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Edinburgh - Why the 'low' offers?

Can anyone tell me why Edinburgh give such 'low' typical offers such as BBB. I don't understand, Edinburgh is one of the most prestigious and well respected universities in all of the UK, and yet they only require BBB from most subjects! It doesn't really make sense to me, can anyone explain?

Reply 1

Clarence

14

Usually they accept people with higher offers. However, it says in their prospectus that they give everyone an equal opportunity and it allows them to look at applicants at a more personal perspective.

Reply 2

JadedHippy

11

I got in with only Open University credits. I think it was my personal statement that tipped the balance.

*Jaded

Reply 3

Skeve

14

Well St Andrews which is much more prestigue gave me a BBC offer.
Grades are almost meaningless these days, it's all about the personal statement.

Reply 4

HighlyEvolved

1

Edinburgh gave me an offer of BBB and im predicted AAA. Im not complaining though.

Reply 5

L i b

19

Personally I hate Edinburgh for doing this. I had a top notch personal statement and well exceeded their minimal entry requirements... yet they still rejected me for more than one course. A waste of UCAS application spaces that could've been saved had they actually been honest about what sort of applicants they were wanting.

Useless bastards.

Skeve

Well St Andrews which is much more prestigue

I don't think so, and the grammatical abilities of their offerees seems to support my belief. If you ask me, Edinburgh and then possibly Glasgow are the two most respected unis in Scotland in that order.

Reply 6

Skeve

14

Well St Andrews was voted best uni in Scotland by Times, in terms of research, it constantly has the highest rankings, it's the 3rd oldest uni in the UK, and more recently saw Prince William attend which has increased its media coverage big time. I think it is a lot more respected than most other universities, yet still gives out 'low' offers

Reply 7

Icecradle

LibertineNorth

I don't think so, and the grammatical abilities of their offerees seems to support my belief. If you ask me, Edinburgh and then possibly Glasgow are the two most respected unis in Scotland in that order.

Grammatical abilities seems? Shouldn't that be 'seem'? St Andrews is a lot more respected than Glasgow and I would say, although as a St Andrews Student I'm possibly biased, that St Andrews has a better reputation than Edinburgh. Although it depends on the subject. Most people I spoke to while at sixth form placed St Andrews underneath Oxford and Cambridge.

Reply 8

webofsin

Icecradle

Grammatical abilities seems? Shouldn't that be 'seem'? St Andrews is a lot more respected than Glasgow and I would say, although as a St Andrews Student I'm possibly biased, that St Andrews has a better reputation than Edinburgh. Although it depends on the subject. Most people I spoke to while at sixth form placed St Andrews underneath Oxford and Cambridge.

If you ask me, people should not be bothered about 'reputation'. I hate these people who constantly ask how good universitities are and how "good" they are when they haven't even visited them!! What is the point of applying to somewhere when you haven't even visited. There is no point than asking people on this forum becuase these are people with their own opinions who may have already decided what they think is the best university to suit them. It all depends on you as an individual, your course, and when you visit, which university you like the best. Contrast Edinburgh and St Andrews for example. They both have very different settings - Edinburgh is a bustling city while St Andrews is a small town. It depends on which setting you will fit in to the most. Both Universities have some different courses, with different departmental buildings, different everything!!!

Reply 9

<A-S-H-I-Q-U-E>

14

the_mars_volta

Can anyone tell me why Edinburgh give such 'low' typical offers such as BBB. I don't understand, Edinburgh is one of the most prestigious and well respected universities in all of the UK, and yet they only require BBB from most subjects! It doesn't really make sense to me, can anyone explain?

Most probably because, unlike other UK unis, Scottish unis offer *4-yr* (honours) degree courses in which the 1st year builds up the basic foundation for each degree programme. Applicants with excellent A' level grades are usually offered to enter directly to Year 2 of the degree programmes. Therefore, the standard offer is BBB for students entering the 1st year.

Reply 10

skegs

<A-S-H-I-Q-U-E>

Most probably because, unlike other UK unis, Scottish unis offer *4-yr* (honours) degree courses in which the 1st year builds up the basic foundation for each degree programme. Applicants with excellent A' level grades are usually offered to enter directly to Year 2 of the degree programmes. Therefore, the standard offer is BBB for students entering the 1st year.

Using the term "most probably" indicates that you do not have a clue what you are talking about. Everything you have said is wrong. The policy is there to encourage applicants from non-traditional university backgrounds as is widely explained in the prospectus.

Reply 11

Clarence

14

ah ha....therefore backing up my first point....score!!!!!!!

Reply 12

<A-S-H-I-Q-U-E>

14

skegs

Using the term "most probably" indicates that you do not have a clue what you are talking about.

Negative!

It indicates that I'm almost certain what I'm talking about.

skegs

Everything you have said is wrong.

Oh really? :rolleyes:

As if whatever you and others have said here are *right* (...as if your info has answered OP's question)! :p:

The University of Edinburgh has NOT directly answered (in their official website) why they give out such 'low' typical offers such as BBB.

The info, provided in my 1st post of this thread, is completely based on what I've read in the online prospectus and it's one of the most sensible reason for Edinburgh to give out low offers.

