Quick Facts

QMU was established in 1875. Throughout its history, we have focused on serving the community and improving the quality of life through education and research which is relevant to society’s needs.

We have a diverse range of students. 24% of our students are international, 17% are from the UK, but from outside Scotland, 8% are from other EU countries, and 50% are Scottish (figures from 2010/11 academic year). According to the Sunday Times Good University Guide 2012, we are ranked 40th (4th in Scotland) out of 120 UK universities in terms of percentage of international students. We have educational collaboration agreements with institutions in a number of countries including Singapore (where we have an overseas campus) India, Nepal, Greece and Switzerland.

QMU courses are developed to prepare students for fulfilling careers: we have close links with professional bodies and our courses are constantly adapted to meet the changing needs of employers, students and society as a whole. Many of our courses offer a work placement element and we have strong graduate employability statistics.

According to research by the University of Strathclyde, QMU is worth £77 million to the economy and employment attributable to the university represents 3% of all East Lothian employment. The research report highlights the economic impact of students from outside Scotland who come to study at QMU. These students generate an estimated £11m of economic output each year, and the report suggests that their presence will help develop tourism in East Lothian. For more information, see press release.

We have flagships areas in Health and Rehabilitation, Creativity and Culture and Sustainable Business.

Within our Health and Rehabilitation flagship area, we offer the broadest range of allied health professional degrees in Scotland including nursing, dietetics, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry, radiography, audiology, art therapy, music therapy, and speech and language therapy. Our research is focused on policy and practice, and therefore has an immediately practical impact in terms of service delivery and patient care.

We have long acknowledged expertise in speech science. In 2002, we won the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for our work in this field and our research in linguistics and communication was recognised as internationally significant in the latest UK Government’s Research Assessment Exercise. Our Clinical Audiology, Speech and Language Research Centre , brings together two closely related specialisms: speech and hearing.

Under Creativity and Culture, our research in cultural and media studies was recognised as internationally significant in the latest UK Government’s Research Assessment Exercise. We bring together media, events and performing arts students in one academic school to maximise opportunities for inter-disciplinary work.

Within our Sustainable Business flagship area, we conduct research and teaching in a range of disciplines of particular relevance to business and enterprise in Scotland including: tourism, hospitality and events; consumer research; ethnic enterprise; and consumer policy. We are recognised internationally for our work in hospitality and tourism with collaborative course delivery partnerships across the world. We take a holistic view of business sustainability, incorporating financial, social and environmental sustainability.

QMU leads Scotland's post-1992 higher education sector in research participation and productivity. Our research informs our teaching and is relevant to everyday life. We focus our research work on six themes: Media, Culture and Production; Speech and Communication; Sustainable Business; Nutrition and Metabolism in Health and Disease; Physical Therapies; Social Determinants of Health.

QMU is the only Scottish institution specialising in international health care by proving education and consultancy through our Institute for International Health and Development (IIHD). IIHD has students studying in Angola, Guatemala, Uganda, Ethiopia, Gambia, India and Cuba.

QM has a combined student and staff population of around 5,000.

We have a strong track record in attracting students from a diverse range of backgrounds. HESA statistics released in 2011 show that we currently attract 94.5% of young full-time entrants to degree programmes from state schools compared with a Scottish benchmark of 92.6%.

Some of QMU's graduates have gone on to become stars of prime time TV, radio and film, they include: Michael Matheson, MSP and Health Minister in the Scottish Government, Matt Baker, TV presenter (formerly ‘Blue Peter’, currently ‘The One Show’ and ‘Countryfile’) Ashley Jensen, actor (US hit TV series ‘Ugly Betty’) Edith Bowman, Scottish music critic, radio DJ and TV presenter (BBC Radio 1) Kevin McKidd, actor (‘Trainspotting’, TV hit series ‘Rome’, Grey’s Anatomy’) James McKenzie, actor (children’s TV gameshow series ‘Raven’).

^ to top