Napier University was founded in 1964 and achieved university status in 1992. In just three decades it has progressed from a first-class polytechnic to a major Scottish university and one of the top new universities in the UK. Napier is a multi-campus university with four main sites in the city of Edinburgh: Craiglockhart, Merchiston, Craighouse, and Canaan Lane.
Each campus has its unique culture and sense of community, while benefiting from being part of a major university. Napier University's four faculties offer a wide range of professionally-oriented programs designed in consultation with commerce and industry. Many programs allow students to integrate study and work experience. Total enrollment: 14,500 (including over 1,500 international students).
Napier is situated within Scotland's beautiful and cosmopolitan capital city of Edinburgh. In addition to being home to the new Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh hosts the largest international arts festival in the world, and offers numerous cinemas, theatres, restaurants, bars, clubs, and shops. At the heart of the city is the famous Edinburgh castle. Edinburgh is a good communications hub for travel to other parts of Britain, Ireland and continental Europe. Arts (journalism, publishing, communication, photography, film & TV, design, music), Biological and Health Sciences, and Computing/ IT. Napier's graduates have a high record of employment, demonstrating the university's achievement of its primary mission: preparing students for the world of work.
Napier has a modular structure allowing visiting students to devise programs tailored to their own needs. Modules (courses) in most undergraduate and graduate academic disciplines can be combined with one another. Participants are required to carry a normal workload of four modules per semester.
There is strong competition for exchange places in the following fields: Communication Arts, Design, Music, and Photography, Film and Imaging. These programs require a commitment from students to study four modules per semester in each program and submission of a portfolio. Please contact the ISEP coordinator at Napier University for further information.
| No. of students: | 17.605* |
| No. of Administrative staff: | 1.660 |
| Funding type: | Public |
Our campuses range from the small and intimate to the grand and spectacular. But they’re more than just groups of buildings - wherever your study is based, you’ll have access to all our support services and facilities.
Computing, study help, personal support, childcare… you’d be amazed at how even being able to find a decent coffee can help get you through your study day.
New Sighthill Campus Scotland’s newest hub for health, science and sports education opened its doors to more than 5,000 students and staff on 10 January 2011. The new £60m campus is home to the Faculty of Health, Life & Social Sciences, who will be located under the same roof for the first time. It also houses a number of our professional service departments. The new state-of-the-art campus provides a modern purpose-built sustainable building with premier teaching and learning facilities which includes a five-storey library, a state-of-the-art sports facility and 25 specialised teaching rooms, including clinical skills laboratories, six project rooms and five research rooms. Take a look at our other campuses
Craiglockhart The Business School’s funky headquarters. Cutting edge architecture meets listed buildings, up to the minute study facilities, buzzing cafés and Starbucks coffee!
Craighouse The perfect setting for the music school. Historic buildings, woodlands, views over the city… and if you’re not careful, you’ll find yourself in a wedding snap on any given Friday.
Merchiston Old and new. The Faculty of Engineering, Computing & Creative Industries calls this place home, as did John Napier himself - he was born in 1550 in the tower that still stands in the courtyard
Morningside Stained glass windows in the lecture theatre! This converted church answers the prayers of busy nearby campuses with extra space for classes.
Marchmont Smile! This former school is the place our photography students call home, with professional-standard studios and a gallery
Our campuses outside Edinburgh are a bonus for West Lothian and Borders students:
Melrose The Faculty of Health, Life & Social Sciences provides a welcoming environment in the Education Centre of the Borders General Hospital - perfect for students living out of town, or on placement at the hospital.
Livingston For West Lothian students, our library and PC lab within St John's Hospital at Howden is a handy alternative to a trip into the city. It's a peaceful place to study, with friendly library staff to help you.
‘Auld Reekie’ or ‘the Athens of the north’ – whatever you call it, Edinburgh is a vibrant city with a reputation for fun and culture.
With four universities based in the centre, including our seven campuses, it’s home to around 100,000 students. Imagine the buzz that generates. No wonder it’s been voted one of the most student friendly cities in the UK!
Choose to study here at Edinburgh Napier University, and you can live the Edinburgh life.
* Walk historic cobbled streets, then come face to face with cutting edge contemporary architecture.
* Relax in its many public parks and gardens - Edinburgh has more trees per person than any other British city.
* Rev up in one of the city’s hotspots, or take in a concert if that’s more your style.
* Hob-nob with international businesses - the city is the fifth largest financial centre in Europe.
* The world comes to Edinburgh for the biggest and best festival on the planet in August, while you just have to walk outside your door for top entertainment and arts events.
* Holler in the New Year at Hogmanay, Scotland's world famous New Year’s Eve celebration, with fireworks and 100,000 fellow revellers - one of those things you just have to do!
It’s easy and safe to get around the city. You’ll find hundreds of cafés, bars and restaurants to choose from, and plenty of accommodation options, both private and university owned.
University isn’t just about academic learning - it's about becoming equipped with life skills, meeting new friends and becoming more independent. What better place to do all this than in Edinburgh?