Edinburgh Napier University

About

Edinburgh Napier University is widely recognized for its strong career-focused approach to higher education, with particular academic strengths in business, creative industries, computing, and nursing. As a thoroughly modern institution, all of its degree programs are taught in English and incorporate practical, industry-linked learning designed to boost global employability. International students benefit from dedicated support infrastructure, including the dedicated Visa and Student Support team that assists with everything from arrival guidance to ongoing academic welfare. The university features a notably diverse campus community representing over one hundred nationalities, fostering a welcoming and multicultural environment. A distinctive characteristic that sets Edinburgh Napier apart is its multi-million-pound investment in specialized facilities—such as industry-standard TV studios, simulated hospital wards, and advanced engineering labs—ensuring students gain hands-on experience in environments that mirror the professional world.

Background

Edinburgh Napier University (Scottish Gaelic: Oilthigh Napier Dhùn Èideann) is a public university in Edinburgh, Scotland. Napier Technical College, the predecessor of the university, was founded in 1964, taking its name from 16th-century Scottish mathematician and philosopher John Napier. The technical college was inaugurated as a university in 1992 by Lord Douglas-Hamilton, becoming Napier University. In 2009, the university was renamed Edinburgh Napier University. The university is based around its three main Edinburgh campuses: Merchiston, Craiglockhart, and Sighthill. It has over 21,000 students, including those on-campus in Scotland and others studying transnational programmes abroad and online. In 2018 this included nearly 9,500 international and EU students, from more than 140 nations worldwide. Sue Rigby replaced Andrea Nolan as Principal and Vice Chancellor in January 2025.

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