There is a serious work ethic at Edinburgh Napier University thanks to an emphasis on industry-focused courses with embedded placements, which translates to a top 50 rank for graduate outcomes. In keeping with its career-driven ethos, the university offers eight graduate apprenticeships (known as degree apprenticeships in England and Wales), including in cybersecurity; civil engineering; and software development.

Founded in 1964 as Napier Technical College and a university since 1992, Edinburgh Napier is looking to the future with its Project VISION strategy. Under the blueprint, all teaching, research and technology and planning investment is being assessed — which in practical terms will mean bigger spending on facilities to boost learning and the wider student experience.

What is Edinburgh Napier University’s reputation?

Edinburgh Napier already has a strong record in the annual National Student Survey (NSS), and its latest results yet again put it in front of the other Edinburgh universities. In our analysis of 2024’s NSS the university is 53rd for satisfaction with teaching quality and 48= for the broad undergraduate experience. In our new NSS analysis the university is 53rd for satisfaction with teaching quality and 48= for the broad undergraduate experience.

The university boosted its research reputation in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021); its results showed one of the biggest improvements compared with the previous national assessment, in 2014. The proportion of work achieving world-leading or internationally excellent) rose from 53 per cent in 2014 to 68 per cent in 2021 — rising 21 places to 74th in our research quality index. Building, land and property management, and town and country planning produced some of the best results.   

What degree courses have been discontinued and what new courses are available?

Degrees in intercultural business communication and marketing management or tourism management welcomed their first students in September 2024.

What are Edinburgh Napier University’s entry requirements — and my chances of getting in?

Scottish Highers entry requirements range from BBC up to AABB. The university publishes two offer levels for courses: standard and minimum. To be eligible for the minimum requirement, which is two to three grades lower than standard, applicants need to meet one of a range of contextual admissions criteria. About 15 per cent of students were admitted through clearing.

What are the graduate prospects? 

Analysis of the latest Graduate Outcomes survey shows that Edinburgh Napier is 41st in our graduate prospects table, with 80 per cent of graduates in highly skilled jobs or further study within 15 months, a strong performance despite a two-place fall in rank from a year ago. Work placements and other career-related experiences are rooted in degrees and students have access to a dedicated placements team.  

What is Edinburgh Napier University’s campus like?

Merchiston, one of the university’s three campuses, hosts creative arts subjects. Screen Academy Scotland, run in partnership with Edinburgh College of Art (now part of the University of Edinburgh), also operates from the campus in trendy Bruntsfield, where facilities include soundproofed music studios and a broadcast journalism newsroom. 

Computing students have access to the latest hardware, software and expertise. The 500-seat computer centre, open 24/7, has a Cyber Academy, cyberattack simulation suite and computer games laboratory. Students have the opportunity for a year-long, credit-bearing work placement in their third year. The undergraduate degree in cybersecurity and forensics was the first in the UK to be fully certified by the National Cyber Security Centre, part of GCHQ.

Overlooking Edinburgh, the Craiglockhart campus hosts the Business School, featuring a curved lecture theatre known as the Egg. Sighthill, 20 minutes away by tram, has fantastic views of the city and is the base for the schools of nursing, midwifery and social care, complete with mock hospital wards and a high-dependency unit. 

Everything you need to know about Edinburgh Napier University’s student life and wellbeing support

Students are in the heart of vibrant Edinburgh, one of the world’s leading student cities, which offers a social scene for all tastes. Buses connect all three campuses to the city centre. 

At the Sighthill campus a performance gym and sports hall offer a range of classes and indoor sports. There are also two fitness studios and all facilities are accessible for wheelchairs. American football, cricket, football, golf, gymnastics and rugby are on offer. The arts are well supported, with 12 music practice rooms, plus music studios with industry-standard equipment; film edit rooms and sound suites; and design spaces and workshops fitted with 3D printers and workbenches among other essentials. 

Students can access support for wellbeing and mental health through the intranet, including counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness. All new students may take online courses relating to sexual consent and harassment when they enrol.

What do the students say?

“Edinburgh is a vibrant, inclusive city for student life, irrespective of gender, ethnicity or sexuality. Scotland is a cold place with extremely warm-hearted people.”
Geou Akshil SK, Edinburgh Napier student president and master’s graduate of renewable energy engineering

What about student accommodation at Edinburgh Napier University?

Student accommodation is at three halls of residence: Bainfield; Slateford Road, for nursing students and postgraduates; and Orwell Terrace, which is predominantly for the over-20s. The university can guarantee a space to all first-years from outside Edinburgh who apply by the deadline.

How diverse and inclusive is Edinburgh Napier University?

The university’s drive to increase the numbers from underrepresented groups continues. Outreach activities in schools and colleges in the southeast of Scotland are designed to raise aspirations and promote routes into higher education. The university is sixth in our Scottish social inclusion index 2024.  

Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at Edinburgh Napier University

While undergraduates from Scotland are eligible for the national scheme for financial help, students from the rest of the UK and Ireland qualify for the university’s attractive financial packages — paying tuition fees for only three years of their four-year degree course, and cash awards of up to £3,000. The level of support depends on students’ financial circumstances and achievement. About 80 per cent of students from the rest of the UK tend to be eligible for some form of university-funded financial help. 

There are also merit bursaries of £1,000 per year of study for those who achieve at least BBB at A-level or equivalent qualifications.