International Student Accommodation - Go Live It

The City: Am Baile

Edinburgh, or Dùn Eideann if interested in picking up Scottish Gaelic, is a small city of happiness. Most people who visit fall in love with the atmosphere that Edinburgh offers. From castles and old churches to cobblestone roads and quaint pubs, it is a comfortable and safe city that makes it easy to call Edinburgh "a home away from home".

One of the current interesting attractions about Scotland is the newly built parliament. This parliament marks the first time that Scottish politicians have conducted business from their own front since the Union of Parliaments in 1707. Though much of the decision making power remains at Westminster in London, the Scottish parliament provides a separate platform for a Scottish agenda. If interested in this political aspect of Scotland, you might want to check into the Parliamentary Programme at the University of Edinburgh, a political internship program designed for international students. More information can be found at the following website along with other information for prospective exchange students: http://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/visiting-exchange/parliamentary-programme.

Edinburgh Castle is one of the most visited attractions by tourists and locals each year. It is open throughout the year from 9:30 to 5:30. But of course, if you actually want to see the inside of the castle and not just take a picture of its beautiful rock base, it will cost you £11.00 for an adult ticket and £9.00 for concession. In the U.K., concession means the discounted price for students, aged 60 and over, etc. However, if you can wait, the alternative is to visit the castle on St. Andrews Day, the 30th of November, when admission is free. The flag of Scotland is the cross of St. Andrew; it is a white “X” over a blue background. The castle is a must see so if you are only visiting for a short while as a tourist or studying abroad in the second semester, then it is worth paying the price to see the castle.

Though Edinburgh can be an amazing city to explore, come prepared to be geographically confused, especially for those coming from North America. Because Edinburgh, and most cities in the U.K., is much older, there is no street system likened to a grid system, and nearly all of the streets have several different street names that mark different sections of the same street. For example, Edinburgh’s North Bridge, South Bridge, Nicholson Street, and Clerk Street are all actually just one street but with four different names, plus the names that I haven’t included. Therefore, a map will come in handy while making your way around the town. When in doubt, just ask for help. Edinburgh is a friendly city and, for the most part, people will be able to point you in the right direction.

The City Centre; the population of Edinburgh is roughly under 500,000 inhabitants. It is big enough to accommodate all of your interests, yet small enough to make it easy to get out and enjoy the city. Unlike places like London or Chicago, everything is within, at the most, a 60 minute walking distance. Buses also run regularly to provide quicker arrival. A good map of the city centre and bus routes can be found at the following website: www.lothianbuses.com/routemap.php Taxis are also an option, though it may feel like they cost an arm and a leg.

Princes Street- is probably the most famous street in Edinburgh. If doubtful about where to go or which bus to take, just head for Princes Street because the majority of Edinburgh buses will pass by here. The train station is adjacent to Princes Street, and the bus station is just up the hill from the Tourist Information Centre, on the right side of St. Andrews Square. Along Princes Street there are several shops, the Princes Street Gardens, and the Princes Street Mall (www.itchyedinburgh.co.uk/review.cfm/6/197527/Edinburgh-City-Guide/review/Princes-Street-Mall). Adjacent to Princes Street is yet another shopping centre, the St. James Centre on Leith Street, www.stjamesshopping.com/career.php. So if you are big on shopping and liveliness, then this is the place to be. Most parades, torch ceremonies, and major events will pass by Princes Street as well. Hogmanay, the Scottish term for the exciting New Year’s holiday, is celebrated each year with a massive street party along Princes Street with fireworks, music, and pipers.

Chambers Street- is where the National Museum of Scotland is located. This museum is free like most museums and galleries in Edinburgh. Chambers street is also home to The Jazz Bar and the Revolution Bar, two hot spots in the area. Chambers street also leads to one of Scotland’s Presbyterian churches: Greyfriars Tollbooth and Highland Kirk, which is the oldest post-reformation church in Edinburgh. Each Sunday, this Kirk has Scottish Gaelic services at 12:30.

