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Posted Nov. 6, 2024

University of Edinburgh

As one of the Russell Group’s prestigious members, the University of Edinburgh is a brilliant place to pursue postgraduate study.

With Edinburgh being a city that mixes old and new, the university (and its surroundings) is an exciting place to be, not to mention a leading institution that’s renowned all over the globe. Its rankings and reputation (more on those later!), see the University of Edinburgh host more than 45,000 students from across 156 different countries. As you’ll discover however, its offering extends beyond its five, centrally based Edinburgh campuses…

Introducing the University of Edinburgh

Founded in 1583, the University of Edinburgh is one of the UK’s oldest and most prestigious universities. The institution itself boasts a long legacy of contributions to education, research and innovation, including but not limited to the following as shared in this brief account of its history:

“We are the home of Britain’s oldest literary awards, the James Tait Black Prizes and Dolly the sheep, the first animal to be cloned from an adult somatic cell. It was also here at the University of Edinburgh that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was inspired to create his notorious character, Sherlock Holmes and James Young Simpson pioneered anaesthetics through his discovery of the properties of chloroform.”

Over the years, the University of Edinburgh has established itself as a centre of research excellence, a progression that earned it the nickname ‘Athens of the North’. 

Throughout its history, the university has been home to numerous celebrated scholars and thinkers, such as Scottish philosopher and historian David Hume, fellow theorist Adam Smith, plus Charles Darwin also studied medicine there.

Rankings and reputation

To become a University of Edinburgh postgrad would mean joining a who’s who of academics, many of which have made remarkable contributions to science and medicine, and won several Nobel Prizes. To date, 19 Nobel laureates have been affiliated with the university, with Sir Alexander Fleming, who discovered penicillin, and Peter Higgs, who theorised the Higgs boson particle, both calling the University of Edinburgh their academic home.

Its world class alumni are just one reason why it ranks so highly across university league tables each year. The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025 placed the University of Edinburgh 29th, with its research quality also awarded a score of 95.7 out of 100.

Course options and opportunities

The university’s influence spans multiple disciplines, from the arts and humanities to cutting-edge scientific research. In fact, the university is home to one of the most in-demand psychology departments in the UK according to our recent research. The university is also considered a world leader in the fields of medicine and veterinary medicine.

In terms of course options, the University of Edinburgh facilitates several study routes. Alongside its taught and research postgraduate degrees, its online offering is particularly impressive, and there are funding opportunities to match. The university now has 20 masters scholarships available for eligible part-time distance learning courses.

Life as a University of Edinburgh postgrad

With its incredible culture, fantastic nightlife and entertainment, and excellent job opportunities both during and after study, Edinburgh is a postgraduate paradise.

Those looking to pursue a postgraduate program in person will discover a well-connected city that can be explored by public transport or bike easily and inexpensively. Accommodation-wise, you’ll find affordable options a little further out of town. Morningside, Marchmont and Bruntsfield are popular areas amongst postgraduate students looking to house or flat share, or rent their own accommodation.

Find out more today

Discover what life as a postgrad at one of the country’s leading institutions is really like by exploring our University of Edinburgh postgraduate programs today.

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