Study Abroad Programs in Edinburgh, Scotland

Many international students who study abroad in Edinburgh choose to do so at the University of Edinburgh, which was established way back in the 16th century and consistently ranks among the best in the world. Being the college city that it is, however, there are also a handful of other schools in Edinburgh which can offer an equally rewarding education. Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh Napier University, and Queen Margaret University are all well worth looking into.

By enrolling full time at a local university while you study abroad in Edinburgh, you will usually have the opportunity to choose from a full list of courses to suit your academic interests. English, economics, philosophy, political science, and European studies, for example, are among the most popularly pursued subjects by international students. Most therein choose to study abroad in Edinburgh for either a single semester or full academic year.

There are also a variety of specialized study abroad programs in Edinburgh, which run over the summer and either focus on a single subject or take you travelling throughout several different destinations in the region, for example. Be sure to look into a wide variety of programs to discover the one that fits your ideal experience studying abroad in Edinburgh!

History buffs will have a time of it in Scotland’s capital city. Edinburgh has been a human settlement for at least 10,000 years, and has served as the capital of what is now Scotland for over half a millennium. Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns are both listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the city boasts several more ancient attractions worth checking out, such as the Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace.

Today Edinburgh is Scotland’s second largest city, with nearly 1.5 million people living in the metropolitan area. It is a thriving financial center, as well as a major cultural and academic hub, which help make it the U.K.’s second most popularly visited city after London. Some other can’t-miss attractions while you study abroad in Edinburgh include the Scottish National Gallery and the Edinburgh International Festival.

As an international student in Edinburgh, however, you’ll soon enough move past the veneer of the city to immerse yourself fully in local life. Make an effort to meet as many peers as you can, both local and international, so together you can explore all the nooks and crannies of this great Scottish city. And don’t hesitate to have some major fun while abroad!

While tuition and costs of living can be fairly expensive while studying abroad in Edinburgh, there are many ways to help lessen the toll on your wallet. Many universities, for example, will allow you to roll over tuition so that the experience will wind up costing about the same as your home school. Our Scholarship Directory, also, can point you to many external financial aid opportunities which can help lower the costs even more.

There are a variety of housing options open to international students who study abroad in Edinburgh. Homestays, for example, can be a great way to immerse yourself in Scottish family life. Student dormitories, alternatively, will provide great exposure to campus life, and off-campus apartments can afford students a more autonomous lifestyle in the city. Be sure to communicate with your study abroad program in Edinburgh about what kinds of housing options they will make available.

Whether or not you will need to apply for a student visa in order to study abroad in Edinburgh depends on your home country and the duration of your stay. Students from many Western nations will only have to apply for a visa if they intend on staying longer than six months, while students from some other countries may have to apply in advance. For more information regarding your individual circumstances, check out our U.K. Embassy Directory.

Scottish Enlightenment. The Scottish Enlightenment may have come and passed a few hundred years ago, but the tradition of strong academics and enquiry is alive and well in its university system to this day.

Old and New. Edinburgh is a city which carries tremendous pride in its historic roots, while also serving as a hub of innovation and creativity in our modern era. Not a bad place to gain exposure to the world away from home!

Local Travel. A nice thing about studying abroad in the U.K. is how convenient travel is across the British Isles. While studying in Edinburgh, you can easily escape for a weekend getaway anywhere else you’d like to visit.

Embarking to study abroad in Edinburgh will be an opportunity to thrive academically while making connections with peers from all over the world and immersing yourself