Edinburgh: Student City Guide

Edinburgh has a thriving culture with a variety of museums, theatres, galleries and 11 festivals, including the world's largest arts festival. 

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Leaving home for university can be daunting, especially if you are accustomed to a small town. Edinburgh is popular with students who want all the benefits of vibrant city life without being overwhelmed by its fast pace.

This capital city is surprisingly compact, boasting a diverse culture and stunning landscapes side by side with vibrant nightlife and eclectic bars and shops, all of which are surrounded by the famous Edinburgh Castle.

Edinburgh also has an intriguing past, where you can find plenty of discoveries and hidden gems well into your third or fourth year of study.

However, students contend with the high cost of living in Scotland's capital. This Edinburgh city guide will make your student life in the city much easier. We share the lowdown on some of Edinburgh's hidden student treasures, as well as some well-known student haunts.

Edinburgh: Key facts

• Number of universities: 5
• Student population: 55,000+
• International students: 21,450+
• Average rent cost: £645 a month
• Average cost of a pint: £5.10.

Universities in Edinburgh

There are five universities in Edinburgh. Here is what you need to know about each one.

1. The University of Edinburgh

   The University of Edinburgh is the sixth-oldest university still operating in the English-speaking world. But this doesn't stop them from ensuring their resources and facilities are up-to-date.

   In fact, they rank 5th in the UK for research, making this a good choice if you're looking to study social science, medicine or engineering.

   Unlike most universities, UoE also offers extra accommodation support to students. Returning students can choose from selected properties on their own or several flats across the city.

2. Queen Margaret University

   Located east of the city centre, the campus reflects its strategy towards sustainability with a green travel policy and plenty of green space. QMU also work closely with the community, employing over 500 staff, representing 3% of East Lothian employment, and aspiring to create a 'campus without borders'.

   Queen Margaret largely supports an international community made up of students, professors and other firms. They work alongside many Canadian Universities and Colleges, allowing students to complete exchanges and study abroad.

3. Edinburgh Napier University

   Edinburgh Napier University conducts its teaching and research over three campuses. Its continuous investment in modern facilities is what enables it to improve its annual rankings.

   ENU have some pretty impressive ranking achievements, including being ranked as the top modern university in Scotland in 2025. They also offer a range of degrees in subjects like Computing, Law, English and more.

4. Heriot-Watt University

   Heriot-Watt University also offers a range of courses spread over five campuses. Many of these offer landscaped trails hosting green spaces with hidden landmarks and fitness areas.

   Heriot-Watt is a very future-oriented university priding itself on its employability ranking. They rank 12th for graduate salaries in the UK and 81.4% of their students enter employment or further study within 6 months of graduating.

   Joining this university will also enable you to graduate as a member of the oldest graduate club in the UK: The Watt Club. While that may be a long way off for many undergrads, joining a community of over 173,000 could make a huge difference to your career prospects.

5. Edinburgh College of Art

   While Edinburgh College of Art is not strictly a university in its own right, it still offers 38 undergraduate degrees focused on the arts. With around 3,000 students, they offer fantastic facilities in the centre of a cultural city.

   In 2011, ECA formally merged with the University of Edinburgh, which created an art collection featuring over 2,500 pieces, including paintings and sculptures. Prior to this merger, ECA's degrees were awarded by Heriot-Watt University.

   The college also worked with Napier University to launch a postgraduate film-making centre, making ECA unique as they partner with other universities in the city.

Edinburgh living costs

Being the capital city of Scotland, Edinburgh isn't the cheapest place for students. The table below gives you an idea of the costs you can expect.

Student accommodation

Edinburgh differs from some student cities in that the majority of student accommodation comprises flats rather than houses, so having nine housemates isn't really an option.

For first years at the University of Edinburgh, there is catered accommodation in Pollock Halls and self-catered accommodation in Frasiers Court, Kincaids Court, Hermits Croft and many more buildings across the city.

Marchmont, Morningside and Bruntsfield are popular areas for students later in their studies without venturing too far from campus.

For students studying at Queen Margaret Uni, accommodation close to campus is trickier to source after the first year. However, students can make good use of Musselburgh Station, located a 7-minute walk from campus.

There are a lot of student flats in Edinburgh, so you don't have to worry about finding somewhere to live. Plus, some of the universities even help students in the second year with a limited number of flats allocated to them.

Check out our guide to viewing a student house.

Transport

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Fortunately, most Edinburgh students find that they have little need for public transport in their day-to-day activities because all the student haunts are within walking or cycling distance of the university campuses.

Travelling in and out of Edinburgh is also easy. There are two train stations at either end of the city, and cheap Megabus services to Glasgow, a popular destination for a night out or shopping trip, are also available.

Buses

Lothian Buses run throughout Edinburgh and into Mid Lothian, East Lothian and West Lothian, making getting around cheap and easy for students.

Edinburgh buses accept contactless or the correct change, so be prepared unless you think you can charm the driver!

Day tickets are capped at £5, allowing unlimited access for that day. The buses also operate a TapTapCap, meaning that when you use the same card all week and reach the cap, you can continue using the service without being charged further. But unless you live outside the city, it's unlikely you'll need to use transport that frequently.

