Opinions on Edinburgh Uni

[amandaland]

Hi all, DD has received an offer from Edinburgh uni and loves the city so is very keen on going there. However, I have anecdotally heard some negatives about the uni being poor in teaching/ student satisfaction as well as being potentially posh and exclusionary (something to do with controversy with its newspaper)

We are from London so it would be a long way and DD is naturally shy but thinks it could be a good way to come out of her shell. Also we are by no means affluent and she has attended the local comp so would maybe not really align with the supposed posh southerner stereotype and she would hope to be with people from a range of backgrounds and places.

Anyone with experiences or opinions on the uni would be much appreciated!

Awful news for a UK university of historical excellence, @JessyCarr Thank you for sharing.

OP, if still possible I would wait to see whether DD’s programme is affected. Also, centralisation of services is about the least dramatic option mentioned in @JessyCarr ’s link. How much that affects students depends largely on whether Student Services become depersonalised. Attending an Offer Holder Day after the dust settles might be an especially good idea now for Edinburgh.

DS is still waiting to hear from Edinburgh for human geography. He loved the open day and is very keen… however he has 4 other offers from great unis. That said, I do hope he ends up at Edinburgh… def my first choice!

@Umbilicat yes the reason I keep an eye out for these things is that my DD will be applying for a niche course in 2026. Although the whole sector is suffering, the pain isn’t evenly spread - so I do think it is worth keeping feelers out.

My dd is in her first year physics. She loves it. We are from Sheffield, comfortable but not affluent and she went to a comp. She has made loads of friends, has a good and flexible part time job and is absolutely living her best life.

I'm an Edinburgh graduate, albeit 20years ago. The university is highly regarded, the teaching is good and the facilities are excellent.

However, as a local student I felt alienated and othered. It was very snobby, almost like an old boys club. For example I had my accent mocked, shamed for having to have a part time job, and laughed at for not having travelled outside of Europe. There has been lots of recent press on this issue so it hasn't got any better

I came out with an excellent degree but if I was to choose again I might go somewhere where my working-class face would fit better as it wasn't an easy ride.

You’re very sensible, everyone should be checking these things out at any university that DC is thinking of applying to if the course isn’t anyway not 100% mainstream

I went to Edinburgh Uni a LONG time ago so can't speak to current teaching scores etc but I couldn't have asked for a better uni experience in terms of the city itself (still one of my favourite places on earth) and the friends I made. I was v working class and yes there were lots of posh people we called them 'Yahs' but also plenty of people from all other demographics. My main and extended friendship group was made up of people from a total mix of backgrounds and i am still in touch with several of them 20 years on

Every university in the UK is facing cutbacks due to the increased costs. Anyone thinking of applying to a niche course in any university should be reconsidering or, at the very least, keeping a close eye on developments.

Edinburgh will be one of the least affected universities. Oxbridge and Imperial will be fine.

DD is a current Edinburgh student and loves it. She is non posh privately educated and definitely found her tribe there. It is a great place to be a student I think, halls in first year to meet a wide range of freshers from different courses and the city is small enough to walk everywhere. They even walk to Portobello to have barbecues on the beach. The Uni were very helpful when she wanted to change course in her 2nd year. She will end up spending 5 years there for her degree. Don’t think she is planning to stay in Edinburgh after that but will have loved her time there.

My daughter absolutely loved Edinburgh. Yes there are some incredibly posh students but lots of state school pupils too. She definitely shared with a real mix of people of different backgrounds but I don't think that's a bad thing. They all got on together. There will probably be some snobby people who will only mix with their own type but who cares. I always find it sad when people feel they wouldn't go just because they feel they would be the odd one out.

that's spot on how I feel @Gingertam ! it would be a shame if she didn't go due to a fear of not fitting it despite loving the uni and course

I studied at Edinburgh and live and work in the area still. The affluent kids have always been there, it's not a new thing (called them the yahs in our day). The uni is big enough for all types and backgrounds. I met some of my best friends for life, some affluent some not. It's a wonderful university and a wonderful place.

My youngest is in his first year at Edinburgh ( 2nd year entry). Went to an ordinary London comp. He hasn’t found there has been an issue with the mix of students there, he is loving it! There is a study week before the end of term exams in Autumn term (my DS came home) and they have a study week next week. We are going to visit him. The third term has a revision week at the beginning and this is followed by end of year exams.