5 Cheapest Universities in Edinburgh for International Students

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In Edinburgh, Scotland, there are a handful of affordable universities that you can find. Enrolling in these schools will help you fulfill your dream of studying in United Kingdom without paying a lot, allowing students to earn a degree with less burden on their pockets.

Now, if you’re planning to study in Edinburgh, you’ll have a lot of school options, as they are home to 5 universities. But if you’re looking for cheap universities in Edinburgh, make sure to read more!

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Cheap Bachelor's Colleges and Universities in Edinburgh for International Students

Here is the list of affordable institutions in Edinburgh ordered by their tuition fee for international bachelor's students.

University Annual Bachelor’s International Tuition % Cheaper than Average*
Scotland’s Rural College 2,500 GBP - 15,000 GBP 71%
Queen Margaret University 7,000 GBP - 15,500 GBP 17%
University of Edinburgh 9,250 GBP - 32,100 GBP -10%
Heriot-Watt University 9,250 GBP - 20,600 GBP -10%
Edinburgh Napier University 13,800 GBP - 16,000 GBP -64%

* Average Bachelor’s International Tuition is 8,355 GBP for universities in Edinburgh.

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1. Scotland’s Rural College

Scotland’s Rural College is an institution focused on research and education in the fields of agriculture and life sciences. The school aims to develop the knowledge and skills of students for their contributions to improving the agricultural sector. Its vision and mission are centered on Scotland having a natural economy that is sustainable.

2. Queen Margaret University

Named after Queen Margaret of Scotland, Queen Margaret University was established to help women and working families. Dedicated to its original purposes, it continues to help the community by establishing itself as a campus without borders, open and working closely with its locality. Nationally, the university is included in the top 100 universities based on several ranking sites. These rankings and other awards like the e-Government National Award show the institution’s commitment to excellence.

3. University of Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh is a public research university located in Scotland, a picturesque country known for its castles and whisky. It is one of the nation’s oldest centers of excellence as it was founded in the year 1583. Due to how highly regarded it is, many students choose to pursue their tertiary education at the university. With that, it has a long list of noteworthy alumni such as renowned psychologist and neuroscientist May-Britt Moser, molecular biologist and biophysicist Richard Henderson, as well as economist Sir James Alexander Mirrlees.

4. Heriot-Watt University

Heriot-Watt University is a specialist school that focuses on providing education in the fields of design, engineering, business, and science. It started as a mechanics institute – the first in the world – and it continues to be a leader in finding practical solutions to contemporary problems today. Because of its strong reputation in these highly-technical fields, Heriot-Watt is considered one of the most elite universities in the UK.

5. Edinburgh Napier University

The Edinburgh Napier University was firstly founded as Napier Technical College in 1964. The name originated from John Napier, a Scottish physicist, mathematician, and astronomer. It was then renamed to Napier University in 1992 by inauguration of Lord Douglas-Hamilton. After a variety of acquisitions and mergers, it then became Edinburgh Napier University in February of 2009.

Cheap Master's Colleges and Universities in Edinburgh for International Students

Here is the list of affordable institutions in Edinburgh ordered by their tuition fee for international master's students.

University Annual Master's International Tuition % Cheaper than Average*
Scotland’s Rural College 6,000 GBP - 15,800 GBP 53%
University of Edinburgh 10,800 GBP - 35,900 GBP 15%
Queen Margaret University 14,300 GBP - 21,500 GBP -12%
Edinburgh Napier University 15,100 GBP - 15,700 GBP -18%
Heriot-Watt University 17,400 GBP - 23,000 GBP -36%

* Average Master's International Tuition is 12,700 GBP for universities in Edinburgh.

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1. Scotland’s Rural College

Scotland’s Rural College is an institution focused on research and education in the fields of agriculture and life sciences. The school aims to develop the knowledge and skills of students for their contributions to improving the agricultural sector. Its vision and mission are centered on Scotland having a natural economy that is sustainable.

If you're looking to save the most on your graduate studies abroad, Scotland’s Rural College should be at the top of your list. International students here pay only 6,000 GBP to 15,750 GBP annually for their master's degree.

2. University of Edinburgh

One of the universities you should definitely check out for practical reasons is University of Edinburgh. Here, you can finish your master's degree with minimal stress on your finances. After all, the tuition rate for graduate studies at University of Edinburgh is 10,800 GBP to 35,900 GBP.

The University of Edinburgh is a public research university located in Scotland, a picturesque country known for its castles and whisky. It is one of the nation’s oldest centers of excellence as it was founded in the year 1583. Due to how highly regarded it is, many students choose to pursue their tertiary education at the university. With that, it has a long list of noteworthy alumni such as renowned psychologist and neuroscientist May-Britt Moser, molecular biologist and biophysicist Richard Henderson, as well as economist Sir James Alexander Mirrlees.

3. Queen Margaret University

Named after Queen Margaret of Scotland, Queen Margaret University was established to help women and working families. Dedicated to its original purposes, it continues to help the community by establishing itself as a campus without borders, open and working closely with its locality. Nationally, the university is included in the top 100 universities based on several ranking sites. These rankings and other awards like the e-Government National Award show the institution’s commitment to excellence.

The tuition fee at Queen Margaret University for incoming international master’s students is 14,300 GBP to 21,500 GBP. With its cheap rates, you can guarantee you’ll get a quality education without breaking the bank!

4. Edinburgh Napier University

Another affordable university to consider in Edinburgh is Edinburgh Napier University.

The Edinburgh Napier University was firstly founded as Napier Technical College in 1964. The name originated from John Napier, a Scottish physicist, mathematician, and astronomer. It was then renamed to Napier University in 1992 by inauguration of Lord Douglas-Hamilton. After a variety of acquisitions and mergers, it then became Edinburgh Napier University in February of 2009.

The tuition fee in Edinburgh Napier University for master’s program for foreign students starts from 15,065 GBP.

5. Heriot-Watt University

Aside from its outstanding quality of education, Heriot-Watt University has some of the lowest tuition fee prices for foreign students who are planning to take a master's degree here. International master's students only pay as low as 17,304 GBP yearly.

Heriot-Watt University is a specialist school that focuses on providing education in the fields of design, engineering, business, and science. It started as a mechanics institute – the first in the world – and it continues to be a leader in finding practical solutions to contemporary problems today. Because of its strong reputation in these highly-technical fields, Heriot-Watt is considered one of the most elite universities in the UK.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I get admission to affordable universities in Edinburgh, Scotland?

Applying to cheap universities in Edinburgh requires you to complete different requirements depending on your degree and chosen university. These usually include admission forms, language proficiency scores, and a visa. Check out our full guide to studying in United Kingdom for a more comprehensive guide!

2. What can I study at Best affordable universities in Edinburgh?

International students can study a variety of programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels in Edinburgh. For example, one of the best affordable schools in Edinburgh is the Edinburgh Napier University, which offers Accounting and Finance, Acting, and Biological Sciences to students seeking a bachelor’s degree. At the master’s level, the Edinburgh Napier University offers Computing, Business and Management, and Building and Surveying.

It's important to take a look at all your options when selecting where to attend post-secondary school. With so many different types of schools, degrees, and universities in Edinburgh, it can be tough to know where to start looking.

So, make sure to explore the best public universities in Edinburgh as well if you're looking for affordable education!

We hope that this article on affordable institutions in Edinburgh for international students was helpful!