A Brief History Of The University Of Edinburgh In 1 Minute

Founded in 1582, the University Of Edinburgh opened its doors to the world in 1583. Steeped in prestige and entangled with history, this esteemed institution is one of Scotland’s ancient universities and the sixth oldest university in the English-speaking world.
Edinburgh University first begun as a college of law before expanding into a formally established college, under the Royal Charter of King James VI of Scotland on 14th April 1582. The institution has buildings sprawled out across the city, especially in the Old Town, with the first custom-built building being the Old College (now the School Of Law). Teviot Row happens to be the oldest purpose-built student union in the world, just as the English Literature department is the oldest in Britain. Interestingly, after Cambridge and Oxford, the university receives the third largest endowment in the United Kingdom.

One of the countless reasons why Edinburgh was granted the world’s first UNESCO City Of Literature — and why it has the notable nickname ‘Athens of the North’ — is the group of fearless revolutionaries (like philosopher David Hume) who were key components in the university’s pioneering involvement during the Age Of Enlightenment.

Along with being an intellectual hub for the Scottish Enlightenment, The College Of Medicine And Veterinary Medicine is regarded as one of the best medical institutions in the world. From inventing the hypodermic syringe and finding a cure for scurvy to inventing the decompression chamber, discovering SARS, developing IV therapy, the Hepatitis B vaccine, and more, graduates have played a starring role in the field of medicine.

With approximately 50,000 applications flying in at accelerated rates per year, Edinburgh’s beloved university attracts countless academic hopefuls, making it the fourth most popular university in the UK — and the second trickiest to gain entry.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.