What Happens Next? - Postgraduate Applicants
Postgraduate Applicants - (MSc/MA/MBA/PgDip/PgCert)
Thank you for submitting an application for postgraduate study at Queen Margaret University. Below is a step by step guide to each stage of the admissions process, detailing what will happen when your application is being processed, what you are expected to do once you have been given an offer of a place, and guidance on areas such as applying for accommodation and funding your studies.
Step 1 – Application reviewed
All postgraduate applications received by the University are processed by the Admissions Office. Having submitted your application you should have received an official acknowledgement email which confirmed receipt of your application and advised you to submit the following supporting materials:
- An academic transcript
- A copy of your final degree certificate (if available)
- A minimum of one reference – some courses will require two
- Confirmation of English language ability (if your first language is not English). Please refer to English Language Requirements.
If you have not included these items with your application please arrange for the above documents to be emailed to admissions@qmu.ac.uk as soon as possible. If any of these materials are not immediately available then please send in what information you have and forward the rest as it becomes available.
We aim to transmit a decision to you within 4 weeks of your supporting documents being received, however, at peak times this may be longer. Please note that where courses have applications deadlines, we typically consider applications collectively after the deadline has passed.
Receiving a decision
Once your application has been considered an email informing you of the decision shall be sent to you. If you are not successful and would like any guidance or feedback you are welcome to contact us via admissions@qmu.ac.uk.
Please note that if you are offered a place on the course your notification email is your offer letter. A hard copy will not be posted to you.
What does your offer mean?
If you are made an offer of a place on the course this offer shall be either Conditional or Unconditional.
Conditional Offer
If your offer is conditional this means that your place on the course is subject to you meeting specific conditions, such as receipt of satisfactory references or successful completion of your current degree. In order to take up your place you must fulfil the conditions that have been set in your offer. Your offer will be changed to unconditional once all these conditions have been met.
Unconditional Offer
If you receive an unconditional offer then you have satisfied all the requirements for entry to your chosen course and do not need to send any further documents.
Waiting List
Due to the level of demand on some of our postgraduate courses we often have to operate a waiting list. If you are offered a place on a waiting list then the Admissions Tutor has deemed you eligible for entry, however, due to the limited number of places available we have been unable to offer you a place at this time. If you accept a place on the waiting list then we shall contact you if a place subsequently becomes available.
Step 2 - Responding to your offer
Whether we have made you a conditional, unconditional or waiting list offer, we would now ask that you respond to your offer within 14 days in one of the following ways:
Accepting
If you would like to accept your offer, please email admissions@qmu.ac.uk as soon as possible. In accepting your offer, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions. Please ensure that you read these before accepting your offer.
Declining
We are sorry that you have decided not to take up your place at Queen Margaret University. Please inform us of your decision by emailing admissions@qmu.ac.uk so that your place can be reallocated to another applicant.
We wish you all the best with your alternative plans.
Deferring
If you would like to defer your offer to the following academic year, please email admissions@qmu.ac.uk. We shall inform you of the Admissions Tutors’ decision as soon as possible.
It is not always possible to defer your offer of study and in this instance you are welcome to reapply the following academic year.
Please note that if your deferral is permitted then you can only defer your offer of a place once and after this time will be asked to reapply.
Step 3 - Visiting the University
If you have received an offer of a place on a postgraduate course you may find it useful to come along to one of our Postgraduate Open Evenings. This is an excellent opportunity for you to have a one-to-one discussion with subject area academic staff who can talk to you about your chosen programme of study take a campus tour and see our modern facilities for yourself including our Learning Resource Centre speak to the Student Funding Adviser about funding options.
More information on postgraduate open even dates
If you are unable to attend one of our Postgraduate Open Evenings and would like to visit the University then please contact our Recruitment Team and they shall arrange a suitable time with you to visit the University to receive an individual tour of the facilities from one of our Student Ambassadors.
Step 4 – Prior to Entry
If your offer is Conditional -
In order to take up your place you must fulfil the conditions that have been set in your offer. Once you have met these conditions you must send evidence. Your offer letter will state what your conditions are and what you need to send.
Proof that you have met the conditions of your offer should be sent directly to the Admissions Office. Once all the conditions have been met your offer will then become unconditional.
Disclosure/Police Check
For some of our courses you are required to provide us with a satisfactory criminal record check. Please note that Queen Margaret University reserves the right to withdraw your offer if your criminal record is not acceptable. If you have any questions about this, please contact admissions@qmu.ac.uk
Find out more information about how to apply for this criminal record check.
Financial Support
We would advise you to start considering your funding options as soon as you have received your offer. Find out more about funding.
Accommodation
If you wish to apply for Queen Margaret University accommodation then you can do so online. You can so this whether you are holding a conditional or unconditional offer.
Timetable
The Admissions Office does not issue timetables. If you would like to view a provisional academic timetable then this is normally available from June onwards.
Official timetables are not available until the beginning of each semester. If you are required to select modules on entry then this will be part of the matriculation process which you shall complete in September. A completed timetable will then be available for you to view within your student portal once you have registered as a student.
International Applicants
If you are a non-EU/EEA national and require a visa to gain entry to the UK then you must pay a minimum tuition fee deposit of £5000 or provide proof that you are being sponsored by an approved agency in order to be issued with a Confirmation of Acceptance of Study (CAS). Your CAS Number is a unique number generated by Queen Margaret University through the UKVI and will be emailed to you in a CAS Statement.
International students who require a student visa can find further information on how to arrange this by clicking on the link.
A CAS will only be provided to applicants who have accepted an unconditional offer from 17³Ô¹ÏÍø.
Please note the deadline to issue CAS letters will be at last one month before the start date of the course – please check your offer letter for the final deadline for submitting a CAS request.
Step 5 – Joining Instructions
Joining Information
Joining Information shall be sent to those who have accepted an unconditional offer in the summer to those who hold and have accepted an offer.
Any questions?
If you have any queries about the University, your chosen course of study or the admissions process, then please do not hesitate to contact the Admissions Office at admissions@qmu.ac.uk
Admissions Office
Queen Margaret University
Edinburgh
EH21 6UU
Tel: 0131 474 0000
Email: admissions@qmu.ac.uk
