Edinburgh · Student city guide
Four universities, a medieval Old Town, an extinct volcano in the middle of the city and the world's biggest arts festival every August. This is how Edinburgh actually works for students: where to live, what it costs and where to go out.
4
universities across the city and its edges
£160–£240
a week for a room in a shared flat
Free
bus travel for under-22s who live in Scotland
August
is Fringe month, the world's biggest arts festival
Last checked: November 2026
Castle to Cowgate
Most of student Edinburgh is walkable. The University of Edinburgh's Central Area sits around George Square on the Southside, Napier is out west at Merchiston, and Heriot-Watt and Queen Margaret are on the edges of the city. Here's how the student map fits together.
Getting around: if you're under 22 and live in Scotland, bus travel is free with a National Entitlement Card. Everyone else pays £2.40 for a Lothian adult single, so a walkable flat saves a lot.
1
The castle, closes, cobbles and the Cowgate's late-night clubs, all on top of each other.
2
The University of Edinburgh's main campus, the library and Teviot Row House, the students' union.
3
A huge park for barbecues and frisbee, with student tenements all along its southern edge.
4
An extinct volcano inside the city. Climb it at least once, ideally for sunrise.
5
Edinburgh's port, now full of good food, bars on the Shore and cheaper flats, linked to town by tram.
“Its huge outdoor terrace makes it an ideal spot in the summer, but it's still super cosy inside when it's cold.”
Universities
Where you study shapes where you'll live. University of Edinburgh students cluster on the Southside, Napier students around Merchiston and Gorgie, and Heriot-Watt students often live on its Riccarton campus.
Russell Group · Southside
One of the world's best-known universities, with its Central Area around George Square and a science campus at King's Buildings. First-years mostly live in Pollock Halls or the Southside.
Merchiston · Craiglockhart · Sighthill
A modern, career-focused university with three campuses in the south-west of the city, strong in nursing, film, business and the creative industries.
Also in Edinburgh: Heriot-Watt University at Riccarton and Queen Margaret University in Musselburgh. Compare universities across the UK →
Neighbourhoods
Six areas cover most of Edinburgh's student housing. Edinburgh is one of the most expensive student cities outside London, so the pound signs show how areas compare with each other.
£££ · Classic studenty
01
Tall Victorian tenements along the Meadows, a 10-minute walk from George Square. The most famous student area in the city, and priced like it.
Best for: University of Edinburgh students who want to walk everywhere
££–£££ · Busy and central
02
Tenement flats along South Clerk Street and Causewayside, with cheap eats, Pollock Halls and Arthur's Seat close by.
Best for: second-years leaving Pollock Halls
£££ · Right in the action
03
Purpose-built student blocks and old flats around the Pleasance, St Leonard's and the Cowgate, minutes from lectures and the clubs.
Best for: first-years and anyone who wants to roll out of bed into town
££–£££ · Leafy and lively
04
Cafés and bars on Bruntsfield Place, the King's Theatre and Lothian Road's nightlife, handy for both the University of Edinburgh and Napier.
Best for: students at either uni who want a neighbourhood feel
££ · Better value
05
Edinburgh's port, with cheaper flats, great food and bars on the Shore, and the tram straight into the city centre.
Best for: students who want more space for less rent
££ · Good value
06
Tenements on the west side near Tynecastle, cheaper than the Southside and close to Napier's Merchiston campus.
Best for: Napier students and anyone keeping rent down
Ready to find a flat? Our guide covers the student letting agents worth knowing in Edinburgh, and what to check before you sign.
Find a letting agentNot sure where to live?
Tell us where you're studying, what matters most and your budget, and we'll point you to an area to start your search.
1. Where are you studying?
2. What matters most?
3. What's your budget?
Tenement flats a short walk from the Cowgate and Teviot, usually a bit cheaper than Marchmont.
Find a letting agentWhere to book
Compare Edinburgh's letting agents and student accommodation providers, or work out which type of housing suits you.
Shared flats · Edinburgh
The student letting agents worth knowing in Edinburgh, and what to check before you sign.
Read the guide →
Purpose-built · Edinburgh
Our overview of Vita Student's rooms, prices and what's included, including its Edinburgh buildings.
Read the overview →
Second year
How to decide where to live after first year, and when to start looking in a tight market like Edinburgh's.
Read the guide →
Not sure yet?
The pros, cons and costs of each, so you know what to look for.
Compare your options →
Money
Edinburgh is one of the most expensive student cities in the UK outside London, almost entirely because of rent. Pick a lifestyle to see what a typical month looks like.
Shared tenement flat in Newington or Marchmont, a weekly night out and the odd takeaway.
Rent
£850
Bills
£80
Food shop
£175
Buses and trams
£30
Going out
£110
Phone and everything else
£70
About £15,780 a year
£1,315 a month
Estimates to help you plan, not quotes. Edinburgh rents vary a lot by street and by year, so check real prices before you sign anything. Bus costs are lower if you're under 22 and get free travel.
Where a typical £1,315 month goes
■ Rent · 65%
■ Food · 13%
■ Going out · 9%
■ Bills · 6%
■ Everything else · 5%
■ Buses and trams · 2%
Money tips
1
Get your free bus pass
If you're under 22 and live in Scotland, apply for a National Entitlement Card for free bus travel. Otherwise, a Lothian adult single is £2.40.
