Progression to Degree Level Study

You can find more information about the range of undergraduate programmes you can progress to, after successful completion of our international foundation year, below.

What I love about the IFP, is that everything we do actually prepares us for real university life. The critical thinking, the academic writing, the research skills — it all feels like building a strong foundation for what’s next.

Yazen from Saudi Arabia

Successful completion of the International Foundation Programme prepares students for success into an undergraduate degree programme at the University of Edinburgh. 

Progressions rates from the International Foundation Programme onto undergraduate study at the University of Edinburgh are typically around 95%.

photo of IFP student outside McEwan Hall

Progressing to a Degree within the University of Edinburgh with the International Foundation Programme (IFP)

If you choose to apply for an undergraduate degree within the University of Edinburgh's College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Science & Engineering or College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine (science degrees only - not medicine or veterinary medicine), you will be made a conditional offer based on successfully completing the IFP with good grades, passing any required subjects, and meeting the required level of English language. 

By completing our programme, you’ll earn a Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE) — a formal university qualification at SCQF Level 7 — and be ready to progress into the first year of an undergraduate degree.

The grades required will be written into your offer conditions. If you achieve these grades, you will be guaranteed progression to your chosen degree.

The programme offers three different pathways to choose from depending on what you'd like to go on to study and provides an entry route to more than 180 undergraduate programmes, including degrees in (but not limited to) Architecture, Biological Sciences, Business, Chemistry, Economics, Environmental Sciences, Fine Art, International Relations, Law, Politics and Sports Science.

Progression depends on academic performance (typically 60%+ average) and meeting the English requirements of your chosen degree. 

For a full list of potential degrees, across all pathways, access our degree progressions document below:

 

To find out more about each degree programme, you can use our Degree Finder >

You can check to see if you'd be eligible for our International Foundation Programme via the below link:

IFP Eligibility and Entry Requirements (All Pathways) >

There are some undergraduate degrees at the University which you will not be eligible to progress to following completion of the programme as they have additional entry requirements. These include some language degrees and joint degrees with mathematics.

Your Degree Choice

When you apply for the International Foundation Programme, please ensure your personal statement includes information on the degree you intend to progress to. If you do not include this information, we will contact you for further information.

Although we encourage you to think carefully about your degree intentions before applying to the International Foundation Programme, your declared choice is not final and there will be the opportunity to change this in consultation with our dedicated IFP support team before you apply to progress to degree level study.

Applying to Degree Level Study

During the International Foundation Programme, you will receive dedicated support to apply to degree level study at the University of Edinburgh with the help of our support team.

Applying to Degree Level Study at a Different Institution

The University of Edinburgh is not best placed to advise on the Admissions requirements of other universities. If you wish to progress to undergraduate study at a different institution on completion of our International Foundation Programme, you are strongly encouraged to get in touch with that institution directly to find out if they accept our IFP for entry and what grades are required.

Benefits of Studying for 5 Years

As someone currently going into my last year of undergraduate study this autumn, I think that having had I done this in less time, I would not have gotten the same experience at all...

Both University wise in the sense of learning and academics, I feel like I would be missing a huge chunk of what I've learned and the depth of which we've gone through things...

But I also feel like socially and experiencing life...I would not have been able to have these connections or relationships if a degree programme was two or three years. It just would not have been feasible.

Kayla, from Costa Rica Previous IFP student and current Philosophy and Theology undergraduate student

Our programme is a full-time, international foundation year to prepare eligible international students for undergraduate study at the University of Edinburgh, which in most cases would include an additional four years of study after the IFP*.

Advantages of this duration of study:

  • Build strong academic foundations
  • Develop study habits that stick
  • More time to explore and adjust your academic direction and personal development
  • Enhanced social and cultural integration into UK life     

*Most undergraduate degrees at the University of Edinburgh take four years; some, including Veterinary Medicine and integrated master’s degrees, take longer.

Find out how to apply to our IFP via the link below:

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