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This section provides information for applicants about how to apply for postgraduate study.

EUCLID online application

Applications to study at the School of Social and Political Science at the University of Edinburgh are made on-line through a system called EUCLID.  There is an ‘apply online’ link at the top of each of our programme webpages (as highlighted below for the MSc/Diploma in Social Anthropology).

Supporting Documents

Please note: we will only consider applications once they are complete. Incomplete applications will not be processed. You have to complete in full the online form on EUCLID and also submit the following documents:

• Two academic references (please note that in certain circumstances, particularly where an applicant has been out of higher education for more than five years, some programmes may accept alternative references, e.g. from an employer. If you think this applies to you, please check with the relevant programme director). References must be dated, signed, and printed on official letterhead paper. If emailed directly from the referee, they must be sent from an official email address (e.g. a university email address, not from publicly available e-mail services such as hotmail or gmail). If you provide a correct, official email address for your referee, euclid will automatically email them to request the reference and provide them with a link to upload it.
• Final transcripts for all your degrees. If you are still studying, we will accept an interim transcript for that degree (which shows the grades you have received so far). All transcripts should bear the official seal, stamp or watermark of the awarding institution. Where original documents are not in English, a certified translation must be provided.
• Degree certificate(s) for all your previous degree(s), unless you are submitting a final transcript which confirms award of degree and final grade achieved.
• For PhD programmes – a research proposal. The MPhil in Canadian Studies and some MSc by research programmes may also require a research proposal or statement; please check with your programme director.

If the original documents are not in English, you must submit certified, official translations.

Note that you are provided with links to upload the documents.  Please upload as  .pdf or .jpg.

Or, you can email them to: pgadmissions.sps@ed.ac.uk

If you only have the documents in hard copy, you can send them in to us:

• Applications will not be assessed until they are complete.
• It is your responsibility to ensure all documents are provided and uploaded – we cannot contact referees directly ourselves.

If an application is incomplete, you will receive a notification from EUCLID about what is required, and you will be provided with a link in order to upload the relevant documents.

What happens when you submit

When you submit on EUCLID, your application is screened by the administrative staff in the Graduate School office. If it is incomplete, or if we cannot accept some of your documents, you will be notified via EUCLID about what is still required. Please use the available links in order to upload the new documentation.

Once your application is complete, it is passed to the relevant member of academic staff for their decision. You are then informed of the decision within EUCLID.

For more information on types of offers, and accepting an offer of a place, see the 'In receipt of an offer' page.

Minimum entry requirements

• Academic – applicants should normally have at least an upper second class honours degree (2.i), or an undergraduate degree at an equivalent level, in one of the disciplinary areas represented in the degree. The International Office provide further information, by country, on what is considered equivalent to a UK 2.i qualification. Select your country from the list provided here and follow the links to 'Postgraduate Entry'.
• Language – please refer to the detailed guidance available on our College website.

If you meet these you are likely in most cases to be made an offer!

If you have any queries please visit our frequently asked questions page

If you haven't heard from us

If you applied some time ago and haven't heard anything, please check:

1. Is your application complete, including all the required documentation?
2. Has six weeks passed since you applied?
3. Have you checked your EUCLID account for any communication?
4. Have you submitted your application?

If you answer yes to all of these questions then please contact the Graduate School Office at pgadmissions.sps@ed.ac.uk and the admissions team will look into your application for you.