University

University of Edinburgh

University
#28
Global Influence
Public research university in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

University of Edinburgh Featured Rankings

About University of Edinburgh

By James Barham, PhD

In spite of dating back to the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, the University of Edinburgh is only the fourth-oldest university in Scotland (after St. Andrews, Glasgow, and Aberdeen), hence the sixth-oldest in the English-speaking world (with Oxford and Cambridge, of course, in first and second positions).

As the city of Edinburgh itself grew in importance, however, its university also came to dominate its Scottish rivals. That is why, for such a relatively “young” university, Edinburgh is associated with a quite remarkable list of intellectual luminaries, including the following, including, during the seventeenth century, the well-known Presbyterian theologian, Samuel Rutherford.

During the following eighteenth-century – the Scottish Enlightenment – Edinburgh was home to a veritable galaxy of celebrated thinkers, including:

  • Philosophers, David Hume, Adam Smith, & Adam Ferguson
  • Theologian and mathematician, Thomas Bayes
  • Theologian, educator, and signer of the US Declaration of Independence, John Witherspoon
  • Physician and US Declaration of Independence—signer, Benjamin Rush
  • Lawyer, US Declaration of Independence – signer, and US Supreme Court Justice, James Wilson
  • Physicist, Joseph Black
  • Geologist, James Hutton
  • Celebrated author of the Life of Johnson, James Boswell

During the Victoria era, two of the most-influential scientists of all time, the naturalist Charles Darwin and the physicist James Clerk Maxwell, both studied here. Other nineteenth-century, Edinburgh-connected scientists include the botanist Robert Brown (the first person to observe what is now called “Brownian motion”); the physician Joseph Lister (a pioneer of antiseptic surgery); and Alexander Graham Bell (the inventor of the telephone).

We may also mention:

  • Philosopher, James Frederick Ferrier
  • Novelists Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson, & Arthur Conan Doyle
  • Playwright, J.M. Barrie
  • Neoclassical architect, William Henry Playfair
  • Satirist and cultural critic, Thomas Carlyle

As for the twentieth century, among 19 Nobel Prize – winners who have been associated with the University of Edinburgh, we may mention:

  • Max Born and Peter Higg–physics
  • Peter Mitchell–chemistry
  • Hermann Muller, Alexander Fleming, and May-Britt Moser–physiology or medicine

There have been four Edinburgh-connected Turing Award – winners, namely:

  • Robin Milner
  • Alan Kay
  • Leslie Valiant
  • Geoffrey Hinton

Scientific breakthroughs that have occurred here include the first cloning of a mammal (the sheep Dolly) and the first genetically engineered hepatitis B vaccine. Edinburgh scientists also helped design the world’s first industrial-assembly robotic system.

According to Wikipedia, The University of Edinburgh is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded by the town council under the authority of a royal charter of King James VI in 1582 and officially opened in 1583, it is one of Scotland's four ancient universities and the sixth-oldest university in continuous operation in the English-speaking world. The university played an important role in Edinburgh becoming a chief intellectual centre during the Scottish Enlightenment and contributed to the city being nicknamed the "Athens of the North." Edinburgh is ranked among the top universities in the United Kingdom and the world.

University of Edinburgh's Online Degrees

What Is University of Edinburgh Known For?

University of Edinburgh is known for it's academic work in the following disciplines:

