Based in the capital of Scotland, with over 49,000 students, and the prestige of a Russel Group membership to its name, the University of Edinburgh’s reputation precedes it. But does that make it a good university to attend? And will the University of Edinburgh be the right fit for you?
To help answer these questions I will draw on my own experiences to break down what you can expect from the teaching, the social life, the housing, and the city itself. This overview of the University and all it has to offer (or what you might want to steer clear of) will hopefully help you with the often-agonising decision of where to go to university.
Teaching and Academics
The University of Edinburgh ranked 17th in The Times 2025 Rankings and 15th in the Guardian’s 2025 Rankings. While there has been some discontent over the fact that the University of Edinburgh has fallen several places in recent years, rankings aren’t everything.
What draws many to the University of Edinburgh is that it follows the Scottish four-year degree system. This means that students complete four years of undergraduate study, with two years of pre-honours courses and two years of honours courses. The first two years of pre-honours courses do not count towards your final mark for your degree, meaning that all you need to manage in these years is passing your courses.
The pre-honours years also allow for far more flexibility, with students able and often encouraged to take courses outside of their degree. Therefore, it is also possible to change your degree, given you take electives for your new degree in your first and second years. Many of my friends have changed their degree to joint honours, for example from History to History and Politics, when they have realised how much they have enjoyed their other classes.
On top of this, the University of Edinburgh offers a wide range of year abroad options for all students. This happens during your third year and doing a four-year degree means that you don’t have to worry about adding an extra year to your degree.
However, the extra year does mean another year of tuition fees, which isn’t the right decision for everyone. While my experience with the University of Edinburgh’s teaching has been generally good, the quality varies greatly by department. History is placed higher than Politics in the University of Edinburgh’s rankings and as a History and Politics student I can attest to the much higher standard of support and teaching in the History department compared to Politics. It’s worth checking the ranking of your degree specifically over the University of Edinburgh’s overall ranking.
Social life
The University has over 290 student societies, ranging from the oldest student newspaper in Europe to Soup Society. There are also more than 60 sports clubs, so there truly is something for everyone. Most societies will have a wide range of weekly or monthly activities and larger societies will have ceilidhs (a traditional Scottish dance), as well as holding balls which usually consist of a three-course meal and a ceilidh. This means there are plenty of opportunities to socialise and make friends.
Accommodation and housing
While students get guaranteed accommodation in first year, the next three years are often a struggle to find housing. The City of Edinburgh Council declared a Housing Emergency in 2023. Rent is expensive, with most students paying between 600 to 800 pounds.
This doesn’t mean that finding somewhere to live is impossible. In Scotland, students will generally only start looking for a flat starting from February, in contrast to English universities where students start looking around October to November time. As such, there is far less pressure to immediately find who you want to live with in second year. I only found my flat for second year in May, which was common for many students and gives you more time to find a place you are happy with. However, the housing market can definitely be difficult to navigate and you will likely have to go to dozens of viewings before you are offered a tenancy.
Edinburgh city
One of my favourite things about Edinburgh is how much nature there is in and around the city. Campus is located right next to The Meadows, a park which is perfect for a stroll and breath of fresh air after a mental breakdown in the library.
Arthur’s Seat is perhaps the most famous landmark in Edinburgh, but there are also plenty of other (less busy) walks to go on for a beautiful view, such as Calton Hill or Blackford Hill. The beach is only a 30-minute bus ride away, similarly the Pentland Hills are only a bus ride away for a weekend hike.
The city is made all the more accessible by the Young Scot Card which provides free bus travel for anyone living in Scotland and under 22 years old. I would recommend signing up for this as soon as you move to university!
However, in general the city is not cheap, in large part because of its popularity and the number of tourists who visit. A pint will cost on average £5.20, but there are definitely ways to still go out on a budget. Many bars in the Old Town, the more student-populated area, offer student discounts and several clubs do nights with free entry. Check out some of the best bars to go to here .
Edinburgh is not known for its nightlife. While there are plenty of clubs to go to, many located along Cowgate with more scattered around New Town, most play mainstream “cheesy” music. Although this can be fun, I have found that after a while the appeal wears off. Clubs like Sneaky Pete’s and Bongos offer slightly more varied music, more likely to be showcasing up and coming artists and DJs.
Similarly, if you’re into live music, you may find yourself getting the hour and a half bus to Glasgow frequently, as artists don’t often tour in Edinburgh. Nevertheless, because of the Young Scot Card, the journey is cheap and easy, so you don’t have to miss out on a good music scene even if it doesn’t have a strong presence in Edinburgh.
So, is the University of Edinburgh good for you?
I love going to university in a historic city, where there is always something to do, whether that is a society event or exploring the city and outside area. Although Edinburgh is more expensive, I think the trade-off for living in such a beautiful place and going to a good university is worth it.
