IFSA University of Edinburgh
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Minimum GPA: 3.0
- Language of Instruction: English
- Class Eligibility: Juniors
Introduction
Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland and the major metropolis of northern Britain, is 4 and 1/2 hours by fast train from London. With a population of around 440,000 people, it remains a compact city with numerous public parks, libraries, museums and galleries, theaters and concert halls, shopping, and other facilities. Students should be aware that, because it is so far north, during the winter months, Scotland has very few ‘daylight’ hours. The sun may not rise until 10 am and may set as early as 3:15 pm. In the summer, conversely, it is known as the “Land of the Midnight Sun,” with only a couple hours of dark each day.
- Visa:
U.S. citizens entering the United Kingdom for a stay of less than six months do not need a visa. They apply for prior entry clearance as a ‘student visitor’. Students who plan to work while abroad (voluntary work, internships, placements, part-time work, or vacation work) must apply for a Student Route visa. If students plan to stay in the UK for longer than six months, they must apply for a Student Route visa.
Non-US citizens should consult with IFSA and the Office of International Student Support before applying to the program.
- Fees: Students pay Haverford tuition only to Haverford College. Haverford will then be responsible for submitting tuition payments to the program. Students pay room and board fees directly to IFSA.
Academic Overview
Requirements
The following subjects are extremely popular and have very limited capacity:
- Art & Design Elective courses
- English Literature
-Students must have completed at least 4 courses in English at the time of application. Many courses are reserved for English majors only. - History
- Politics and International Relations*
-Study abroad students can only enroll in one Politics/Intl. Relations course ahead of arrival in Edinburgh. Students who with to enroll in a second must wait to request this in person after arrival. There is no guarantee of available space, so make sure to have back-up course choices. - Philosophy
- History of Art
- Law
- Education
- Nursing
- Sport
- Psychology
- Computer Science (Informatics)*
-Study abroad students are restricted to enrolling in a maximum of 20 credits worth of Informatics/Computer Science courses if eligible.
Academic Credit
A full course load is 60 credits for one semester. Major, minor, and concentration transfer credit will only be granted for courses in which students received a grade of a C or above.
Curriculum
The lectures provide the foundations on which the student must build. Lectures are complimented by tutorials and seminars. The tutorial provides the opportunity to develop themes, discuss and explore problems usually on the basis of written work.
Course Highlights
Accounting, African Studies, Archeology, Architecture, Art History, Biology, Business, Canadian Studies, Celtic Studies, Chemistry, Cities, Classics, Chinese Studies, Computer Science, Divinity, Economics, Education, Engineering, English Literature, French Studies, Geological Sciences, German Studies, Health Sciences, Health Studies, Hispanic Studies, History, Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, Italian Studies, Japanese Studies, Management, Mathematics, Music, Law, Linguistics, Philosophy, Physics and Astronomy, Politics, Psychology, Public Health, Religious Studies, Russian Studies, Sanskrit, Scandinavian Studies, Scottish History, Social Anthropology, Social Policy, Social Work, Sociology, South Asian Studies, Urban Studies
Note: Changes occur frequently. Students are responsible for finding the classes they need and consulting the official site of the institution.
Non-Academic Overview
Orientation
Orientation is continuous throughout students' time abroad, and especially for the first few weeks on site, but the bulk of orientation information spans three days. After arrival and airport pickup, our staff covers cultural, social, and academic topics with students for a couple of days before they have a chance to move into their university housing. During this time, many meals are included along with walking tours of the city and other fun activities. Specific topics covered during orientation include: budgeting, IFSA Health and Safety protocol, healthcare in Scotland, Adulting 101, IFSA's commitment to inclusivity, shopping for necessary items, academic differences, and more.
Number of Students
Approximately 35,000 students, of whom about 3,000 are from overseas, representing 100 countries.
Housing/Meal Plans
Apartments/flats, or residence hall/dorm. Most housing options are self-catered – students will have access to a shared kitchen space and are responsible for cooking their own meals.
Haverford students may not opt for housing not arranged by the program.
Notes
IFSA Virtual Information Sessions
Additional Resources
View Scholarship InformationOptions
- Semester
- STEM Courses Offered
- Direct Enrollment
Dates
- Semester I: Early September to mid-December
- Semester II: Early January to late May
Application Deadlines
- Semester I: March 1
- Semester II: October 1