Russell Group

University of Edinburgh — can you afford it?

Edinburgh · 45,000 students · Est. 1583

£95.54/wk
Cheapest halls
+£489/mo
After halls
None
Work to break even
93%
Graduate employment
47
Affordability score
⚠️Some accommodation data for this university may be incomplete. Figures show best available data as of 2026-05-21. Some rooms missing frequencies. Data mostly correct.

The monthly maths

Maintenance loan (max — outside London)+£903
Cheapest halls (£95.54/wk × 4.33)−£414
After halls+£489
Transport (city avg)−£60
Food (estimate)−£200
Monthly balance+£59

Annual surplus: +£708

Over 3 years: +£2,124

Typical (median) room: -£488/mo if not in the cheapest option

Based on maximum loan. Calculate your actual loan →

Halls vs private in Edinburgh

🏠 Edinburgh halls

Cheapest£95.54/wk (£414/mo)
Median£221.8/wk (£961/mo)
Most expensive£350.26/wk (£1,518/mo)
BillsIncluded ✓
Contract40–51 weeks
Monthly surplus£489per month

🏢 Private rental in Edinburgh

Average rent£900/month
Bills estimate+£135/mo
Total housing cost£1,035/mo
Contract12 months (summer risk)
BillsExtra ✗
Monthly deficit-£132per month

Edinburgh by the numbers

Total students45,000
Undergraduates27,000
International students42%
Student:staff ratio14.5:1
Graduate employment93%
Average graduate salary£32,000
TypeRussell Group
Founded1583

Student numbers: HESA 2024/25. Graduate salary: SalaryDex data for Edinburgh. Graduate salaries in Edinburgh →

Notable Edinburgh alumni

C
Charles Darwin
Naturalist, theory of evolution
→ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/charles-darwin

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Compare Edinburgh with others

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What happens after Edinburgh?

Newly qualified Software engineer in Edinburgh
Entry gross: £35,000 · Take-home after rent: +£1,433/mo
Full salary breakdown →
Newly qualified Nurse (Band 5) in Edinburgh
Entry gross: £30,959 · Take-home after rent: +£1,075/mo
Full salary breakdown →
Newly qualified Teacher in Edinburgh
Entry gross: £31,650 · Take-home after rent: +£1,100/mo
Full salary breakdown →

Take-home estimates based on 2025/26 PAYE rates including student loan Plan 5 repayments.

Accommodation data source

Accommodation costs verified 2026-05-21 from University of Edinburgh official accommodation page. Monthly costs use the formula: weekly rate × 39 contract weeks ÷ 9 academic months. Bills included in all quoted rates. ⚠️ Some room data may be incomplete — see notice above.

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