Founded in 1964 as Napier Technical College (named after the historic John Napier, Mathematician, and inventor of logarithms and decimal points), the university only welcomed 800 students as its first batch of students in its first year of operation. Located at 10 Bankhead Terrace, Edinburgh EH11 4DY, United Kingdom, the university is a Scottish public university that is home to a diverse student body of up to 19,500 students coming from 140 countries.

With three main campuses in Murchison, Craig Lockhart, and Sight hill, Edinburgh Napier University was founded in 1964 as Napier Technical college. In 1992 it became a university and got its current name in 2009. Admissions at Edinburgh Napier University 19,500 students with around 48% international students representing more than 140 countries of the world.

  • The University caters to 13753 at Edinburgh Campus, 4545 through Transnational Education, 1282 students with Online classes.
  • The applications are accepted through UCAS application process and the deadline for international students is June 30. With a single option, the application fee is 13 GBP whereas more than one but up to 5 courses will 24 GBP.
  • The acceptance rate of the university is around 55.8% making the institution modestly selective.
  • The university is the largest UK education provider in Hong Kong and has supported more than 500 startups.
Edinburgh Napier University Campus

Edinburgh Napier University Rankings

In student satisfaction ratings, the university is rated 1st in Edinburgh by National Student Survey (NSS) in 2022 as 86% of the total students admitted that they were satisfied with the quality of teaching they received. Moreover, in nine programs such as Computing Science, Business Studies, Biological sciences, etc., students were reported to have a 100% satisfaction with the lecture delivery. Its international presence is also outstanding as the university is the highest United Kingdom provider of higher education in Hong Kong, providing education for over 3,000 students in Hong Kong.

Edinburgh Napier University Ranking as per different agencies are:

  • The institution is ranked at # 801-1000 in QS ratings worldwide.
    National Student Survey 2022 found 86% of students satisfied with the quality of their course placing the university at the number one slot for student satisfaction.
  • The Guardian also ranks the university highly in various courses i.e. at #1 in Film Production and Photography, at # 6 in Hospitality, Event Management, and Tourism, at # 10 in Journalism, Publishing and Public Relations, at # 5 in Media & Film Studies, and at # 7 in Music.
  • The Times higher education 2022 ranked the institution at # 601-800 in the world, 201-250 in Youth University rankings, and 151-200 in the European teaching rankings.

Highlights

Type of university Public
Location United Kingdom
Mode of Payment Direct payment, cash by post, Western Union, credit or debit card, or ePay.
Accreditation The Engineering Accreditation Board (EAB) or other recognized bodies
FAFSA Code G34184
Student population 19,500
Housing capacity 1,240 students
The average cost of attendance 28,000-30,000 GBP

Edinburgh Napier University Campus

  • Edinburgh Napier University operates with three campuses which are Craiglockhart Campus, Merchiston Campus, and Sighthill Campus.
  • The Sighthill campus is a 60 million GBP campus that was built and opened to students in 2011 and houses up to 5,000 students and personnel of the Schools of Applied Sciences and Health and Social Care
  • The three campuses house several outstanding facilities such as sports science labs, newsroom, 200- and 400-seat lecture theaters, life-like hospital wards, Biotech laboratories, clinical skills suite, [EN]GAGE sports center, Jack Kilby Computing Center, Bright Red Triangle business incubator, multimedia and language laboratories, soundproofed industry-standard music studios, and lots more
  • There are 26 sports clubs made available to students at Edinburgh Napier through the Edinburgh Napier Students’ Association (ENSA) and the teams compete in varsity competitions
  • Various student societies such as Feminist Society, Islamic Association, Southern Asian Society, Techno Society, etc., are made available at the university and there are 38 student societies in number.
  • Presently, the university is home to 19,500 that come from up to 140 countries schooling in the university’s three campuses

Edinburgh Napier University Residence

  • Edinburgh Napier makes available three residence halls owned and operated by the university. These halls house up to 1,240 students presently
  • Rooms are provided as standard en suite, studio flats, co-ed halls, single bedrooms, and twin/shared en suite bedrooms
  • Some facilities provided at the university accommodations include TVs, CCTV, 24-hour security service, laundry service, fridge/freezer, vacuum cleaner, iron and ironing board, communal areas, Wi-Fi, heating equipment, and meeting rooms,
  • Basic room features include a desk, wardrobe, bookshelves, a bed, study chair, blinds, drawers, and pinboard.
  • Support and accessible accommodation are provided for students with disabilities as well as technological and on-course support

