Find out what makes our School of Divinity and Edinburgh an extraordinary place to study. About our School Theology has been taught at Edinburgh since the foundation of the University in 1583. Housed in the historic New College building near Edinburgh Castle, the School of Divinity is situated right in the city centre. It overlooks Princes Street and the Scottish National Gallery, and connects to the Royal Mile. Our rankings We are the 13th best city for students in the world (QS Best Student Cities 2025) and our graduates are ranked 12th in Europe for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022). We offer a broad range or coursesWe are one of the largest centres in the UK for the study of theology and religion. This means we can offer a great variety of degree programmes, course options and the chance to engage with cutting-edge research in a wide range of areas. We offer courses in Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and Hinduism; indigenous religions in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean; new religious movements or spiritualities; and atheism and non-religion. We encourage an academic culture that is critical, constructive and friendly.The New College CommunityWe offer a welcoming and friendly, self contained setting to pursue the exciting and demanding study of theology and religious studies. Our community comprises 450 students (about 150 of them postgraduates) and over 40 full-time academic staff. We welcome students from around the world, from religious and non-religious backgrounds, and we offer a vibrant programme of social and academic events to help you settle in quickly. The Postgraduate Community Community is what sets our School of Divinity apart. Time and time again students tell us that this is what drew them to New College and what they liked the most about studying here. From the start we try our very best to make you feel part of our community and help postgraduate students integrate into life at New College, the University, Scotland, and the UK. When you join the School, at the start of the academic year, you will be invited to Welcome Week, an intensive introduction to study and life in Edinburgh. Our community benefits from monthly gatherings with faculty and fellow students which offer a supportive forum to discuss issues as diverse as work-life balance, publishing strategies, and dealing with writer’s block. We also have an active postgraduate student committee that organises regular social events.Postgraduates can also opt into our mentoring scheme, in which staff members are matched with students outside their area of specialism to offer career and pastoral support. Our location The School of Divinity is based at New College, an impressive neo-gothic building in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town. It commands spectacular views over the city centre towards the sea and is a distinctive feature on the Edinburgh skyline, close to Edinburgh Castle.Students benefit from a self-contained college setting just five minutes walk away from the main University campus. We have our own library, study space and on-site café, situated in the grand Rainy Hall. This provides a great place to meet friends and study and is also the venue for our whole School Christmas Dinner and Burns Supper!New College Library has one of the largest collections for theology and religious studies in the UK. The New College Building on top of The Mound, Edinburgh New College Library Map of the main University area, including New CollegeUniversity LibraryA leading sports UniversityFind a student societyBeyond the University – but located close to the School of Divinity – the National Library of Scotland holds more than 5 million volumes, including every book published since 1710 in the United Kingdom (and numerous volumes published in the United States in cooperation with British presses). Scotland’s National Archives are also nearby. Why study in Edinburgh? Edinburgh is a UNESCO world heritage site. With a population of around 450,000, our city mixes architectural beauty and history with a lively and cosmopolitan environment. It is a safe and prosperous city with many parks and green spaces for recreation and reflection. It offers an exciting array of entertainment, arts, culture and sport, with the lush Scottish countryside and dramatic coastline just a few miles away. A cultural capital Edinburgh has an incredibly energetic and diverse cultural life. There are dozens of museums and galleries with unique collections and cinemas specialising in arthouse and world film. Apart from the renowned Edinburgh International Festival and the Fringe Festival every August (the largest arts festival in the world), it hosts many other cultural events every year. Edinburgh's surroundings A short journey will take you to the old port of Leith and waterfront pubs and cafes, or the fishing villages of Fife, to the Pentland Hills or country parks and beaches. Further afield, Scotland’s magnificent scenery, its villages and coastlines, and other vibrant cities are all easily accessible. Edinburgh is also a haven for cyclists, with quiet and scenic routes crisscrossing the city.Edinburgh: a short historyEdinburgh: the first UNESCO City of LiteratureExplore EdinburghNational Library of ScotlandEdinburgh and Lothians Tourist Board This article was published on 2024-03-19