Edinburgh Napier University

About Edinburgh Napier University

Edinburgh Napier is a modern public university in Scotland’s capital with a strong applied-learning focus and industry links. It teaches on three main Edinburgh campuses (Merchiston, Craiglockhart and Sighthill) and serves a large international community. The university emphasises employability, applied research and professional partnerships.

Why choose Edinburgh Napier?

• Practical, career-focused degrees — courses are designed with employers and many include placements or live projects.

• City location — study in Edinburgh (good cultural life, strong tech/creative/finance employers) but with campus facilities that are compact and well connected.

• International community & support — sizeable international student intake and dedicated support for visas, arrival and progression.

University ranking (snapshot)

• Napier is regularly listed in global rankings and — importantly for “modern” universities — was ranked #1 modern university in Scotland in Times Higher Education rankings. It also appears in THE subject/impact lists. Use subject-level rankings when comparing courses.

Campus locations & travel

• Merchiston Campus (school of computing, engineering, architecture, etc).

• Craiglockhart Campus (Business School and other areas).

• Sighthill Campus (health, built environment, some labs).
  All campuses are within Edinburgh and accessible by public transport; each campus hosts different schools so always confirm the campus for your specific course.

Types of courses & study levels

• Undergraduate: BA/BSc/BEng and foundation years (Napier states it offers more than 150 undergraduate courses).

• Postgraduate taught: MSc, MA, MBA, PgCert/Dip and a broad postgraduate portfolio.

• Research: MPhil/PhD research degrees.

• Short courses / CPD / online: options for part-time and professional learners.

Mode of learning (onsite / e-learning / blended)

• The default is on-campus, face-to-face for most undergraduate and lab/practical subjects.

• Napier also offers online, distance and blended delivery for many postgraduate and CPD programmes — check the course page for exact delivery mode and any on-campus requirements.

Number of programmes offered

• Napier publishes over 150 undergrad courses and, across undergraduate + postgraduate + CPD, external summaries list 200+ programmes overall — in short: hundreds of course options across levels and modes. Use Napier’s course-finder to filter by campus, level and mode.

Highlights & strengths

• Top modern university in Scotland (THE) and strong emphasis on employability and industry connections.

• Compact multi-campus city presence — good access to Edinburgh’s employers, culture and student life.

• Applied research and professional accreditation in many subject areas (engineering, computing, health, business).

Practical checklist for international applicants (quick)

1. Pick your course — then confirm the campus on the course page (Merchiston / Craiglockhart / Sighthill).

2. Check entry & English requirements on your course page (Napier lists required qualifications and accepted English tests).

3. Scholarships & deposit — see the bursaries and fees pages; note deposits (e.g., from £6,000 for Sept 2025). Apply early for funding where separate applications are required.

4. Visa — apply for the UK Student Route and use Napier’s international support pages for up-to-date guidance.

5. Plan accommodation & living costs — Edinburgh has higher living costs than many UK cities so budget accordingly. Consider university halls (guarantees vary) or private rented rooms.

6. Portfolio/audition — creative and performance courses usually require a portfolio or audition — prepare these early.

Scholarship

Key headline scholarships

• South East Asia Postgraduate Scholarship – For self-funding postgraduate students from specified South-East Asian countries (e.g., Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Brunei, Philippines) starting a full-time Master’s in Sept 2025. Award: £2,000 GBP. No separate application form; automatic if eligible.

• North American Postgraduate Scholarship – For self-funding students from the USA & Canada applying to full-time taught Master’s at Edinburgh Napier for Sept 2025 or Jan 2026. Award: £2,000 GBP. Requires separate application (personal statement) by specific deadline.

• European Union Postgraduate Scholarship – For self-funding students domiciled in EU countries (listed) eligible for full-time postgraduate entry Sept 2025 (or Jan 2026 if ≤ 18-month course). Award: £8,000 GBP one-time.

• EU Scholarships (Undergrad, Postgrad, Visiting) – For self-funding students domiciled in EU starting Sept 2023/Jan 2024; e.g., undergraduates £4,000 award for year one; postgraduates up to £8,000.

• South Asia Scholarship – For self-funding students from South Asia (India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka) starting Sept 2025 or Jan 2026 (Bachelor or taught Master’s). Award amount varies.

• GREAT Scholarships – For 2025-26 academic year, Edinburgh Napier offers GREAT Scholarships worth £10,000 for students from specified countries (e.g., Nigeria) for full-time postgraduate taught programmes.

• Graduate Discount Scheme – For students who have previously graduated from Edinburgh Napier (or relevant previous degree) there is a 20% discount off Master’s tuition fees (self-funded) for year one of full-time study.

• Other support funds – For international/EU students there are funds like: Global Conflict Discretionary Fund, International Crisis Fund, International Student Emergency Fund. These help in unexpected financial difficulty.

What you need to know (eligibility & requirements)

Here are the key eligibility criteria and requirements you should check:

General eligibility

• Most scholarships above are for self-funding international students (i.e., you are paying your fees yourself, not fully sponsored and not already on discounted partner fees). See e.g., South East Asia Scholarship: “self-funding your course”.

• Full-time mode of study required for many: e.g., North American Postgraduate Scholarship: “full-time postgraduate taught master’s programme”.

• Some scholarships are restricted by domicile/nationality/residence (e.g., EU, South East Asia, USA/Canada). Check your country against the list.

• Some exclusions: For the EU Postgraduate Scholarship: not eligible if course >12 months (for Jan start) or studying MRes programmes or specified Master’s with placement etc

• Deposit requirement: For example, for South East Asia Scholarship you must have made the £6,000 deposit toward your fees to be eligible.

• Offer requirement: You must hold an unconditional or qualifying offer to study. E.g., South East Asia: “holding an offer to study a full-time Masters course in September 2025”.

Important notes on fees, deposits and living costs

• International tuition fees vary by programme — check the course page.

• For 2025 deposit: International students are required to pay a non-refundable deposit (e.g., “for September 2025, the deposit amount will start at £6,000”) to secure place.

• Living costs requirement (UK Visas & Immigration) for Scotland: For a full-time course lasting 9 months or more you need to show evidence of £1,136 per month for up to 9 months = approx £10,224 plus any outstanding tuition fee amounts.

• Find-a-Fund system: Current students (including international) may access internal funds for hardship/financial support via the “Find-a-Fund” system.