City of Edinburgh,
coast and countryside
Edinburgh and the
surrounding area is an
ideal location for
student years.
As a student at QMU you will have easy
access to Scotland’s beautiful and vibrant
capital city, Edinburgh, and also the
stunning coast and countryside
surrounding the campus.
Edinburgh
Situated in the central belt of Scotland,
south of the Firth of Forth Estuary,
Edinburgh is easily accessible from all
areas of the UK and beyond. It is one of
the most beautiful cities in the world and
continues to rank high in opinion polls
– see page 37. It is a top tourist
destination, particularly in the summer
months when the city comes alive and
plays host to the acclaimed Edinburgh
Festivals. The Fringe Festival is
particularly enjoyed by students in the
city who embrace the month-long
spectacle of comedy, music, drama and
art. Late December is also a popular time
for visitors to ‘Auld Reekie’ as they come
to experience a Scottish New Year at
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations
— now one of the world’s biggest
outdoor parties!
With four universities and a large further
education college, the city is highly
populated by students and is very
student friendly. Much of the culture and
activity of the city is focused around
student life, with students able to share
some facilities — such as student unions
and libraries — that each institution has
to offer. Part-time job opportunities and
graduate job opportunities are excellent
and many students choose to remain in
Edinburgh or the local area during
holidays and after graduating.
Edinburgh is atmospheric and vibrant,
with all you’d expect from a capital city:
packed with shops, cinemas, theatres,
restaurants, pubs, clubs, supermarkets,
museums, tourist attractions, landmarks,
art galleries, concert venues, parks and
sports facilities etc. The city is also home
to Edinburgh Castle. Dating back to the
12th century, the spectacular landmark
sits in the city centre on the top of a
dormant volcano. The city is also home
to the Scottish Parliament.
The campus local area
The QMU campus is located to the east
of Edinburgh city centre by the coastal
town of Musselburgh, in the county of
East Lothian. Musselburgh has a
population of around 22,000 and offers a
theatre, sports centre with swimming
pool, supermarkets and shops, a
racecourse, golf courses, a harbour and
beach, restaurants and bars, a public
library and a peaceful riverside. The
campus is only a short walk or bus ride
from Fort Kinnaird, a large outdoor
shopping complex offering high street
chain stores, restaurants and a multiplex
cinema. There are also several
supermarkets in the immediate vicinity.
East Lothian is a beautiful county with
over 40 miles of stunning coastline,
golden beaches, rolling countryside,
historic sites, award-winning attractions,
excellent food and drink and the world’s
finest links golf courses. East Lothian
enjoys the sunniest climate in Scotland,
34
great local produce, spectacular natural
beauty and year-round recreational
opportunities including cycling, walking,
golfing and watersports.
A hop, skip and jump to the wider world
Transport links to Edinburgh are excellent
– you can easily head north to spend a
weekend skiing or hill-walking. You are
only 45 minutes from Glasgow, or four
hours from London by train. In the city
centre, the bus services are extensive,
providing frequent links in and around the
city. Air links are convenient and
widespread – it takes just over an hour to
get to Paris, Dublin or Amsterdam. You
can check out which destinations you
can fly to from Edinburgh airport at www.
edinburghairport.com/flights/
destinations-and-airlines.
MORE INFO:
Edinburgh
www.edinburgh.org/
East Lothian
www.visiteastlothian.org/home