Scotland and Edinburgh the city

Scotland's inspiring capital will be the backdrop to your studies – an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life.

Regularly voted one of the most desirable places to live in the world, Edinburgh is large enough to offer something for everyone but small enough to feel like home. It is a modern, sophisticated and beautiful European city, with a diverse multicultural community and is ranked 6th best student city in Europe and 13th in the world (QS Best Student Cities 2025). 

Known for its friendly people, its safe, green environment and its compact size, Edinburgh is easy to get around and get away from it all – wherever you are in the city you are never far from open countryside.

Student blogs about life in the city

Around 100,000 students call Edinburgh home, giving the city a unique buzz and ensuring you'll be in good company. 

Edinburgh offers a wide range of entertainment, social activities, architectural beauty and open spaces. Get a sense of student life in Edinburgh from our students.

View of Edinburgh from Calton Hill.

Hidden gems of Edinburgh: A student’s guide to exploring the city

By Sanchita, from India, studying MSc Accounting and Finance. 

Students sitting on Arthur's Seat looking out to Edinburgh.

Things to do in Edinburgh

By Lauren, from Scotland, studying Politics.

Edinburgh Castle.

Summertime in Edinburgh

By Aagoon, from India, studying BSc Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science.

People out at night during the festive season in Edinburgh with a lit-up ferris wheel in the background.

Celebrating the festive season in Scotland

By Eva, from the Netherlands, studying MSc Management.

Studying in Scotland

From its highlands and islands to its lowland borders, Scotland is a country of breathtaking natural beauty.

With Edinburgh in the central belt region your options are limitless; festivals, culture, adventure, history, entertainment, food and shopping opportunities are all around. A single day could see you hillwalking in the morning, exploring historic castles in the afternoon, and enjoying live music or comedy by night.

For a country of its size, there is great variety in Scotland’s terrain, from towering mountains to dense woodland glens. Even if you’ve lived here all your life, it may surprise you to learn that Scotland has more than 6,000 miles of coastline, almost 800 offshore islands, more than 31,000 freshwater lochs and a rainforest.

Study in Scotland

Hear what our students really think about Edinburgh

Find out what they love about living here and their favourite areas of Edinburgh as they answer FAQs from applicants and offer holders. 


Are you going to be in town?

Our Campus visit student-led tour is ideal for visitors to the city who want to find out more about student life and our campuses.

Explore more about Edinburgh and the surrounding areas

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