Nursing in Edinburgh: Studying, working, and living guide
Find out about nursing in Edinburgh - where nurses can find jobs, the hospitals they might work in, colleges & universities to study in, plus living information.
Edinburgh is one of the most beautiful places to live and work in the UK; it is the capital city of Scotland and is easily commutable to much of Scotland and the north of England.
Edinburgh is a wonderful city and is known for its beautiful architecture and countless scenic spots. It is more expensive than many places in the UK – but undoubtedly, it’s a great place to live whether you’re working or studying as a nurse.
From cost of living and travel through to culture and nightlife, this is an end-to-end guide for nurses wanting to study or work in Edinburgh, offering support for those in search of the right place to put down roots.
Where do nurses work in Edinburgh?
There are many employers of nurses in Edinburgh, whether you’re looking to work for the NHS or a private healthcare provider.
These locations include:
The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
The Western General Hospital
The Royal Edinburgh Hospital
The Royal Hospital for Children and Young People
NHS Lothian provides care in a range of primary, community-based and acute hospital services in the city. There are also many private hospitals and care homes throughout Edinburgh specialising in support for the elderly, young people and younger adults. They frequently look for Registered Nurses as well as carers.
There are thousands of vacancies for nurses across multiple specialisms throughout Edinburgh and nearby, and consistent shortages too. So, you’ll have no trouble finding work whether you’re a Newly Registered Nurse or have been in the profession for a while.
Nursing jobs in Edinburgh
On these facility pages by Care UK you can find career information & jobs for nurses, home managers and care assistants in Edinburgh (depending on whether they are running vacancies at the time of publishing).
Murrayside Care Home - Care UK
Find nursing jobs in Edinburgh at Murrayside Care Home, operated by Care UK.
Cairdean House Care Home - Care UK
Find nursing jobs in Edinburgh at Cairdean House Care Home, operated by Care UK.
Where can aspiring nurses study in Edinburgh?
Anyone wishing to train to become a nurse at a university in Edinburgh can study at the University of Edinburgh or Edinburgh Napier University.
The University of Edinburgh has five campuses around Edinburgh and start dates are available in September. Edinburgh Napier University meanwhile has three campuses across Edinburgh, with courses also starting in September.
The University of Edinburgh is amongst the largest and most prestigious universities in the world. Meanwhile, Edinburgh Napier is consistently ranked in the top five universities for nursing degrees in the whole of the UK.
Both Universities have an excellent reputation with high graduation and student satisfaction rates.
Find our nursing university guide here.
As for costs as a student, the average monthly rental costs for a student in Edinburgh is between £700 and £900, depending on the type of accommodation and location. That makes it one of the pricier places to study nursing in the UK.
Where do nurses live in Edinburgh?
Nurses in Edinburgh live all over the city, making the most of the beauty and culture in every corner.
But here are the most popular locations in Edinburgh for nurses:
Marchmont
Popular due to it being close to the University of Edinburgh
Newington
Convenient for both University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Napier University, as well as all kinds of shopping and entertainment
New Town
One of the more expensive areas to live in as a nurse but with stunning Georgian houses and architecture. There are lots of independent shops, cafes and bars too
Tollcross
Popular with nurses due to having several beautiful public parks nearby as well as great links to the rest of the city
Edinburgh is a large city with communities of nurses and Student Nurses found in every corner.
What are the living costs for nurses in Edinburgh?
Here is a broad guide to some of the different costs of living in Edinburgh:
The average price for a home in Edinburgh is currently £300,000 – a little higher than the national average of £293,000.
The average rental price for a property in Edinburgh is £1200 per month. But if you are merely looking to rent a room in a shared house, the average cost is just over £700.
Council tax costs vary a lot across the city. But most people across Edinburgh are in a Band B property or similar, which currently means paying £1440 a year – or £120 a month.
Other bills like shopping and utilities are at a similar level to the rest of the UK.
Dining out and entertainment is more expensive than comparable cities, but this is to be expected with Edinburgh's international reputation as hotspot for culture and natural beauty.
Is travel easy in Edinburgh?
Edinburgh is a large but compact city where most central areas are within walking or cycling distance.
The A1, linking Edinburgh to the rest of the UK, passes through Edinburgh directly. The city connects with Perth via the M90, and with Dundee and Aberdeen via the A90. Edinburgh offers a 24/7 bus service in and out of the city, as well as a recently renovated tram service.
