Edinburgh University - Student Life

Housing: First years usually in halls of residence. Large number of furnished flats/houses owned or approved by Student Accommodation Services (look also on Union noticeboards, newspapers), some for married students. University accommodation generally excellent. Eats: Meals from £1.50 in Union houses daily. Many good restaurants in Edinburgh.

Drink: Union bars cheap (£1.55+ a pint, even cheaper with frequent promotions).

Nightlife: All Unions have clubs at night: Teviot Fridays; Pleasance Comedy; Big Cheese and Funk Train at Potterrow.

Locals: Fine. Best to avoid Cowgate or Meadows at 4am. Sports: Sports union boasts huge range of facilities and clubs. Sports facilities at newly refurbished King's Buildings House and Commonwealth Pool.

Travel: Many exchange schemes. Many discounts through Edinburgh Travel Centre. Hardship fund: Small university short-term loans and crisis funds for students in desperate long-term financial need.

Jobs: Large number of on-campus jobs, huge number off-campus - if you want a job you can generally find one: 30% get paid work during term-time (many get bar job). Majority get employment for at least part of the summer (eg tourist industry and Festival). Student Employment Service helps find part-time jobs, maximum 15 hours per week in term-time.

Annual living costs: The minimum amount students say you need to live on each year (covering all living expenses but excluding tuition fees) is £4000.

Buzzwords: EUSA (Yoo-sah), Edinburgh University Students Association; Pollock (main halls of residence); KB (King's Buildings ie science campus).

Best features: Good social life.

And worst: Cold, frosty weather.

Good news: University access bursaries.

More info: Ring EUSA office on Tel: 0131 650 2656 or check out website at: www.eusa.ed.ac.uk

Past students: David Hume (philosopher), Charles Darwin, James Africanus Horton (first African graduate from a British university), Sally Magnusson (TV journalist), Peter Roget (of Thesaurus), Sir David Steel, Sir Walter Scott, Sir James Briary, Robert Louis Stevenson, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Malcolm Rifkind, David Livingstone, Gordon Brown.