Doctor of Medicine MD
Awards: MD
Study modes: Full-time, Part-time
Funding opportunities
Programme website: Doctor of Medicine
The MD is a higher degree undertaken by clinically qualified staff normally during their postgraduate medical training. Applicants must be working in the South East of Scotland, either employed as a member of staff of the University of Edinburgh, or as an NHS employee, or as a research worker employed or self-financed or grant-funded, in the University of Edinburgh or an associated institution or an NHS establishment.
A thesis for the degree of MD must deal with one or more of the subjects of study in the curriculum for the degrees of MBChB or with subjects arising directly from contemporary medical practice.
We have interests in:
- Cancer
- Cardiovascular
- Clinical Brain Sciences
- Cognitive and Neural systems
- Genetics
- Infectious Diseases
- Inflammation
- Medical Education
- Molecular Medicine
- Neuroscience
- Population Health Sciences
- Regenerative Medicine
- Reproductive Health
Generic training in presentation skills, project management and writing skills is delivered through the University's transferable skills programme.
We have excellent facilities on our campuses at the Western General Hospital, Little France and in the Central Area.
These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.
An accredited medical degree (MBChB or equivalent). You must also have at least one year of experience in scientific work bearing directly on your profession, or be in the practice of medicine or surgery.
Your primary place of work will be within the South East of Scotland NHS Postgraduate Deanery either employed by the University of Edinburgh or by South East of Scotland NHS.
International qualifications
Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:
English language requirements
Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.
English language tests
We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:
- IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
- TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
- C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
- Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
- PTE Academic: total 65 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
- Oxford ELLT: 7 overall with at least 6 in each component.
Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.
Degrees taught and assessed in English
We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:
We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).
If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.
Find out more about our language requirements:
Tuition fees
Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
MD | Medicine | 2 Years | Full-time | Tuition fees |
MD | Medicine | 3 Years | Part-time | Tuition fees |
MD | Medicine | 4 Years | Part-time | Tuition fees |
Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.
Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:
borrowing money
taking out a loan
family support
personal savings
income from work
employer sponsorship
- scholarships
Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study
UK government postgraduate loans
If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.
The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:
- your programme
- the duration of your studies
- your tuition fee status
Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.
Other funding opportunities
Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:
- Phone: +44 (0)131 242 6307
- Contact: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
- Postgraduate Office
- Chancellor's Building
- 49 Little France Crescent
- Little France
- Edinburgh
- EH16 4SB
- Programme: Doctor of Medicine
- School: Edinburgh Medical School: Medicine
- College: Medicine & Veterinary Medicine
Applying
Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.
MD Medicine - 2 Years (Full-time) (Full-time)
MD Medicine - 3 Years (Part-time) (Part-time)
MD Medicine - 4 Years (Part-time) (Part-time)
We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.
You must submit two references with your application.
Applicants must have at least two supervisors who can demonstrate that they have received up-to-date training in postgraduate student supervision and are members of academic staff of the University or honorary members of staff, and have appropriate expertise in research. They will be located in the University of Edinburgh or in NHS facilities within the supervision of the NHS Education for Scotland in the South East of Scotland.
Before making an application, you must first make contact with your potential supervisor/s and write a research proposal. See our list of our research centres for staff contact details:
You will be formally interviewed (in person, by video-conferencing or Skype).
Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:
Further information
- Phone: +44 (0)131 242 6307
- Contact: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
- Postgraduate Office
- Chancellor's Building
- 49 Little France Crescent
- Little France
- Edinburgh
- EH16 4SB
- Programme: Doctor of Medicine
- School: Edinburgh Medical School: Medicine
- College: Medicine & Veterinary Medicine