Our Uni: the Past and the Future

The University of Edinburgh was rated the 23rd best university in the world, 6th best in Europe, and the best in Scotland. These ranking aren’t pulled from thin air: they are based on a long-standing history of academic excellence. Here’s a quick glimpse into the past and future of our impressive uni…

 

Dolly the Sheep (and other research):

 

Dolly the Sheep was the first mammal to be cloned from an adult cell, and thus is the most famous sheep in history. The uni continues to work on ground-breaking research, and even last week Cancer Research UK funded £2.4 million for uni scientists to boost brain tumour research. Blood transfusion research has saved the NHS £100 million per year. A research study into compression stockings for stroke victims has changed healthcare guidelines worldwide, saving the NHS a further £21 million and improving comfort for patients around the globe. 1000 Enterprises have added £80 million to Scottish economy. 1.8 million hectares of forest land are being protected, and 300,000 people in East Africa have benefitted from bioenergy research. Crimes committed by youth fell by 32% in 2008 and 2011 due to a legal policy study. Religion, society, and economics, have also been tackled within the last year.

 

Alumni:

 

As the 6th oldest uni in English speaking world, the University of Edinburgh boasts an impressive range of alumni. Ranked 3rd in the UK and 1st in Scotland for sports, the Pleasance has dedicated a Hall of Fame to our famous sports alumni. Sir Chris Hoy is Britain’s most successful Olympian, with Katherine Grainer being Britain’s most successful female rower. Andy Irvine and Chris Paterson MBE also studied with us. With the world’s largest monument dedicated to a writer, it’s no wonder that a trail of literary genius stemmed from our alumni here in Edinburgh. As the birthplace of Harry Potter, Peter Pan, and Sherlock Holmes, the university also taught Robert Louis Stevenson and Sir Walter Scott. In relation to the science research above, we also have 5 Nobel Laureate prizes for physics, 6 for chemistry, 9 for medicine. Other Greats include Adam Smith, David Hume, Alexander Graham Bell, Charles Darwin, and Winston Churchill.

 

Will your name end up on the famous alumni list? Or will you be involved in ground-breaking research here? Either way, being part of the University of Edinburgh means being part of something grand and promising.