Prepare for your application

Unsure what documents you need? Check out the relevant Document Checklists below for guidance.

Applying from the UK | Applying from Overseas

Applying from the UK

Personal Statement

A personal statement helps you explain why you want to study this specific course at Edinburgh Napier University. This is your opportunity to tell us how your academic and professional experiences have prepared you for studying this subject at postgraduate level. We’re looking for around 500 words or a single side of A4 paper.

When writing your personal statement, please consider the following questions:

Why would you like to study this specific course?
Why would you like to study at Edinburgh Napier University?
How is your academic experience relevant?
How is your work experience relevant?
What are your career aspirations and how would this course help?

It’s important to also check the 'Entry Requirements' section on the course page. If there are any additional requirements for the personal statement, we’ll make sure to mention it there.

Before you submit your application, we’d encourage to you to proofread your statement. Are you getting your message across clearly? Is the course title, and any names/dates, written accurately?

Academic Certificate

A copy of the official certificate for your highest qualification, which confirms your final award and grade. If the certificate is not in English, please provide a copy of the original certificate and an official translation into English.

If you cannot find your certificate or haven’t graduated yet, you can start your application without it. We will let you know if it is needed later.

Academic Transcript

A copy of the final transcript for your highest qualification, which confirms the modules you completed and your final overall grade. If the transcript is not in English, please provide a copy of the original transcript and an official translation into English.

If you haven’t completed your current studies yet, please share a copy of your most recent transcript.

If you cannot find your final transcript, you can start your application without it. We will let you know if it is needed later.

Reference

A reference is usually not required if you meet the standard entry requirements. However, MSc Physiotherapy (Pre-Registration),MSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-Registration), and MSW Social Work courses are currently exceptions to this rule.

We may also ask for references if an offer is based on work experience. In this case, the offer would be conditional, and we would explain what is needed in the offer Email.

To be as prepared as possible, you can choose to share the professional email address (e.g. ‘@napier.ac.uk’ rather than ‘@yahoo.com’) of your referee when filling out the application form. A reference request would then be sent automatically. Alternatively, you could upload references with your application if they are on official-headed paper, in PDF format, dated, and signed/stamped to show authenticity.

If you're self-employed, we may be able to consider a reference from your accountant or tax manager.

CV

A CV that details your full employment history. We would like to know about each job you've had, including any internships and volunteer roles. For each job, please follow the steps below:

Company name, job title, and location
A detailed description of your role and responsibilities
Start and end date of employment (Month/Year – Month/Year)
Work mode (part-time or full-time)
Repeat steps 1 to 4 for each job

The National Careers Service share further guidance on how to write a CV, click here to learn more.

Applying from Overseas

Personal Statement

When writing your personal statement, please consider the following questions:

Why would you like to study this specific course?
Why would you like to study at Edinburgh Napier University?
How is your academic experience relevant?
How is your work experience relevant?
What are your career aspirations and how would this course help?

Academic Certificate

Academic Transcript

Reference

As part of your application, you will be asked to share the professional email address (e.g. ‘@napier.ac.uk’ rather than ‘@yahoo.com’) of a referee. They will then receive an automatic reference request from the University.

Alternatively, you can upload a reference if it is on official-headed paper, in PDF format, dated, and signed/stamped to show authenticity.

The type of reference will depend on your situation:

Situation	Reference
I have been studying within the past three years	Academic reference
I have not been studying within the past three years	Academic or employment reference
I have not been studying within the past three years and am currently self-employed	Reference from Accountant or Tax Manager
I have not been studying within the past three years and am now retired	Reference from a previous line manager or Human Resources department
I have studied at Edinburgh Napier University within the last two years	No reference

What is a reference?

An academic reference should be related to your highest or most relevant qualification. We’d recommend asking your personal tutor or lecturer.

An employment reference should be related to your current or most recent employment. We’d suggest asking your line manager or Human Resources department.

We may ask for further references if an offer is based on work experience. In this case, the offer would be conditional, and we would explain what is needed in the offer email.

Passport and Visa

Your passport (photo page) and any previous visa documents are not essential for your initial application. However, if you have copies ready, it can help to speed up the process later.

CV

A CV that details your full employment history. We would like to know about each job you've had, including any internships and volunteer roles. For each job, please follow the steps below:

Company name, job title, and location
A detailed description of your role and responsibilities
Start and end date of employment (Month/Year – Month/Year)
Work mode (part-time or full-time)
Repeat steps 1 to 4 for each job

The National Careers Service share further guidance on how to write a CV, click here to learn more.

Get support

Looking for some extra support during the application process? We have local representatives around the world who are on hand to help. Find the representative near you and get the conversation started.