Nicholson Street- is the same street mentioned above that has several different street names. You’ll be able to find most of your basic necessities along this street with natural food stores, at least two grocery stores (Lidl and Tesco), bargain shops, charity shops, and electronic stores.

The High Street/The Royal Mile- is a long stretch of tourist shops, relatively expensive places to eat, and various small shops that leads to two major attractions at both ends, the Edinburgh Castle at the top and the Scottish Parliament at the bottom.

University: Oilthigh

There are three universities in Edinburgh; these include Heriot-Watt University, Napier University, and the University of Edinburgh. Most university degrees take four years to complete. Education in Scotland is somewhat more restrictive than when compared with American universities; a full load is three classes with only one class being your outside course. Thus when you choose your course, you will usually only take classes in your own field. Though it varies somewhat between programs. Courses are generally taken for two terms of the academic year, with exams being completed during the third term. Fall term classes commence in mid-September and last until the winter holiday in December. The second term begins in the second week of January and lasts until mid-March. Though it may be intimidating to be examined on an entire year’s coursework, there is plenty of time set aside for revision. The second term ends in mid march, leaving about three weeks before the exams commence in the middle of April.

The workload is not unbearable but it requires that you do a lot of reading for your course. However, there is reading, and then there is “reading”. Don’t be alarmed by the massive reading list handed to you on your first day. It is common for professors to hand out a four page reading list. The reading list is usually longer in the second and third year. Thus you won’t have as much to read in your first year as you will in your fourth year. Try to pick up hints from lectures which books are the most important to browse. Make an effort to borrow books from the library before buying all the books on the list. Not only will it be very expensive, but it may not be necessary; sometimes you will only have to read one or two chapters. Although there is a lot of reading, essays are not as abundant. Be forewarned that essay deadlines are taken seriously over here so try not to procrastinate too much; points will be deducted from your essay no matter how late it is received.

Each university has a wealth of international students. So if you were hoping to study abroad in Edinburgh, only with Scottish people, you will be in the wrong place. The University of Edinburgh for example, has a lot of English students and American exchange students enrolled as well as several others from other countries. But there are plenty of ways to become integrated in Scottish culture and society by joining different clubs and societies or getting involved in local events. There are various sports, music, dance, and academic societies that you can choose from. If you do not find what you are looking for, then you can try to start your own club.   

Heriot-Watt University: http://www.hw.ac.uk/home/
University of Edinburgh: http://www.ed.ac.uk/
Napier University: http://www.napier.ac.uk/Pages/default.aspx

Transport: Còmhdhail

The name of the game is to always plan ahead. Booking early, means cheaper tickets with more money left over for the excitement at your destination. Sometimes tickets can be ridiculously and wonderfully cheap if you are aware of the cheaper options. For example, if travelling to London, the train will always be the most expensive option. It can cost over £100 if you wait until the last minute. If booked well enough in advance it will cost around £30.00. If you don’t mind taking the longer, less comfortable bus ride, the National Express is a good option that costs £20 if purchased over a week in advance. The Megabus is by far the cheapest option. You can actually get to London for a “fiver” (£5) if you book in advance with Megabus. The best way to find out their routes and best deals, is to visit their respective websites below.

Although there are trains that connect Edinburgh to the rest of Scotland and the United Kingdom, Edinburgh is too small for an effective underground/subway system. The local bus services run frequently and are usually reliable. But if travelling on Sunday, don’t count on the bus being prompt. The bus fare now costs £1.10 for any one-way journey. So if walking isn’t your cup of tea, and you’re planning a day trip that may require recurrent uses of the bus, then a day ticket is your best bet. A day ticket costs £2.50 and it allows you to use any local bus service for the rest of the day, free of charge. You can find more information about local routes and bus tours at the Lothian website below. Whether rain or shine, there are always tourists on the Edinburgh Tour buses. It costs £10 for a full ticket, or £9 for a concession on an Edinburgh Tour bus. If you are in the mood for a whole weekend of sightseeing, then you should visit the Lothian Bus website and click on “Edinburgh Bus Tours” to find out about their deals.