For students who live too far away from campus to walk to lectures, the best bet is to buy a Student Ridacard.

Trams

A tram system was introduced to connect the airport with the new part of the city. However, there are 23 total stops, so it can sometimes be used to hop on and off if you are travelling across town.

A single ticket costs £2.20.

Cycling

Despite the cobbled streets, cycling is a popular way for students to get around Edinburgh. However, you may have to find an alternative mode of transport between November and January, when Scotland is often transformed into a white winter wonderland.

Cyclists are allowed to share the buses' green lanes in the city centre, thus enabling a much smoother journey. The city also has around 50 junctions with advanced cycle stop lines. These stop lines contribute to its extensive network of cycle routes, which enable cyclists to beat the traffic. Edinburgh's infamous sneaky side streets also make cycling a faster way to hand that essay in before the deadline.

Due to the popularity of two-wheeled transport, Edinburgh has loads of bike shops. Try Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative for cheap deals.

Trains

There are two major train stations in Edinburgh: Haymarket and Waverley, the latter of which is the closest to the University of Edinburgh campus. Haymarket is closer to Murrayfield Stadium.

If you can, make sure you book your train ticket in advance for big savings at TransPennine Express.

Student nightclubs

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While the increased price of drinks in bars at weekends in Edinburgh means most students are accustomed to mid-week sessions, Edinburgh's nightlife rivals its neighbour Glasgow with its eclectic bars, pubs and clubs. The main nightclubs are found on George Street.

Be sure to steer clear of George Street on student nights as the entry and drink prices are high. There are live music venues on Lothian Road, and The Cowgate is a students' paradise for cheap drinks and loud music.

Here are a few of the most popular clubs for student nights with the best drink deals.

Indie Rock

The dishevelled student fashion in Edinburgh is mirrored in its nightlife. Indie nights are common in all the big clubs.

• The Liquid Room plays different music genres and hosts many indie bands. They also run Indie Thursdays every month, which is one of the most popular student nights in Edinburgh.
• Sneaky Pete's 'intimate' venue in the Cowgate also houses live indie music.

Pop & Retro

A lot of clubs in Edinburgh cater for cheesy guilty pleasures, and chart music regularly hits the decks on student nights.

• Club Tropicana - The ultimate cheesy 70s and 80s club, open every Friday and Saturday until 3am!

R&B, Funky House and Hip-Hop

Edinburgh has a great scene for those nights when you just want to dance.

• The Hive - Free entry Sunday to Thursday (and Friday and Saturday 9-10pm). Plus, drinks from only £1 make this the perfect budget-friendly nightclub.
• Why Not? - On George Street, Monday nights are popular with students, and the drink deals reflect this.

House, Drum & Bass and Techno

Edinburgh clubs host great resident DJs, many of whom specialise in Drum & Bass.

• The Bongo Club - A good place to be for hip hop music.

Eating out

Edinburgh boasts some fantastic restaurants, particularly on George Street, but these are more of a treat for when the parents come to visit. Aside from all the expected chains like Bella Italia and Gusto, there are many eateries for students on a budget.

• The Mosque Kitchen - A cheap and cheerful canteen close to the lecture theatres, where you can get affordable curries, kebabs and more.
• Malones Irish Bar - It's near the main university campus and serves a range of delicious pizzas.
• The Three Sisters - Get free pizza every Friday (exclusions apply) between 5–7pm as long as you book in advance. Is there anything better than free food?
• Cafe Piccante - Chip shop with a difference – it has its own resident DJ! Try a deep-fried Mars Bar.

Things to do

There is so much to do in Edinburgh, and it will completely depend on what you're into. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Soak in the culture

Edinburgh offers amazing tourist attractions and scenic landscapes. Here are some of the best things to do in the city:

• The Royal Mile invites you to take a walk up Edinburgh's famous street, stopping for a pint in one of its traditional Scottish pubs (just the one though - tourist areas charge high prices). The regal Edinburgh Castle lies at the top of the mile. Don't bother with the entry fee, but get a photo of yourself outside it, post it on Facebook, and then never return!
• Hike the 287 steps of Scott's Monument for stunning views of the city from a Gothic tower.
• Princes Street Gardens are lovely in the summer after a day's shopping on Princes Street and a drink on Rose Street. The Grassmarket is a great drinking area and vintage shopping destination.

• Edinburgh is a different city depending on the season. Spend a summer here to catch the Fringe Festival, during which the city is overrun with tourists and performers. At Christmas, Princes Street Gardens acquires an ice rink and a German Christmas Market - be sure to grab a hot chocolate or post-shop mulled wine.

Health and fitness

Staying fit as a student in Edinburgh is easy even when the Scottish weather leaves you shivering.

The University of Edinburgh's gym boasts great facilities and a swimming pool. Student membership costs £189 for the year (excluding the summer), but there are also options for memberships lasting for just one semester.

The Meadows behind the main university library attract runners and joggers, although it is best avoided after dark.

The city also has well-known gyms, such as PureGym, meaning you can sign up and still use your membership when you return home during the holidays.

Not fully convinced about studying in Edinburgh? Try these other student cities instead.