Whether you travel to Edinburgh by plane, train, bus or car, there is helpful advice on our University website.
Students should aim to arrive in Edinburgh on 9th September 2024 for Semester 1 Welcome Week, as the University hosts many welcome and orientation events. Students should aim to arrive in Edinburgh on 8th January 2025 for Semester 2 January Welcome. If you are unable to arrive until later, then please ensure you’re in Edinburgh by the time teaching begins, as per the start-date of your programme.
The date of your return flight home should not be until after the end of the exam period, as exams are scheduled up until the final day of the exam period. Booking a flight before the date of your final exam is not considered extenuating circumstances to exempt you from taking the exam, or requesting an alternative assessment, and you may fail the course. Information on exam timetables can be found on the Examinations website.
The University of Edinburgh's academic calendar for 2024/25 can be viewed here.
The UK and the Republic of Ireland are part of a Common Travel Area (CTA); the CTA streamlines arrival to the UK from the Republic of Ireland for most travellers because there is no immigration control between the two countries.
You need to get a visa before travelling to the UK if you are applying under the Student Route visa or if you are a visa national applying under the Standard Visitor route. If you have obtained a visa from your home country, you can travel via the Republic of Ireland. We recommend that you keep your boarding passes or travel itinerary in a safe place as you will need to evidence your date of arrival in the UK.
If you are a non-visa national and enter the UK via the Republic of Ireland without having secured a visa, you will be given permission to be in the UK for six months . You will be able to study but employment (paid or unpaid) will not be permitted. We recommend that you keep your boarding passes or travel itinerary in a safe place as you will need to evidence your date of arrival un the UK.