Edinburgh
Edinburgh’s literary tradition is assured to this day through writing talent such as JK Rowling, Ian Rankin, Irvine Welsh – one of Heriot-Watt’s very own graduates – and Alexander McCall-Smith. This is why Edinburgh is the world’s first City of Literature.
Science and discovery also continue to play a huge part in defining the city. The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell, born in Edinburgh in the 1800s, while more recently, one of the city’s many bio-industry companies was the first in the world to clone a mammal – the elegantly named Dolly the Sheep.
Creative endeavour makes the city tick. Some of the world’s top selling video game titles were developed in Edinburgh including Grand Theft Auto by Rockstar Games. Work from some of the UK’s leading architects and interior designers can be seen throughout the city and a new animation studio has just been established here.
Edinburgh is a cradle of learning and discovery. Described as a ‘hotbed of genius’ in the 18th Century, the city continues to act as a base for those at the forefront of financial, scientific, creative, political and cultural endeavour.
Edinburgh is perhaps best known for its world famous cultural festivals and events which attract some 1.4 million visitors to the city each year. Thousands flock to enjoy the Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the international festivals devoted to films, books, jazz and blues, politics and science and, of course, the unique ‘Hogmanay’ celebrations.
Edinburgh – a culturally diverse, historically significant, socially alive, environmentally aware, politically central, visually stimulating experience. In other words you will live and study in Scotland’s stunning capital.