The Complete Guide To University of Edinburgh

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

“Ancient” University, but modern-day, world-class standards? 

You must be talking about the University of Edinburgh. Established in 1583 (yes, it has rich lore), with many of its key faculties founded in the 18th century, the university is part of Scotland’s rich history, which not only makes it one of the oldest universities in the world but also, in their words, makes it extraordinary.

Throughout its diverse historical events, the university has produced Nobel laureates, Olympic champions, and prime ministers, and perhaps, you’re next to make a big impact. This guide will show you how you can be part of it!

Total Student Population	49,740 students
Percentage of International Students	40%
Teaching Faculty to Student Ratio	1:11
Graduate Employability Rate	Ranked 26th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2024)

1.2 University of Edinburgh Rankings 2025

The University of Edinburgh ranks #27 globally on the QS World Universities Ranking for 2025 and has an impressive list of courses that are recognised in the Top 50 of the QS Subjects Ranking:

QS Subject Category	Ranking For 2025
Veterinary Science	#5
English Language and Literature	#7
Linguistics	#7
Arts and Humanities	#8
Social Policy and Administration	#13
Education and Training	#17
Life Sciences and Medicine	#17
Sports Related-Subjects	#18
Medicine	#20
Geography	#21
Law and Legal Studies	#21
Philosophy	#22
Biological Sciences	#22
Computer and Information Systems	#23
Data Science and Artificial Intelligence	#24
Natural Sciences	#30
Psychology	#30
Sociology	#30
Mathematics	#32
Anatomy and Physiology	#33
Geology	#33
Geophysics	#33
Earth and Marine Sciences	#36
Pharmacy and Pharmacology	#37
Communication and Media Studies	#40
Environmental Sciences	#42
Nursing	#46
Social Sciences and Management	#47
Accounting and Finance	#49

2. Student Life & Living Cost

2.1 University of Edinburgh Campuses

Central Area Campus

Key Highlights

• The main campus of the university with over 50 academic and professional services buildings.
• The campus is integrated with the heart of the city of Edinburgh, and the city uses some of its facilities for events, such as the Edinburgh Fringe. 

How To Get Around
🗺️Located at the south side of the Edinburgh city centre.

• Bus stations are available within a 5 minute walking distance.
• A 15-minute walk away from Waverley station, Edinburgh’s main train station.
• A 15-minute walk away from Princes Street tram station.

King’s Buildings Campus

Key Highlights

• The university’s second-largest campus.
• This campus is home to many of the University of Edinburgh’s Science and Engineering courses. 
• Houses many of the university’s key research facilities, including the Royal Observatory.

How To Get There
🗺️ 10-minute bike ride from the Central Area Campus.

• The campus is most accessible by bus. 
• The nearest tram station to the campus is the Princes Street station. 

Easter Bush Campus

Key Highlights

• The University of Edinburgh’s Vet school is located here. 
• It is a specialised campus designed to teach vet students about a variety of species. 
• Houses two clinical hospitals on site. 

How To Get There
🗺️Located 20 minutes away from the city centre if you’re driving.

• The nearest train station to the campus is the Eskbank station, accessible via bus.

BioQuarter Campus

Key Highlights

• One of the campuses is utilised by the University of Edinburgh’s School of Medicine and spans 100 acres. 
• The campus is set to grow into the largest single-site development in Scotland for health and life sciences innovation. 
• Also located within the campus is the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, one of the affiliated teaching hospitals catering to students in their clinical years.  
• Home to several world-leading clinical research facilities that are joint ventures with the National Health Service.  

How To Get There
🗺️Located 7km away from the city centre.

• Best accessed via bus if you are opting to travel via train, with the Waverley Station being the main train station. 

Western General Hospital Campus

Key Highlights

• One of the main teaching hospitals affiliated with the University of Edinburgh’s Medical School. 
• The hospital also houses a major national cancer research and treatment centre.
• This campus caters mainly to students who are undergoing their clinical years. 

How To Get There
🗺️A 15-minute bike ride from the city centre.

• The nearest bus station is 10 minutes walk away (Crewe Toll stop).

2.2 Learning Facilities

2.3 Recreational Facilities

2.4 Student Activities

The Edinburgh Students’ Association works on behalf of all the students to ensure they will have the best possible experience the whole time they are at the university. There are more than 300 clubs and societies of various interests that students can join while studying at the university. The Students’ Association also runs 4 student union buildings, which have several bards, retail and catering outlets.

2.5 Student Services

University life can be overwhelming, and the University of Edinburgh has committed itself to ensuring that students get access to information, guidance, care, and support whenever and wherever they need it. 

• Academic Support
• Chaplaincy Service
• Disability Support Service
• Chaplaincy Service
• Student Wellbeing Service
• Financial Advice Support

2.6 University of Edinburgh Accommodation and Cost

All of the on-campus accommodation options provided by the University of Edinburgh are centralised to cater to all of the campuses, mainly the two main teaching campuses (Central Area and King’s Buildings Campuses) and 2 teaching hospitals (The Edinburgh BioQuarter and Western General Hospital). 

