Edinburgh Napier University logo

Edinburgh Napier University

Edinburgh, UK · Ranking #750

Edinburgh Napier University is a modern public university in Scotland’s capital, originally founded as Napier Technical College in 1964 and granted university status in 1992 (renamed Edinburgh Napier University in 2009). It has three main campuses across Edinburgh and teaches through five schools: The Business School, School of Arts & Creative Industries, School of Applied Sciences, School of Computing Engineering & the Built Environment, and School of Health & Social Care. The university is career‑focused, with strong links to industry and strengths in business, computing and cybersecurity, engineering, creative industries, health and social care. It has around 20,000 students on campus and online, with a large international community from about 150 countries.

Edinburgh Napier University logo

Edinburgh Napier University

About the university

Edinburgh Napier University is a modern public university in Scotland’s capital, originally founded as Napier Technical College in 1964 and granted university status in 1992 (renamed Edinburgh Napier University in 2009). It has three main campuses across Edinburgh and teaches through five schools: The Business School, School of Arts & Creative Industries, School of Applied Sciences, School of Computing Engineering & the Built Environment, and School of Health & Social Care. The university is career‑focused, with strong links to industry and strengths in business, computing and cybersecurity, engineering, creative industries, health and social care. It has around 20,000 students on campus and online, with a large international community from about 150 countries.

Key information

  • Location: Edinburgh, UK
  • Ranking #750
  • National ranking #70
  • Institution type: public

Popular faculties

  • The Business School
  • School of Arts & Creative Industries
  • School of Applied Sciences
  • School of Computing Engineering & the Built Environment
  • School of Health & Social Care

Programs (29)

  • Computer Science
  • Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Medicine
  • Nursing
  • Pharmacy
  • Business Administration
  • Economics
  • Finance and Accounting
  • Marketing
  • Tourism and Hospitality
  • Law
  • Political Science
  • International Relations
  • Philosophy
  • History
  • Linguistics
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Physics
  • Mathematics
  • Environmental Science
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Anthropology
  • Education
  • Fine Arts
  • Music

Student body

  • Total students: 20,000
  • Undergraduate: 15,000
  • Graduate: 4,000
  • International students: 28%

Campus life

Edinburgh Napier has three main campuses across Edinburgh, each with teaching facilities and access to university accommodation such as Bainfield, Orwell Terrace and Slateford Road. The Students’ Association organises clubs, events and support services, and the city offers a rich cultural and social life with festivals, theatres and cafes. Accommodation is mostly self‑catered en‑suite flats with bills included. International students receive support with visas, settling in and academic skills, and the university’s practical focus means many courses have strong placement and industry links within Edinburgh and beyond.

Housing & accommodation

Housing cost: £600 - £1,200 / per month

Housing options

  • Bainfield (standard en‑suite rooms and studios)
  • Orwell Terrace (rooms for older undergraduates and postgraduates)
  • Slateford Road (mainly for nursing and postgraduate students)
  • Private rented flats and houses in Edinburgh

Student clubs and organizations

  • Students’ Association societies
  • Academic and course‑based societies
  • Cultural and international student groups
  • Arts and media clubs
  • Sport and fitness clubs

Sports

  • Football
  • Rugby
  • Basketball
  • Volleyball
  • Fitness and gym‑based activities
  • Other university and city‑based sports

Career & internships

Employment rate: 92%

Internships: Edinburgh Napier emphasises work‑related learning and many degrees include placements, live projects or work‑based modules, particularly in business, computing, engineering, creative industries, health and social care. The university works closely with employers in Edinburgh and internationally, and careers services support CVs, applications and interview skills. International students can undertake placements in line with visa rules and often benefit from the strong demand for graduates in areas like tech, creative industries and healthcare.

Admission requirements

Required tests

  • IELTS
  • TOEFL

Required documents

  • UCAS or online application
  • Academic transcripts and certificates
  • Personal statement
  • Academic reference
  • Proof of English language proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL or equivalent)
  • Passport copy
  • Portfolio or audition for some creative programmes (where required)

Tuition costs

  • £22,000 - £28,000 / per year
  • Acceptance rate: 55.00%
  • Scholarships available: Edinburgh Napier offers several scholarships for international students. These include pathway and progression scholarships (for example up to £4,000 off tuition on pathway programmes and £3,000 per year progression scholarships into degree courses) and country‑specific awards such as GREAT Scholarships (around £10,000 for selected countries), Turkey Scholarships (£4,000) and Sub‑Saharan Africa Scholarships (around £2,000) for self‑funding master’s students. Many awards are automatic once criteria (self‑funding status, offer, deposit payment) are met. Students should also budget for UKVI living cost requirements (~£1,136 per month).

Quick facts

  • Founded: 1964
  • Teaching languages: english
  • Study formats: offline

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