Edinburgh Napier University

Overview

Located in Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh Napier benefits from everything Edinburgh has to offer, from the stunning architecture to lively nightlife and excellent transport connections. The university itself is staffed by expert researchers with strong industry links, offering students plenty of chances to develop their employability during their studies.

With three campuses across Edinburgh in Craiglockhart, Merchiston and Sighthill, there are a wide range of facilities available to students. Each campus is home to its own purpose-built facilities, and the student accommodation on offer is spread in and around the city so you’ll be able to find something that suits you.

The uni also offers a range of student wellbeing and academic support to ensure you receive support in every area during your studies. They recently ranked 27th in the UK for student satisfaction according to Complete University Guide’s 2024 league tables, demonstrating their commitment towards the student experience.

 Edinburgh Napier prides itself on its diversity and enterprising and innovative community of staff and students. Over 140 countries are represented across its student body, be that on its three campuses, online or at partner universities located across the world. Their aim is to provide difference-making and meaningful education to support students to be innovators at the local, national and global level in a rapidly changing world.

The courses at Edinburgh Napier are split across five different schools, the Business School, the School of Applied Sciences, the School of Arts and Creative Industries, the School of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment and the School of Health & Social Care. In total, the university offers around 80 different undergraduate courses across these five schools, so there are plenty of subjects covered.

Usually, you’ll be doing a mixture of lecture-based learning and seminars. Depending on the course you’re studying, you may also be doing practical work such as lab-based work or field studies. Many courses at Edinburgh Napier have the option to do a work placement as part of your course. You may also have the option to volunteer on your course.

Depending on the course you’re studying, you may also have the option to study abroad. These opportunities would normally be in your second or third year, and you may be able to choose whether you go abroad for one trimester or two.

The entry requirements for this uni vary depending on the course you want to study. Typically, courses require between 72 ad 136 UCAS points. For most courses, you’ll need to have a GCSE in English language and maths at grade C/4 or above, and there may also be subject-specific requirements. For example, to study animal and conservation biology, you would need to hold an A-level or equivalent qualification in biology, chemistry, physics or applied science.

The university also has a contextual admissions policy, where students may be eligible for adjusted entry requirements. These requirements are usually two grades below the typical entry requirements for the course. Students eligible for these contextual offers will be one of the following:

• A care-experienced student
• A carer
• Eligible through Lothian Equal Access Programme for Schools
• Applying via SWAP
• Attended a high school with low progression to Higher Education according to the nationwide Schools for Higher Education Programme
• Living in an MD20 (high deprivation) area
• Have government-recognised refugee or asylum status

These criteria may be changed by the university, so always check their website for full eligibility criteria. You can reach out to their admissions team with any queries.

The uni has four different halls of accommodation in and around the city centre. These are Slateford Road, Capitol Students, Bainfield and Orwell Terrace.

Slateford Road is offered for postgraduates and undergraduates aged over 20, or nursing students. Rooms are en-suite or studio and priced between £179.20 per week and £197.33 per week.

The Capitol Students residences are split into Gorgie and Westfield. Both offer ensuite rooms priced at £179.20 per week. Both buildings are new, with Westfield opening in 2022 and Gorgie opening in 2023. These accommodations are closest to the Sighthill Campus and located a 10-15 minute bus ride from the city centre.

Bainfield offers ensuite rooms for £179.20 per week, or studio flats for £197.33 per week, and is suitable for undergraduates aged 19 or below.

Finally, Orwell Terrace has the choice of a twin/shared en-suite room, or a standard en-suite room. The twin rooms are priced at £116.69 per person per week, while the standard rooms are £179.20 per week. These rooms are also relatively new, with the development built new in 2016.

You can also choose to rent privately in and around the city. Prices for this will vary depending on location, property size and number of tenants at the property.

Edinburgh Napier offers Student Futures, a dedicated group of employability experts. They support students to engage in professional development and prepare themselves for the world of work. Using their digital Student Futures Careers Hub, students can make use of interactive careers support, book one-to-one guidance meetings, book a place at employer events and search for part-time and graduate vacancies.

Many courses also offer the chance to undertake a work placement. The Placements team is on hand to help you find a relevant work placement and will support you through all stages of the process from researching potential placements through to securing one and preparing for your first day.

The uni has also partnered with EmployAbility to support disabled students with graduate employment. Using this service, you can get personalised advice and support regarding adjustments, your rights and job applications. The team are also able to advocate on your behalf with an employer to ensure the adjustments you need are put in place.

Edinburgh Napier offers a range of scholarships and bursaries to support students through their degrees. For Home undergraduate students, the university offers the OAS Craighlockhart Scholarship for self-funding students who are the partner or spouse of serving military personnel and wish to study at the Business School. This scholarship is worth up to £30,000, paid in instalments over three years.

You may also be able to apply for additional funding from your student finance body if you’re a care-experienced student, disabled, studying certain healthcare courses, caring for another adult, estranged from family or a parent. You may need to meet residency and other eligibility criteria to apply for these.

Scholarships and bursaries are non-repayable and are usually additional to any support you’re entitled to from student finance. For the best updates on the scholarships and bursaries available, as well as the eligibility criteria, check the funding page on Edinburgh Napier’s website.