– by Alyvia Highland coos resting on a hill in the distance In the southwestern part of Edinburgh lies Pentland Hills Regional Park, a beautiful expanse of hikes and farmland. A great place to visit in this park is Swanston Farm, which is about a 20-minute drive from the center of the city. This farm is a very popular place for study abroad students who wish to meet Highland coos (coos means cows in Scots!) without actually venturing into the Highlands. My first visit to the farm was organized by someone else, as I went with a big group of friends, so I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect— exce ..read more

– by Grace Lucchesi Disclaimer: all of these “near death experiences” are exaggerations- I have, so far, never genuinely feared for my life whilst living in Edinburgh. I actually waited several weeks before writing this post in hopes that I would have a fifth near-death experience, as that would’ve made this a more well-rounded list, but after waiting over a month I guess I’m just too experienced now for those newbie mistakes! 1. Falling down the Scotsman steps I arrived in Edinburgh early January, a time when, at night, temperatures would approach freezing, and the sun would set at a mere 4pm ..read more

– by Jenna Schwartz Over the weekend, Saturday to Sunday, I traveled to the Scottish Highlands. I was fortunate that my home university organized a trip for us UK abroad students to go on but there are many companies available to book to make your traveling easier and more informed! We went on a trip with Wee Red Bus Tours. If you are able, I would recommend booking a tour to travel to the highlands. There are many places to see with lots of history and driving is necessary. Doune Castle One of the Three Sister Mountains in Glencoe Loch Shiel We began our tour at Doune Castle, seen in the fi ..read more

My sister and me (Alyvia) at Stirling Castle My first week in Edinburgh was spent exploring the city and beyond with my dad and sister. We rented a flat near George Square and from there we branched out and made many stops around the city. We got a real taste of Edinburgh cuisine, trying everything from real Scottish restaurants, Italian places, Mexican dishes, and even American comfort food… except I’m still too nervous to try haggis. We visited the Old College and George Square, scouting out where I would need to go for classes. We explored the National Museum of Scotland and were surprised ..read more

It’s now March, I’m well into my second semester as a visiting student in Edinburgh and I’m still unsure about how I should handle my workload while still seizing every opportunity to enjoy my time in Scotland. Walking through the University Library I think the amount of time allocated to studying is probably a very personal decision, that every exchange student takes based on their situation. I knew I had to study a lot during the first semester because the grades I got during that time counted towards my degree and were very relevant in the masters applications that I’m making right now. B ..read more

– by Grace Lucchesi Last week my lab partner asked one of the lab techs in our Animal Biology 2 practical: “How much of this do we need to know?” “Everything,” she said. She offered no reassurance. Coming from a small town “liberal arts” school in the states, I expected a lot of differences when studying at the University of Edinburgh. My own college experience barely translated to that of my high school friends’ studying domestically at schools 20,000 students strong- ten times what I was used to. I knew I was lucky working personally with professors and never having to experience lecture hal ..read more

A lifetime would not be enough to discover every secret corner of Edinburgh, but there is a way to look at it all at once. How? Change your perspective! Escape the streets and closes and take the time to climb the majestic hill of Arthur’s Seat, which from its 251 m of height stands imposing over the city. Arthur’s Seat path view “A hill for magnitude, a mountain in virtue of its bold design”, as R. L. Stevenson reminds us. The reasons for climbing the hill are endless, just pick one. Maybe you venture up the path simply because someone told you that if you don’t you will have 7 years of bad l ..read more

– by Jenna Schwartz Edinburgh Castle – View from New Town Before arriving in Edinburgh I had some preconceived notions about what the city was like. Specifically, its size. Edinburgh is way larger than I thought it would be, with tons of stuff to do! First, the cafes are endless. I am a person who can sit in a coffee shop for hours reading, doing work, people-watching, and of course enjoying the drinks and food. I’ve discovered the most adorable, comfortable coffee shops in Edinburgh such as “Lovecrumbs”, “Bobby’s”, “Coffee Lounge”, “Union Lab”, and “Love, Peace, and Coffee”. Each of these als ..read more

Hello everyone! My name is Sami Poutre, and I am from Quincy Massachusetts, about fifteen minutes away from Boston. I am very much looking forward to becoming a 2024 blogger for the University of Edinburgh! There are so many fun (and arguably embarrassing) events I cannot wait to share with you, but a story would not be complete without its beginning, so let’s go to chapter one. Friends During Christmas – Boston Massachusetts My trip to Edinburgh came with its challenges before I even arrived on Scotland soil. It was the first time traveling by myself, lugging around my totally trendy mint-gre ..read more

Edinburgh is an old city, so the accommodation in Old Town often consists of buildings that are rich in history. Daria When I was trying to research which student accommodation to choose for my stay in Edinburgh, I found most of my information on the accommodation website (Our accommodation | UOE Accommodation (ed.ac.uk)) and I also used the live chat function with the accommodation team. However, I found it was still a little difficult to imagine what it would be like to live in some of the options I had selected.  I ended up getting a flat at South College Street which is paired with R ..read more