Edinburgh · Founded 1583
Ancient UniversityRussell GroupUniversity of Edinburgh
A global top-40 research university and the largest in Scotland by student numbers. Edinburgh's School of Informatics is the biggest in Europe, and the university's AI research heritage stretches back decades. The campus is spread across the city centre and the south-side science quarter. Living costs are the highest in Scotland — plan accordingly.
Rankings
- Guardian
- Top 2013
- Times
- Top 4025
- Student satisfaction
- 70%
Cost of Living
- Rent (halls)
- £900/mo
- Rent (private)
- £730/mo
- Other costs
- £900/mo
Edinburgh is the most expensive Scottish city for student accommodation. Budget £200-300 per month more than Dundee or Aberdeen.
Known For
Students
39,000
Location
Edinburgh
SAAS code
E56
Entry requirements for Scottish students
Typical Higher offers for 2026 entry. Always check with Edinburgh directly.
Medicine (MBChB)
Chemistry + Biology + one from Maths, Physics
UCAT required; exceptionally competitive
Law (LLB)
No specific subjects
5-year Scots Law degree
Economics
Maths required at grade B
Informatics
Maths required at A
Veterinary Medicine
Chemistry + Biology + one further science
Interview required; work experience evidence needed
English Literature
English required at grade B
Engineering (MEng)
Maths at A + Physics or science at B
AHs strongly recommended
Psychology (BSc)
One science subject required (Biology, Chemistry, Computing, Geography, Maths, or Physics)
Entry requirements sourced from University of Edinburgh prospectus, April 2026. Competitive courses may ask for higher grades.
What it actually costs per month
Realistic monthly budget for a student living in Edinburgh, 2026.
The SAAS gap at Edinburgh
- SAAS gives you (max, monthly)
- £950/mo
- Your costs (est.)
- £1,290/mo
Even with full SAAS support, most Edinburgh students need additional income. A part-time job or family contribution is typically required.
Calculate your exact SAAS packageSAAS tuition — what you’ll actually pay
If you’re a Scotland-domiciled undergraduate, SAAS pays University of Edinburgh’s tuition fee (£1,820/year) directly — you pay nothing. The SAAS code is E56.
Open days 2026
Confirmed 2026 open day dates for Edinburgh. Always book a place directly via the university website.
22 Jun 2026
Campus
26 Sep 2026
Campus
24 Oct 2026
Campus
Dates sourced from Edinburgh’s official open days page, checked April 2026. Confirm current details before travelling.
Scholarships & bursaries
Verified funding available to Scottish-domiciled students at Edinburgh. Always check the university website for current eligibility criteria and deadlines.
Access Edinburgh Bursary
£1,000–£5,000/yr
Scottish students from widening-access backgrounds; income-assessed
Apply / find out moreRobertson Trust Scholarship
£4,250/yr
Care-experienced or estranged Scottish students
Apply / find out moreSchool of Mathematics Access Bursary
£5,000 (one-off)
Scottish students starting a Maths degree via widening-access pathway
Apply / find out moreWho is Edinburgh best for?
Edinburgh is the obvious answer if your child has the grades and the family can absorb the living-cost gap. The teaching is world-class, the prestige opens doors anywhere in the UK, and the city itself is a major draw. The honest downsides: rent is by far the highest of any Scottish university, student satisfaction has slipped in recent NSS rounds (the school is large and individual contact can suffer), and the offer level for popular courses is brutal. Worth it for medicine, informatics, law, veterinary, or any application where a Russell Group name matters most. Less obvious for psychology, business, or arts where peer universities offer comparable teaching at half the rent.
Student life at a glance
Students’ union
EUSA — runs Teviot Row House (the world’s oldest purpose-built students’ union), Potterrow, and the Pleasance. 270+ societies.
Social scene
You live inside one of Britain’s great cities. The Fringe, Cowgate, the Meadows, the Old Town. Beautiful but expensive.
Graduate prospects
Top employer-of-graduates rankings in Scotland. Strong pipelines into London finance, US tech (especially from Informatics), and academia.
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Frequently asked questions about Edinburgh
What is University of Edinburgh ranked?
University of Edinburgh is ranked 13 in the Guardian University Guide and 25 in The Times Good University Guide. Student satisfaction (from the National Student Survey) sits at 70%. Rankings shift annually — always check the latest published tables before relying on a specific position.
How much is student rent at University of Edinburgh?
Average monthly rent in Edinburgh for Edinburgh students is approximately £900 in university halls and £730 in private rented accommodation. Other living costs (food, transport, utilities, social) add roughly £900 per month on top. These are indicative averages — actual costs depend on the specific hall or flat. Always check the university's accommodation pages for the latest prices.
What is University of Edinburgh known for?
University of Edinburgh's strongest subject areas include Informatics, Medicine, Law, Veterinary and Economics. These are the departments most commonly cited in league tables and by employers. Edinburgh also has strong graduate employment in these areas — check the university's own graduate outcomes data for the most current figures.
What type of university is University of Edinburgh?
University of Edinburgh is one of Scotland's four ancient universities (founded before 1600). The ancients — St Andrews, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh — are among the oldest in the English-speaking world and carry significant brand recognition with employers globally.
Find accommodation near Edinburgh
Compare student halls and private accommodation options.
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Private rental market listings near your university
Browse options →Rankings, rent, and living-cost figures checked April 2026.
Rankings source: Guardian University Guide and The Times Good University Guide. Rent figures are indicative averages from council and university accommodation pages. Entry requirements sourced from Edinburgh prospectus 2026 entry. Always confirm current prices and requirements directly with Edinburgh. See our editorial policy for how we source and update this data.