Student Accommodation near Queen Margaret University

Queen Margaret University began in 1875 as the Edinburgh School of Cookery and Domestic Economy.

Practical education shaped the institution from its earliest years. Over time, the college expanded its academic work and developed into the university students know today. It adopted the Queen Margaret University name in 2007.

QMU now teaches from a purpose-built 35-acre campus in Musselburgh, East Lothian.

Around 6,590 students attend the university. This figure includes approximately 3,830 undergraduates and 2,760 postgraduates.

Health sciences form a major part of QMU’s academic identity. The university teaches Scotland’s largest selection of health degree subjects, including nursing, physiotherapy and dietetics.

The School of Arts, Social Sciences and Management covers subjects linked with business, management and creative industries.

QMU also places considerable attention on environmental performance. The university developed its Musselburgh campus with sustainability in mind and ranks among the greener university campuses in the UK.

REF 2021 recorded world-leading or internationally excellent research within every unit QMU submitted.

The supplied university information also records a 93% graduate outcome rate for employment or further study within six months.

Queen Margaret University Student Accommodation

Queen Margaret University student accommodation includes halls on the Musselburgh campus as well as private rooms, en-suite bedrooms, studios and shared flats in Edinburgh.

The accommodation Queen Margaret University students choose usually falls into two clear categories: campus halls or private housing in the city.

Housing choice	Daily journey	Main benefit	Main consideration
QMU campus halls	No commute	Classes and campus facilities nearby	Less immediate access to central Edinburgh
Musselburgh private rental	Short local journey	Quieter setting near university	Fewer PBSA choices
Edinburgh PBSA	Usually 14–45+ minutes	More city facilities and social options	Regular commute
Edinburgh shared flat	Depends on address	More independence	Bills may come separately
Edinburgh studio	Depends on address	Complete privacy	Usually higher rent

The academic timetable should influence the final choice.

Students who attend classes throughout the week can save considerable time by living on campus. Students who spend fewer days at university may find an Edinburgh commute less disruptive.

Queen Margaret University Residences

The Queen Margaret University Residences include around 800 en-suite rooms on the Musselburgh campus.

Residents get a private bedroom and bathroom while sharing kitchen and communal facilities with other students.

Living on campus removes the morning commute. Students can reach lectures, the gym and the Students’ Union on foot.

The halls also create regular contact with other QMU students, which can help first-year residents settle into university life.

QMU considers factors such as age, year of study and distance from home when allocating accommodation.

Students should check the university’s current application dates before relying on a campus room.

The campus location works particularly well for health-science students with busy timetables, although placement travel may still require journeys elsewhere.

The source confirms 800 en-suite campus rooms and describes them as a key part of QMU’s self-contained student community.

QMU gives students two different versions of student life: a self-contained university community in Musselburgh and quick access to Edinburgh.

Campus and Musselburgh

The QMU Students’ Union organises events, activities and student support.

QMU Sport gives students access to exercise facilities on campus.

Musselburgh also has a public sports centre with a swimming pool.

Supermarkets and local shops cover everyday needs.

Pubs and restaurants provide quieter social options than central Edinburgh.

Musselburgh Racecourse, the harbour, riverside routes and local golf courses give students more ways to spend free time outdoors.

Edinburgh

Edinburgh Waverley lies only six minutes from Musselburgh by train.

The Old Town and Grassmarket contain pubs, bars and clubs.

Princes Street provides major high-street shopping, while the Royal Mile has independent shops and Scottish products.

Museums, galleries, historic sites and performance venues operate throughout the centre.

The source also highlights the Edinburgh International Festival and Festival Fringe as major summer events.

Queen Margaret University Fringe Accommodation

Edinburgh becomes much busier during the Festival Fringe.

The available information mentions the festival as part of the city’s cultural calendar but does not confirm a specific Queen Margaret University Fringe accommodation programme or short-stay booking scheme.

Anyone who needs a room specifically for the Fringe should therefore check QMU’s current summer accommodation arrangements directly before relying on campus availability.

For full-time QMU students, the festival still matters because August brings more visitors into central Edinburgh and increases pressure on short-term housing.

Musselburgh and the QMU Campus

Musselburgh gives students the shortest route to university.

Campus residents avoid daily public transport completely, while students in other parts of the town can use local buses, walk or cycle depending on their address.

Musselburgh has supermarkets, local shops, pubs and restaurants for everyday needs.

The town also has a harbour, riverside walks, Musselburgh Racecourse and two golf courses.

Edinburgh remains very close. ScotRail takes approximately six minutes from Musselburgh railway station to Edinburgh Waverley.

That link gives campus residents access to the capital without forcing them to pay central Edinburgh rent throughout the year.

