Frequently Asked Questions

Please contact the Admissions team if you have any questions which have not been answered within these 'Welcome' pages.

Your Application

Undergraduate and Direct Entry - What should I do next?

Keep checking your emails and look at UCAS track if you are applying for an undergraduate course. Most of the information that we send to you will be by email or by text, so please let us know if you change your contact details. If we make you an offer, make sure that you respond by the deadline given. If we do not offer you a place you are welcome to contact us for advice and for feedback.

Postgraduate - What documents do I submit to support my application?

For your application to be considered fully we require the following supporting materials:

• A copy of your academic transcript
• A copy of your final degree certificate
• Two references

These can be sent to the admissions office via email at admissions@qmu.ac.uk or via post to

Admissions Office
Queen Margaret University Drive
Edinburgh
EH21 6UU

What is an academic transcript?

An academic transcript is a document that indicates your performance by module showing the number of credits you have achieved and the level at which you have studied.

What if I do not have my final degree certificate?

If you have completed your degree but do not receive your final degree certificate until a later date you can request an official letter from your University. This must state your eligibility to graduate and degree classification.

What if I do not graduate till the summer before term starts ?

In the application form, complete the section ‘Education and Qualifications’ detailing your degree, start/end dates and information of any honors project. Once you have submitted the application please send in copies of your academic transcripts to date. Any offer made would then be conditional on completion of your degree with a certain classification or G.P.A.

References

We require one academic and one professional reference. These can be from a tutor/lecturer and a current/ former employer. The reference must be an official letter (on headed paper and signed by your referee) or a Queen Margaret University reference form .

When will I receive a decision?

Once the admissions office have received your application and processed your supporting documents they will pass your application to the tutor for consideration. You will then receive an email from the admissions office once the tutor has made a decision.

YOUR OFFER

I don't understand my offer

Once your application has been considered by QMU you will be given one of the following decisions:

An Unconditional offer:
This is the offer of a firm place at the University, subject only to the confirmation of the entry requirements, for example by sending us copies of your qualifications if requested. Postgraduate applicants would only be made an unconditional offer if all documents have been received with the application.

A Conditional offer:
This is the offer of a place subject to gaining specified entry requirements prior to entry, for example: 260 UCAS points or 4 Highers at BBCC to include a specific subject and for postgraduate applicants to pass their current course at a certain level.

If all of the conditions listed in your offer are met, the place is guaranteed. If you do not quite meet the specified conditions we may still be able to consider you.

For more information , contact:
QMU Admissions Office on tel: + 44 ( 0) 131 474 0000.

How do I accept my undergraduate offer? 

When you have received decisions from all your UCAS choices, or if you are sure you want to go ahead and accept our offer, you do so via UCAS track. Please check UCAS ( www.ucas.com ) for ‘important dates’ which will let you know the date by which you should reply to your offers . If you have an ‘unconditional’ offer that you wish to make your firm choice you cannot then have an ‘insurance’ choice as well. If you have a ‘conditional’ offer you can make a ‘firm’ choice and an ‘insurance’ choice as a backup in case you do not meet the conditions of your firm choice.

How do I accept my postgraduate offer?  

You can email your acceptance to admissions@qmu.ac.uk . Our automatic email system will confirm that we have received your email and record your acceptance.

I want to change my undergraduate acceptance from Insurance to Firm .

Contact the Admissions Office (admissions@qmu.ac.uk or 0131 474 0000 and ask for Admissions) in the first instance to discuss whether this might be possible as most undergraduate courses are closed to new applications after January 15 th (except for those listed on UCAS).

What should I do when I get my results?  

Undergraduate Offers: If you are taking Scottish Highers, A levels, or ILC exams then the results are sent automatically to UCAS who pass these to us so that we may confirm your offer conditions. For all other examinations, eg, HNC, HND, BTEC, IELTS, Access courses or Degree courses, you need to scan, fax or post the results to us as soon as possible. If the conditions are met for a conditional offer this will update automatically to ‘unconditional’ on UCAS track and we will also contact you. If you do not meet the conditions for your offer then your conditional offer will move to your ‘insurance’ choice for their decision. This will also show on UCAS track.

Postgraduate Offers: Please send copies of certificates or any other documents mentioned (for example IELTS) in your condition of offer to the Admissions Office, Queen Margaret University, Queen Margaret University Drive, Musselburgh EH21 6UU, or email admissions@qmu.ac.uk or fax (+44) 0131 474 0000. As soon as we receive the appropriate documentation we can then change your offer to unconditional and we will email you a letter to confirm your new offer.

What should I do if I don’t meet my conditions?

Undergraduate - We may already have received your results and posted the decision on UCAS track, so check that first. If you need to send us your results do so as soon as possible so that we can check them against the application and we will post our decision onto UCAS track. If you are unsuccessful you will be passed automatically to your insurance choice (if appropriate) or released into UCAS clearing.

Postgraduate - contact us as soon as you have your results and we will consider these against your application .

I didn’t attend a visit day but now I want to have a look at the university before the start of term.

Please contact our Student Recruitment and Liaison team who will let you know the dates of forthcoming campus tours.

CHANGES TO YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES

What happens if I don’t take my exams this year or drop a subject?

Let Admissions know as soon as possible. You can contact us at admissions@qmu.ac.uk or by phoning 0131 474 0000 and asking for ‘Admissions’.

Can I defer?  

