The University of Edinburgh

Hey guys, I’m supposed to tell you about The University of Edinburgh! (: as it is not a very well known university though it is a very good university. If you are particular about prestige, it is ranked within the top 25 universities in the world I believe, depending on ranking body of course. The university is especially good in the field of Medicine (top 5 in UK), Vet Med and Engineering, which should interest the scientists in our school!

So first things first, the Scottish education system differs from the British system quite a bit:

1. Length of Study.
A normal degree in England would take you 3 years but in Scotland it takes you 4 years, with the exception of Medicine, which would take you 5 years. However, for the sciences there is the option of direct entry, where you would go straight into the second year. This would be no problem for NUS High graduates I would think as, taking Chemistry for example, a friend of mine in second year studies things like Michaelis-Menton, bond breaking/formation etc. and these are things we have done before though it might take some refreshing.

2. Type of Degree.
In England, everyone will graduate with a Bachelor’s degree. - BA (arts), BSc (sciences) and LLB(law) etc. This is the same in Scotland with the exception of those doing Humanities/Social Sciences in any of the four ancient universities of Scotland, i.e. The University of Aberdeen, The University of Glasgow, The University of Edinburgh and St Andrews University. At these universities, you will graduate with a Master of Arts with Honours – MA(Hons) degree in Humanities/Social Sciences at the end of four years.

3. Flexibility.
Unlike the British system, where you specialize straight from the beginning in most cases, the Scottish system provides some sort of flexibility. Those enrolled in single degree courses may have the option of adding on a joint degree or can choose to switch degrees if they fulfill the requirements and those in joint degrees can choose to drop one or switch one to another if the requirements are fulfilled. For example, I am doing Economics and Law with an outside course in Politics & International Relations. My degree is therefore Economics and Law but I may have the option of changing to Economics and Politics, Economics and International Relations, Politics and International Relations, Politics and Law or International Relations and Law. Or, I can just do a single degree in any one of those. This is particularly useful if you are still unsure of what you want to do or if you are doing Humanities/Social Science and are still concerned about the big jump from a Math & Science environment.


As you can see, there are a few good points about coming here, with the only not that ideal thing being the extra year of study compared to your counterparts in British universities. However, a lot of people choose Edinburgh for its flexibility and reputation. There is also the option for exchange in the third year for those interested (though not for Medicine I believe) to universities in the US, Europe, Australia and even NUS/NTU if you get homesick. Some degrees come with a year abroad with attachment or something like that and the flexibility of the system allows people to take a foreign language and then choose to have that year abroad in the countries which speak that language (less competition compared to exchanges to English speaking countries). Also, Edinburgh is less expensive overall than the London universities for example, even though it is comparable in standard.

The university does also have brilliant facilities. For example, its libraries are among the best in the country, the career guidance office is there to help you with internships or summer/part-time jobs to add to your CV and every student is also attached to a Director of Studies (DoS) within your degree department who helps you plan your course choices and is there to help you with any problems you have regarding your studies. Also, for those who want some work-play balance, there are many societies ( CCAs) to join, ranging from sports and performing arts to charity and social activities to even random things like the Whisky Society (for appreciation of Scotland’s national drink.) Participation level is purely up to you so if you’re busy there is no obligation to join in activities. Also, if you do choose to come here, the Singapore Student's Society will pair you up with a senior to help you with settling in so you won't feel intimidated in the new environment!

With regards to students, Edinburgh does have a large international student population if that’s one of the factors you are considering. They are also accepting more and more students from Singapore, with only around 7 students enrolled 3 years ago but around 20 enrolled this year - out of which 15 maybe are Medics/Vet Meds so if you’re interested in Medicine/ Vet Med, you have a good chance of getting in, with the appropriate grades of course.

And finally, Edinburgh is just a nice place to be. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and City of Literature for those who are interested in culture. Also, the city holds the Edinburgh Festival every year (it was featured in the Straits Times sometime this August) and the festival puts on some spectacular shows and events to enjoy (and is therefore a good time for parents to visit!).

So, do consider Edinburgh as one of your five choices!

If you have any questions, leave a comment and I will try to answer!


Mirabella