Edinburgh Napier University

Edinburgh Napier University gained full university status in June 1992 and currently has around 12,500 students enrolled. The University is largely located in Edinburgh’s east end, in buildings ranging from castles to old schools. It is one of Scotland’s top universities for graduate employability, offering work placements with many courses. Edinburgh Napier has a strong reputation for film education in partnership with the Edinburgh College of Art.

The University has around 3,000 students studying degrees in Hong Kong, Singapore and India through international partnerships, while dual-degree courses are also available with New York State University – enabling students to complete a four-year degree course at both institutions.

Edinburgh Napier is ranked eighth in the UK for ‘value added’, which measures students' entry qualifications against the degree results they go on to achieve. The University also runs ‘Confident Futures’, a programme which develops employability skills.

Edinburgh Napier University runs a meet and greet service, as well as transport to the University, through Edinburgh Napier Direct during welcome week. This is available at Edinburgh airport. The Student Union runs a number of activities available during the first week designed to help students settle in and make friends early on. Further into term time, the International Students’ Club provides support and events for international students.

• 59th in the Times University Guide 2025
• 96th in the Guardian University Guide 2025
• 133rd in the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2024

Edinburgh Napier was also the top Scottish modern for research impact in the REF 2021. The activity at the University assessed as “internationally excellent” and “world-leading” by the Research Excellence Framework (REF) has leapt from 53 to 68 per cent since the last time the exercise was carried out in 2014.

All accommodation is located in the centre of Edinburgh with good transport links to the University. All first-year students are guaranteed a place in Edinburgh Napier accommodation if the application is submitted before the deadline. There are over 1,400 rooms available, arranged in flats of up to seven people. Private accommodation is also available in and around the city of Edinburgh.