Old College
South Bridge
Edinburgh EH8 9YL

Tel 0131 650 4360

sra.enquiries@ed.ac.uk

www.ed.ac.uk

Sunday Times ranking 14 (14)

Teaching excellence 65.5%

Student satisfaction 70.9%

Head teacher ranking 14 (10)

Peer ranking 8 (6)

Research quality 71.6%

A/AS-level/Highers points 434/408

A-levels/Highers for entry 40%/39%

Unemployment 4.9%

Firsts and 2:1s 77.3%

Student/staff ratio 14:1

Dropout rate 5% (7%)

World ranking 33=

Undergraduates 16,389 (744)

Postgraduates 4,451 (2,133)

Teaching staff 1,440

Applications/places 45,115/4,166; 10.8:1 (+8%)

Clearing entry None

Bursaries 140 access bursaries

Scholarships 48: £1,000-£5,000

EU/overseas 6.1%/10.7%

Mature 12%

State school 66%

Lowest social classes 18%

Low-participation areas 9%

Live in 26% (100%) £50-£167

When you recruit from the nation’s academic elite, any change to your entry policy makes big news. Edinburgh discovered this when it announced it would take into account not just predicted (or actual) public exam grades, but also the context in which they are achieved. The aim is to give credit to high-achieving pupils in schools where few go on to university or where the attainment levels are well below the national average.

This policy seems to have pushed Edinburgh further up everyone’s wish list, with applications up this year by 8% for the second successive year to stand at a shade under 50,000. Alongside St Andrews, Edinburgh is the most popular university north of the border with applicants from England; those holding A-levels were in the slight majority last year. They apply to one of the widest range of traditional courses anywhere, with more than 500 degrees offered, 300 of them joint-honours options. Academics are at the forefront of their subjects and Edinburgh attracted more than £139m in research income last year.

However, the students are a hard lot to please if below-average student satisfaction scores are to be believed. Once the university gets the levels up to those attained at St Andrews and Glasgow, Edinburgh will take its place in our elite top 10, which, given its academic track record, is where it ought to be.

Edinburgh is one of four universities in the Scottish capital and the most central, part of the very fabric of the city. The famous Fringe festival every August happens on the doorstep for those lucky enough to study here, the students’ association owns the largest student club in town, Potterrow, and the sports facilities are outstanding (67 clubs), explaining why this is the leading Scottish sporting university. Come to Edinburgh and it will be hard not to be distracted – and inspired.

Open days September 29.

Student view Josh MacAlister, students’ association president:

USP A strong sense of community.

Worst feature The cost of accommodation.

Location Lots of natural open beauty.

Social scene More than 250 societies.

Rated excellent (23) Accountancy; archeology; architecture; business and management; cellular and molecular biology; chemical engineering; chemistry; civil engineering; classics and ancient history; computer studies; economics; electrical and electronic engineering; English; history; maths and statistics; mechanical engineering; organismal biology; physics; politics; social policy; social work; sociology and social anthropology; veterinary medicine.

Degree of student satisfaction: 70.9%

Nursing 89.2; Physical Geography and Environmental Science 77.9; English-based studies 75.9; Mathematical Sciences 75.1; Performing Arts 75.0; Finance and Accounting 74.5; Biology and related Sciences 74.1; Computer Science 73.8; Mechanically-based Engineering 73.0; Philosophy, Theology and Religious studies 72.4; Medicine and Dentistry 72.0; History and Archeology 71.5; Education studies 71.4; Physical Science 71.3; Electronic and Electric Engineering 71.1; Law 70.7; Sociology, Social Policy and Anthropology 70.2; Architecture, Building and Planning 70.1; Politics 69.5; Civil, Chemical and other Engineering 69.1; Psychology 68.4; European Languages and Area studies 68.2; Teacher Training 67.0; Economics 65.4; Other Languages and Area studies 64.2; Veterinary Sciences 64.0; Business 62.9; Human and Social Geography 61.3

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