University of Edinburgh's Top Areas of Influence With Degrees Offered

Biology
#13
World Rank
#7
Historical Rank
Genetics
#9
World Rank
#10
Historical Rank
Anatomy
#3
World Rank
#2
Historical Rank
Physiology
#11
World Rank
#13
Historical Rank
biology Degrees
Mathematics
#43
World Rank
#38
Historical Rank
Statistics
#57
World Rank
#59
Historical Rank
Algebra
#19
World Rank
#27
Historical Rank
Geometry
#46
World Rank
#51
Historical Rank
math Degrees
Philosophy
#31
World Rank
#36
Historical Rank
Logic
#27
World Rank
#32
Historical Rank
Ethics
#25
World Rank
#29
Historical Rank
Metaphysics
#17
World Rank
#16
Historical Rank
philosophy Degrees
Computer Science
#19
World Rank
#20
Historical Rank
Artificial Intelligence
#9
World Rank
#10
Historical Rank
Programming
#16
World Rank
#16
Historical Rank
Database
#29
World Rank
#29
Historical Rank
computer-science Degrees
Literature
#28
World Rank
#17
Historical Rank
Writing
#30
World Rank
#13
Historical Rank
Literary Criticism
#50
World Rank
#24
Historical Rank
Philology
#87
World Rank
#89
Historical Rank
literature Degrees
Medical
#14
World Rank
#14
Historical Rank
Surgery
#14
World Rank
#14
Historical Rank
Public Health
#38
World Rank
#35
Historical Rank
Pharmacology
#12
World Rank
#11
Historical Rank
medicine Degrees
Physics
#32
World Rank
#28
Historical Rank
Astronomy
#22
World Rank
#24
Historical Rank
Particle Physics
#13
World Rank
#13
Historical Rank
Cosmology
#30
World Rank
#31
Historical Rank
physics Degrees
History
#23
World Rank
#15
Historical Rank
Modern History
#18
World Rank
#18
Historical Rank
Ancient History
#29
World Rank
#29
Historical Rank
Ecclesiastical History
#9
World Rank
#9
Historical Rank
history Degrees
Political Science
#41
World Rank
#23
Historical Rank
Government
#23
World Rank
#23
Historical Rank
Political Economy
#23
World Rank
#6
Historical Rank
Human Rights
#53
World Rank
#53
Historical Rank
political-science Degrees
Education
#22
World Rank
#22
Historical Rank
Higher Education
#26
World Rank
#26
Historical Rank
Secondary Education
#40
World Rank
#40
Historical Rank
Pedagogy
#80
World Rank
#83
Historical Rank
education Degrees
Engineering
#57
World Rank
#38
Historical Rank
Architecture
#56
World Rank
#31
Historical Rank
Civil Engineering
#44
World Rank
#14
Historical Rank
Electrical Engineering
#86
World Rank
#91
Historical Rank
engineering Degrees
Chemistry
#25
World Rank
#25
Historical Rank
Organic Chemistry
#31
World Rank
#35
Historical Rank
Chemical Engineering
#46
World Rank
#47
Historical Rank
Inorganic Chemistry
#38
World Rank
#39
Historical Rank
chemistry Degrees
Economics
#57
World Rank
#27
Historical Rank
Taxation
#24
World Rank
#24
Historical Rank
Neoclassical Economics
#15
World Rank
#15
Historical Rank
Classical Economics
#15
World Rank
#17
Historical Rank
economics Degrees
Business
#57
World Rank
#56
Historical Rank
Management
#43
World Rank
#43
Historical Rank
Finance
#55
World Rank
#55
Historical Rank
Sales
#61
World Rank
#61
Historical Rank
business Degrees
Law
#31
World Rank
#29
Historical Rank
Jurisprudence
#22
World Rank
#24
Historical Rank
Civil Law
#14
World Rank
#14
Historical Rank
International Law
#83
World Rank
#89
Historical Rank
Psychology
#36
World Rank
#34
Historical Rank
Cognitive Science
#16
World Rank
#16
Historical Rank
Cognitive Psychology
#22
World Rank
#22
Historical Rank
Psychoanalysis
#52
World Rank
#58
Historical Rank
psychology Degrees
Religious Studies
#12
World Rank
#15
Historical Rank
Theology
#13
World Rank
#19
Historical Rank
Ministry
#23
World Rank
#23
Historical Rank
Islamic Studies
#16
World Rank
#16
Historical Rank
religious-studies-hub Degrees
Communications
#21
World Rank
#21
Historical Rank
Linguistics
#14
World Rank
#17
Historical Rank
Grammar
#7
World Rank
#7
Historical Rank
Journalism
#71
World Rank
#72
Historical Rank
communications Degrees
Earth Sciences
#15
World Rank
#14
Historical Rank
Geography
#17
World Rank
#19
Historical Rank
Mineralogy
#4
World Rank
#6
Historical Rank
Meteorology
#17
World Rank
#24
Historical Rank
earth-science Degrees
Sociology
#27
World Rank
#32
Historical Rank
Women's Studies
#223
World Rank
#223
Historical Rank
Gender Studies
#198
World Rank
#198
Historical Rank
Sexology
#65
World Rank
#72
Historical Rank
sociology Degrees
Anthropology
#30
World Rank
#37
Historical Rank
Social Anthropology
#13
World Rank
#17
Historical Rank
Cultural Anthropology
#35
World Rank
#44
Historical Rank
Archeology
#48
World Rank
#54
Historical Rank
anthropology Degrees
Nursing
#16
World Rank
#16
Historical Rank
Psychiatric Nursing
#50
World Rank
#50
Historical Rank
Critical Care Nursing
#19
World Rank
#19
Historical Rank
Neonatal Nursing
#25
World Rank
#25
Historical Rank
nursing Degrees
Criminal Justice
#75
World Rank
#76
Historical Rank
Law Enforcement
#163
World Rank
#163
Historical Rank
Forensic Science
#15
World Rank
#15
Historical Rank
Criminology
#88
World Rank
#93
Historical Rank
criminal-justice Degrees
Social Work
#60
World Rank
#63
Historical Rank
Empowerment
#111
World Rank
#111
Historical Rank
Child Protection
#19
World Rank
#19
Historical Rank
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
#74
World Rank
#74
Historical Rank
social-work Degrees

