🩺Queen Margaret University

Musselburgh, UK

A specialist Scottish university near Edinburgh known for health sciences, dietetics and drama.

About QMU

Queen Margaret University's purpose-built campus sits in Musselburgh, East Lothian, about 25 minutes from central Edinburgh by train or bus — close enough for the capital's culture and job market, but quieter and generally cheaper to live in than the city centre itself. It is genuinely well known for dietetics, a regulated UK profession, alongside nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy, drama and performance, and events, hospitality and tourism management. Rather than the broad subject range of a large multi-faculty university, QMU offers a focused portfolio with smaller cohorts and more direct staff contact, following Scotland's four-year honours structure.

Why students choose it

  • A genuinely strong, specialist dietetics programme alongside nursing, physiotherapy and allied health routes
  • Edinburgh's culture, festivals and job market roughly 25 minutes away, at lower living costs than the city centre
  • Small cohort sizes and close staff contact on a single, purpose-built campus

🎓 Free application support for QMU

Submit a free enquiry and Tutopiya's admissions team will guide you through your application to QMU — personal statement, interview prep and deadlines — at no cost, no obligation. Application fees are typically waived through our university partnerships.

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Typical entry grades

BBB (A Level)  ·  IB 28

Solid tier · indicative for the flagship courses below — always verify per-course requirements directly with the university.

Tuition (international, per year)

£20,000–£28,000/yr

mid tier for UK — figures are typical ranges, not this specific university's published fee.

Language of instruction

English

Campus

campus campus, Musselburgh

🏆 Scholarships to look into

Informational only — scholarship amounts, deadlines and even which schemes are running change often (sometimes per intake), so treat this as a starting point, not a guarantee. Always confirm current details directly with the scholarship provider or QMU's financial aid office.

Beyond government-level awards, most UK universities offer their own merit-based international scholarships — commonly a partial tuition reduction for strong A-Level/IB/IGCSE results, sometimes auto-considered from your application and sometimes requiring a short separate form.

  • Chevening Scholarships: UK government-funded, fully-funded, for one-year Master's study — highly competitive, open to students from eligible countries with leadership potential.
  • Commonwealth Scholarships: For citizens of Commonwealth countries, mainly postgraduate, funded by the UK government.
  • University international merit scholarships: Widely offered across Russell Group and other universities — typically a tuition-fee reduction for high entry grades, often renewable each year of study.

Chevening and Commonwealth are postgraduate-only. For undergraduate applicants, the university-specific merit scholarships are usually the more relevant route.

Want help figuring out which of these you'd actually qualify for? Talk to a free Tutopiya counsellor.

Popular courses

Nursing and Allied Health

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years (4 years in Scotland)

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Typical entry: Biology recommended

Dietetics

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years (4 years in Scotland)

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Drama and Performance

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years (4 years in Scotland)

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Typical entry: Portfolio / audition

Events and Hospitality Management

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years (4 years in Scotland)

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Typical entry: Mathematics helps but usually isn't required recommended

Business Management

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years (4 years in Scotland)

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Typical entry: Mathematics helps but usually isn't required recommended

Durations are typical for UK — always confirm the exact length (including any placement or integrated Master's year) on the course's own page before applying.

Not sure which course fits your grades and interests? Run the full shortlist builder →

How to apply

Main intake(s)
September
Typical deadline
Late January (equal consideration deadline)
Note
Oxford, Cambridge and most Medicine / Dentistry / Veterinary Science courses close earlier — 15 October the year before entry.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0)

Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test.

Read the full Tutopiya guide

A deeper walkthrough of applying to QMU for international IGCSE / A Level / IB students.

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See where QMU ranks on your personal shortlist

Enter your grades and budget in the free UK University Shortlist Builder to see whether QMU is a reach, target or safety for you — alongside every other UK university that matches.

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QMU FAQ

Quick answers about grades, tuition, deadlines and applying to QMU as an international IGCSE / A Level / IB student.

What grades do I need to get into QMU?

As a typical benchmark for international entry, QMU expects around BBB at A Level or 28 points on the IB Diploma. This is indicative for QMU's flagship courses — competitive subjects like Medicine and Law usually sit above this baseline, and the exact requirement varies by course, so always confirm the specific figure on QMU's own admissions page before applying.

How much does QMU cost for international students?

International tuition at QMU typically falls in the £20,000–£28,000/yr range (mid tier for UK). This is a typical range for the university's tuition tier, not QMU's specific published fee for every course — confirm the exact figure for your intended programme directly with the university.

When is the application deadline for QMU?

QMU follows UK's typical intake calendar: September, with applications generally due late january (equal consideration deadline). Oxford, Cambridge and most Medicine / Dentistry / Veterinary Science courses close earlier — 15 October the year before entry. Always verify the exact date on QMU's own admissions page, since deadlines can shift year to year.

What IELTS score do I need for QMU?

UK universities, including QMU, typically ask international applicants for 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0). Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test.

What is QMU known for?

A specialist Scottish university near Edinburgh known for health sciences, dietetics and drama. Queen Margaret University's purpose-built campus sits in Musselburgh, East Lothian, about 25 minutes from central Edinburgh by train or bus — close enough for the capital's culture and job market, but quieter and generally cheaper to live in than the city centre itself. It is genuinely well known for dietetics, a regulated UK profession, alongside nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy, drama and performance, and events, hospitality and tourism management. Rather than the broad subject range of a large multi-faculty university, QMU offers a focused portfolio with smaller cohorts and more direct staff contact, following Scotland's four-year honours structure.

Can I apply to QMU with IGCSE, A Level or IB qualifications?

Yes — QMU accepts applicants from IGCSE-to-A-Level, IGCSE-to-IB-Diploma, and directly from the IB Diploma. Tutopiya's free UK University Shortlist Builder matches your predicted or actual grades against QMU and every other UK university we track, tagging each as reach, target or safety.

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