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*
Queen Margaret University 9,725 GBP - 17,400 GBP 45%
Scotland’s Rural College 17,000 GBP 3%
Edinburgh Napier University 17,600 GBP -0%
Heriot-Watt University 20,100 GBP - 25,900 GBP -14%
University of Edinburgh 23,100 GBP - 32,100 GBP -32%

* Average Bachelor’s International Tuition is 17,500 GBP for universities in Edinburgh.

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1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

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. 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.

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*
Queen Margaret University 17,600 GBP - 19,300 GBP 14%
Scotland’s Rural College 19,000 GBP 7%
Edinburgh Napier University 19,800 GBP - 21,500 GBP 3%
Heriot-Watt University 21,900 GBP - 30,000 GBP -7%
University of Edinburgh 23,100 GBP - 30,400 GBP -14%

* Average Master's International Tuition is 20,300 GBP for universities in Edinburgh.

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1. 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.

If you're looking to save the most on your graduate studies abroad, Queen Margaret University should be at the top of your list. International students here pay only 17,575 GBP to 19,280 GBP annually for their master's degree.

2. Scotland’s Rural College

One of the universities you should definitely check out for practical reasons is Scotland’s Rural College. Here, you can finish your master's degree with minimal stress on your finances. After all, the tuition rate for graduate studies at Scotland’s Rural College is 19,000 GBP.

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.

3. 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 at Edinburgh Napier University for incoming international master’s students is 19,750 GBP to 21,430 GBP. With its cheap rates, you can guarantee you’ll get a quality education without breaking the bank!

4. Heriot-Watt University

Another affordable university to consider in Edinburgh is 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.

The tuition fee in Heriot-Watt University for master’s program for foreign students starts from 21,872 GBP.

5. University of Edinburgh

Aside from its outstanding quality of education, University of Edinburgh 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 23,100 GBP yearly.

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.


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!