Applying with USA qualifications

The University welcomes applicants with high school qualifications from the USA.

Applicants are expected to complete the US High School Diploma plus one of the combination below to be considered for entry:

Three APs at 4+ including required subjects;

SAT Reasoning Test with 1290+ (650+ in Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, and 620+ in Math) plus at least two APs at 4+ including required subjects;

ACT Score of 27+ plus at least two APs at 4+ including required subjects;

Three SAT Subject Tests* at 650+ including required subjects.

Or one year of University in the USA with a GPA of 3.25 (required subjects must be met).

Many degree programmes in Science and Engineering have required subjects as part of their entry requirements. In order for your application to be considered you must take these required subjects to meet the entry requirements, these are highlighted for each subject area below.

Please note the following:

  • we cannot accept two different tests in the same subject (for example an AP in Chemistry and an SAT subject test in Chemistry;
  • we do not accept AP Seminar, AP Research or AP Studio Art for entry purposes;
  • we will only consider one of the following for entry purposes, AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based, Physics 2: Algebra-Based, Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism and Physics C: Mechanics.
  • AP Calculus AB and BC are both accepted as meeting the Maths requirement but will only be treated as one subject. 
  • AP Pre-Calculus or AP Calculus will be treated as one subject.

*We are aware that SAT subject tests are no longer available to applicants in the USA from 2021 and out with the USA from 2022. 

  • Required subjects for programmes in the School of Biological Sciences are: Biology and Chemistry. Plus 11th or 12th grade Physics at B+ or AP Physics at 3, or 11th or 12th grade Mathematics at B+ or AP Pre-Calculus at 4 or AP Calculus at 3.

  • Required subjects for programmes in the School of Chemistry are:  Chemistry and AP Calculus at 4. For Chemical Physics programmes the required subjects are  Chemistry,  AP Calculus at 4 and Physics.

  • Required subjects for programmes in the School of Engineering are:  AP Calculus at 4 and one of Physics (preferred), Biology, Chemistry, Computing Science or Engineering Science. Plus 11th or 12th grade Physics at B+ or AP Physics at 3, or Grade 11 or 12. For Chemical Engineering programmes AP Calculus at 4 and Chemistry plus 11th or 12th grade Physics at B+ or AP Physics at 3. For Electronics and Computer Science programmes AP Calculus at 5 and Physics (preferred), Biology, Chemistry or Computing Science plus 11th or 12th grade Physics at B+ or AP Physics at 3.

Earth Sciences programmes

  • Required subjects for Earth Sciences programmes are: two from Biology*, Chemistry*, Mathematics/Calculus*, Physics*, Environmental Science, or Geography (* one of your two subjects must be from the asterisked subjects shown here). Mathematics/Calculus is required at A at 11th or 12th Grade, or 4 at AP.

Ecological Sciences Programmes

  • Required subjects for Ecological Sciences programmes are: two from Biology*, Chemistry*, Mathematics/Calculus*, Physics*, Environmental Science, or Geography (* one of your two subjects must be from the asterisked subjects shown here). Mathematics/Calculus is required at B at 11th or 12th Grade, or 3 at AP.

Environmental Geosciences programmes

  • Required subjects for Environmental Geosciences programmes are: two from Biology*, Chemistry*, Mathematics/Calculus*, Physics*, Environmental Science, or Geography (* one of your two subjects must be from the asterisked subjects shown here). Mathematics/Calculus is required at A at 11th or 12th Grade, or 4 at AP.

Geophysics programmes

  • Required subjects for Geophysics programmes are: AP Calculus at 4 and Physics.

BSc Geography

  • Required subjects for BSc Geography are: two from Geography, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Mathematics/Calculus or Physics. Mathematics/Calculus is required at B at 11th or 12th Grade, or 3 at AP.

MA Geography

  • For MA Geography programmes Geography is preferred plus Mathematics/Calculus is required at C at 11th or 12th grade, or 3 at AP.  

  • Required subjects for programmes in the School of Informatics: AP calculus at 5.  For Computer Science and Physics: Calculus AP at 5 and Physics.

Applicants with AP Calculus BC in addition to AP Calculus AB may be preferred.


  • Required subjects for programmes in the School of Mathematics: AP calculus at 5. For Mathematics and Music: AP calculus and Music is recommended. For Mathematics and Physics: AP calculus at 5 and Physics. 

Applicants with AP Calculus BC in addition to AP Calculus AB may be preferred.


  • Required subjects for programmes in the School of Physics: AP calculus at 4 and Physics. 

Selection Tests

For applicants who are unable to take the standardised tests needed to meet our entry requirements we may be able to offer our own selection test(s). Please note entry to the MA Geography programme is not available through this route.  It is possible that we may not able to consider applicants to programmes where entry is highly competitive, for example programmes in our School of Informatics and School of Mathematics, through this route.

We will consider your performance in these tests, along with the GPA from your High School transcript, and the grades you achieved in your junior and senior years in honors, or AP preparation level classes. We expect students to achieve an overall High School GPA of at least 3.3, and to have achieved high grades in relevant honors and AP classes (typically B+ or above, although in competitive areas we may require grade A or above) in combination with our selection tests.  

If you are unable to take the standardised tests required for entry to our programmes please email us at futurestudents@ed.ac.uk for further advice quoting your full name, your UCAS ID and the programme you have applied for. 

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