The University of Edinburgh is, depending on what you want to gain from University, a great place to be. Ultimately, every student experience differs, but everybody tends to unite on the fact that the city is a fantastic place to be as a young adult. As an English Literature student, the bookshops everywhere offer a great way to engage with my course, and the standard of teaching is excellent. The tutors are a particular standout – they are always willing to offer help and are genuinely interested in the content.

Edinburgh University is a good university to attend if you spent your teen years at a private school or in an affluent area, most likely in South England. This being that the social sphere, teaching culture, and general environment mirrors what you will have been used to. If, like myself, you are not a part of this comparatively small section of the UK, you may find your time at Edinburgh University difficult, feeling overlooked, floundering and isolated.
While 93% of the British population attend public schools, we only make up 63% of the student body at Edinburgh Uni. This overrepresentation of privately-educated students is palpable in lectures, across societies, and even in wider uni life like nightlife and accommodation. At Edinburgh, it seems as if cliques from such-and-such school for girls and the-somebody-dead boys college have spread til they have a chokehold on Edinburgh University’s entire geography. Not only have these students had a higher quality of education meanings that you feel two-steps behind despite working twice as hard, they are also more likely to have accommodation paid for them and less likely to have to work jobs to sustain them while they are at the university, compounding that sense of being behind. This is also coupled with typically conservative attitudes, which often means those who are in any way marginalised stay silent in lectures, on the sidelines in societies, and regularly discriminated against in nightlife settings or the search for accommodation.
People often compare the ancient buildings in George Square to something out of Harry Potter. If Edinburgh University is Hogwarts, then its uneven social landscape echoes what came to light of the beloved children’s authors discriminatory views.

The Programme had something to offer every class it was new fresh and informative. Every day felt like a new challenge. I was able to learn quickly and effectively Lifelong skills that I will take into my future field of work.

The University of Edinburgh is very focused on what would be termed as “self-study”, which in reality means that there is a distinct lack of in-person teaching (as a result of covid, or other factors). There is currently a great deal of striking, which has cut down the amount of teaching time available for students. Regarding student life, the city of Edinburgh has its charms – it is an extremely safe city, with free transport (if you apply for a ‘youngscot’ student card), and has a fantastic selection of bars and bookshops.

In my experience, The University of Edinburgh was the most solid and secure stepping stone I was fortunate enough to cross on my way to the real world. The thing that made the university really stand out for me is the diversity that can be found within it. From subjects, to buildings, to staff and to students, you will meet people and experience things from all walks of life. I studied English Literature and Italian, and found myself surrounded by some of the most intelligent, passionate and genuinely caring tutors I have ever met. My course was everything I expected it to be and more. Lessons are engaging and interactive, and I felt that everything was taught and learned with a view to helping everyone improve – students and tutors alike. The genuine love that my tutors had for their subject is what I enjoyed the most. Getting taught by someone who takes a genuine interest in what they teach, who they teach and why they teach it only makes students want to engage further, and, in the end, do better. As well as this, the location of the university couldn’t be better. You will study in the centre of the city, never far from cafes, bars, shops and clubs that are never empty of new people to meet. The student union is second to none, and provides a vast array of facilities from study spaces to bars, cafes and of course nightlife events. As well as this, should you want to meet like minded people, the union sets up events for specific interests such as open mic nights and slam poetry events. Many people will also live in student accommodation for their first year and later. I lived in halls during my first year, and the people I lived with went on to become my flatmates for the rest of my university career. Halls is a fantastic opportunity to meet people from all over the world and cultivate friendships you never thought you’d make. It’s a very special experience. There is also never a shortage of different events, programs and unions to get involved in. Whatever you are interested in, and in whatever field, there is an association for absolutely everyone. I would strongly recommend joining such programs, as it opens up a whole new world of people and experiences, all the while in keeping with your specific interests. I’ve recommended the university to all of my younger peers and would continue to do so as it really is a fantastic place to study – in the heart of the cultural capital of Scotland with all the buzz of city life, but at the same time, a rural sense of community with course mates and friends. The one thing I would say is always keep an umbrella, even in summer. You are in Scotland, after all!