The School of Mathematics at the University of Edinburgh welcomes applications from students across the world. We are highly-rated for both teaching and research, and if you study here you will be joining a community of staff and students from many countries.
We offer a wide range of degrees. Our flexible structure means that you can tailor your studies to your particular interests or career aspirations, whether these concern Business, Finance, Computing, Statistics or Operational Research, or are purely academic.
For more information on being an International student at Edinburgh, and on what the city and the university have to offer, see the International Students pages.
The University now offers an Integrated Foundation Programme. This is designed for students whose school system does not offer certain topics (e.g. Calculus) that we normally require and who need to improve their English language skills.
A number of undergraduate scholarships are offered to students of outstanding ability from overseas countries outside the European Union for study in any of the Mathematics degrees offered by the University. The scholarships will be worth £1,000 per year and will be tenable for the duration of the programme of study subject to satisfactory progress. Find out more.
Information on entry qualifications (including English language requirements) can be found on the following web pages. You are advised to read the appropriate pages before applying.
Well-qualified applicants may be able to enter second year directly. This option is available for MMath and BSc Mathematics degrees.
I grew up in Moscow, but went to school in Brussels, Belgium, and I came to Edinburgh University because of its large international community and great support (both social, and financial as an EU student), and the friendliness of Scottish people.
The School of Mathematics, just like the city of Edinburgh, is traditional but at the same time modern and up to date. This is reflected on the very wide variety of activities offered, from the theatre and opera to popular concerts and upbeat night life.
While studying Pure Mathematics, I was able to take all the pure courses available together with many applied mathematics courses, as well as courses in Informatics, Biology, Spanish and Italian. I also used the opportunity to take part in many societies (e.g. as Social Secretary of the Mathematics and Russian Societies) and learned to sail and shoot rifles.
Next year I will most likely be in Bordeaux doing my first year of a Masters in Algebra, Geometry and Number Theory, followed by a second year in Leiden. After this, I plan on doing a PhD in Analytic Number Theory.
Having loved the university experience that Edinburgh has shown me, I would like to stay in academia for the rest of my life.
Katya Ejkova, Final Honours Mathematics
I come from China. I decided to come to Edinburgh University to study Mathematics because it is a perfect place where not only can I develop analytical skills and build a solid foundation in Mathematics, but also expand the realm of my life experience. Obviously I made a right decision, because both the university and the city have lived up to their worldwide reputation. Edinburgh is the kind of city that fascinates me most, as it is neither too big nor too small. It can provide both career opportunities and entertainment as a modern city, yet without making you feel like you are living in a forest of steel and concrete. And you can always walk on a green field or climb a little hill without worrying about being isolated from the bustle of the city. Studying and living here is definitely a fantastic and indelible experience in my life.
I am a second year undergraduate student majoring in Pure Mathematics. My study experience here is amazing. My major interest is to discover the mysteries of the universe both scientifically and mentally. This is also one of my dreams, so I have not only chosen nearly all the Pure Maths courses in the first two years, but Astronomy as well. I am planning to further my education in the field of theoretical physics, which explores the deepest secrets of the universe, if I am brilliant enough. And I have also taken courses such as Economics, Sociology, Music and so on, because the first two provided me with the basic knowledge to read between lines in newspapers, and music is always a good way to relax myself. This is not the end but just a start, for I am still learning economics and finance occasionally after the actual courses finished and also trying to learn to compose music, so hopefully there will be a piece of music written by my own hands in the near future. The university is abundant in sports clubs and all kinds of societies as well, and I am thinking about playing the basketball Summer League this summer.
Actually, in the beginning, after two gap years I was not quite sure if I could get on well with my studies in a totally different education system and using a foreign language, but the Kelland Memorial Prize awarded to me last summer has affirmed my effort and encouraged me a lot.
So now I think I have enough confidence to go on with my interests in studies, though there is still a long way to go.
Xuan Wu, 2nd Year Mathematics
Life in the University of Edinburgh is one of the best experiences I have ever had. My experience here has been amazing. As an international student, I was determined to go to one of the best universities in the UK and Edinburgh University proved to be a top university in Mathematics.
My experience as a University of Edinburgh student has been both exciting and challenging. Edinburgh is a highly multicultural university, which means you get to meet people from all backgrounds and can get to learn from their culture. There is never a dull moment here and there is always something for you to do. The lecturers and tutors are always willing to help when there is a problem and you are always given various opportunities to be on top of your work.
The Careers Service has been more than helpful in ensuring I pursue my desired career in the right way. Researching about a career in investment banking can be quite frustrating as there are a lot of sub-sectors to deal with, but through information provided by the Careers Service and visits from employees of various firms, I have been provided with substantial information about my chosen career path. From providing practice tests to practice interviews, the Careers Service has improved my self-confidence and also improved my chances of getting an excellent job once I graduate.
The University of Edinburgh has really exceeded my expectations - not just as a place to study but also somewhere where you can pursue your dreams, have fun, meet people and enjoy yourself.
Ifedamola Baale, Junior Honours Mathematics
My name is Boris Bocharov. I am from Russia, and I came to Edinburgh in 2000. Although I had heard a lot about the city and its best known university, what I saw and experienced in the years to follow far exceeded my expectations.
My subject of choice was Social Anthropology, the study of how people in different cultures make sense of the world, and what social and cultural constructs they devise in order to understand the universe they inhabit. Social Anthropology advocates the empathetic understanding of peoples, and pays attention to their idiosyncrasies. The resulting descriptive richness is rewarding if at times frustrating, since the interpretations it offers are always context-bound and at best local.
That is why at first, as a hobby, I picked up mathematics, reasoning that the structured nature of this subject would complement the other\'s almost total lack of it. By the time of my graduation with a degree in Social Anthropology, I had completed two years of maths and was sufficiently hooked on the subject to give pursuing my interest further serious thought. I was kindly allowed to do so.
The BSc in Maths is an appealing proposition for a number of reasons. To begin with, one acquires a rather good, systematic knowledge of key areas in pure and applied mathematics. Moreover, this breadth of scope, catering to a variety of mathematical tastes, makes the choice of career, either professional or academic, less likely to go wrong. Finally, the relatively few lectures and tutorials nurture the useful self-discipline of literature research and ability to work in groups. Interaction and collaboration are encouraged in tutorials, seminars and through the Student Maths Society.
As for me, doing a PhD was the next logical and ultimately rewarding step (I am in my second year now). I was eager to try out and sharpen where necessary those mathematical techniques and tools that I accumulated as an undergraduate, and I am now working on an original problem in Stochastic Analysis.
Boris Bocharov, Research Student
