Quick Facts

QMU was established in 1875. Throughout its history, it has focused on serving the community and improving the quality of life through education and research.

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 offers a work placement element.

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.

Our School of Drama and the Creative Industries provides training for the actors, directors, stage managers, playwrights, producers, literary managers, media critics, community theatre workers, arts administrators and cultural managers of the future.

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 offer a number of vocationally focused courses in social sciences, media and communication including British Psychological Society accredited programmes. We are also the only institution in Scotland accredited to deliver the Chartered Institute of Public Relations prestigious and competitive Diploma.

We offer the broadest range of allied health professional degrees in Scotland including dietetics, nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry, radiography, audiology, art therapy, music therapy, and speech and language therapy. In addition, we are the only institution in Scotland to offer courses in health psychology.

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.

QMU is internationally recognised for its various centres of excellence including the Speech Science Research Centre, the Institute for International Health and Development, the RBS Centre for the Older Person's Agenda and the Centre for Integrated Healthcare Research.

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.

QMU has a long established collaborative approach to research. One example is the Centre for Integrated Healthcare Research, which was established with funding from the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council, led by QM and involving the University of Edinburgh, Napier University and NHS partners.

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

International students make up 13% of QM's student population, coming from over 50 countries throughout the world. We also have educational collaboration agreements with institutions in a number of countries including Singapore, India, Greece and Switzerland.

We have a strong track record in attracting students from a diverse range of backgrounds. HESA statistics released in 2009 show that we currently attract 95% of young full-time entrants to degree programmes from state schools compared with a Scottish benchmark of 86.8%.

Some of QMU's graduates have gone on to become stars of prime time TV, radio and film, they include: Matt Baker (Blue Peter), Edith Bowman (MTV, BBC Radio One), Dougie Anderson (RI:SE, Do it with Dougie, T in the Park), Kevin McKidd (Trainspotting, Rome), Jimmy Chisholm (Braveheart) Brian Marjoribanks (former professional footballer and presenter of Sports Scene), Ashley Jensen [Extras] and TV presenter Sally Gray.

QMU aims to be a genuinely public university addressing the needs of 21st century society: acting as a hub for the exchange and communication of ideas; providing highly accessible lifelong learning opportunities; and working in partnership with the community.