Edinburgh University South College Lothian Scotland UK wide view with antique lamp

The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It was the fourth university to be established in Scotland and the 6th in the United Kingdom, and is one of the most prestigious universities in the world. Edinburgh receives approximately 47, 000 applications every year, making it the third most popular university in the UK by volume of applicants. Entrance is intensely competitive, with offer chances of 27% in the 2010-2011 admissions cycle. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university