University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh, UK
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About the University
The University of Edinburgh was founded under a royal charter granted in 1582 and opened the following year, making it one of Scotland’s four ancient universities and one of the oldest universities in the English-speaking world still operating today. The university grew alongside Edinburgh’s rise as a centre of learning during the Scottish Enlightenment, a period that shaped the city’s reputation for scholarship and gave it the nickname “the Athens of the North”.
Location
The university is based in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Its buildings are spread across several sites in and around the city centre rather than a single enclosed campus, so studying here means being woven into the everyday life of a working capital city rather than a separate university town.
What Students Can Study
Edinburgh has particularly large groupings in science and engineering, bringing together thousands of staff and students across those subjects, alongside long-established strength in chemistry, architecture, and the humanities — including one of the oldest dedicated chairs in Scottish history in the UK. As with any university, exact course structures and specific programme content vary by department and by year, so students should check current course details directly with the university.
Why Students Consider This University
Students often weigh up Edinburgh for the combination of a genuinely old, established institution with the practical experience of living in a major capital city — with everything that comes with that, from a large student population to the culture, transport, and cost of living of a big Scottish city. Its size means a wide range of subject areas and student societies, though it also means a bigger, more spread-out institution than a smaller specialist university.
Studying in Edinburgh
StudyUKToday covers Edinburgh as one of its UK study destinations, including what the city itself is like for students, alongside University of Edinburgh.
See our full Edinburgh guide →
More Universities in Edinburgh
Edinburgh is also home to 3 other universities StudyUKToday covers:
Applying to University of Edinburgh
StudyUKToday can help with your application to University of Edinburgh: understanding your course options, preparing your documents, matching you to the right course, and preparing and submitting your application. This is free for students; we're paid by the university once you enrol, not by you.
University of Edinburgh makes its own admissions decisions. We support and guide your application; we don't decide the outcome.
Important Information
Course availability, entry requirements, tuition fees, application deadlines, and other admissions requirements can change and vary by course. Always confirm current details directly with University of Edinburgh or with our team before relying on them.
