Queen Margaret University

• Location: Edinburgh, Scotland,
• Founded in: 1875,
• Number of students: about 10,000,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of education: mixed.

Queen Margaret University (QMU) is a modern university with a long history and established educational traditions, named after Queen Margaret of Scots. The institution provides undergraduate and postgraduate programs in various fields of science: from health, psychology to performing arts, business studies. QMU is considered to be the university in Scotland that offers the widest range of medical specialties among other higher education institutions.

The history of Queen Margaret University began in 1875 with the establishment of a girls' school focused on teaching... culinary sciences! The school had two goals: to educate women and to improve the diets of working-class families. After decades, several name changes, relocations, in 2007 the educational institution became what it is known today - a strong multidisciplinary university with distinctive features, high quality academic programs, qualified teaching staff and a multinational student community.

Within the walls of Queen Margaret University and on its electronic platform for online learning, about 10,000 international students receive degrees. Dozens of international students come to campus every year – thanks to modern learning conditions, comprehensive support from institution staff and faculty, and a variety of extracurricular development opportunities, QMU is popular not only nationally, but also internationally.

Queen Margaret University offers two learning formats: full-time and distance. When choosing full-time, students attend classes on campus, can live in residences and fully participate in all activities. The online format will be a great opportunity to get a degree without leaving your home: distance students get access to an electronic platform on which classes are held in the form of video conferences, all the necessary academic resources are stored, there are chats with teachers and classmates, and a system for tracking individual educational progress.

Online learning has a number of advantages:

• Flexible schedule that allows you to combine work and study,
• Learning at a student's own pace, place and time,
• Online seminars to unite the student team.

Queen Margaret University has specialized faculties representing undergraduate specializations, Postgraduate:

• Arts, Social Sciences, Management,
• Medical Sciences.

Faculties run schools in which classes are held in higher education programs.

According to the REF assessment conducted in 2021, QMU conducts world-leading, internationally excellent research in seven areas of assessment:

• 100% of research results in the field of communication, cultural studies and media studies,
• 100% of research results in nursing and related health professions,
• 75% of research results in the field of language and speech science,
• 75% of global health and development research results,
• 50% of research results in the field of business and management,
• 50% of research papers are in the field of psychology.

The university's innovation campus, located in the east of Edinburgh, has served as a new benchmark for sustainable design by BREEAM since 2007. The design of the building maximizes energy efficiency, and the landscaping promotes biodiversity. The campus project focuses on a simple, low-carbon, low-energy, passive design approach, using a range of advanced environmental technologies, including biomass-based heating, sustainable urban drainage system.

QMU offers accommodation in its student village, prepared for 800 international students. The residential buildings are equipped with standard and premium rooms.

• Standard

There are nine residential blocks on campus, offering 500 standard bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. They are located in separate apartments for six students, each apartment has a shared kitchen, living-dining room with refrigerator, oven, microwave, kettle and toaster.

• Premium

There are 300 premium bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms; They are located in shared apartments with 4-5 single rooms. Each apartment has an open-plan shared kitchen with a living-dining room, where there is all the necessary furniture, appliances for cooking and storing food. Premium rooms offer much more space, with a double bed.

The residences provide general services: housekeeping, IT support, laundry, gym and others. The price of accommodation includes all utility costs, high-speed WiFi.

There are several restaurants on campus, each of which offers students a varied menu of cold and hot dishes, drinks, and snacks. You can visit the dining rooms on any day in between classes.

The Students' Union, which has its headquarters in the main building of QMU, is the main organization of international students, focused on well-being, protection of students' rights, and the conduct of most recreational activities. The Student Union manages all thematic communities, sports sections, creative associations of the university.

Thanks to the modern sports infrastructure of the training area, students will be able to try a new direction of physical activity or devote time to more professional training. The list of sections includes classes in football, rugby, badminton, dancing and others.

Creative associations have specialized studios, laboratories, classes. Foreign students have the opportunity to develop their talents in dance, theater, music groups, devote free hours to costume design, discussing video games or watching movies with like-minded friends. An extensive list of thematic clubs will allow students to find a community that suits their interests or create their own.