Who Are University of Edinburgh's Most Influential Alumni?

University of Edinburgh's most influential alumni include professors and professionals in the fields of Biology, Medical, and Earth Sciences. Here are some of University of Edinburgh's most famous alumni:

Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin
An English naturalist and biologist .
David Hume
David Hume
A Scottish philosopher, economist, and historian.
James Clerk Maxwell
James Clerk Maxwell
A Scottish physicist and mathematician.
Thomas Carlyle
Thomas Carlyle
A Scottish essayist, historian and philosopher .
Richard Owen
Richard Owen
An English biologist and paleontologist.
Geoffrey Hinton
Geoffrey Hinton
A Computer scientist and psychologist, (1947 - ), London, UK.
Bill Moyers
Bill Moyers
An American journalist.
Benjamin Rush
Benjamin Rush
An American physician, educator, author.
Walter Scott
Walter Scott
A Scottish novelist, poet and playwright .
Edward VII
Edward VII
A King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India .
James Boswell
James Boswell
A British lawyer, diarist, and author .
Kurt Koffka
A German psychologist.

Who Are University of Edinburgh's Most Influential Faculty?

University of Edinburgh's most influential faculty include professors in the fields of Biology, Medical, and Earth Sciences. Here are some of University of Edinburgh's most famous alumni:

Tommy J. Curry
A Professor at Texas A&M university.
Duncan Pritchard
A Philosopher.
Sarah Cleaveland
Sarah Cleaveland
A British veterinary surgeon and epidemiologist.
Leroy Cronin
Leroy Cronin
A British chemist.
Amos Storkey
A British machine learning academic.
Donald Bloxham
A British historian.
Yasir Suleiman
A Palestinian academic.
Stephen L. Brusatte
Stephen L. Brusatte
An American paleontologist.
Devi Sridhar
A Global public health researcher.
Agata Smoktunowicz
A Polish mathematician.
Andrew Rambaut
A Professor of Molecular Evolution, University of Edinburgh.
Andrew Rambaut
A Professor of Molecular Evolution, University of Edinburgh.

Image Attributions