One of four universities in the Scottish capital, Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) has gained eight places in our academic league table, nearly breaking into the top 50. A serious work ethic underpins student life thanks to an emphasis on industry-focused courses with embedded placements across a wide range of industries. 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. Hands-on learning facilities are dotted around the three main campuses training students in wide-ranging specialisms from clinical skills for nursing and midwifery, to film production.
Founded in 1964 as Napier Technical College and a university since 1992, ENU takes the majority of its undergraduates from Scotland, but to sweeten the deal for those from the rest of the UK and Ireland, tuition fees are waived in the fourth year and there are merit bursaries of £1,000 per year of study for those who achieve at least BBB at A-level, or equivalent qualifications.
What is Edinburgh Napier University’s reputation?
Named after the 16th-century mathematician and philosopher John Napier, the university boosted its research reputation in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), achieving one of the sector’s biggest improvements compared with the previous national assessment. The proportion of its work rated world-leading or internationally excellent rose from 53 per cent in 2014 to 68 per cent in 2021 — rising 21 places to 73= in our research quality index. Some of the best results were found in building, land and property management; and town and country planning.
But rates of student satisfaction took a dive in the latest National Student Survey (NSS), and ENU ranks 92= for satisfaction with teaching quality (down 39 places) and 85= for the broad undergraduate experience (a 37-place drop).
What degree courses have been discontinued and what new courses are available?
New from September 2025 are degrees in international hospitality management; and international tourism and airline management (both based at City of Glasgow College); and accounting (at West Lothian College).
What are Edinburgh Napier University’s entry requirements — and my chances of getting in?
Scottish Highers entry requirements range from AABB to BBC. The university publishes two offer levels for courses: standard and minimum, which are two to three grades lower. About 12 per cent of students were admitted through clearing in 2024.
What are the graduate prospects?
Analysis of the Graduate Outcomes survey puts Edinburgh Napier in 41st place in our graduate prospects table, with 80 per cent of graduates in highly skilled jobs or further study within 15 months. Work placements and other career-related experiences are embedded in degrees and students have access to a dedicated placements team.
A career focus is evident in ENU’s stable of eight graduate apprenticeships (equivalent to degree apprenticeships in England and Wales, in fields such as cybersecurity; civil engineering; and software development.
What is Edinburgh Napier University’s campus like?
Students are in the thick of one of Britain’s leading student cities, packed with culture and known for its warm welcome.
Merchiston hosts creative arts subjects; engineering and the built environment; and computing. Screen Academy Scotland, run in partnership with Edinburgh College of Art (now part of the University of Edinburgh), also operates from the campus, 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 computing or surveying work placement in their third year.
Overlooking Edinburgh, the Craiglockhart campus hosts the Business School, featuring the curved, titanium-covered Egg, a lecture theatre. 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.
When can I visit?
napier.ac.uk
Everything you need to know about Edinburgh Napier University’s student life and wellbeing support
Arts and culture are well supported at ENU, with 12 music practice rooms, plus studios with industry-standard equipment; film editing rooms and sound suites; and design spaces and workshops fitted with 3D printers and workbenches.
Sports include American football, cricket, football, golf, gymnastics and rugby. 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.
A team of three mental health advisers work closely with academic staff to meet students’ needs as they may change over the course of their degree. Workshops help students tackle any difficulties with sleep, handling change, loneliness or procrastination, and there are also one-to-one services..
What do the students say?
“Edinburgh Napier is a dynamic and inclusive university where students are empowered to grow academically and professionally."
Evans Eghan, president (societies and community), Edinburgh Napier Students’ Association (Ensa)
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 stays steady in sixth place in our Scottish social inclusion index.
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 £2,000. The level of support depends on students’ financial circumstances and achievement. About 80 per cent of students from the rest of the UK are likely to be eligible for some form of university-funded financial help.