Edinburgh City Centre

Edinburgh works well for students who prefer city life and accept a commute to Musselburgh.

Private student residences appear throughout the centre and neighbouring districts.

Residents gain direct access to shops, restaurants, entertainment and major cultural venues.

The journey to QMU varies considerably by property. Some listed residences take less than 30 minutes, while others require more than an hour.

Students should check the complete door-to-door route before booking.

Goods Corner and Straits Meadows Area

Goods Corner and Straits Meadows lie approximately 4.4 to 4.7 miles from QMU in the supplied property information.

Both properties place students in Edinburgh while retaining public transport connections to the Musselburgh campus.

Goods Corner starts from £304 per week and takes around 42 minutes by public transport.

Straits Meadows starts from £209 and has an estimated 30-minute journey.

The £95 difference in listed weekly rent makes Straits Meadows worth comparing closely for students who do not need the room type or facilities at Goods Corner.

Huxley Studios and Salisbury Court Area

Huxley Studios lies approximately 4.83 miles from campus and takes around 29 minutes by public transport.

Rooms start from £299 per week.

Salisbury Court lies 4.91 miles away and starts from £292, with a journey of approximately 34 minutes.

Both locations keep central Edinburgh close to home.

Arthur’s Seat and several city attractions also fall within easy reach of this part of Edinburgh.

The source identifies the Musselburgh campus and these Edinburgh districts as the main living choices for QMU students.

QMU students can expect to spend around £120 to £160 per week outside rent, according to the supplied article.

Expense	Typical weekly amount	Practical detail
Groceries	£30–£45	Musselburgh has several supermarkets
Transport	£15–£20	Relevant for regular Edinburgh travel
Mobile phone	£3–£5	SIM-only plans often cost less
Social plans	£30–£50	Personal habits change the total
Casual meal	£8–£15	Musselburgh generally costs less than central Edinburgh
Household bills	Varies	Campus halls normally include them
Course costs	Varies	Health placements can add travel costs

Campus residents can keep ordinary university travel close to zero.

Students who live in Edinburgh should include train or bus costs in the weekly total.

Private rentals may charge utilities separately, while university halls generally include household services and internet within the accommodation payment.

Students on nursing, physiotherapy, dietetics and other health programmes should leave room in the budget for travel to placements.

The Student visa maintenance figure quoted for study outside London is £1,171 per month, or roughly £270 per week. This figure relates to visa financial evidence rather than an average QMU student budget.

Students comparing Edinburgh student accommodation Queen Margaret University Edinburgh options will mainly come across shared flats, en-suite rooms, studios and private rentals.

Shared Flats

A shared flat normally gives each resident a private bedroom.

Housemates share a kitchen and living area. Some flats also have shared bathrooms.

The source places typical Edinburgh prices around £160 to £200 per week.

This arrangement can keep rent down while giving residents regular contact with their flatmates.

Three to eight bedrooms commonly make up a cluster flat.

Students should check how many people share each bathroom and how much kitchen storage each resident receives.

En-suite Rooms

An en-suite room includes a private bedroom and bathroom.

Residents share the kitchen and communal area.

The source places typical Edinburgh prices around £200 to £280 per week.

This room type gives students more privacy than a standard shared-flat room without removing the communal part of student living.

QMU’s own campus halls also use en-suite accommodation.

Studios

A studio combines the bedroom, kitchen and living area inside one private unit. A separate bathroom completes the room.

The source places Edinburgh studios from approximately £280 to £350 or more per week.

Studios work well for students who prefer quiet and control over their daily routine.

The higher rent makes them less practical for students with a tight budget.

Check the floor plan before paying. A higher weekly price does not always mean a significantly larger room.

Private Rooms and Complete Flats

Students can also rent a bedroom in a shared private house.

Some rent an entire flat alone, with a partner or with housemates.

These properties can create more independence than halls.

Tenants may need to arrange electricity, heating, internet and other household bills themselves.

The rent varies according to location, size and number of occupants.

The source provides these room descriptions and Edinburgh price bands.

Private accommodation near Queen Margaret University Edinburgh covers a considerable spread of prices and journey times.

The following properties appear among the main recommendations:

Property	Distance from QMU	Public transport	Starting rent
Goods Corner	4.42 miles	42 minutes	£304 per week
Straits Meadows	4.69 miles	30 minutes	£209 per week
Huxley Studios	4.83 miles	29 minutes	£299 per week
Salisbury Court	4.91 miles	34 minutes	£292 per week
Burnet Court	4.92 miles	29 minutes	£250 per week
Student Castle Edinburgh	4.93 miles	40 minutes	£325 per week
The Old Printworks	5.01 miles	38 minutes	£284 per week
Straits Place	5.06 miles	34 minutes	£320 per week
Meadow Court	5.16 miles	38 minutes	£175 per week
Buccleuch Street	5.39 miles	45 minutes	£296 per week

The source provides these distances, prices and public transport estimates.