Edinburgh Napier University Programs

  • Offered at the university are 153 undergraduate programs and 162 graduate programs made available at the university as well as graduate research opportunities
  • Also available at the university are ten distance learning options, PGDE programs, 41 online learning programs, as well as short courses and graduate apprenticeships too
  • There are several specializations of MBA programs offered at Edinburgh Napier and some of them are MBA in professional MBA (full-time), Engineering Management (full-time), Criminal Justice (Online), Health Management (online), Leadership and Innovation (online), Banking (online), Entrepreneurship (online), Events Management Marketing (online), Finance (online), and seven other specializations
  • Programs are offered in 20 study areas which are but not limited to Engineering, Biosciences, Acting, Law, Accounting and Finance, Vet Nursing, Teaching, etc.

The estimated cost of attendance is as follows for international students:

Expenses Amount (GBP)
Tuition 13,700-18,000
Housing and Meals 12,600
Health Insurance 2,000
Books and Supplies 1,000
Personal Expenses and Transportation 2,000

Edinburgh Napier University Application process

Application portal:

Application fee:

  • Undergraduate: 13 GBP to 24 GBP
  • Graduate: Not available

Supporting documents:

  • Academic transcripts and certificates
  • References
  • English proficiency proof
  • Personal statement of purpose
  • CV or resume
  • Interview or portfolio (if required)
  • Copy of passport/visa
  • Copy of CAS (if applicable)

Academic requirements:

  • Undergraduate: Overall of 60% in Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) or higher in the Intermediate (10+2) (XII Standard) or the international United Kingdom equivalent.
  • Graduate: Bachelor degree or its equivalent

English Proficiency Test Scores 

For taught undergraduate and graduate programs, any one of the following test scores are required:

Accepted tests Minimum required scores
IELTS  Overall, of 6.0 with no element lower than 5.5
TOEFL iBT Overall, of 80 with a minimum of 17 in listening, 20 in speaking, 18 in reading, and 17 in writing
Pearson’s Test of Academic  Overall, of 56 with a minimum of 51 in each element
Cambridge C2 Proficiency (or Cambridge English Proficiency (CPE)) Overall, of 169 with a minimum of 162 in each element
Cambridge B2 First (or Cambridge English First (FCE)) Overall, of 169 with a minimum of 162 in each element
Cambridge C1 Advanced (or Cambridge English Advanced (CAE)) Overall, of 169 with a minimum of 162 in each element
Trinity Integrated Skills Test (ISE) ISEII, ISEIII, ISEIV with a pass in each element

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, other tests that are accepted by the university include TOEFL ‘At Home’ Test (same scores as of TOEFL iBT), IELTS Indicator (same scores as of TOEFL iBT), online Edinburgh Napier English Language Courses, Duolingo, and IELTS Academic tests taken more than two years but less than four years will be considered with the use of English language in work or education during that period playing a big role.

Duolingo test and its IELTS Equivalent

IELTS score Duolingo equivalent
6.0 with no subsection lower than 5.5 95-105
6.5 with no subsection lower than 6.0 105-115
7.0 with no subsection lower than 6.5 115-125
7.5 with no subsection lower than 7.0 125-135

Edinburgh Napier University Cost of Attendance

The table below shows the estimated cost of living in UK while attending the institute. The cost is presented annually and may vary according to the needs of individuals.

Item Amount per annum in GBP
Tuition fees 15,522-17,472
Accommodation, Food, Transportation, Books and Supplies, Insurance, etc. 12,600
Total 28,122-30,072

Edinburgh Napier University Financial Aids

  • Excluding students from partner universities, a tuition discount of 500 GBP is made available to students that make payments at least 30 days before matriculation
  • Types of aids open to international students at Edinburgh Napier are waivers, bursaries, grants, discounts, and scholarships

Some of the scholarships for international students include:

