About
Edinburgh Napier University is a public university in Edinburgh, Scotland, with three campuses and a strong international presence. It is known for its focus on modern, applied learning and its commitment to connecting education with industry.
| Acronym |
ENU |
| Nickname |
ENU |
| Motto / Slogan |
Without knowledge, all is in vain |
| Colour |
red |
| Founded |
1964 |
| Undergraduate Programmes |
|
| Postgraduate Programmes |
1000 |
| Location |
Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom |
| Address |
Sighthill Campus Sighthill Court Edinburgh EH11 4BN |
Objectives
Edinburgh Napier University's strategic objectives include building careers and creating opportunities, growing networks and connecting communities, and advancing knowledge and delivering impact.
Admission
Undergraduate Admission Requirement
Most new undergraduate students will apply through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). When you begin your Edinburgh Napier University application, you’ll follow this process:
- Register on UCAS Hub using your email address and start your application.
- Keep the UCAS deadlines in mind: for September 2026 entry, the main deadline is 14 January 2026.
- Make sure your application includes:
- Your personal statement
- An academic reference
- Details of your qualifications
If you’re applying as an international student, you may also need to provide transcripts, proof of English language requirements, and passport/ID.
Not ready by the January deadline? You can still apply later in the year, or through Clearing in sum
Postgraduate Admission Requirments
The entry requirements are based on country, and courses.
- A Bachelor (Honors) Degree at 2:2 or above.
- Applicants that have a background in any discipline in order to be eligible for the programme.
- If your first language isn't English, you'll normally need to undertake an approved English language test and our minimum English language requirements will apply.
Admission Contacts
Email: [email protected]
Phone : +44 (0)333 900 6040
Apply For Admission
Vice Chancellor
Professor Rigby has been Vice Chancellor of Bath Spa University since 2018 and will join ENU in January 2025, succeeding Professor Andrea Nolan who is retiring after more than 11 years at the helm.
Rigby, a palaeontologist by background, has a proven track record of academic leadership. Under her stewardship, Bath Spa has grown its student numbers, doubled its turnover and become financially... read more
sustainable with diversified income streams. Recent years have seen its best ever Research Excellence Framework (REF) return and a steady improvement in its National Student Survey (NSS) results.
She was previously Deputy Vice Chancellor for Student Development at the University of Lincoln, and earlier roles included lecturer in the Universities of Cambridge, Leicester and Edinburgh, where she moved into senior management, first as Assistant Principal and then Vice Principal. She is also an HEA Principal Fellow and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
History
Now home to over 19,500 students from over 140 countries, we first welcomed 800 students as Napier Technical College in 1964. However our story goes back to the time of John Napier, the brilliant 16th-century mathematician and philosopher from whom we take our name. The past five decades have seen us grow into a globally renowned institution, while retaining our focus on professional knowledge and personalised learning. The timeline below marks key moments in that history.
- 1550 John Napier, inventor of logarithms and the decimal point, is born in the tower house of Merchiston Castle.
- 1958 Merchiston Tower is saved from demolition... read more
; restoration work begins with the intention of integrating the medieval structure into a new college to be named for John Napier.
1964 - 1992: Napier Technical College
- 1964 Napier Technical College opens its doors to students at Merchiston. Courses included coopering, cabinet making, boat building, chemistry and engineering.
- 1967 Renamed Napier College of Science & Technology.
- 1974 Edinburgh College of Commerce merges with Napier to become Napier College of Commerce and Technology.
- 1984 Her Majesty the Queen and HRH Duke of Edinburgh visit Sighthill campus and open the newly extended library.
- 1986 Napier acquires the former St. Andrew’s College of Education at Craiglockhart. War poets Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon recuperated there during the First World War, when the hospital was used to treat shell-shocked officers.
- 1987 The new Craiglockhart campus is opened by Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher.
1992 - 2009: Napier University
- 1992 Napier is officially inaugurated as a University. Lord James Douglas Hamilton and Principal William Turmeau unveil the new University sign at Merchiston.
- 1994 Napier acquires the magnificent buildings and grounds of the former Thomas Clouston Clinic at Craighouse in south-west Edinburgh.
- 1996 A new Faculty of Health Studies is created within Napier University, following a merger with Lothian College of Health Studies and the Scottish Borders College of Nursing.
- 1997 HRH Princess Anne visits and formally opens Craighouse campus. A sculpture of John Napier by Ukrainian artist Valentin Znoba is unveiled.
- 2001 The £7m Jack Kilby Centre, a purpose-built 500 PC computer lab with 24-hour access, is opened at Merchiston by Nobel Prize winner Professor Jack Kilby.
- 2004: Craiglockhart Campus re-opens after extensive refurbishment, providing modern and iconic teaching accommodation.
- 2005 Screen Academy Scotland is opened by First Minister Jack McConnell. It's a collaboration between Napier University and the Edinburgh College of Art. Patrons include Brian Cox, Dame Judi Dench and Sir Sean Connery.
- 2007 Tim Waterstone, founder of Waterstone’s booksellers, is formally inaugurated as Chancellor of the University.
- 2008 Napier University is rated Scotland’s best modern university by The Guardian University Guide.
- 2009 We are ranked first in Scotland for graduate employability by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).
- 2011 The University opens its new £60m state-of-the art Sighthill campus.
- 2013 Professor Andrea Nolan OBE joins the University as Principal & Vice-Chancellor.
- 2014 Edinburgh Napier University celebrates 50 years as an institution of learning.
- 2015 We launch the £100 million investment campaign Transforming Tomorrow, Together. Dr David Eustace, alumnus and internationally renowned photographer, is installed as our third Chancellor.
- 2016 A second Queen’s Anniversary Prize is received, this time for internationally acclaimed work in timber engineering, sustainable construction and wood science. Meanwhile, the University is rated top in the UK for adding value to students by the Guardian University Guide 2017, and enters the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, putting us in the top 5% of universities worldwide.
- 2017 The University marks the 400th anniversary of John Napier’s passing with a memorial service, public lecture and an exhibition charting the life and legacy of the influential mathematician.
- 2019 Edinburgh Napier achieves four stars overall in the prestigious QS Stars University Ratings, scoring a maximum five stars in three categories: teaching, employability and internationalisation.
- 2020 We are ranked the Times and Sunday Times top modern university in Scotland and the number one university in Edinburgh for student satisfaction in the National Student Survey.
- 2021 For the second year running, we are ranked the top modern university in Scotland (Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022) and the number one in Edinburgh for student satisfaction (NSS 2021).
- 2022 In March 2022, we celebrate 30 years of being a modern university.
- 2024 We are named 'Higher Educational Institution of the Year' at The Herald Higher Education Awards.
- 2025 Professor Sue Rigby joins the University as Principal & Vice Chancellor.
