 overall with at least 6.0 in each component   

6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component   

7.0 overall with at least 7.0 in the writing component and 6.5 in each other component   

6.5 overall with at least 6.5 in the writing component and 6.0 in each other component   

7.0 overall with at least 7.0 in each component   

6.5 overall with at least 6.5 in each component   

7.0 overall with at least 6.5 in the writing component and 6.0 in each other component   

6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in the writing component and 5.5 in each other component   

7.0 overall with at least 6.5 in the reading and listening components and 6.0 in each other component   

6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in the reading and listening components and 5.5 in each other component   

7.0 overall with at least 6.5 in each section 

6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each component 

 

PTE Entry Requirement for degree programme:  

PTE Requirement for Summer EAP programme:  6 weeks:  

62 overall with at least 59 in each component   

59 overall with at least 54 in each component   

70 overall with at least 59 in each component   

62 overall with at least 54 in each component   

70 overall with at least 70 in the writing component and 62 in each other component   

62 overall with at least 62 in the writing component and 59 in each other component   

70 overall with at least 70 in each component   

62 overall with at least 62 in each component

70 overall with at least 62 in the writing component and 59 in each other component   

62 overall with at least 59 in the writing component and 54 in each other component   

70 overall with at least 62 in the reading and listening components and 59 in each other component

62 overall with at least 59 in the reading and listening components and 54 in each other component

70 overall with at least 62 in each component 

62 overall with at least 59 in each component 

 


  • If the fees for the Online Pre-sessional will be paid for by a sponsor, you will need to provide us with a recent letter from your sponsor confirming this. Once you have submitted your application, please send your sponsor letter to: col.admissions@ed.ac.uk
  • Please note, due to high demand for places on the Online Pre-sessional, you will still be required to pay a deposit to secure your place. This deposit will be refunded to you once we receive full payment from your sponsor. PLEASE NOTE: you will be responsible for any payment not covered by your sponsor.

If you are an agent or partner institution applying on behalf of a student, please note that you must:

  • Have an active agreement in place with the Centre for Open Learning.
  • Have obtained prior permission from the student to act on their behalf, share their personal information with us, and for us to share details of their application with you. You will be asked to agree to a Data Protection Disclaimer on the application form to confirm that the student has given these permissions.
  • PLEASE NOTE: Providing the application form has been fully and correctly completed, there is no requirement to provide any documentation by email unless we specifically request this.  

The Online Pre-sessional fees are as follows:

  • 6 week course: £3539

If your application is successful, we will ask you to pay a deposit to secure your place on the Online Pre-sessional. The deposit is 25% of the total course fee, and must be paid within 24 hours of us requesting it. We will provide a payment link and instructions.

After a 14 day cooling off period following payment of your deposit, the fee is non-refundable. Please note, final balance payments made at a later date do not have a separate 14 day cooling off period. Read our terms and conditions for full details.  


We endeavour to process your application as quickly as possible. Make sure you check your email regularly for communications from us. Our office hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (UK time) and we will communicate with you within the following timescales:

1. Application Acknowledgement

  • Following your application submission, you will receive an automated email confirming we have successfully received it.

2. Application Outcome and Pre-Payment Deposit

  • It may take us up to 3 working days to check your application following submission. We will email you to confirm the outcome.
  • If we require additional information or documents from you, we will let you know and provide instructions on how to send it to us.
  • If we can offer you a place on the Online Pre-Sessional, we will request payment of the deposit and will provide a payment link. Payment must be made within 24 hours of us requesting it.

3. Final Payment and Booking Confirmation

  • Once we have received your deposit, we will email you a booking confirmation within 3 working days. An invoice requesting payment of the final balance will be emailed to you soon afterwards.

Applications have now closed. 

Keep in touch and sign up to our mailing list here - we'll let you know when applications open for 2025.


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