Edinburgh
Founded in 1582
The University of Edinburgh, located in the capital city of Scotland, Edinburgh, is a public research university founded in 1583. It is the fourth oldest university in Scotland and the sixth in the English-speaking world. In Scotland, it typically ranks first or second, with competitors such as the University of Glasgow and the University of St Andrews. Edinburgh is the only Scottish university that is a member of the Russell Group, Coimbra Group, and the League of European Research Universities.
In addition, the University of Edinburgh maintains connections with renowned academic institutions worldwide, including Ivy League schools in the United States and U15 in Canada. The university played a significant leadership role during the European Enlightenment, making Edinburgh a key center for Enlightenment thinking, earning it the nickname "The Athens of the North."
Its notable alumni include naturalist Charles Darwin, physicist James Clerk Maxwell, philosopher David Hume, mathematician Thomas Bayes, writer Arthur Conan Doyle, inventor Alexander Graham Bell, former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and signatories of the United States Declaration of Independence John Witherspoon and Benjamin Rush.
As of March 2019, the University of Edinburgh has 19 Nobel Prize winners, 3 Turing Award winners, 1 Fields Medalist, and 1 Abel Prize winner. The university has strong ties with the British royal family, with Prince Philip serving as Chancellor from 1953 to 2010, and Princess Anne assuming the role since 2010.
The university comprises 8 colleges: the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, the College of Science and Engineering, the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, the College of Law, and the College of Music. The Business School established its MBA program in 1980. Popular programs include those in finance, management, and marketing.