Straits Meadows

Straits Meadows begins at £209 per week.

The journey to QMU takes around 30 minutes.

Its starting rate falls considerably below Goods Corner, Huxley Studios and Salisbury Court while keeping the route within roughly half an hour.

Burnet Court

Burnet Court starts from £250 per week.

The property lies 4.92 miles from QMU and takes around 29 minutes by public transport.

Students who want central Edinburgh without moving into the £300-plus price range may find the figures worth comparing.

Huxley Studios

Huxley Studios starts from £299 per week.

The 29-minute route almost matches Burnet Court.

The price difference may reflect a different room type or property specification, so students should compare the actual rooms before choosing.

Meadow Court

Meadow Court begins at £175 per week.

The public transport journey takes approximately 38 minutes.

Its lower price makes it notable among properties within roughly five miles of QMU.

Goods Corner

Goods Corner begins at £304 per week.

The property lies 4.42 miles from campus, the shortest distance among the main Edinburgh list, but its public transport journey reaches around 42 minutes.

This example shows why mileage alone cannot determine the best accommodation.

Property	Distance from QMU	Public transport	Starting rent
The Bridge House	6.49 miles	37 minutes	£160 per week
Beaverbank Place	7.10 miles	64 minutes	£160 per week
Meadow Court	5.16 miles	38 minutes	£175 per week
The Mill House	13.14 miles	38 minutes	£176 per week
Edinburgh College Residences	8.88 miles	82 minutes	£179 per week
Edinburgh Gorgie	12.64 miles	68 minutes	£185 per week
Edinburgh Westfield	13.30 miles	62 minutes	£185 per week
Norton Student Living	5.47 miles	26 minutes	£199 per week
Haddington Place	6.10 miles	14 minutes	£199 per week
McDonald Road	6.32 miles	32 minutes	£199 per week

The source records these starting prices and travel estimates.

The Bridge House

The Bridge House shares the lowest starting price in the list at £160 per week.

The journey to QMU takes around 37 minutes.

This combination gives it an advantage over Beaverbank Place, which charges the same starting rent but takes approximately 64 minutes.

Meadow Court

Meadow Court begins at £175 per week.

Its 38-minute journey remains manageable for many students and costs only £15 more than the lowest listed rate.

Haddington Place

Haddington Place deserves particular attention.

Rooms start from £199 per week, while the supplied travel estimate gives a 14-minute journey to QMU.

No other property in the affordable table combines such a short travel time with a price below £200.

Norton Student Living

Norton Student Living also begins at £199 per week.

The property has a 26-minute public transport journey.

Students should compare it directly with Haddington Place and Straits Meadows.

Properties with Longer Journeys

Edinburgh College Residences, Edinburgh Gorgie and Edinburgh Westfield have lower starting rents but create journeys of more than an hour.

A cheaper room can become less attractive when the timetable requires several campus days each week.

Train

Musselburgh railway station gives QMU students the quickest connection with central Edinburgh.

ScotRail operates direct trains to Edinburgh Waverley in approximately six minutes.

This short rail journey makes it realistic to live in Edinburgh while studying in Musselburgh.

Edinburgh Waverley Connections

Edinburgh Waverley connects QMU students with other parts of Scotland.

Destination	Approximate journey
Edinburgh Waverley from Musselburgh	6 minutes
Glasgow	Around 1 hour 10 minutes
North Berwick	Around 30 minutes

Students who travel home regularly can connect through Waverley instead of making a long bus journey through the city.

Buses

Local buses connect Musselburgh with surrounding communities and Edinburgh.

The actual journey from a private residence depends on the route and any changes.

Goods Corner has a listed public transport time of 42 minutes.

Straits Meadows takes around 30 minutes.

Haddington Place has the shortest figure among the affordable property list at approximately 14 minutes.

Cycling

Musselburgh and the East Lothian coast have relatively flat cycling routes.

Students who live close to campus can use a bicycle for short journeys around the town.

Check secure cycle storage at the property before relying on cycling every day.

Edinburgh Airport

Students can travel from QMU towards Edinburgh Waverley and continue by tram or bus to Edinburgh Airport.

The source estimates the complete trip from QMU at approximately 45 to 60 minutes.

International students should add extra time for luggage and busy travel periods.

The supplied transport guide supports these rail, bus, cycling and airport details.