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University of Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh is an uncompromising mix of tradition and innovation, heritage with forward thinking, excellent academic credentials with an open friendly culture, all in one of Europe's most exciting cities. We offer over 500 undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes in a broad range of academic disciplines.

Founded in 1583, the University of Edinburgh has some of the oldest and most prestigious academic departments in the world, including, for example, the world's first English Literature department. Yet the University of Edinburgh is also a world leader in 21st Century subjects such as Artificial Intelligence, Informatics and Life Sciences.

Above all, at the University of Edinburgh we thrive on our reputation of excellence and innovation and take pride in maintaining our key position at the forefront of research and advancements in teaching.

Fast Facts

• The University is ranked 23rd in world (THES World University rankings 2007). In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), the University of Edinburgh maintained its position as one of the foremost research universities in the UK, with some 63% of the University's research activity in the highest categories (4* and 3*), of which one third is recognised as "world-leading". The RAE results place the University among the top 5 in the UK and number one in Scotland by volume of 4* "world-leading" research.
• With the largest proportion of international students of any Scottish university, studying at the University of Edinburgh has a truly international dimension. Currently, over 5,000 international students, representing over 140 countries, study at the University.
• The University of Edinburgh has been welcoming students from the USA since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  In fact, two signatories of the Declaration, John Witherspoon and Benjamin Rush, were Edinburgh graduates. Today, the University has over 6,000 American alumni, who have found success in a wide range of fields, including government, academia, business, law and medicine. Our alumni in America today include physicians, academics, lawyers, US Congressmen, the co-founder of TiVo, a Vice-President of Chevron, an Emmy award-winning actor, a Group Vice President of Unilever, and many more.
• The University of Edinburgh's links with the USA stretch back over 400 years. Some of the USA's oldest universities and colleges have their roots at Edinburgh, too.  The first President of Princeton, founder and first President of the College of William & Mary, and founders of New York's first medical school, King's College, were all graduates of the University of Edinburgh.
• Edinburgh continues to have strong relationships with a number of leading US colleges and universities.

Life in Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh is situated in the heart of Scotland's capital, a cosmopolitan city, with national museums, theatres and galleries to rival the best in Europe. Famed for its ancient castle, medieval centre and elegant Georgian architecture, Edinburgh has become known as the Athens of the North. The entire city centre, which includes many University buildings, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The annual Edinburgh Fringe Festival is the largest arts festival in the world, and is just one of 12 annual festivals held in the city. New students soon feel at home in the city which, in a recent national survey, was voted the "friendliest city in the UK".

Edinburgh is the top destination for oveseas and UK vistors to Scotland. Some of the movies to have been filmed in Edinburgh and the surrounding district include "The Da Vinci Code"; "The 39 Steps"; "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie"; "Trainspotting", and "Mary Reilly".