Hi! I’m Kallie, and I’m a second-year student on the 5-year programme. Some of the most common questions I get are all about how studying at a rural campus works, where students live, and our engagement with students on other courses on the main campus. I thought this blog would be a good opportunity to share how this works for most students!
Most students tend to live in the city of Edinburgh itself. The Easter Bush campus is served by 3 main bus routes, which run up both up the East and West corridors of the city. The majority of students tend to choose flats and student accommodation along these routes, with buses running approximately every 30 minutes. Journeys out to Easter Bush take approximately 30-40 minutes, which can be a great opportunity to catch up with friends, listen to music, or even get some studying done.
While some students choose to live in the towns or villages surrounding the vet school, living in the city means easy access to amenities, friends (both vets and non-vets), the main university campus, restaurants and cafes, sports facilities, green spaces, museums, clubs and societies, shopping centers, and social events, to just name a few!
While the vet school has its own standalone library, the main campus is widely utilised by vet students. The University of Edinburgh Main Library hosts a wealth of resources, including 7 floors of study space and a café with beautiful views of the Meadows Park and over to the Pentland Hills. On days and afternoons off, it can be a great place to get work done in the city. The University has a number of other libraries, and a wealth of study spaces on the main campus – these are always in close proximity to a coffee shop, which makes for a great study break! Edinburgh itself is a beautiful city, with historic architecture and views only ever a short walk away.
In the spring and summer months, little beats taking a picnic blanket with friends to the Meadows Park, whether this be to study outdoors, or simply to enjoy the sun. Edinburgh is served by many green spaces, most of which offer amazing views of the city. From climbing Arthur’s Seat at sunset, to watching fireworks up Calton Hill, living in the city never fails to disappoint.
Most sports clubs train at either of the university’s two sports complexes, in the city- Peffermill and the Pleasence – which are well served by bus routes.
As someone who has always lived in a village, I enjoy the balance between the rural campus and city living. Time spent at Easter Bush allows me to enjoy the countryside, with many students choosing to spend their lunch breaks on walks through nature, while also experiencing the buzz and convenience of living in the city. Furthermore, the proximity of the rural vet school to the university farms, the teaching hospitals, and the Roslin Institute allows researchers and clinicians to easily ‘cross the road’ to come and lecture. It also allows classes to be undertaken on the farm, or in a clinical environment.
All in all, I love the opportunity to benefit from the best of both worlds!