Transport from the city centre to the airport is smooth and convenient. If you don’t want to spend money on a taxi, but still want to get to the airport quickly, then the #100 is the best option. It costs £5 for an open return and it goes from the airport to the city centre in about 25 – 30 minutes. A single journey costs £3.00. However, if you have more time, the X48 and the #35 are cheaper options that take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour depending upon traffic. If leaving from Chambers street, outside the National Museum of Scotland, then you would take the #35. If leaving from Princes Street, you would take the X48. Both of these buses cost the regular local, single journey price of £1.10. If you have a massive amount of luggage, then a taxi would be better which costs around 30 quid (a British term for pounds). But before you burn a hole in your pocket, take note of the Edinburgh Shuttle which takes you from the Airport right to your door in the city centre, for only £8.00. If travelling with a friend, it costs £15 for two travelling companions, or £21 for three. 

Edinburgh Lothian Bus Services http://lothianbuses.net/

ScotRail www.firstgroup.com/scotrail/

Megabus www.megabus.com/uk/help/general.php

National Express www.nationalexpress.com/

Edinburgh Shuttle, Airport to City Centre www.edinburghcentral.org/news/

Food and Drink: Biadh agus Deoch

In my opinion, the most enjoyable thing about Edinburgh, is exploring the different places to eat and drink. Going to different pubs is a major part of Scottish culture. Some pubs will have live music as well if that suits your fancy. The general rule is that cafés and pubs will have cheaper food options. Eating out is generally more expensive in the U.K. due to the strength of the pound. For those coming from the U.S., the British Pound (GBP) is worth around $2, and as for the Euro, it is approximately 1.25€ to equal one pound.

Black Medicine Café- (2 Nicholson Street and in Marchmont) has a cosy atmosphere with their wooden tables and chairs. They have a large selection of cold and hot treats and a section overlooking Nicholson Street.

BeanScene- (99 Nicholson Street) is the place to be if you don’t drink alcohol, but still fancy going for a drink. It is relatively more expensive than other cafés, but BeanScene is open the latest. The dim lighting, candles, and comfortable couches enhance the atmosphere for studying or catching up with friends.

Kilimanjaro Coffee- (126 Nicholson Street) is great for a break from studying. This small café is a good place for a panini, soup with bread, or a nice cup of hot coffee to warm you up.

The Elephant House- (21 George IV Bridge) is nicknamed the “Birthplace of Harry Potter”, as J.K. Rowling spent some serious coffee time at The Elephant House during the initial writing process of her first Harry Potter novel. Well, if it was inspiring for J.K. Rowling, maybe it can be for you as well. There is nothing like a good café for a distraction from your work. But if you do check out this café, you’ll find that it is a good place to catch up on your British history reading over a coffee or hot chocolate.

Harlequin Cafe- (30 ‘basement’ Buccleuch street) will be your 'special spot' if you are big on organic food and don’t want to go too far from the city centre. If studying at the University of Edinburgh, it is an ideal place for a quick stop for lunch as it is right next door to George Square, the centre of campus, and the main library. Most of all their ingredients are organic and taste really good. You can get soup with organic bread or a sandwich for £2.50.

The Advocate- (7 Hunter Square) is a lively pub, great for a cheap dinner with friends or a place to sip on your pint.

The Mosque Kitchen- (Edinburgh Central Mosque, 50 Potterrow, Southside) is most definitely a place to visit. Without a doubt, no matter how hungry you are, the food at The Mosque Kitchen will fill you up. And the icing on the cake, is that the food is quite cheap for the amount that you get. You get a large amount of Lamb or Chicken and potato curry, with rice or naan bread on the side, for only 3 or 4 quid. But the catch is that you have to eat outside. It isn’t so pleasant when it is raining, but the great taste of the food makes up for it. You can also get take-a-way and eat it in the comfort of your own flat. Of course you can always wait for the sunny spring and fall days, though those are rare in Edinburgh.