The two mainline stations are Edinburgh Waverley in the city centre and Haymarket Station in the West End. Edinburgh is only a 4-hour train from London or a 1 to 2 hours train from major cities like Newcastle and Glasgow.
Edinburgh Airport offers flights to many UK and worldwide destinations. It only takes 1 hour and 20 minutes to fly to Edinburgh from London. All in all, it’s a well-connected and excellently located city.
What to do in Edinburgh: walks, culture, nightlife and eating out
Edinburgh undoutedly has something for everyone when it comes to your valuable free time.
Culture and attractions
Edinburgh is regularly visited by tourists from all over the UK and beyond for its cultural attractions, as well as the fabulous scenery and natural beauty across the surrounding areas.
Edinburgh Castle is a popular place to visit due to being one of the oldest fortified places in Europe. It was recently voted top UK Heritage Attraction in the British Travel Awards and is Scotland’s number one paid-for tourist attraction.
Edinburgh Old Town is extremely popular among visitors and locals for its unusual layout and unique architecture, and it has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995. Arthur’s Seat and Palace of Holyrood House are also wonderful places to tour.
In Edinburgh there is a vibrant music and arts scene. You can explore the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art or Camera Obscura & World of Illusions, among other destinations. As for music venues and cultural events, the list is endless – but top of the list is undoubtedly the annual Edinburgh Festival taking place every August. It’s widely considered to be the world’s greatest arts festival.
Edinburgh also has three football clubs. Edinburgh City Football Club play their matches at MeadowBank Stadium and Hearts of Midlothian (Hearts) Football Club play at Tynecastle Park. Hibernian Football Club play their matches at Easter Road.
Murrayfield Stadium is the largest stadium in Scotland and the home of Scottish Rugby and hosts Scotland’s home Six Nations matches. Scotland national cricket team also play in Edinburgh at The Grange Club.
Nightlife and eating out
Edinburgh offers a wealth of options for nightlife, with lots of bars and clubs, especially popular with the large student population.
In terms of eating out, you are spoilt for choice. From high-end gastropubs in the countryside to upmarket eateries in the city, there is something for everyone.
Highlights include:
The Royal Dick in Summer Hall- known for its seasonal menus and locally produced drinks
Bread Street Kitchen & Bar- set up by chef Gordon Ramsay
Hector’s in Stockbridge- known for its fabulous, locally produced food
Quinn’s café- rated number one in Edinburgh on TripAdvisor
This barely scratches the surface. Edinburgh has established itself as an internationally renowned place to eat, drink and take in culture.
What are the school options in Edinburgh?
If you are also thinking about where you might need to send your children to school, Edinburgh offers a range of good options. There are 94 primary schools, 23 secondary schools and 15 independent schools in Edinburgh.
Schools in Edinburgh are among the best in Scotland, and all teach according to the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence.
The quality of schools and their performance, according to Ofsted ratings, does vary across the city. But there are excellent options in every neighbourhood.
Population and demographics in Edinburgh
Here are some of the stand-out population and demographic facts in Edinburgh:
Around 15% of its population is over 65 – making it a relatively young city
Edinburgh has a population of 548,000
Its population density is 1830 people per sq km
2.9% of Edinburgh’s population is unemployed - a lower rate than the UK average
In summary: is Edinburgh a good place to be a nurse?
With an average salary of over £36,000 nurses in Edinburgh earn marginally over the national average. Although the overall living costs higher than in many parts of the UK, your salary as a nurse remains competitive.
But ultimately, where to live, study and work for those who provide nursing care is entirely subjective – different places suit different people.
What Edinburgh offers is the chance to live and work in a truly international and exciting city. It boasts historic architecture and lots to do whether you are a student or an experienced nursing professional. And across Edinburgh, you have easily accessible natural beauty.
If you’re sold on the idea of moving to Edinburgh, check out our latest roles across the city to see what is on offer, and where.
Of course, it’s worth considering how your salary shapes up compared to living costs in the city. Here are a couple of examples:
As a Newly Registered Nurse on an NHS Band 5 salary, if you rented a room in a shared house, you would have around £1000 left each month for other bills and monthly living costs
As a Band 6 Nurse, you would earn enough money to qualify for a joint mortgage on an average-priced flat in the city.
Overall, Edinburgh is, unsurprisingly, an expensive place to live – but also a fantastic place to study or work.
