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Edinburgh - the cosmopolitan and dynamic capital of Scotland

Edinburgh Castle

Heriot-Watt University campus is situated just 7 miles from Edinburgh City Centre. The International Study Centre gives you the perfect opportunity to explore and experience one of the most exciting and welcoming cities in Europe.

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, one of four unique countries that make up the UK.

The country's capital since 1437, Edinburgh is now once again the seat of the Scottish Parliament. The city was one of the major centres of the Age of Enlightenment in the 18th century. The old and new Towns of Edinburgh were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995

Princes Street – Edinburgh’s main high street – neatly divides the old area from the newer, and gardens occupy the space below the castle which stands out against the gentler architecture nearby.

• Edinburgh’s population is over 450,000, which rises to over one million during its famous August festivals
• Each year the city hosts the biggest street party in the world as part of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay
• Edinburgh is a world leader in finance, scientific research, technology and professional services
• Edinburgh is the most prosperous UK city outside London (Scottish Executive Report, 2005)
• Edinburgh has won more than 10 UK Best City Awards in the last six years
• The Lonely Planet listed Edinburgh 21st amongst the world’s 200 most interesting, attractive and liveable cities
• The city has 3 million UK visitors each year and over 1 million overseas visitors (International Passenger Survey, Office for National Statistics)
• Edinburgh Castle is the top visitor attraction in Scotland (Tourism in Scotland, 2005)

Festivals, Literature and Science

Edinburgh is perhaps best known for its world famous cultural festivals and events. Some 1.4 million visitors are attracted to the city each year, to enjoy the annual Edinburgh International Festival, the largest performing arts festival in the world, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the international festivals devoted to films, books, jazz and blues, politics and science and, of course, for the unique 'Hogmanay' New Year’s Eve street party.

Edinburgh’s literary tradition is assured to this day through writing talent such as JK Rowling, Ian Rankin, Irvine Welsh (one of Heriot-Watt’s very own graduates) and Alexander McCall-Smith. Edinburgh is the world’s first City of Literature.

Science and discovery also continues to play a huge part in defining the city. Some of the world’s top selling video game titles were developed in Edinburgh including Grand Theft Auto by Rockstar Games.

Sport

 Edinburgh is also a city for sport – two top Scottish Premier League football teams, athletics at Meadowbank Stadium, swimming at the Commonwealth Pool, world-class rugby at Murrayfıeld, skiing and snowboarding at Hillend, climbing at Ratho Adventure centre and an array of top golf clubs are just some of the great attractions for sport addicts.

Entertainment

Those who enjoy night-life will not be disappointed by Edinburgh. The large student population of about 50,000, with at least 5,000 international students, means that the city centre is devoted to student night-life with a very European feel. The Grassmarket and the Cowgate, deep within the old town, are regular student haunts.

Across the city you will find an eclectic mix of pubs, clubs and restaurants that cater to even the most unusual tastes. Edinburgh actually has more restaurants per head of population than London.

Green spaces

Edinburgh is lucky to have magnificent green spaces – the impressive extinct volcano Arthur’s Seat and its associated park lie at the heart of the city. Scotland has some of the most beautiful and unspoilt scenery in the world – beaches, cliffs, islands, mountains, lochs, forests and rivers - all easily accessible from Edinburgh. There is so much space to enjoy in Scotland – you can do practically anything you want from sailing to gliding, mountaineering to horse-riding, skiing to golf – all in delightful, uncongested surroundings.

Transport links

Almost everywhere in the city is accessible on foot, or by means of a short bus ride. Direct air links to and from Edinburgh are growing all the time, as the city continues to develop as a major European financial, business, cultural and tourism hub. Read more about travelling to the University.

Life in Scotland

Scottish music

Scotland is an exciting place to live and has everything you need - lots of jobs and career opportunities, world-class universities, beautiful countryside, fantastic cities and friendly people.

Culture

Scotland has a proud cultural history that has contributed a great deal to the worlds of art and science. The country has a long literary tradition, going back to the Enlightenment and philosopher David Hume, the pioneer of economics, Adam Smith and writers Robert Louis Stevenson, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Sir Walter Scott. Today Scotland is also home to authors J K Rowling, Alexander McCall Smith, Ian Rankin and Iain Banks.

Food and drink

Scotland has some of the finest produce in the UK such as seafood, meat, poultry, cheese and whisky. Scotland is famous for its Aberdeen-Angus beef and Scottish salmon. Haggis, a delicacy made from sheep's offal placed inside a sheep's stomach, is not to everyone’s taste but has a rich flavour and is worth trying at least once. Scotch whisky (or simply "Scotch") is certainly the best known Scottish drink. Whisky is distilled from barley and flavoured with peat-tainted water. A wide range of international food and drink is also widely available allowing you to choose from almost every type of world cuisine. Ingredients are available from many different shops including halal butchers, Chinese supermarkets, Italian delicatessens and many supermarkets.

World class education

Scotland was the first country in the world to introduce a universal school education, a model admired and replicated by other countries, and Scotland's tradition of excellence in education is world renowned today.

All overseas students graduating from a Scottish university or college with an undergraduate degree or masters can apply to stay on and work in Scotland for an additional two years under the government's Fresh Talent: Post Study scheme and the figures for overseas students studying in Scotland, rises every year.

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Heriot-Watt University International Study Centre
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