Student guide to Edinburgh

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CONTENTS

Student activities in Edinburgh
Nightlife in Edinburgh
Student accommodation in Edinburgh
Transport in Edinburgh
Student costs in Edinburgh
What Edinburgh is known for
Universities in Edinburgh

Student activities in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a vibrant, modern city with historic origins. There’s something for every student, no matter what you’re into. To get your bearings, trekking up Arthur’s Seat will give you an amazing 360-degree view of the city and surrounding landscape. This tall hill in Holyrood Park is actually an extinct, ancient volcano, with some excellent selfie opportunities at the top.

The Royal Mile is another great place for sightseeing. This walk runs through the city’s old town and leads up the hill to Edinburgh Castle. You’ll walk past Edinburgh landmarks such as Holyrood Abbey and the towering spire of Tron Kirk, and have a great choice of some of the best eating and drinking spots in the city.

If you’re looking to get out of the city in the summer months, Portobello is a beach resort about three miles away. As well as sunbathing, ice cream and swimming, you can also try kayaking or sailing.

Check out our guide to things to do in Edinburgh for more fun activities

Nightlife in Edinburgh

There are plenty of options for a great night out in Edinburgh. An area popular with students is Cowgate, a long stretch of bars and clubs in the old town. You’ll find loads of student-friendly nights with cheap entry and drinks deals.

For a laid back drink on a summer afternoon, The Pear Tree is a popular spot due to its large beer garden and huge LED screen. If you want to catch a sporting match you couldn’t go to in person, the Pear Tree is the place to be. The pub is really close to Edinburgh University so it’s easy to pop down for a pint after lectures.

If live music is more your thing, you’re spoilt for choice in Edinburgh with a host of venues offering all genres of music. Edinburgh's Jazz Bar holds at least three gigs a day and has a diverse programme of jazz (of course), as well as blues, funk and soul. For bigger concerts and events, check out the listings at Usher Hall. Big Thief, Belle and Sebastian and Wilco are on the bill for 2023, as well as a variety of tribute acts, comedy, musicals and classical concerts.

Student accommodation in Edinburgh

Unis in Edinburgh offer halls of residence for students, either run by themselves or a private company. The cost of living in halls will depend on the type of room you choose. For example, a standard single room with a shared bathroom and shared kitchen will cost from £120 to £160 a week. If you want an ensuite you can expect to pay between £160 and £190 a week, and if you’re looking for a studio apartment costs can be anywhere from £190 to £335 each week. These costs will also include all your utilities and WiFi.

It’s also an option to rent privately in Edinburgh. The city has a range of accommodation, and although it’s Scotland’s capital, prices are surprisingly affordable. The monthly rent for a bedroom in a shared house is around £650, and for your own studio apartment you can expect to pay an average of £995 each month. Remember these costs won’t include utility bills or WiFi, so we’d recommend setting aside an extra £65-70 a month to cover this.

Transport in Edinburgh

Edinburgh has a variety of public transport options, which make it easy to get around the city. As it’s a relatively small city, many students choose to get about on foot or by cycling.

There are plenty of buses that run 24 hours a day taking you through the heart of the city to the outskirts. A single ticket starts at £1.70. Edinburgh also has a tram system with 15 stops. The tram isn’t the best way of getting around as there’s only one route, but it is the easiest way to get to the airport. The tram journey from the centre to the airport is 35 minutes and costs just £9 for a return.

Edinburgh is well connected by rail throughout Scotland and England. You can get direct trains to nearby places like Glasgow and Newcastle, or settle in for a longer journey to Liverpool (4.5 hours), London (5.5 hours) or Bristol (6.5 hours). A 16-25 Railcard will save you a third off your train fares. Even still, train travel can be expensive, so it’s always worth comparing it with the cost of flying.

Edinburgh Airport is just outside the city and flies to most major UK airports including London, Bristol, Belfast and Manchester. You can also catch a flight across much of Europe and further internationally, making it an ideal city for international students.

Student costs in Edinburgh

With over half a million residents, Edinburgh is well served by a variety of supermarkets, smaller food stores and independent markets. If you’re looking for some bargains, local food markets are usually the best place to go, as well as lower cost shops like Aldi which can be found outside the city centre. The general cost of groceries here is a little cheaper than Glasgow, and much less than London. On average you can expect to pay £1.08 for a loaf of bread, £1.15 for a kilogram of rice, £1.99 for a dozen eggs and £1 for a kilogram of potatoes.

Entertainment and socialising can get expensive in Edinburgh as there’s so much going on. With a bit of research, you can often find student tickets at a discounted price. The average cost of a pint in the city is £4.88, but many venues offer drinks deals like happy hours and two for ones, so make the most of these to keep your nightly costs down. It’s a good idea to carry a valid student card with you at all times, as many shops and venues give money off on a whole variety of items and experiences.

You’ll probably want to budget for course costs, too. This might be for books, printing, equipment rental or other materials. And depending on your personal interests and lifestyle, you might have other costs like a gym membership, clothing, accessories and toiletries. If you’re in halls you’ll also have to budget around £20 a month for laundry. On top of your tuition fees, we'd recommend budgeting about £900 per month as a student in Edinburgh.

Check out our guide to cost of living in Edinburgh as a student right here

What Edinburgh is known for

One of the highlights of the summer in Edinburgh is the Fringe Festival. This annual event sees thousands of stand up comics, actors and street performers bring their latest shows to the city. The Royal Mile is packed with performers and buskers and nearly every venue in the city has a programme of acts to enjoy. Make sure you download the Fringe App so you don’t miss out!

Universities in Edinburgh

Edinburgh has four major unis, each offering a diverse range of courses and unique student experience.

The University of Edinburgh is one of the world’s top unis. It has five campuses, including some incredible historic buildings. It was ranked 12th in the Complete University Guide’s 2023 league tables and is also a member of the esteemed Russell Group of research-intensive universities.

Heriot-Watt University has five campuses worldwide, meaning international links and opportunities are strong for students here. Students all have access to placement coordinators to support work experience, and there’s a strong focus on collaboration with industry and employers. Also, Heriot-Watt’s sports centre is regarded as one of the best in the UK.

Queen Margaret University boasts a person-centred, career-focussed approach to teaching. It’s well known for courses in business, the creative industries, education, health and social sciences, and many courses have great industry links and placement opportunities. The modern, small and welcoming campus is in easy reach of Edinburgh’s city centre.

Edinburgh Napier University was ranked highly in the Complete University Guide’s 2023 league tables for student satisfaction, coming 16th out of 130. It has three campuses, each with purpose-built facilities and a range of academic and personal support. It’s a forward-looking uni and prides itself on making a difference.

If you still need convincing, take a look at even more reasons to study in Edinburgh. It’s also a good idea to take a trip to the city and visit potential unis on an open day, so you can experience them in person before making that big decision. Find open days in Edinburgh.

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Student guide to Edinburgh

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