The University was established by a Royal Charter granted by James VI in 1582. This was an unusual move at the time， as most universities were established through Papal bulls. What makes the University of Edinburgh even more unusual is the fact that its funding came the following year from the Town Council， making it in many ways the first civic university， known as the “Tounis College”. It became the fourth Scottish university in a period when the much more populouspopulous adj.人口多的， 人口稠密的 and richer England had only two. By the 18th century Edinburgh was a leading centre of the European Enlightenment and became one of the continent，s principal universities.
Before the building of Old College designed by Robert Adam， the University of Edinburgh did not enjoy a custom built campus and existed in a hotchpotch of buildings from its establishment until the early 19th Century. The university，s first custom built building was the magnificent Old College， now the School of Law， situated on South Bridge. Its first forte in teaching was anatomy and the developing science of surgery， from which it expanded into many other subjects. From the basement of a nearby house ran the anatomyanatomy n.剖析， 解剖学 tunnel corridor. It went under what was then North College Street （now Chambers Street）， and under the University buildings until it reached the University，s anatomy lecture theatre， delivering bodies for dissection. It was from this tunnel that the body of William Burke was taken after he had been hanged.
The University of Edinburgh is a member of the Russell Group of large， researchled British universities. It is also the only Scottish university （and the only British university apart from Oxford and Cambridge） to be a member of both the Coimbra Group and the LERU： two associations of leading European universities. The latest university rankingranking n.队 of around 120 British institutions （published by the Times newspaper in 2005） ranks Edinburgh the fifth best university in Britain. In a recent ranking compiled by Shanghai Jiao Tong University， Edinburgh ranks tenth in Europe and 47th worldwide.
Edinburgh has the third largest financial endowment among UK universities at ￡160m， according to the Sutton Trust （2002）. It is also the third largest endowment per student.
The University of Aberdeen
阿伯丁大学
阿伯丁大学是英国资格最老的5所大学之一，创建于1495年，迄今已有500多年历史，80%左右是研究生；其中还包括来自全球近115个国家近1000人的海外留学生。学校所在的阿伯丁市是一座位于苏格兰的海滨城市，也是一座历史悠久的文化古城。近年来随着北海油田的开发而逐渐演化为欧洲的石油中心，几乎全球各大石油公司都在这里设有分部，两年一度的海上油气展使得这座古城显得格外热闹；阿伯丁东临北海湾与欧洲大陆隔海相望，俨然一颗璀璨的北海之珠。阿伯丁气候为海洋性气候，虽然纬度与我国东北地区相近，但冬天气温不低于零下5℃，夏日不超过33℃，与London的气候仅2度之差，远不如我们想像的那么冷。因阿伯丁是在近30年左右演化为一座石油城的，所以60%的居民是外来移民，这里的苏格兰口音可谓有名无实，绝大部分人均操流利伦敦英语。
学校提供广泛的学士学位和研究生水平的专业课程，共分46个系，组成了科学与工程学、医药与医学、社会科学与法律、艺术与神学4个主要的学院。享有国际盛誉的阿伯丁大学特别专长于环境学、生物学、工程学、土地经济、法律、经济学和农业。而中国学生感兴趣的课程包括商业管理和金融与投资管理的硕士课程（为期一年）以及门类齐全的法律硕士课程（包括国际法，商业法和环境法）。
所有的留学生都可以在正式开课以前免费学习五个星期的英语课程。这是一个良好的机会，学生不但可以提高英语水平，而且还可以了解阿伯丁，广交朋友。阿伯丁大学在授课同时也提供英语课程，大部分课程要求学生的TOEFL成绩达到550分以上或者IELTS成绩达到6.0分以上。
学校特色
杰出的教学质量。在2000年度的泰晤士报英国大学综合排名中阿伯丁大学名列26位。生物科学是该校最强的学科，在最近一次的教学质量评估中得到“优”等（医学及法语也是“优”等）。其他强项还有环境科学、社会科学、法律，MBA及金融投资等领域。该校在这些科目上都获得研究评估最高分。许多国际学生在该校就读工程、管理、政治及国际关系学。阿伯丁大学为一流研究性大学，在1996年的研究评估中，本校92%的教师获评为积极研究，这个比例是全英国第7名。
全面的课程设置。大学设有涉及范围广泛的专业及课程选择，并提供预科、文凭、本科、硕士、MBA以及博士研究生等证书与学位，工程系还开设“工程师计算机程序”基础课。
良好的教学设施。该校提供了学习、生活、及休闲各方面优秀的现代设施，多数的学校宿舍都在图书馆及各系的步行范围内，宿舍类型有学生宿舍及公寓两种。
全面的学生服务。大学可以满足各种文化背景学生的不同需要， 设有天主教等祈祷、聚会设施。海外学生在学期内免费学习英语，大学也安排机场或有轨电车站迎新工作。
The University of Aberdeen， founded in 1495， is one of Scotland，s 4 ancient universities and today continues to fulfil its missionmission n.使命， 任务， 使团， 代表团 to maintain and enhanceenhance vt.提高， 增强 v.提高 its distinctive contribution to society in a regional， national and international context through its programmes of education， professional training and research.
The main base of the University is King，s College， located in historic Old Aberdeen with Medicine and Medical Sciences being a short distance away at Foresterhill. The University is committed to achieving the highest levels of research excellence and has chosen to focus its efforts specifically on the areas of biomedicalbiomedical 生物（学和）医学的 sciences， environmental sustainability， rural development， food safety， understanding of culture and society， and related policy research. These areas have been selected because of their importance to society and the economy， and because of the University，s existing research strength in these areas.
A review of research， consultancy and commercializationcommercialization 商业化， 商品化 services has seen the creation of a new Research and Innovation Section which aims to increase income and to promote commercialization and income generation within the academic community. One way of developing opportunities for commercialization is through increased collaboration with colleagues from industry and commerce， promoted through the University，s alliance with Scottish Enterprise Grampian and through TCSs with SMEs. The Vniversity continue to seek other such opportunities to strengthen its links with industry and commerce in order to share and apply our knowledge， establish joint ventures and generate income.
A number of very successful partnershipspartnership n.合伙， 合股， 合伙企业， 合伙契约， ［体］队友关系， （双人项目的）配对 have also been developed with other public and private organizations. Such projects have included the Scottish Offshore Materials Centre， the EPSRCfunded IRC in Advanced Knowledge Technologies， the Highlands and Islands Health Research Institute， the Research Institute of Irish and Scottish Studies and the Arkleton Institute.
Architecture & Buildings
The original buildings of both colleges are the gloriesglory n.荣誉， 光荣 of Aberdeen， though newer campus buildings are in largely modernist style.