On Student.com, you can find and compare student accommodation in Edinburgh from trusted landlords. Book a student apartment with us and you'll have a perfect home from which to visit Edinburgh's iconic landmarks in the old town or the award-winning restaurants of the Leith shore. Of course you’ll be studying too, so you want to make sure you find a place that’s in a good location for you. In a comfortably-sized city like Edinburgh, commutes are never too long, but to find the perfect fit for you, you can use the map function on this page to see all our accommodation options in relation to your university.

If you're looking to book student accommodation in Edinburgh, don't lose time! The earlier you book, the more options you'll have available for you, because the closer you get to your move-in date, the more places will be sold out. If you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us a message on live chat. Our booking consultants are always happy to help!

Get to know Edinburgh

Contemporary bars, music venues and art spaces blend with centuries of history and tradition in this incredible city. One of the best features of Edinburgh is that it feels historical and modern at the same time. It is located on the Firth of Forth and is the second-largest city in Scotland.

Edinburgh has a long history

Edinburgh was founded before the 7th century, but there has been some human habitation in the area over 10,000 years ago in the Mesolithic Age. It has been the capital city of Scotland since at least the 15th century. England and Scotland united to form the Kingdom of Great Britain 1707. Because of this union, the parliaments of Scotland and England were also united and sat in London.

During the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, Edinburgh became a major industrial centre. During this period it also lost its place as Scotland’s biggest city though, as Glasgow grew even more thanks to all the new industries there.

The new Scottish Parliament was founded in 1999, bringing a parliament back to Edinburgh after almost 300 years.

Edinburgh is an exciting, modern city

Today Edinburgh is the second largest city in Scotland, home to about 500,000 people in the city itself, and about 900,000 in the metropolitan area. The city centre is divided into the historical old town with its cobblestoned streets, steep hills and the famous Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle, and the new town centred around Princes Street. This whole area was listed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.

It’s not all historical charm though: Edinburgh is a vibrant, modern city with the second-strongest economy of any city in the United Kingdom, behind only London. It’s also the most educated city in the country, with 43% of the population holding a university degree or a professional qualification. So if you come to Edinburgh to study, you’ll surely find lots of like-minded people.

Things to do in Edinburgh for a student

From the iconic landmarks of ancient Old Town, to the award-winning restaurants of the Leith shore, this is a city bursting with opportunities for adventure and discovery. For a bit of history, explore the grand hallways of Edinburgh Castle before visiting The Scotch Whisky Experience on the Royal Mile, the beautiful and historic main thoroughfare of the Old Town.

To get into some sports euphoria, watch the Scottish rugby team triumph at Haymarket’s Murrayfield Stadium, or see the local football teams Hearts and Hibernian play their out-of-town rivals - or better yet, each other in the local derby.

If you’re an outdoorsy type, Edinburgh is a great destination to study in. You can get lost in the rugged wilderness of Holyrood Park and scale the famous Arthur’s Seat, an extinct volcano right next to the city centre.

Finally, don’t forget to hang out until the small hours in Cowgate’s student bars, which are a great place to have a fun night out and meet other like-minded students. Life in Edinburgh is made up of a series of magical moments that create an experience you will never forget.

Universities in Edinburgh

Scotland is a great choice for a place to study for several reasons. You can study in English, many universities are of a very high quality and Edinburgh is a great student city. QS ranked Edinburgh as the 10th best student city in the world in their 2023 Best Student Cities ranking.

University of Edinburgh

The most famous university in the city is the University of Edinburgh. It was founded back in 1583, making it the sixth-oldest university in the English-speaking world. Not only historical, but also a top university, it was ranked as the 15th best university in the world in the 2023 QS World University Rankings.

19 Nobel Prize laureates, three Turing Award winners, two Pulitzer Prize winners and several Olympic gold medalists have been affiliated with the University of Edinburgh, either as alumni or staff. Today there are more than 35,000 students, over 40% of whom are international students, so you’ll be guaranteed an international atmosphere at the University of Edinburgh.

Heriot-Watt University

The roots of Heriot-Watt University go back to 1821 and the founding of the School of Arts of Edinburgh. Heriot-Watt became a university by royal charter in 1966. It was ranked as the 281st best university in the world by QS in their 2023 World University Rankings and today more than 10,000 students study in their Edinburgh campus.

Queen Margaret University

Queen Margaret University is a public university that was founded in 1875. A new campus was opened in Musselburgh in 2007. The QS 2023 World University Rankings rank Queen Margaret as a top 1,000 university in the world.

Edinburgh Napier University

Edinburgh Napier University was founded in 1964 as Napier Technical College. It was granted university status in 1992. The QS World University Rankings ranked it as a top 1,000 university in the world in 2023.

Frequently asked questions about student accommodation in Edinburgh

How do I apply for student accommodation in Edinburgh?

Applying for accommodation on Student.com is nice and simple. Start by choosing the right property for you and click on ‘View rooms’ to go to the property page.

On the property page you can choose the room type and dates and then either click on ‘Book now’ to make a request to book it, or click on ‘Enquire’ if you still have some questions. One of our expert booking consultants will then call you to take you through the next steps. This service is totally free for you.

After you’ve had a chat with the booking consultant, we will then get the contract ready for you to sign.

Somebody I know is also going to study in Edinburgh. Can I live together with them?

Sure! Once you’ve submitted an application, you can log into our system and manage your preferences to state that you’d like to live together. Make sure your friend also does the same and states that they want to live with you.

Can I see the property before booking?

Many of the properties we list in Edinburgh have a very good selection of photos and videos on the property pages, so you’ll be able to get a good idea of what the place will look like even without seeing it for yourself.

If you would prefer to visit a property personally before booking it though, we can arrange a viewing for you. Just give us a call and our booking consultants will set it up.

What do the different room types mean?

We offer three different types of rooms in our Edinburgh properties.

A Shared Room has two or more people sleeping in separate beds in the same room. Any additional living space is also shared.

In a Private Room you have a private bedroom just for you. Depending on the property, your bathroom may be either private or shared. Other facilities are shared with other students.

If you rent the Entire Place, you will get a fully self-contained studio property. This means that all your living space as well as cooking and bathing facilities are only for you.

Do I need a guarantor?

A guarantor is a person (usually a family member) who co-signs the rent contract and is financially responsible for paying the rent if the tenant is unable to do so. Many of our properties require a guarantor if the tenant is unable to show satisfactory funds or income to support the rental payments.

Do I have to pay a deposit?

Yes, to secure your booking with your chosen property, you will be asked to pay a deposit. Your booking consultant will give you more information about it when you are ready to sign your contract.

Can I book accommodation if I’m a postgraduate student?

Yes, no problem at all. You can book any accommodation listed on Student.com as long as you are a full-time student.

Is it safe to rent student accommodation in the private sector?

We vet every housing provider we feature to ensure that you can find your perfect home. Many of the properties listed on our website were built and are managed specifically for students and all are managed by experienced landlords to make sure that you will have a great experience.

My question was not answered here. Where can I find more information?

If you have any other questions, you can check our FAQ page or contact one of our booking consultants. They are always happy to help!