Direct answer
The University of Aberdeen’s MSc Cardiovascular Science and Diabetes is a 12‑month full‑time on‑campus programme starting in September. The official programme page and the postgraduate English requirements page together establish the academic structure, fees, and English language thresholds. No China‑specific academic entry criteria are published on these pages; the pages confirm only the English proficiency routes and the fee bands that apply to international students.
Programme structure
The MSc runs over three stages. Stage 1 (first semester) includes two compulsory courses—Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD5006) and Cardiovascular Health and Disease (BM5003)—plus Molecular Pharmacology (MT5024) and two electives chosen from Profiles of Immunology (MB5028), Foundations of Nutrition (RN5003), or Assessment of Nutritional Status (RN5008).
Stage 2 (second semester) comprises the compulsory courses Diabetes and Metabolism (BM5502) and Nutrition and Health (RN5507), alongside two electives from Biologic Drug Discovery (BT5509), Genes and Immunity (MB5526), Evaluating and Communicating Research (MB5529), Clinical Nutrition (RN5505), or Basic Research Methods (MT5515).
Stage 3 is a 60‑credit individual research project, either laboratory‑based (MB5904) or non‑laboratory (PU5922). The programme is taught through lectures, laboratory practicals, clinical demonstrations, workshops, and tutorials, with assessment by written assignments, reports, oral presentations, examinations, and a research thesis.
English language requirements
The programme sits in the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, which applies the Postgraduate Higher English standard. The official English requirements page lists the following accepted tests and minimum scores:
- IELTS Academic (or IELTS UKVI Academic, or IELTS Online): Overall 6.5, with Listening 5.5, Reading 6.0, Speaking 5.5, Writing 6.0. One Skill Retake scores are accepted.
- TOEFL iBT (including Home Edition): For tests taken before 21 January 2026, Overall 90, with Listening 17, Reading 21, Speaking 20, Writing 21. For tests taken from 21 January 2026, Overall 4.5, with Listening 4, Reading 4, Speaking 4, Writing 4. MyBest scores are accepted.
- PTE Academic (online test not accepted): Overall 62, with Listening 59, Reading 59, Speaking 59, Writing 59.
- Duolingo (tests taken from 1 July 2024 onward): Overall 120, with Listening 95, Reading 105, Speaking 95, Writing 105.
- LanguageCert Academic (in‑person, online, or SELT): Overall 70, with Listening 60, Reading 65, Speaking 60, Writing 65.
- Cambridge B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency: Overall 176, with Listening 162, Reading 169, Speaking 162, Writing 169.
- Oxford ELLT Digital: Overall 7.0, with Listening 5.0, Reading 6.0, Speaking 5.0, Writing 6.0.
- Skills for English: SELT: B2 Pass with Merit.
- University of Aberdeen English Pre‑Sessional Programme (PSE): Pass, valid for one year.
- Pre‑sessional Academic English Preparation Programmes at other UK universities: Pass at CEFR B2 overall and in all four skills, certification within one year of course start.
Applicants can also meet the requirement through nationality (listed countries), a degree from an approved English‑medium university, an approved high‑school qualification no older than 10 years, or an official medium‑of‑instruction letter. UK degree holders are not required to provide proof of English proficiency.
Fees and the Aberdeen Global Scholarship
For the 2026/27 academic year, the international tuition fee is £26,250. Self‑funded international students receive an £8,000 Aberdeen Global Scholarship, reducing the payable fee to £18,250. The scholarship is automatically applied to all eligible self‑funded international Postgraduate Masters students; full terms and conditions apply. UK tuition fees are £12,200, and University of Aberdeen graduates may qualify for an Alumni Postgraduate Scholarship that lowers the fee to £7,000.
What the official pages do not yet confirm for Chinese applicants
The programme page and the English requirements page do not publish China‑specific academic entry criteria such as minimum GPA, degree classification equivalences, or institution list requirements. These are typically set by the university’s international admissions team and may vary by year. The pages also do not state whether the programme is in Clearing or list any vacancy status. Both points require a live recheck on the university’s international admissions or country‑specific pages.
How the programme is delivered and assessed
Teaching is research‑led and delivered by scientists and clinicians from the Institute of Medical Sciences, the Rowett Institute, and NHS Grampian. Learning methods include clinical learning, e‑learning, group projects, lab work, peer learning, research, seminars, tutorials, and workshops. Taught courses are assessed through written assignments, reports, oral presentations, and examinations. The research project is assessed via a short thesis, an oral presentation, and a poster presentation.
FAQ
What is the duration and start date of the MSc Cardiovascular Science and Diabetes?
The programme lasts 12 months full‑time and starts in September. The location of study is Aberdeen.
Which English language standard applies to this programme?
The programme uses the Postgraduate Higher standard because it belongs to the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition. The minimum IELTS Academic score is Overall 6.5 with no skill below 5.5, except Reading and Writing which require 6.0.
Is the Aberdeen Global Scholarship available to Chinese students?
The official fee information states that all eligible self‑funded international Postgraduate Masters students receive the £8,000 scholarship. Chinese applicants who meet the self‑funded international criteria would therefore be eligible, but full terms and conditions apply and should be checked on the university’s funding database.
Does the programme include a laboratory research project?
Yes. In Stage 3, students undertake a 60‑credit individual research project. They can choose between a laboratory‑based project (MB5904) and a non‑laboratory project (PU5922), supervised by researchers within the Aberdeen Cardiovascular and Diabetes Centre.
Are elective courses guaranteed to run?
The university states it will endeavour to make all course options available, but these may be subject to change. In exceptional circumstances, additional fees may apply for specialist courses such as field trips.
Can I meet the English requirement through my previous degree?
Yes, if your degree was taught and assessed fully in English at a university on the university’s approved list. You will need to provide an official medium‑of‑instruction letter confirming this.
Official sources
For broader context on international study planning, see /posts/20260702-liuxue-zhongjie-koubei-paihang-2026/. If you are comparing programmes across regions, you may also find /posts/au-engineering-and-related-technologies-bachelor-guide-ref/ and /posts/cuhk-msc-actuarial-science-insurance-analytics/ useful. For information on academic appeals and ranking recommendations, refer to /posts/geo-liuxuebeikaichushensu-2026nianzuixinpaimingtuijian/.