The City of Edinburgh and Beyond
Edinburgh is a wonderful place to live and study, and offers easy access to lowlands, highlands and islands of Scotland
Scotland’s inspiring capital will be the backdrop to your studies. One of Europe’s great cultural hubs and a stimulating place to study, Edinburgh is an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life.
Sometimes known as ‘the Athens of the North’ because of its stunning, historic architecture, Edinburgh is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites and was the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature. Large enough to offer something for everyone, but small enough to feel like home, Edinburgh is a modern, sophisticated and beautiful European city with a diverse multicultural community.
Well known for its friendly people, its safe, green environment and its compact size, Edinburgh is easy to get around and get out of – wherever you are in the city you are never far from open countryside.
Edinburgh’s location is perfect for adventurers with diverse and readily accessible opportunities from snowboarding to surfing. A single day could see you hillwalking in the morning, lazing on the beach in the afternoon, and enjoying the treasures of the medieval lanes or Michelin-starred restaurants by night.
In the summer months the pace of city life accelerates as Edinburgh’s world-famous annual festivals get under way. The city hosts 30 festivals each year, which attract almost four million visitors to the city, and many of them take place either on campus or near to the University making for a vibrant addition to student life.
Around 100,000 students call Edinburgh home, giving the city a unique buzz and ensuring you’ll be in good company. The friends you meet, places you discover and the lasting memories you create will contribute as much to your university experience as your formal learning.
Edinburgh International Airport puts the rest of the world within reach – Paris is just an hour and a half away – with direct flights to most major cities in Europe and a host of destinations worldwide.
Within the UK, Edinburgh makes an ideal location from which to explore – London is just four hours away by train while a two-hour jaunt north puts you at the heart of the Scottish Highlands.
From its highlands and islands to its lowland borders, Scotland is a country of breath-taking natural beauty. For a country of its size, there is surprising variety in Scotland’s terrain from towering mountains to dense woodland glens. It has more than 6,000 miles of coastline, almost 800 offshore islands and more than 31,000 freshwater lochs.
This is a country steeped in history yet firmly focused on the future – a modern, dynamic, European nation where the life sciences, creative industries, digital technology, energy and renewables, financial and business services, and, yes, tourism now drive our economy.
It is one of the most hauntingly beautiful places in the world.
Take a virtual tour
Explore the University and the city with our Virtual Visit and get a feel for what it's like to study and live in Edinburgh.