Volunteering is another large-scale area of extracurricular activities for QMU students: students will be able to gain applied skills, help local residents raise funds, and improve the level of student life on campus by participating in the life of the university or offering their candidacy to external organizations.

The proximity to Edinburgh and its cultural, entertainment, historical places gives foreign students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the study of the traditions and customs of local residents, the history of the country. Public transport will take students even to the most remote places - to nature reserves, beautiful countryside.

• In the Complete University Guide 2025, Guardian Good University Guide 2025, The Times and Sunday Times 2025, the university ranks first in terms of teaching medical specialisations among UK institutions,
• QMU is one of the top two Scottish institutions for first-generation students in the Daily Mail University Guide 2025,
• №1 in Scotland in the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2024 (WUSCA) for career prospects, second place for student support and housing services, third place for student union,
• About 12% of students are from non-EU countries,
• One of the top five graduate employment institutions in Scotland,
• QMU Research Rated as World-Leading, Internationally Excellent – REF 2021,
• Thanks to the effective work of researchers, the university received the Queen's Jubilee Award,
• Cooperation with foreign educational institutions providing exchange programs, with the opportunity to go to study in India, Sri Lanka, Greece, Egypt and other countries,
• The first Scottish university to host a Business Gateway on its campus,
• Extensive opportunities for extracurricular development: from sports and hobby clubs to internships, Olympiads and studying abroad.

The QMU academic campus was opened in 2007, located in Musselburgh, east of Edinburgh city centre. Near the campus there are public transport stops, a railway station, thanks to which students have easy access to remote attractions, entertainment and cultural places.

The campus is based on an innovative center of educational resources, high-tech equipment, and a beautiful landscaped area. Within the walls of academic buildings you can find:

• Lecture halls with audio-visual equipment, interactive whiteboards,
• Computer classes with access to electronic resources,
• Quiet rooms for self-study,
• Specialized laboratories with professional equipment: from medical materials, experimental facilities to a design studio with the latest technical equipment,
• Students' Union meeting rooms,
• Academic Support Offices,
• Cafeteria.

The QMU Sports Center deserves special attention - in a separate building there are gyms and game rooms, studios for individual and group classes, dance studios. In the open areas of the campus, all-weather fields for team games, several playgrounds, and running tracks have been prepared.

The academic calendar consists of several semesters:

• Autumn: September-December,
• Spring: January-April,
• Summer: May-July.

Between semesters there are seasonal holidays and vacations are also provided on the days of national, international holidays, on weekends. Classes are held on weekdays in the morning, afternoon, and are followed by extracurricular activities.

Some services are paid additionally to tuition cost, such as:

• Registration fees,
• Accommodation, meals,
• Additional academic support,
• Some extracurricular activities,
• Customized educational materials,
• Medical, property insurance,
• Personal expenses.

The admission procedure consists of several stages, some of which are available for online passage:

• Filling out a detailed academic form, providing documents,
• Payment of registration fees,
• Passing an interview, possible entrance exams,
• Receiving an official invitation to enroll,
• Making a deposit to book a place on the program,
• Arrival on campus: accommodation in residence, attendance at orientation events, start of education.

Queen Margaret University is one of the top five universities in Scotland in terms of the number of graduates employed within 15 months of completing their studies. Such success is earned by the professional activities of teachers, personal mentors, comprehensive assistance from academic departments and a variety of opportunities for self-study, development of strengths and talents.

Applicants arriving from abroad must meet the general requirements:

• Personal documents: passport, health insurance, visa or residence permit,
• Certificate of Complete Secondary Education and Certificate of Preparatory Course / Bachelor's Diploma / Master's Diploma. Diplomas of higher education must be obtained in a related specialization,
• Report cards, exam results,
• Language test results: IELTS (from 6.0) or equivalent. For admission to higher education programs, a language level of at least B2 is required,
• Resume. Some specializations will require a personal portfolio.

The QMU Scholarship Fund offers a number of international scholarships for first-year students who come from abroad. Awards are given to candidates based on their previous academic success, excellent results in entrance exams. With the help of the scholarship, students will be able to reduce the annual cost of tuition or other expenses.

International students can also apply for government funding in the form of grants, loans, credits or support programs Chevening, British Marshall, Fulbright.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision