About the University of Edinburgh

Our vision

Our graduates, and the knowledge we discover with our partners, make the world a better place.

Our purpose

As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. We will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.

Our University, then and now

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We have more than 400 years of excellence behind us.  Founded by the city of Edinburgh in 1583, we were the first true civic university in the UK and one of the four ancient universities of Scotland. Our collegial and collaborative approach established entirely new subject areas from geology to epigenetics. Since that time, we have made significant and sustained contributions to a huge range of societal challenges. We have worked to tackle malaria and diabetes and helped improve youth justice. We have contributed to work on global sustainable development and the use of solar power to give displaced communities in camps access to mobile communication.

Members of our community go on to benefit society as engineers, teachers, social entrepreneurs, artists, medics and agents of change. We are the home of Britain’s oldest literary awards, the James Tait Black Prizes, and of Dolly the sheep. Chrystal Macmillan, suffragist and founder of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, was our first female science graduate in 1896.  In 2013, our Emeritus Professor, theoretical physicist Peter Higgs, was jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his 1964 prediction of the Higgs Boson. Our world is faced with a variety of significant and complex challenges, from rising inequality and the mass displacement of people, to climate change and the emergence of artificial intelligence. Established ways of thinking must be challenged, and as a university we are reflecting on what needs to change (and what does not) as we move forward. To respond to these challenges and do justice to future generations, we need to adapt and work in new ways. We will work through new partnerships with local authorities, third sector, and business, both nationally and internationally.  

More information about the University’s strategy 

Our reputation

The University of Edinburgh is consistently ranked as one of the foremost Universities in the world across a range of international indicators. The dedication of the University to world-leading research, best in class teaching and student experience and the pursuit of academic excellence are reflected in such standings, with the 2020 QS rankings placing the University 20th globally, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings at 30th in the world and 17th in the UK. The pursuit of excellence and innovation permeates all activity the University undertakes.

Our people profile

In session 2020/21, we had 45,615 students, which comprised: 26,850 undergraduate; 12,920 taught postgraduate; and 5,845 research postgraduate.  There’s a high degree of diversity amongst our students, where over 20,000 students join us from overseas and over 20,000 students join us from within the UK.  There’s also a high degree of diversity amongst our staff and we currently employ approximately 15,000 staff across 3 Colleges and 3 Professional Services Groups.  

It is our students, staff, alumni, friends and supporters who make this University what it is. The University of Edinburgh has been an inspiration to this special community of people for generations and is known well beyond these shores for its substantial and sustained contributions to making the world a better place. I expect it to continue to be long into the future.

Professor Peter Mathieson

Our commitment to equality, diversity & inclusion

The University of Edinburgh has a strong and long-standing commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and to promoting a positive environment, which ensures fairness, challenges prejudice, and celebrates difference. Our staff and students are our greatest strength and inspiration and all members of the University community should expect to be able to excel, to be respected and valued for their unique perspectives and contributions. We promote equity and social justice, seeking to remove structural barriers, eliminate discrimination and create an inclusive culture. We do this through visibly mainstreaming equality, diversity and inclusion in all that we do and encourage all staff and students to engage in these efforts.  The University is a proud holder of an AdvanceHE Athena SWAN Institutional Silver award, the first and only University in Scotland to hold this level of award, which recognises our work to address gender equality in higher education. We are committed members of the AdvanceHE Race Equality Charter, and we have an ambitious action plan to progress race equality and anti-racism throughout our institution. We are also recognised as a Stonewall Diversity Champion and a Carer Positive Employer, and have many active equality-related staff/student networks and committees.

Our city

Edinburgh is a major European capital. Consistently named as one of the best places to live and work in the UK, it is a beautiful city, notable for fine Georgian and Victorian architecture, striking parks and gardens.  Here, you’ll find a royal palace, a cliff-top castle and an extinct volcano - all in the heart of the city. You’ll also find the Scottish Parliament, housed in an iconic piece of modern design. With its stunning architecture, and winding medieval streets, it’s easy to see why Edinburgh has been listed as a World Heritage Site.  With four universities, major international arts and science festivals, world class galleries, theatres and concert halls, Edinburgh has a modern dynamism within its historic streets. People from all over the world have settled here, resulting in a strong diversity amongst bars, cafés and restaurants. It has all the advantages of a major European capital, yet is small in scale - only half a million people.  Beyond the city boundaries, Scotland is a land of rugged beauty, one of Europe’s great wildernesses with mountains, lochs and seven thousand miles of stunning coastline .