Edinburgh Medical School


University of Edinburgh

Department Information Department Programmes
Edinburgh Medical School

Edinburgh Medical School

Established in 1726, Edinburgh Medical School was the pre-eminent medical centre of the 18th and 19th centuries.

Today it retains its status as a leading force internationally in basic-to-clinical translational research and teaching.

Edinburgh Medical School is a large medical school by UK standards, spread across several campuses and offering an enormous breadth and depth of research and learning opportunities. Interdisciplinary research and high-quality teaching are at the heart of our ethos.

See what our students & graduates think of their programmes:


The University of Edinburgh is ranked 15th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2023). We were ranked 24th in the world for Life Sciences and Medicine in the QS World University Rankings by subject 2022. We are also ranked 4th in the UK for research power (Research Excellence Framework 2021).

By joining us for your postgraduate studies, you will become part of a global network of researchers, practitioners, students and alumni who continue the School’s tradition of pushing knowledge of Human Health to new frontiers.

Edinburgh Medical School

Breadth, diversity and flexibility

We offer enormous breadth and depth of research and learning opportunities:

  • On campus learning: a varied portfolio of full-time taught masters and masters by research
  • Online learning- we are one of the largest providers of online postgraduate programmes in the UK’s Russell Group, with a choice of over 40 programmes in the areas of Human, Animal and Ecosystem Health.
  • Our flexible, online learning programmes are opening access to our expertise to over 2,000 students from over 120 countries around the globe.
  • Our online programmes are part-time, and offered as full masters, with many programmes allowing you to study towards shorter awards such a PG Certificates or PG Diplomas or even stand-alone courses.

Global influence

Medical research and teaching at Edinburgh has global impact, and benefits millions of individuals in areas such as sleeping sickness, childhood pneumonia prevention, reduction in blood transfusions, more effective cardiovascular and liver surgery, ovarian cryopreservation and stroke prevention and management.

Our suite of practical and clinically appropriate qualifications draws from our research to equip students with the cutting edge knowledge and skills needed to advance their careers and play leading roles in responding to health challenges across the world.

Edinburgh Medical School

Our community

We aim to foster a close community of postgraduate students. Our on-campus students benefit from membership of our thriving postgraduate societies. If you study on campus as a master’s student, you will work closely with your classmates through tutorials, lectures and seminars, becoming part of a close-knit group over the duration of your programme.

However, distance is no barrier if you choose to study online. Our online learning postgraduates are a diverse group of students from all over the world, united by their academic interests. Using our award-winning interactive learning environments, our online students and tutors maintain a supportive virtual community that ensures you get the best from your studies. If you can’t attend your graduation ceremony in person you can even enjoy a virtual graduation at the same time.

Edinburgh Medical School