Students in Edinburgh choose between university residences, private purpose-built blocks and shared flats, with the University of Edinburgh’s central campus drawing many to the Southside, the Meadows and Leith. The University of Edinburgh guarantees a room to many new students who apply by 31 July, and Student Beans lists private blocks in the Southside from around £200 a week. This guide covers the options, what is confirmed on price, where to live and how to apply.
Figures here come from the universities’ own pages and one student-advice site, and we say which is which. Edinburgh rents are usually quoted per year or per tenancy, so convert them to weekly or monthly costs before comparing with other cities.
Student accommodation options in Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh residences
The university’s accommodation site lists residences including Pollock Halls (the catered cluster next to Arthur’s Seat, home to John Burnett House), Pentland House, Robertson’s Close in the Cowgate, Sciennes on the edge of the Meadows, McLeod Street for postgraduates, and Shrubhill off Leith Walk, which is run in partnership with Unite. It says rent is one price with bills included, with no deposit and no guarantor, and the residences have free Wi-Fi, on-site laundry and 24/7 security. The page does not list rents, so check each residence page for current prices.
Heriot-Watt University (Riccarton campus)
Heriot-Watt’s main Edinburgh campus is at Riccarton, west of the city centre. Its undergraduate accommodation page for 2027/28 lists a 40-week contract from 4 September 2027 to 10 June 2028, with traditional en suite rooms and contemporary en suite rooms in flats. Applications open on 1 March 2027 and the guarantee date is 21 June 2027. The page does not give rents and says eligible students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland can access free accommodation for Semester One, so read the conditions on the page.
Edinburgh Napier University
Napier’s accommodation is on the west side of the city near its Merchiston campus, at Bainfield, Orwell Terrace and Slateford Road. Student Beans quotes a standard en suite at Bainfield on a 39-week tenancy at £6,617.10 for the year, roughly £170 a week. It does not date that figure, so confirm it with the university.
Private student blocks
Unite Students runs four buildings in the Holyrood and Southside area within walking distance of the University of Edinburgh’s central campus. Student Beans lists “from” prices with all bills included: Burnet Point £200 a week, Burnet Court £250, Sugarhouse Close £253 and The Old Printworks £284. These prices are not dated, so treat them as a guide. Student Beans also notes that some university rooms cost less than the cheapest Unite room, so compare both. See our guide to university halls versus private student housing.
Shared flats
Most second-years and postgraduates rent a shared flat. Marchmont, Bruntsfield and Newington are the established flat-share areas south of the Meadows, and Leith is further out. Student Beans cites a Save the Student 2026 survey putting average student rent in Scotland at £703 a month, against £575 across the UK. That is a Scotland-wide average, not an Edinburgh figure. If you rent privately, check that your landlord is registered and which approved scheme will protect your deposit.
Where to live in Edinburgh as a student
- The Meadows, Sciennes and Southside: closest to the University of Edinburgh’s George Square campus, with university residences and Unite blocks nearby.
- Marchmont, Bruntsfield and Newington: long-established flat-share areas a short walk or bus ride from the central campus.
- Holyrood and the Old Town: Pollock Halls is by Arthur’s Seat, and Robertson’s Close is in the Cowgate, close to the city’s nightlife.
- Leith: further from the central campus, with Shrubhill off Leith Walk.
- West Edinburgh: Napier’s residences are near Merchiston, and Heriot-Watt’s campus is at Riccarton.
How and when to apply
- University of Edinburgh undergraduates: the university’s accommodation guarantee covers new, single students who live outside the City of Edinburgh and will study for the whole academic year. For September 2026 entry you needed to apply by 31 July and be unconditionally firm on UCAS by 31 August. Students with a conditional insurance offer are guaranteed shared catered accommodation only.
- University of Edinburgh postgraduates: new, single PhD students and new international taught postgraduates are guaranteed a room if they apply and accept an unconditional offer by 31 July.
- Everyone else: you can still apply, but a room is subject to availability and you may be placed on a waiting list. The university says many students on the list get a room.
- Heriot-Watt: see the 2027/28 dates above.
- Private blocks and flats: book early. Read the contract carefully and take photos of the property on move-in day. Our student accommodation checklist covers what to look for.
What to check before you book
- Contract length. Many Edinburgh tenancies are 38 to 40 weeks, so compare the total cost, not the weekly rate alone.
- What the rent includes: bills, Wi-Fi, contents insurance and laundry.
- Your commute to your own campus. Riccarton and Merchiston are a long way from the Southside.
- Deposit and guarantor rules, and the cancellation terms if your plans change.
- Safety basics: secure entry, working smoke alarms and a registered landlord. See our student accommodation safety guide.
For help planning the rest of your costs, read our student budgeting tips. Comparing other Scottish cities? See our guides to Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen, St Andrews and Stirling, or browse all UK city guides.
Frequently asked questions
How much does student accommodation in Edinburgh cost?
Student Beans lists Unite’s Edinburgh rooms from £200 to £284 a week with bills included, and a standard en suite at Napier’s Bainfield works out at roughly £170 a week. Those figures are undated, so confirm current prices with each provider. University of Edinburgh residence rents are on the individual residence pages.
Does the University of Edinburgh guarantee accommodation?
Yes, for new, single undergraduates who live outside the City of Edinburgh and meet the deadlines. For September 2026 entry that meant applying by 31 July and being unconditionally firm on UCAS by 31 August. Check the university’s guarantee page for the current year.
Where do students live in Edinburgh?
First-years usually live in a university residence or private block near the Meadows, Southside or Holyrood. Later years move into shared flats in areas such as Marchmont, Bruntsfield and Newington.
When do Edinburgh university residence applications open?
The University of Edinburgh lets you apply once you have accepted an offer, and says to apply as soon as you can. Heriot-Watt opens undergraduate applications on 1 March 2027 for 2027/28.