The Royal Oak- (1 Infirmary St) is an amazing place to relax if you love folk music. It has been established as a live music venue, with regular jam sessions both on the ground level and the lounge bar in the basement. It is a small, quaint pub with a variety of drink options.

Doctors- (32 Forest Road) is a popular place for catching up with friends over some drinks. This pub is fairly large in size; however, space soon becomes scarce once it grows busy and crowded in the late evening.

The Three Sisters- (139 Cowgate) Fancy drinking your pint of Guinness outside while you watch the “friendly” football match between Scotland and England? Then The Three Sisters is the place for you. You can also enjoy your time inside if you like. This pub is located on the Cowgate which is the noisiest street in Edinburgh past 10:00 p.m.; it is a long stretch of a street with several different pubs and nightclubs.

The Jazz Bar- (1 Chambers Street) is for you if you like jazz music. They have an early gig nightly from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m., with music from 9:00 p.m., and a late gig nightly from 12 to 3:00 a.m. They have free Wi-Fi and Saturday afternoon jazz from 3 to 6:00 p.m. And if jazz isn’t the only thing you love, even better yet because The Jazz Bar also presents funk, hip-hop, soul, big bands, DJs, and local and touring bands. If you play yourself, then it might be worth your while to turn up to one of their jam sessions.

Teviot Row Union and Potterrow Student Union- (Bristo Square) are student unions that are always overflowing with students late into the night. To get into Teviot you have to show your student card for entrance.

Out on the Town: A-mach air a’Bhaile

Hiking Arthur’s Seat is a great way to spend your Saturday evening, even if hiking is not your forte. You’ll be glad you made the trek once you reach the top because you’ll be able to relax and see the magnificent city of Edinburgh from a bird’s eye view. For the athletes among you, running around Arthur’s Seat is a good, hilly course. Two circuits around Arthur’s Seat is equivalent to 10k. You can take your time, going for a long stroll, taking in the beauty of the hills and the small ponds that you pass.

Cèilidh Dancing is traditional Scottish folk dancing. You won’t have to search long and hard to find a venue that is hosting a Cèilidh dance. And don’t worry about not knowing the dances; the dance routine is “walked-out” at the start of each dance.

Both the King’s Theatre and the Festival Theatre are great places for checking out a pantomime, play, or a dance performance. Whether it’s drama, dance, ballet, concerts, opera, or shows for children, one of these venues will have what you are looking for. 

If you like water, then you should take a bus to New Haven or Leith. You can take the #7 or #14 towards New Haven, or the #22 to the Gyle Centre to get to Leith. There are restaurants in the area that are on the water, and there is also a mall at Ocean Terminal with various shopping options.

Day Tripper: Turasan Latha

Linglithgow is where Mary Queen of Scots was born in Linlithgow Palace. It is only a half an hour by train and an hour by bus from Edinburgh city centre. The #38 will take you directly to the centre of Linlithgow, and it leaves from Princes Street every half hour until 6:30, after which it leaves every hour. It is a picturesque town that is well worth the trip. 

Stirling is short enough for a day-trip, but historical enough for your day to be busy. Stirling Castle is one of Scotland’s most major attractions. Your feet will sure be tired after exploring all of what Stirling has to offer.

Glasgow is the biggest city in Scotland with much to offer in food, recreation, festivals, and shopping. An early booked train ticket from Edinburgh will cost around £6, and a last-minute return ticket won’t cost more than around £16. It will take between 50 minutes and an hour to get to Glasgow.   

St. Andrews is claimed to be a place for exploring. St. Andrews is the home of golf, having been played in Scotland for 600 years. It is best to take the bus as the train stops at a point 10 minutes away from St. Andrews. The St. Andrews Castle, Cathedral, and University are sites not to be missed on your trip to St. Andrews.