This is possible for most courses, both Undergraduate and Postgraduate but please first check with Admissions at admissions@qmu.ac.uk . Let us know of your requirement as soon as possible so that you can make necessary adjustments, or advise you accordingly in case you are not able to defer.

I want to change my course at QMU  

Please contact the admissions office at admissions@qmu.ac.uk in the first instance as this may be possible for some of our courses if you have the necessary qualifications. However most undergraduate courses may not be able to consider new applicants after 15 th January (the UCAS cut off date for on-time applications) as they are full.

Can I start my course late?  

In exceptional circumstances we can consider a request for a student to start later (up to 2 weeks) than the specified course dates. You should contact us as soon as possible if this is necessary but we always recommend that students are here for Induction week as well as the first weeks of teaching for social as well as academic and practical reasons.

ACCOMMODATION

When can I apply for accommodation?

If you have received an unconditional offer to study at QMU you can apply for student halls and we will be able to process your application and issue you with a tenancy agreement as soon as you have firmly accepted your unconditional offer.

If you have received a conditional offer from QMU you can apply for student halls although we won’t be able to process your application until you have been given an unconditional offer and you have firmly accepted the offer. Any halls applications that we receive for students in possession of a conditional offer will be dated and held on record until your offer becomes unconditional at which point we will issue your tenancy agreement.

Although we have no official deadline for receipt of halls applications we do strongly advise that you apply as early as possible to avoid disappointment . If you apply late (i.e. after 2nd September 2012) we will be happy to process your application assuming that we still have room availability.

I live near to the University, can I still apply for a place in Accommodation?

 Yes, we have plenty of accommodation and are usually able to consider all applications. Please follow the guidelines given above or refer to the online application process.

I have applied for a place in accommodation, when will I get confirmation I have a place?  

If you have an unconditional course offer, you will receive notification of allocation within 7 days. Please accept the offer online following the instructions provided. You will be required to pay your deposit at this stage.

If you have a conditional offer, you will be allocated a place following the receipt of your unconditional offer. If you have not heard from us within 7 days, please contact Accommodation Services.

Does the University have any family accommodation?  

Unfortunately we are not able to offer family accommodation at the moment, as the campus is not suitable for children. Some double rooms are available in our Premium shared flats which may be suitable for couples. Please contact the accommodation office for further information.  

Are there still spaces in Halls of Residence?  

We are nearly always able to offer accommodation right up until the start of term. Please contact the accommodation office for further details or apply online as soon as you have an offer. For further information contact accommodation@qmu.ac.uk or phone 0131 474 0000 and ask for ‘Accommodation’ . You can also appline online

BEFORE YOUR COURSE STARTS

I'm a mature student - is there any special programme for me?

QM Advance is a 3 day introductory programme to support mature undergraduate students - look at the details here or contact Jenni Murray, the programme leader.

What is matriculation?

Once you have accepted your unconditional offer and have been given a place on a QMU course you will be asked to formally register with Queen Margaret University; this registration process is referred to as matriculation. At QMU, matriculation is is an online process. Once you have matriculated, you are entitled to pursue the programme of study to which you have been admitted and to access student services and facilities in the University. Even if you don't want to make use of these services, you must matriculate as any study you do on the course cannot be considered by the University until this process is complete.

When can I matriculate?

Students starting in January can matriculate in December. Online matriculation for new students September is available between 1st September and the start of the teaching term (usually mid September).

Should I undertake any advanced reading for my course?

This is not normally required but any requirements will be on the course induction information on the Induction webpages. Reading lists for the year will be issued during the induction week and at the beginning of the semester.

I'm taking a health course which involves placements - what will happen?

Programmes in the School of Health Sciences that lead to professional registration have clinical placements. The timing and type of these placements varies considerably depending on what is most appropriate for the programme. For most of the programmes students can be placed anywhere in Scotland and sometimes further afield. This is to ensure that we give students the most appropriate placements in a wide range of settings. Students may need to travel considerable distance and/or to be resident near to their placement for a time. Some undergraduate students may be able to claim a portion of their travel expenses back from SAAS. All students going on placement will need to pay to join the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. Each student is allocated a mentor ( a qualified practitioner) who will facilitate their learning whilst on placement. In addition, lecturers from the University will act as clinical supervisors for students on placement, supporting them by visiting them regularly with mentors.

When do I get my timetable?

The timetable is released in June – view here. During induction you will be shown how to use the online timetable and how to choose modules online.

Should I come to Induction?

Induction is an important part of the student admissions programme and provides an opportunity to meet your fellow students, learn about IT and Library resources, and join in some of our social events. Keep up to date with this year’s induction programme here.

Can I get a parking permit?

QMU has a green policy and we encourage students and staff to use public transport. Further information on travel and transport, including details on parking permits, is available here. QMU operates a green travel policy to encourage sustainable travel choices and decrease single occupancy car use across the university community. As part of this policy, Students living off-campus can apply for a permit to use the campus car park. You can find further information on travel options, including details on public transport and parking permits, on our website.

Who can I talk to about childcare costs?

From September 2011 QMU will be holding funding for registered childcare costs. Contact Bill Stronach of Student Services for more information on how to apply.

I just want to talk to someone ….

You can contact us in Admissions (0131 474 0000 ask for ‘admissions’) if you have any other questions or why not look at our Facebook pages, discover the QMU student experience, or overseas students can contact our student ambassadors

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