Easter Bush Campus students have a shuttle bus to the Central Area Campus. Most of the options made available by the University of Edinburgh are “surrounded” by them, all accessible via public transportation.

University of Edinburgh On-Campus Accommodation Options

On-campus

• Ascham Court (from GBP 10,986/year)
• Beaverbank (from GBP 7,767/year)
• Blackfriars Street (from GBP 7,155/year)
• Blackwood Crescent/Causwayside (from GBP 7,141/year)
• Brae House (from GBP 8,178/year)
• Buccleuch Place (from GBP 4,393/year)
• College Wynd (from GBP 5,008/year)
• Darroch Court (from GBP 5,316/year)
• David Horn (from GBP 3,270/year)
• Deaconess (from GBP 10,986/year)
• East Newington Place (from GBP 6,540/year)
• Fraser Court (from GBP 6,540/year)

Off-campus

Nearby towns: Marchmont, Haymarket, West End, Stockbridge, Canonmills, Bonnington, Comely Bank, Edinburgh New Town

There are more than 50 halls and apartments provided by the University of Edinburgh, and we unfortunately can’t fit them all! What you can do, however, is to speak to our study abroad consultants, who are ready to help you out!

Cost of Living in Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh is lucky enough to be situated within one of the best student cities in the world, according to QS. Students can expect to spend approximately up to GBP 550 per month, covering groceries, meals, local transportation, academic supplies, and personal spending.

However, that is just a base calculation, and it also depends on the student’s lifestyle and spending habits!

3. Courses, Fees & Scholarships

3.1 Courses You Can Study At The University of Edinburgh

*Note: The courses listed below are offered at the undergraduate level.

Fields Of Study	Courses
Architecture	Architecture, Interior Design
Art	Fine Art
Biological Sciences	Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, Ecology, Genetics, Zoology
Biomedical Sciences	Anatomy & Development, Infectious Diseases, Neuroscience, Pharmacology, Physiology
Computer Science	Artificial Intelligence, Cognitive Science, Computer Science, Software Engineering
Design	Animation, Fashion, Film & Television, Graphic Design, Illustration
Education	Childhood Practice
Law	Global Law, Law
Medical Sciences	Medical Sciences
Medicine	Medicine (6-year programme)
Physics & Astronomy	Astrophysics, Computational Physics, Mathematical Physics, Physics, Theoretical Physics
Psychology	Psychology
Veterinary medicine	Veterinary Medicine (5-year programme)

3.2 Course Fees At The University of Edinburgh

We have also saved you the hassle and compiled the full list of the university’s detailed course fees into one article below. Check it out and share it!

Coming Soon!

3.3 University of Edinburgh Scholarships

These are some of the scholarships offered by the University of Edinburgh to international students. Check out the full list here.

Coming Soon!

3.4 Popular Courses At The University of Edinburgh

Medicine Courses

Ranked in the UK’s Top 5 Universities for Medicine according to the Complete University Guide 2023, you’re getting nothing short of quality should you decide to carve your pathway at the University of Edinburgh. 

The Edinburgh Medical School has been a leading medical education provider for the last 300 years, producing alumni such as the creator of anaesthesia, James Young Simpson, and discoverer of antiseptic, Joseph Lister. In recent years, the medical school has pioneered innovations in stem cell research, cancer, immunity, and many other fields.

With an emphasis on rigorous clinical teaching, students are hands-on from day one in the university’s 6-year medical course, more so in Year 4 onwards, where classes and practice are conducted in the various teaching hospitals affiliated with the university, mainly the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh, the Royal Hospital for Children and Young people, St. John’s Hospital and Western General Hospital. The UK is introducing a new Medical Licensing Assessment, slated to apply to students entering their final year of studies in autumn 2024 which is compulsory for students to pass to register for a license to practice. Upon the completion of your degree and with the necessary license to practice, Malaysian students will be able to practice in the country and worldwide due to its accreditation being recognised by the Malaysian Medical Council.

Veterinary Medicine

Students will be studying in the 2nd best university to study Veterinary Medicine, according to QS World University Rankings 2023. Students will also study on a campus catered just for their discipline, ensuring that they are fully equipped and immersed in their studies. Add that to the repertoire they carry for the discipline, with the course being taught for over 200 years. 

Students will study a variety of animals, from companion animals such as dogs and cats to exotics, to various wildlife species. The Easter Bush Campus is also home to one of the largest concentrations of animal science expertise in Europe and has 3 veterinary hospitals on site.

This means that apart from having an expanded knowledge of their subjects, they also benefit from getting an education from the best in the industry, and a guaranteed hands-on experience. 

There is also flexibility for veterinary science students at the University of Edinburgh, where they can take a break from their degree at the end of their 2nd to 4th year of studies to study another course before returning. 

Once students have completed their 5-year course, they can practice all around the world, thanks to the course’s accreditation from key veterinary bodies, such as the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education (EAEVE), as well as the Malaysian Veterinary Council.