Admissions with Scottish qualifications
In general, admissions staff look for breadth of study across four or more subjects, whilst giving due credit to the more advanced study involved at Advanced Higher. As an indication of the possible additional credit to be given to an Advanced Higher for entry purposes, an Advanced Higher grade will normally be counted as one grade over the corresponding Higher (thus B at Advanced Higher may equate with A at Higher). Some exemption from first year courses may be offered on the basis of good grades in Advanced Higher.

Applicants achieving good grades in a minimum of two, and normally three, Advanced Highers may be eligible for direct entry to the second year of certain degree programmes - particularly in Science and Engineering.

Admissions with GCE qualifications
For GCE candidates the entry requirements for most degree programmes are framed in terms of three A-levels, as listed in the individual degree programme pages. Students will normally also be considered for admission on the basis of two A-levels and two, or occasionally three, AS subjects.

Applicants achieving very good grades in three A-levels may be eligible for direct entry to the second year of certain degree programmes - particularly in Science and Engineering.

Source: http://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/undergraduate/applying/entry_requirements.html

Reply 13

<A-S-H-I-Q-U-E>

14

<A-S-H-I-Q-U-E>

Most probably because, unlike other UK unis, Scottish unis offer *4-yr* (honours) degree courses in which the 1st year builds up the basic foundation for each degree programme. Applicants with excellent A' level grades are usually offered to enter directly to Year 2 of the degree programmes. Therefore, the standard offer is BBB for students entering the 1st year.

To give more evidences to support my statement, here is what Edinburgh says:

Answers to frequently asked questions:

Why do courses take a year longer in Scotland, compared to the rest of the UK?

The reasons for this difference are largely historical and are to do with the different school systems in Scotland and the rest of the UK. For students that have good grades, then this extra year can be skipped by entry with advanced standing (direct entry to 2nd year), making the course the same length as its counterparts in the rest of the UK.

Source: http://www.see.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/Prospective/civil/FAQ/Answers/extra_year.shtml

----------------

2nd Year Entry (Entry with Advanced Standing)

Entry with Advanced Standing is our name for a scheme designed to match our traditional, Scottish, four- or five-year honours degree system to the wide variety of students’ needs, experience and preferences that we now see.

The Scottish degree has always aimed to provide a first year that lets you study your main subject alongside two, three or four ‘outside’ subjects. Specialisation increases as you enter second year and becomes complete in the Honours years.

English degrees are shorter and more immediately specialised and, if that’s what you want, entry with advanced standing at Edinburgh allows you to take a similar degree, entering our second year directly and by-passing the more general first year course.

What do I gain?

The gain is obvious. If you want to complete your University studies as fast as possible within the Scottish system, minimising the cost, then 2nd year entry is the answer.

So why doesn’t everyone do this?

Clearly, many students do not have the A-level or Scottish Advanced Higher knowledge that equips them for our 2nd year entry system.

They need our first year to build up knowledge, maturity and confidence. Others simply choose to spend a first year during which some course material overlaps with school. This consolidates knowledge and builds up confidence. Many, quite understandably, simply wish to enjoy a full four or five years of University life with a gentler first year.

Source: http://www.see.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/Prospective/chem/Apply/fast_track.shtml

Reply 14

Clarence

14

The first year sounds good to me!!!!!!

Reply 15

Cunning Linguist

3

my degree is the same length in Edinburgh, as it is in all my other (English) universities (4 years, with 3rd year abroad) :confused:

Reply 16

<A-S-H-I-Q-U-E>

14

linguist786

my degree is the same length in Edinburgh, as it is in all my other (English) universities (4 years, with 3rd year abroad) :confused:

What are you going to do in your 3rd year? Study at a foreign uni as part of exchange programme OR gaining professional training?

Reply 17

JadedHippy

11

linguist786

my degree is the same length in Edinburgh, as it is in all my other (English) universities (4 years, with 3rd year abroad) :confused:

That tends to be the case in English degrees that if they have a large language component, they require a year abroad to improve language skills or such. This is even more true in East Asian languages. But as a general rule of thumb, if the course in England is not related to languages it will last 3 years.

*Jaded

Reply 18

skegs

http://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/undergraduate/applying/admissions_policy.html

If we are quoting official policy then here is the full link and explanation. It is made clear that outside factors are included in any assessment of an application. In reality very few people are either offered or accept a place in the second year of a course and these are concentrated in certain science subjects.

Reply 19

<A-S-H-I-Q-U-E>

14

skegs

http://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/undergraduate/applying/admissions_policy.html

If we are quoting official policy then here is the full link and explanation. It is made clear that outside factors are included in any assessment of an application.

Yes, I agree. This is why I said that the info I provided in my 1st post of this thread is *one* of the most sensible reasons for Edinburgh to give out low offers. So, the assessment of non-academic factors is another valid reason.

In fact, there can be other good reasons why Edinburgh doesn't give out AAA/AAB offers like Oxbridge and Imperial do.

skegs

In reality very few people are either offered or accept a place in the second year of a course and these are concentrated in certain science subjects.

'*very* few' - :eek:

- how do you know?

We can believe this only if someone from the Admissions Office says so, or if you can show us any statistical data from an official website. :cool:

Edinburgh - Why the 'low' offers?

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