You applied for a degree programme in Informatics or Mathematics

Due to the high level of competition for places we have not been able to make you an offer for the Informatics or Mathematics programme you applied for. 

We understand this will be disappointing for you and wanted to give you some further information on our selection and decision-making process this year to help you understand why.

Our Informatics and Mathematics programmes are extremely popular.  We receive many more applications than we have places available. We have also seen a significant increase in the number of applicants who have achieved, or are predicted to achieve, top grades. This means even applicants who meet or exceed the entry requirements are often unsuccessful. 

Applications, Offers and Acceptances

Data on the number of applications we receive, offers we make, and acceptances rates is available on our website. Please note that entry to our Informatics programmes is particularly competitive. 

 Undergraduate Admissions Statistics 

How we make decisions

Our selection process is not an automated process. Reaching our decision involves a very thorough assessment of all relevant factors which includes academic profile, personal statement and reference alongside the secondary school performance or progression information. 

All applicants who have met, or are on track to meet, our entry requirements are considered; however, it is not uncommon for applicants to require a perfect, or near perfect, academic profile in order to receive an offer and it may have been necessary for us to select and make offers to those with grades above the top of the standard range.

The top of our standard range is set at a level where, in previous years, offers have been made. However, as our entry requirements are published more than a year before selection takes place, it cannot take account of changes in competition levels when applications are received.  Regrettably, this often means that we have to turn away many academically talented students. We aim to admit as wide and diverse a cohort of students as possible, in the interests of providing a truly global experience to all of our students who come from the UK, EU and the rest of the world.

As well as assessing each application against our entry requirements and selection criteria, we also compare them to the very best examples of applications received that year for these programmes.

As such, one of the most common reasons why applications are unsuccessful is simply that other applications were stronger. That doesn’t mean your application didn’t have merit or that it wouldn’t be successful in another year, just that this year it unfortunately wasn’t as strong as other applications we received.

Below is a list of the most common reasons why applications to our Informatics and Mathematics programmes are not successful:

• Your academic qualifications are not as strong as other applicants.  Although all applicants who have met, or are on track to meet, our standard entrance requirements are considered. In order to receive an offer however, applicants are required to achieve a perfect or near perfect academic profile.  Please note that if we received a predicted grade range, e.g. 80–85 per cent, we used the lower prediction in our selection process.
• We use English language qualifications to select between academically well qualified applicants.  For more information on our English language requirements please see www.ed.ac.uk/studying/undergraduate/entry-requirements/english-language
• Your Mathematics background is not as strong as other applicants.  It is important that applicants entering degrees in Informatics and Mathematics have a strong background in Mathematics.  Applicants to our Informatics and Mathematics programmes must have attained the Mathematics qualification(s) they are using for entry within the last two years.
• The level of qualification you have achieved was at a lower level than one being presented by other applicants.  As an example, this means we preferred applicants who had achieved AP Calculus BC over applicants who had only achieved AP Calculus AB.
• You have already undertaken study at university level.  We prioritised qualified applicants who have not yet had the opportunity to study at degree level.
• Your application was incomplete by the UCAS deadline.  It is your responsibility to ensure that all documents were provided, including completed reference and predicted grades.   

Further information

We hope that the information above helps explains our decision.  We understand your disappointment and would like to emphasise the fact that these are very competitive degree programmes. We recognise that many unsuccessful applicants are extremely academically talented and it is with regret that we have been unable to make you an offer.

If after reading the common reasons that applications are unsuccessful you feel that none of these apply to you, or you still do not understand why your application has been unsuccessful, then you can request further feedback.

Before making your request please read the information on Admissions Feedback & Appeals.  Please ensure you include your name, UCAS number and the degree you have applied for in your feedback request.

 Request further feedback on an unsuccessful application (Informatics and Mathematics)