  • South Asia Scholarship: This is a scholarship that excludes students studying MBA (Engineering Management), MBA (Strategic Project Management) and MBA (Leadership Practice), and it is awarded to students from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka who are self-funding students. The scholarship lasts for a year and the value ranges from 2,000 GBP to 3,000 GBP. Students must from the eligible countries and hold an offer to study an undergraduate, masters, or Ph.D. programs. Students must possess an HSC certificate or CGPA of 60% and above to qualify for the scholarship. This is an automatic entrance scholarship and thus, it requires a separate application.
  • Scotland’s Saltire Scholarship: Available to students from Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Pakistan, and the United States of America. These awards are 50 numbers each year with an individual value of 8,000 GBP for only one year of study. To be eligible, the student must hold a conditional or unconditional offer to study a master's degree at the university, pass the language requirements for the program, must not have received a Saltire scholarship or studied an undergraduate degree at Scotland, and must be able to show proof of financial ability to cater for living costs and tuition fees.

Edinburgh Napier University Alumni Network

The institute has an Alumni association and being a part of it, one can enjoy benefits such as:

  • Exclusive networks and events
  • Free access to the University's business incubator and a hub for enterprise and innovation called Bright Red Triangle
  • 20% tuition discount on graduate programs. PGDE programs are excluded from this discount
  • Unique alumni library access. Alumni get free library access for the first year after graduation and then get 50% off library membership for life.
  • 30% discount off gym fees

Notable alumni include:

  • Gordon Hurst - President, MiCOM Labs
  • Mark McLaughlin – Journalist
  • Catriona Shearer -Journalist
  • Lynsey Sharp –Track and field athlete

Edinburgh Napier University Placements

  • Edinburgh Napier participates in the Santander Universities SME Internship Program; a program that is aimed at linking up graduates and students to promising enterprises in the United Kingdom as a springboard to their careers
  • According to HESA data in 2017, 95% and 96.2% of the university’s undergraduates and graduates respectively were in further studies or had a job six months after graduation.
  • Payscale data reveals that on average, the yearly salary of Edinburgh Napier graduates is 29,789 GBP
  • Edinburgh Napier graduates working as Finance Control & Strategy professionals earn a yearly average of 56,000 GBP (70,000 USD) according to Emolument
  • The university partners with various industries to provide internships and jobs to the students.
  • There is a portal for placing the employers and students on one platform so they can choose mutually suitable jobs.

Following are the approximate salary scales received by the university graduates:

Areas Salaries in USD
Finance Control & Strategy 70,000
IT & Software Development 69,000
Architecture, Real Estate & Design jobs 66,000
Executive Management & Change 61,000
Compliance, AML, KYC & Monitoring 59,000
Sales and Business Development 55,000

The industry and community organizations, as well as the Alumni, also helps the students in finding the right career i.e .internships, jobs, or higher studies. The university has a 95% employability rate.

FAQs

Ques. What is the admission application fee of the university?

Ans. The university charges 13 GBP for its admission application fees.

Ques. Is it easy to find work after graduating from the university?

Ans. 95% of undergraduate and 96.2% of postgraduate students of the university are able to settle for a career within six months of their graduation.

Ques. What is the academic calendar of the university?

Ans. The university runs on a trimester system and Trimester 1 is from 7 September 2022 – 19 December 2022, Trimester 2 is from 18 January 2023 – 15 May 2023 and Trimester 3 will be from 31 May 2023 - 28 August 2023

Ques. What is the average tuition cost at the university?

Ans. The tuition cost is around 14-18,00 GBP.

Ques. What are some of the popular study areas at the university?

Ans. Accounting and Finance, Acting, Biosciences, Building and Surveying, Business and Management, Computing, Criminology Psychology and Sociology, Design, Photography & Advertising, Engineering English, Creative Writing and Publishing, Film, Journalism and Media, Health and Social Care, Law, Music and Nursing and Midwifery are some of the popular study areas at the university.

Ques. Is it easy to get admission to the university?

Ans. The university has an acceptance rate of about 55.8% and is quite competitive for seeking admission.

Ques. What happens after I submit my application to UCAS?

Ans. UCAS acknowledges your application and sends a copy to the university for processing your application. You can track the application and decisions on UCAS track site.

Ques. Is Edinburgh Napier University the same as Edinburgh University?

Ans. Yes, The university was renamed in 2009 as its current name.

Ques. Is Edinburgh Napier a big university?

Ans. The university has three campuses and around 20,000 students.

The industry and community organizations, as well as the Alumni, also helps the students in finding the right career i.e .internships, jobs, or higher studies. The university has a 95% employability rate.