5 Best Public Universities in Edinburgh for International Students
Edinburgh is one of the cities in United Kingdom you should look into if you want to study in a public university. Besides providing a path towards your academic goals, studying in Edinburgh can give you valuable insights into its people and the local culture. You can also enjoy various activities here to make your studies abroad all worth it.
All 5 universities you can find in Edinburgh, Scotland are all public universities. This makes it a great location for international students. You can pick any university in Edinburgh and know that you’ll be choosing an institution run by the government.
In this article, you’ll find out the public universities in Edinburgh, with some added information on programs, tuition, and how many international students you’ll be studying with. Let’s get started!
| Rank | University | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Edinburgh | Edinburgh, United Kingdom |
| 2 | Heriot-Watt University | Edinburgh, United Kingdom |
| 3 | Edinburgh Napier University | Edinburgh, United Kingdom |
| 4 | Queen Margaret University | Edinburgh, United Kingdom |
| 5 | Scotland’s Rural College | Edinburgh, United Kingdom |
Public Universities in Edinburgh
1. 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.
2. 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.
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. 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.
5. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can International Students Study in Public Universities in Edinburgh?
Absolutely! International students in public universities in Edinburgh can pursue different program levels, but the most popular ones are bachelor’s and master’s programs.
As for tuition fees, note that these vary across specific disciplines and program levels, with some charging significantly more than others. Specifically, public universities in Edinburgh, Scotland charge up to 32,100 GBP for bachelor’s and 35,900 GBP for master’s studies.
I hope this article can help you in your search for public universities in Edinburgh, Scotland. Feel free to check out the Available Programs for International Students to learn more about studying abroad.