Edinburgh University - In Depth
Founded: 1583.
Site: Main sites: city centre (majority of buildings); King's Buildings, 2 miles south (science and engineering); New College in city centre (divinity); Holyrood in city centre (education); Little France, 4 miles south (medicine).
How to get there: Easily accessible by train or coach from all over the UK: Waverley railway station and central bus station (St Andrew's Square) nearby. Airport 8 miles (cheap flights from London and other centres).
Academic features: Over 300 degree programmes, including more than 200 joint degrees.
Awarding body: Edinburgh University.
Main undergraduate awards: BA, BD, BEd, BEng, BMus, BN, BSc, BV&MS, LLB, MA, MBChB, MEng, MChem, MChemPhys, MPhys.
Length of courses: 4 years (hons), 3 years (general); 5 years (medicine, veterinary medicine, fine art, MEng, MPhys, MChem, MChemPhys).
Library & information services: Main library (largest university library in Scotland), also various site libraries. 3+ million volumes, journals and pamphlets, long and short loan services. Library online www.lib.ed.ac.uk. Annual expenditure on information provision, £153 per (FTE) student. Ratio workstations to students 1:7, access up to 24 hours/day; technical IT staff support when facilities are open. 15,000 points university-wide with Internet access. Online and print instruction on services available. IT skills courses for beginners and on software packages.
Specialist collections: Special collections and archives in all subjects (main library); Reid music library, Erskine medical library, Europa Institute library, New College (divinity); Russell collection of early keyboard instruments; also historic collection of wind instruments; Talbot Rice Art Gallery with permanent and visiting exhibitions of contemporary art; Cockburn museum of geology; Natural History museum.
Study abroad: Formal exchange links with over 150 European universities/colleges and wide links with N America, Japan, Singapore, China, New Zealand and Australia, many open to non-language specialists. Member of Coimbra Group and Universitas 21.
Careers: Provides career education, information and guidance; employer information and vacancies; further study information and skills/career insight courses.
Student advice & services: Nursery, student counselling service, drop-in advice centres. Disability office arranges support, including financial help from the disabled student support fund.
Amenities: SA bars, shops, catering, club venues. 170 societies, 51 sports clubs, sports centre, playing fields, outdoor pursuits centre on Loch Tay, chaplaincy centre.
Accommodation: All first years from outside the Edinburgh area are guaranteed an offer of university accommodation (if they apply by deadline), 30% of all students. 5800 places available (3800 for first years), all academic year-long contracts: 1950 full-board places at £105-£120 per week; 2000 self-catering places at £67-£77 pw. University flats or private flats after first year, £56-£60 pw. Under 20% of first degree students live at home.
Living expenses budget: Minimum budget of £5200 pa (excluding tuition fees) recommended by university.
Term-time work: University allows term-time work for full-time students (35% believed to work); limit of 15 hours per week max. Some work available on campus; also university student employment service.
Financial help: Total available £470,00 government hardship funds; £296,000 mature students' bursary fund help those with children, mature students, those in extreme need; some help for international students. Amounts awarded £500-£3000. Apply for help to EUSA Advice Place or visit www.scholarships.ed.ac.uk.
Tuition fees: Scottish and EU students pay no fees during course; other UK home students up to £1200 pa for first degrees (in 2005). International students pay £8,550 pa (classroom), £11,250 (lab/studio). £20,450 (clinical).
