Summer in Edinburgh
Unique Experiences
Taste traditional Scottish cuisine
like cullen skink, haggis, and cranachan
Tour famous castles
such as Edinburgh and Stirling Castles
Take trips to the Highlands and St. Andrews
to participate in cultural and social activities
Your Destination
Edinburgh is Scotland’s historic capital, celebrated for its long summer days, scenic landscapes, and lively cultural scene. The city comes to life in the summer with open-air festivals, bustling outdoor cafés, and opportunities to explore its world-famous arts festivals and iconic landmarks like Edinburgh Castle. Whether you are majoring in business, science, engineering, technology, communications, psychology, health sciences, liberal arts, language, or fine arts, Edinburgh is the perfect place to study abroad.
Program Highlights
- Unmatched Flexibility: Spend 1, 2, or 3 consecutive 4-week sessions of your summer in the same host city or travel to different cities per block for increased mobility and cultural immersion.
- Academic Courses: Choose from CIEE courses that align with your academic major.
- Immersive Experiences: Participate in activites, excursions, study tours, and more that showcase your host city's culture, values, and local art, film, music, cuisine, and sports scenes.
- Cultural Activities: Volunteer with members of the local community, join student clubs to socialize with your peers, and attend local workshops and events to get to know your host city.
Excursions & Activities
CIEE’s excursions and cultural activities in Edinburgh will open doors for you to explore Scotland's rich diversity, language, culture, history, and timeless beauty in ways that will enhance your time abroad.
Samples of past excursions and activities:
- Hike up Arthur’s Seat, an ancient volcano and hill in Holyrood Park that offers superb walks and stunning views over the city
- Take a walking tour of the city center, with attractions like Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, and the Princes Street Gardens
- Go on day trips to soak up Scotland’s stunning geography, such as Stirling, St. Andrews, and the beautiful Scottish Highlands
Please note: Activities are based on past programs and subject to change at CIEE's discretion to adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback. Our goal when arranging activities is always to enhance your experience.
Program Blogs
EAT, DRINK, EXPLORE: EDINBURGH
BEST FOOD TO EAT IN EDINBURGH The first known written recipe for haggis dates back to 1390, when the national dish of Scotland was a necessary part of the local... keep reading
Best Place to Study Abroad in Scotland
Fun fact: The pursuit of happiness began in Scotland . It’s true! A quick search will confirm it. It’s one of the many democratic ideals to come out of the... keep reading
Your Guide to Scottish Slang: Top 10 Phrases You Should Know
If you’re about to embark on a Scotland study abroad adventure, it’s a smart idea to familiarize yourself with the dialects, accents, and even varying languages spoken in this charming... keep reading
Housing & Meals
Housing
CIEE Edinburgh offers two housing options to ensure you're comfortable in your home away from home. You will have the choice of a homestay or a single or double room in a shared apartment or residence hall. Additionally, all housing options are located in neighborhoods with convenient access to public transportation, shops, cafés, and eateries.
Standard Housing: Includes a single/double room in a shared apartment/residence hall or a single room at a homestay located under 45 minutes from CIEE Edinburgh.
- Shared Apartments/Residence Halls: Apartments and residence halls boast kitchens, common areas, and laundry facilities shared with other students.
- Homestays: Homestays feature a kitchen, living room, and bathroom shared with a host family.
A note: The default criterion to assign housing is first-come, first-served; however, other factors may also be considered. If we cannot accommodate your first housing choice, we'll let you know before you arrive. Non-standard housing options require an additional fee that can be found in the program Dates and Fees.
Meals
- Shared Apartments/Residence Halls: Students are responsible for their own meals.
- Homestays: Students have breakfast and dinner with their host families. They are responsible for lunch.
Academics
CIEE Edinburgh: Study within the Eric Liddell Community Centre, a beautifully converted church, located near coffee shops, restaurants, gift shops, and vintage stores. Situated 25 minutes from the city center, CIEE Edinburgh features classroom space, meeting rooms, a café, and a second-hand bookstore.
Course Information
Summer Session I 2026
Summer Session II 2026
Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at CIEE's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple CIEE sites.
Scholarships & Grants
CIEE offers scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.
Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:
- Ping Scholarships for Academic Excellence
- Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants
- CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
- CIEE STEM Scholarship
To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application.
Dates & Fees
You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Fees & Housing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Summer Session I 2026 4 weeks | Start Date | End Date | ||
| Program Summer Session II 2026 4 weeks | Start Date | End Date | ||
| Program Summer Session I and II 2026 8 weeks | Start Date | End Date | ||
| Program Summer Session II 2025 4 weeks | Application Due Deadline Passed | Start Date | End Date |
To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, your college or university may charge additional fees for study abroad, or may require you to receive a transcript via CIEE's School of Record, which carries an additional fee of $500.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
What's Included
Tuition
Housing
Pre-departure Advising
Advising before you depart to set goals and answer questions
Optional on-site airport meet-and-greet
Orientation
Introduction to your program plus practical information about living in your host city
On-site Staff
Full-time program leadership and support in your city
Cultural and/or Co-curricular Activities
Excursions and/or Study Tours
Travel Protection
CIEE iNext travel protection
24/7 emergency on-site support
Our Staff
Jacqui Bassett
Center Director
Jacqui is a born and bred Scot from Edinburgh. She has a postgraduate MSc in International Development from the University of Edinburgh and a degree in Psychology from the University of Aberdeen.
Devon Garufi
Program Manager
Devon's passion for International Education began during her own study abroad experiences in Prague and Sevilla. Since then, Devon has dedicated her career path to working with people.
Get Started
1
2
Connect With Your Campus Study Abroad Office
Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad.
3
Contact Us
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program.
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