Engineering Courses

The University of Edinburgh constantly ranks in the UK’s top 10 universities for the Engineering discipline, according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject. Students will learn from educators at the forefront of their research in various fields, which also means they will gain first-hand experience in solving many of the world’s current challenges, preparing them for the future.

Students also benefit from the opportunity to practice their craft thanks to many student-led projects such as Engineering for Change, HYPED, EumanED, and Edinburgh University Formula Student, just to name a few. These projects are usually tied with the School of Engineering’s many partners, ensuring students the industrial experience they sought after. 

The university is also home to various research facilities in which students will have the opportunity to practice or conduct research. The Engineering Makerspace is where students can design, build, and test their engineering models or inventions, and for specialists, there are other facilities on the campus grounds, such as the FastBlade, Robotics SuperLab, the UK Carbon Capture and Storage Research Centre, and the Curved Wave Tank, just to name a few. 

For undergraduate students, completing the course will only be partial satisfaction of the educational base for a Chartered Engineer, and only postgraduate students will be fully accredited as Chartered Engineers. Accredited by the Washington Accord, it means that graduating students can practice in recognised countries, including Malaysia.

Nursing Studies

The University of Edinburgh has been providing nursing education for more than 60 years and currently ranks in the UK’s top 5 and the world’s Top 30 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023. With nursing being a global profession, students will study at one of the best places for the discipline, and then practice all around the world. 

Students will work with research-active staff currently engaged with research and international healthcare policy development, providing a first-hand perspective on how industry challenges are being tackled. Students also have the opportunity to be part of an inter-professional learning experience throughout their course, working alongside medical students and collaborating with other professional groups. 

One of the other advantages of studying Nursing at the University of Edinburgh is that students also have the chance to take part in simulations run in clinical settings in the various teaching hospitals that work together with the university. 

Students can also choose the honours pathway to research once they reach the 3rd or 4th year of their studies. Placement opportunities are also plenty, with the added plus point of being able to do placements abroad such as in Malawi or Australia. The course is validated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) of the UK. While there are no solid accreditation details here in Malaysia, engaging with a study abroad consultant can help give a clearer picture of how to practice in the country upon graduation! 

4. Entry Requirements & Intake Dates

4.1 University of Edinburgh Entry Requirements 2025

Minimum entry requirements for the International Foundation Programme:

• STPM:  ABB
• UEC: AAABB (excluding Chinese, Malay Language, Bookkeeping and Commerce)

Minimum entry requirements for Degree:

• UEC: Minimum B3 for 5 subjects (excluding Chinese Language, Malay, Book Keeping and Accounts and Commerce) 
• STPM: ABB
• A-Level: ABB
• IB: 34
• Foundation: Completion of Foundation
• Diploma: Completion of Diploma

Minimum language proficiency requirements (IELTS):

• International Foundation: 5.5 Overall
• Undergraduate: 6.0 Overall
• Postgraduate: 6.0 Overall

Some courses may require you to earn higher entry requirements and additional qualifications.

4.2 University of Edinburgh Intake Periods for 2025

The intake periods for 2025 are as follows:

• International Foundation: September
• Degree: September, January
• Postgraduate: September, January

Please note that the intake periods may vary depending on the courses. For specific intake periods and dates, click here (Coming Soon!).

4.3 Admission Process For Studying in the UK

Of course, there may be a lot of things to consider when you are going to study abroad. We’re here to help you gain more insight before you step into that flight to your biggest journey to a better future! Have a read on these articles!

• The Ultimate Study In UK Guide For Malaysian Students
• Top 10 Benefits Of Engaging A Higher Education Consultant 
• Education Consultant: A Free Study Abroad Guide

5. Student Testimonials & Alumni

5.1 Student Testimonials

Hear what students have to say about their experience at the University of Edinburgh!

5.2 Notable Alumni

Has a 400-year-old university produced talents big enough to create a long-lasting legacy? Here’s a list of them, and what they studied:

• Charles Darwin – Naturalist, Geologist, and Author (Medicine)
• Alexander Wood – Inventor of the first true hypodermic syringe (Arts and Medicine)
• Patrick Heron Watson – Pioneer of medical anaesthesia (Medicine)
• James Hutton – Founder of Modern Geology (Latin and Philosophy)
• Gordon Brown – Former Prime Minister of the UK (Philosophy)
• Sir Chris Hoy – Six-time Olympic champion (Applied Sports Science)

6. Conclusion

Be a part of the University of Edinburgh’s rich history, and make your own! As a student at the university, you can experience flexibility in studies, live in one of the world’s most student-friendly cities, and see for yourself the impact that the university has on the region. 

Who knows, you might be next!

SEE OTHER UNI GUIDES

We took the liberty to compile all our University Guides and Course Fees Guides so you don’t have to go anywhere else!

And if you’re still not sure what to study, we have many Course Guide articles that will shed more light on the subject matter. Share with your friends!

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