创建于1583年的爱丁堡大学经过数百年的发展，已经发展成为世界知名大学，教学质量及科研实力都非常雄厚!由此爱丁堡大学的综合实力可见一斑。

1. Quality and breadth 研究的质量与广度

The results reveal that 83 per cent of the University’s research activity is in the highest categories - 4* and 3*- which are classified as ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’.

Based on the quality and breadth of its research, Edinburgh has been rated fourth in the UK and by far the most successful university in Scotland. Its submission was one of the largest and most comprehensive in the UK.

在REF排名中，爱丁堡大学有83%的科研活动到达了四星和三星的最高级别，这些都是被列为世界级的或国家级的。

爱丁堡大学凭借其研究的高质量和研究的广度，使其成功赢得了第四的位置(08年位列第五)。爱丁堡大学也是苏格兰迄今最成功的大学。

2. World leading research 世界领先的研究实力

Each of the University’s three Colleges has at least one research area ranked top in the UK.

Edinburgh research in Sociology, in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences and in Computer Science and Informatics was rated the best in the UK, based on breadth and quality of research.

Also coming top were joint submissions in Agriculture, Veterinary and Food Science with Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC); and in General Engineering with Heriot-Watt University.

Edinburgh is also one of a select group of British universities to achieve outstanding results when demonstrating the impact of its research on wider society. More than half of its research in this category has been classed as 'world leading'.

爱丁堡大学下设的三个学院，每个学院至少有一项研究居于英国前列，如在社会学、地球系统、环境科学及及计算机科学领域的研究。

爱丁堡大学与SRUC在农业、兽医及食品科学等领域的合作以及与赫瑞瓦特大学在通用工程领域的合作也都是世界领先的。

爱丁堡大学一半的研究都是被列为“世界级”的。

3. Strong performance 杰出的表现

The outcomes reinforce Edinburgh’s position as one of the world’s top universities, building on recent strong showings in the Times Higher Education, QS and Shanghai global rankings.

A total of 1,852 individuals - 83 per cent of the institution’s academic workforce - had their research assessed across 31 disciplines, with more than two thirds of those in top five-rated subject areas.

The results also indicate that the University is home to more than 35 per cent of Scotland’s 4* research.

爱丁堡大学无论是在英国高等教育大学排名中，还是在QS世界大学排名中，又或者是在上海交通大学排名中的表现都是可圈可点的。