Edinburgh Napier University

Overview

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.

Services for International Students

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.

Ranking

• 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.

Accommodation

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.

Location

Edinburgh Napier is based around its Merchiston, Craighouse, Craiglockhart and Sighthill campuses. There are also smaller medical campuses at Canaan Lane's Astley Ainslie Hospital and Comely Bank in Edinburgh, as well as in Melrose and Livingston's St John's Hospital at Howden. Other notable Edinburgh buildings have been incorporated, including the former Parish Church at Morningside.

Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and is listed as a world heritage site. It is considered by some as one of the greenest and most architecturally beautiful cities in Europe. Its beauty and reputation for science since the 18th Century has earned it the nickname ‘the Athens of the North’. Since 2001, Edinburgh has consistently been voted ‘Favourite UK City’ by the Observer, Conde Naste (2010 Award Winner for Best City) and Guardian readers. Excellent road, rail and air transport links make Edinburgh accessible from all major cities in the UK and beyond.

Alumni

• Sharmila Tagore - Bollywood actor
• Tom Kitchin – International Chef
• Chris Paterson – Scottish International Rugby player
• Catriona Shearer - BBC broadcaster