A trip to the Highlands is a must if coming to visit Scotland. Whether driving, on the bus, or on the train, you’ll pass by some of the most beautiful scenery that Scotland has to offer. The combination of streams, lakes, and snow covered mountains contrasted with green pastures and sheep on rolling hills, will give you a feeling of light-hearted happiness. Taking a trip up to Fort William, Loch Ness, or Inverness will take between 3 and 4 hours depending upon your transportation. Be on the lookout for any highland trips hosted by local tour agencies or university groups. Sometimes the international office at the University of Edinburgh for example, will host highland or island trips inclusive of food, lodging, and transport for around £80 for a weekend away. Once at Fort William, Mallaig is only an hour away and easily accessible by bus. From Mallaig, you can take a ferry over to Sleat on the Isle of Skye. If the time allows, a trip to the Western Isles would also be well worth it.

How to make your life easier: Ciamar a nì thu do bheatha nas fhasa

Shops; the cheapest options for food will be supermarkets such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Lidl. If you are particularly interested in wholesome food that is either natural or organic, the following stores will be your cup of tea: Real Foods, at 37 Broughton Street and another just off Lauriston Place, Holland and Barrett on Nicholson Street, or Jordan Valley on Nicholson Street. Real Foods will be the cheapest option of the three and you’ll be able to get your fruit and veg there as well. If you are in need of Halal meat, there are local shops in the city centre that advertise this.

Accommodation; Choosing where you want to live can ultimately be narrowed down to one question: Do you want to live in self-catered or catered housing? In other words, do you really want to cook for yourself, three meals a day, 7 days a week, including snacks, in a shared space with others, who you haven’t met yet and who might be messy people? Or, do you really want to be reliant on the inflexible dining hall schedule, in which you end up paying for two meals if you choose to eat out one evening, without access to your own personal fridge of fresh fruits? Cooking for yourself will be cheaper and allows you to eat at a time that is convenient for you. Sometimes catered housing only offers two meals a day. Thus you’ll have to prepare your own third meal without the convenience of your own kitchen. If you feel that grocery shopping is a waste of time and you despise cooking, then catered housing is right for you. Also, think about whether or not you want to be close to your campus. Walking long distances for a 9:00 a.m. class may not seem too bad now, but if raining (and Edinburgh has lots of it), the shorter walk might be more appealing. Living further away will be cheaper, so again, you’ll have to weigh up what is important to you.

Job Opportunities; Since the cost of living will be more expensive during your exchange, you may want to check into a part-time job. It is possible to both work and study. It is recommended that you work no more than 15 hours a week. However, each person is their own judge; if you can balance your time well enough to work more than 15 hours a week, then give it a shot. The extra money will come in handy for all the exciting things you want to do while abroad. Different rules apply to different nationalities. If you are from the EU you won’t have to worry about acquiring a work visa. But if you are from anywhere in North America or in most other places, you will need to have a permit to work. Visit the following website to get more information about student visas: (http://www.scotlandistheplace.com/stitp/218.3.240.html) Once you arrive, you’ll have to get your own National Insurance Number to work as well. (http://www.scotlandistheplace.com/stitp/188.14.57.html)

Bar tenders and waiters/waitresses are usually in high demand, and job openings are always to be found. Don’t worry if you lack previous experience as there will be employers who are willing to train a committed employee. Once you arrive, get in contact with your university’s careers service to help make your search easier. This website will help with job hunting: http://www.careers.ed.ac.uk/ Keep in mind that most job openings are not advertised; try dropping your resume or CV by places that interest you.

To view information about Bank Accounts & Money transfers, Internet & Telephone and Health, visit our UK homepage.

Tha sinn an dòchas gum bi sinn gad fhaicinn nuair a thig thu a Dhùn Eideann! We hope to see you when you come to Edinburgh!

Finding Student Accommodation in Edinburgh

Here is a very quick guide to help you find your ideal student accommodation in Edinburgh. First of all you should check out our student residences and our private student accommodation lisitings. Your next port of call should be to contact the university. If you are studying at Edinburgh university their student accomodation website is Edinburgh University Student Accommodation. The Napier university student accommodation webpage can be found here: Napier Student Accommodation.

Guide written by Ruth Anne Whitfield, 3rd year visiting student from the University of Chicago, 2007/2008.

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