2
Do the free stuff
The National Museum, the Scottish National Gallery, Arthur's Seat, Calton Hill and the Botanic Garden are all free.
3
Work the Fringe
Lots of Fringe venues hire students in August, and many shows are free or pay-what-you-want.
4
Look for free-entry nights
Several Cowgate clubs are free before 10pm or on quieter nights. Pre-drinks and a set budget help too.
5
Start your flat hunt early
Edinburgh's private market is tight, so agree your flatmates early and use registered letting agents. Never pay a holding deposit for a flat you haven't seen.
“Wednesdays are generally sport social nights. This means every club and bar will be packed with every sport society member from your university.”
Rachel Brooks, Unifresher Edinburgh writer · Read: student nights in Edinburgh →
Going out
Edinburgh's nightlife is packed into the Old Town and New Town, mostly within a 15-minute walk. Pick an area to see where students go.
Talk like a local
A few Scots words you'll pick up fast. Guess what each one means, then tap to check.
Braw
Great, lovely.
"That's a braw view from Arthur's Seat."
Baltic
Freezing cold. You'll use this a lot.
"It's absolutely baltic out there."
Haar
A cold sea fog that rolls in off the Firth of Forth.
"Can't even see the castle, the haar's in."
Dinnae ken
I don't know.
"Where's the lecture? Dinnae ken."
Wee
Small, or just a friendly add-on to anything.
"Fancy a wee drink?"
Outwith
Outside of. You'll even see it in uni emails.
"The library is closed outwith term time."
Peely-wally
Pale and a bit ill-looking.
"You look peely-wally after last night."
Messages
Your food shopping.
"I'm away to get the messages."
Written by Edinburgh students
Our student writers pick their favourite places so you don't have to work it out alone.
Editor's pick · Nights out
From the Pear Tree's beer garden to Harry Potter-style potion cocktails, the bars Edinburgh students actually go to.
Read the guide →
More from our Edinburgh writers
Cheap drinks
The best cheap pubs in Edinburgh →
Nights out
Student nights in Edinburgh: every night of the week →
Societies
The best student societies in Edinburgh to join →
Shopping
A student's guide to Edinburgh's best charity shops →
Hidden gems
10 of the best secret bars in Edinburgh →
Fresh from our writers
New guides, reviews and things to do in Edinburgh, written by students who live there.
Save money
Verified discounts on food, fashion, tech, gyms and more, including offers you'll only find on Unifresher.
Browse student dealsFor businesses
Want your brand in front of students at Edinburgh, Napier, Heriot-Watt and Queen Margaret? Feature on this guide or partner with Unifresher.
Partner with usJust arrived?
Eight small jobs that make your first term in Edinburgh much easier. Most take ten minutes.
✓
Register with a GP
Sign up near your term-time address before freshers' flu hits. Your uni will point you to a local practice.
✓
Get your free bus pass
If you're under 22 and live in Scotland, apply for a National Entitlement Card for free bus travel. If not, a Lothian adult single is £2.40, so check the day and week tickets.
✓
Get a 16–25 Railcard
A third off most rail fares, so it pays for itself after a couple of trips home.
✓
Find your Students' Union
Go to the Freshers' Fair and join a society or two. It's the easiest way to meet people outside your flat.
✓
Save campus security's number
Every university has a 24-hour security line. Put it in your phone now.
✓
Check your contents insurance
Bikes, phones and laptops do get stolen in student areas. Find out whether your halls or house already include cover.
✓
Learn your route home
Know which night bus gets you home, and stick to busy, well-lit streets. The Old Town's closes are steep and dark late at night.
✓
Sort a TV Licence if you need one
You need one to watch live TV or use BBC iPlayer, even on a laptop or phone.
Useful links
University accommodation offices, travel tickets and the admin every student needs to sort.
FAQs
Is Edinburgh a good city for students?
For most people, yes. It's beautiful, compact and walkable, with four universities, world-famous festivals and lots of green space. The big downside is the cost of rent, which is among the highest in the UK outside London.
Which area of Edinburgh is best for students?
University of Edinburgh students usually live in Marchmont, Newington or the Southside. Napier students often choose Merchiston, Gorgie or Polwarth. Leith is popular with students looking for more space for their money.
How much is student rent in Edinburgh?
A room in a shared flat often costs about £160–£240 a week in 2026/27, with Marchmont and the Southside at the top end. Purpose-built rooms are usually more, but often include bills.
Is Edinburgh safe for students?
Edinburgh is generally seen as a safe city. Take the usual care at night, especially in the Old Town's dark closes and during busy festival weekends, and use night buses or licensed taxis.
How do students get around Edinburgh?
Mostly on foot. Under-22s who live in Scotland get free bus travel with a National Entitlement Card. Otherwise, a Lothian adult bus single is £2.40, and the tram runs from the airport through town to Leith.
What is Edinburgh famous for?
Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, Arthur's Seat, the Fringe and the other August festivals, Hogmanay, and being the city where J.K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter.
Pitch a guide or join our team of student writers. We're always looking for people at Edinburgh, Napier, Heriot-Watt and Queen Margaret.
Write for UnifresherRankings, halls, costs and student life at each university in Edinburgh.
