What's it REALLY like to study in historic Edinburgh, Scotland?

With its Gothic beauty and top universities, Edinburgh is a dream destination for many international students. But what's it like to ACTUALLY study there? Euromaxx reporter Clare Trelawny-Gower meets some students for the lowdown on student life, costs, socializing, and if students are lacking in vitamin D.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
00:50 Why Edinburgh?
01:59 Facts & figures
02:45 Living costs
04:08 Nightlife & student societies

#DWStudyinginEurope #DWEuromaxx #Edinburgh
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CREDITS
Report: Clare Trelawny-Gower
Camera: Neven Hillebrands
Edit: Marvin Stamer
Supervising Editor: Mirja Viehweger
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[anibalopina]

The university’s changed quite a bit, hasn’t it? I studied philosophy in Edinburgh before Brexit, and back then, EU students – Scots included – didn’t pay a penny for their undergrad courses. Now, Europeans are paying the same as us international students. It’s hard to imagine the hit it’s had on the cosmopolitan vibe Edinburgh used to be so famous for in the UK. And the living costs now? Honestly, it’s shocking. Edinburgh was always on the pricier side when I was there (I graduated in 2012), but I still managed to rent a place close to campus (George Square), hit the pub, catch a film, and even travel around Europe. That Indian guy had a point though – you really don’t need to take the bus all the time.

[annrodden]

I'm American and I went to U of E for my Masters in International Development. It was an awesome experience! I will say its a VERY different experience than US Universities. Namely: not the biggest school spirit here, American Universities have a TON of school spirit, no sports teams to go to watch the games, U of E was much more independent work than collaborative work, the customer service for International Students is hard to reach especially as you are preparing to head over there from your host country- so you have to be very independent and have perseverance. However, the Uni has gorgeous old buildings, several amazing Libraries - I HIGHLY recommend the Law Library (I basically lived there during my entire time as a grad student), the student rec center has a cool Library bar on campus (many US campuses are dry!) which my friends and I would grab a pint and fries after class on Fridays and finish our reading before the weekend. It's nice to know you can explore the city and that the school is not the only attraction in the city, its an AMAZING location if you are looking to take advantage of traveling since you'll be in Europe! The airport has great prices to fly pretty much anywhere in the UK and Europe all over. The city is very affordable, the price of groceries was insane compared to how expensive it is in the US! There's shows and performances in the city, the city buses are very easy to use (just don't trust the time and get there a minute or two before it says it will arrive at your stop - unless you want to be running to the bus all the time), the main library is very busy, and there's no real cafeteria on campus, there isn't a real food hub necessarily, you will have to search to find a microwave in certain buildings if you want to pack your food for the day. There are not a ton of events that happen on campus like an American University, but the quality of education was good- it was mainly independent reading and class discussions. Overall - I loved my time at U of E and living in Edinburgh as a student is a DREAM!

[Kwippy]

I went to EU 40 years ago, I continue to have a relationship with the university today, and continue to have useful practical benefits for being an alumnus. One common risk of going to Edinburgh for study is that you won't want to leave.

[acciid]

This wasn't a topic I was expecting on this channel.
I went to Edinburgh uni back in the 90s and had a fantastic time. The clubbing scene was great back then - no idea if it still is. Yes, it's an expensive city but it's not too bad for students. I never used public transport at all - if you live centrally there's no need as it's pretty small, but if you go to the other three unis you'll need to use buses.
I do miss Edinburgh but not the weather. Yes it doesn't rain as much as Glasgow but it's cold this time of year.

[c_cma]

Hello from Bucharest, Romania - a huge underrated city in Europe:)

[nbell]

The script opens with "the Gothic Old Town" yet, importantly, Edinburgh was the *first Modern City*
Oh, and having performed at the Fringe 10+ years ago, the rain is real. And wet... it's really quite wet.


(although, miracle of miracles, on a vine covered chain-link fence, by or near Holyrood Rd, there was just enough foliage in that dark, dismal, drizzly place to generate the sugar to produce one spectacular flower: a Passionfruit flower!)

[VEVOJavier]

Indigo is capping so hard about the weather ☠️

[atlantidaunderground]

i feel like this video is too positive and doesn't show the reality of living in Edinburgh with its rude people and the lack of job opportunities and housing. Speaking as a foreign graduate who studied in Edinburgh and has the real life experience.

[thomHD]

While mostly positive, I've noticed these DW travel videos on the UK do like to raise a little eyebrow about the weather and food... As if Hamburg and Berlin are located on the south coast of France.

[SushilShortYT]

Got admission there for September 2025 intake ❤

[zth]

I would love you to cover The Clausthal University of Technology in Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Lower Saxony, Germany in your next episodes.

[ardiris]

I am more interested in the academic side than in the recreational side. LOL

[AdvocateOfJamaica]

Isn't University of St. Andrews the oldest university in Scotland? Shout out to my alma mater, Heriot-Watt University! 🙌🏾

[jarrodsio]

Clare would know a thing or two about historic universities. She went to Cambridge.

[albertdong]

Edinburgh University is certainly in the news here for anti-Scottish rhetoric and class bias from certain parts of the student population and student publications. I guess that reflects on the type of people who go there now.

Being Scottish and an alumni of that university, who graduated back in the early 90s, this saddens me as it certainly wasn't like that back then.

I'll certainly discourage my son and daughter from going there - there's something very wrong when people are effectively discouraged from attending an educational insitution in their own capital city due to thinly veiled xenophobia.

[morningdew]

Kalau makanmu sedikit dan langsung kenyang itu berkah!
Kalau makanmu banyak dan lapar terus pengeluaranmu pasti banyak, aku menjumpai orang dengan makan sedikit itu jarang karena memang % kecil 😂
Jadi jangan boros dan jangan rakus kalau makan!
Edinburgh lebih bagus hanya untuk dikunjungi sebentar, karena aku lebih menyukai iklim tropis

[Sheenaization]

Ah not oldest in Scotland since that goes to St Andrews

[msf]

god i need to move to netherlands 2025

[eilidhhansen]

lol i wanted to see how Scottish students felt in the uni, never mind

[evas]

Lots of American students can buy their way into Scottish universities so their parents send them