Facts and Figures
See below for some quick facts and figures about Queen Margaret University. From this page, you can also access our Statement of Accounts and our Strategic Plan.
Rankings
National Student Survey 2024
View National Student Survey 2024 results in full
Results from the National Student Survey (NSS) 2024, one of the largest student surveys in the world, showed that 72.66% of students at QMU are satisfied overall with the quality of their course, with several courses achieving 100% or very high overall satisfaction. In the same survey, Queen Margaret University's Students' Union (QMUSU) is ranked top in Scotland for its representation of students’ academic interests.
- There is 100% overall satisfaction with our undergraduate Master of Nursing course.
- There is 93.8% overall satisfaction with our BA (Hons) Drama.
- There is 91.4% overall satisfaction with our BSc (Hons) Nursing.
- There is 90% overall satisfaction with our BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy.
- There is 90% overall satisfaction with our undergraduate Master of Diagnostic Radiography.
Other rankings
In the Complete University Guide 2025, we are ranked:
- 1st of UK universities for graduate prospects in Nursing and Midwifery;
- 1st of UK universities for graduate prospects in Physiotherapy, and 2nd in the UK for student satisfaction in that subject;
- in the top 3 of Scottish universities for student satisfaction in Business and Management Studies;
- in the top 5 of UK universities for Complementary Medicine; and
- in the top 6 of UK universities for Counselling, Psychotherapy and Occupational Therapy and 1st for graduate prospects in this subject area.
In the Guardian Good University Guide 2025, we are ranked:
- 2nd amongst UK and Scottish higher education institutions for Paramedic Science
- 1st in Scotland and 2nd in the UK for satisfaction in Nursing
- In the top 3 of Scottish higher education institutions and 8th in the UK for Nursing
- 2nd in Scotland and 11th in the UK for Drama
In The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025, we are ranked:
- 5th in Scotland for social inclusion
- 1st in Scotland for Teaching Quality & Student Experience in Nursing
- 2nd in the UK for Radiography
- 4th in the UK for Physiotherapy and top in the UK for graduate prospects for that subject
In the Daily Mail University Guide 2025 we are ranked in the top 2 of Scottish higher education institutions for first generation students.
In the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2024 (WUSCA) we are ranked top in Scotland for Career Prospects; 2nd in Student Support and for our University Halls, and third for our Students' Union.
Student Statistics (22/23 academic year)
View Student Statistics in full
- 10198 students (including 3636 studying via our partners overseas)
- 45.6% are from Scotland
- 6.6% are from the UK outside of Scotland
- 35.2% are from the EU
- 12.6% are international (non EU)
Graduate Employability
We are in top 5 of Scottish universities for the number of graduates in full-time employment 15 months after they have graduated. (Source: Graduate Outcome Statistics 2021/2 published by HESA in 2024).
Research Excellence
View our Research Excellence in full
REF 2021 (the system of assessing, through peer review, the quality of research in UK higher education institutions) showed that:
- QMU has world-leading or internationally excellent research in every one of the seven REF 2021 ‘units of assessment’ to which we submitted research;
- 100% of our research impact in Communications, Cultural and Media Studies was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent;
- 100% of our research impact in Nursing and the Allied Health Professions was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent;
- 75% of our research impact in Speech and Language Science was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent;
- 75% of our research impact in Global Health and Development was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent;
- 50% of our research impact in Business and Management Studies was as rated internationally excellent; and
- 50% of our research impact in Psychology was rated as world-leading.
Fostering Innovation
We have hosted 100 graduate start-ups in our on-campus Business Innovation Zone
We are the 1st Scottish university to host a Business Gateway on campus
Staff and Financial Statistics
QMU staff (as of December 2023)
- 334 Academic
- 263 Professional Services
- 69% Female
- 31% Male
- 8.5% have an ethnic minority background
Income (2021-22)
Total income: £48.3³¾
Sources of income (2021-22)
- Scottish Funding Council: £21.6m (44.7%)
- Student tuition fees: £17.1m (35.4%)
- Research grants and contracts: £2.8m (5.8%)
- Other income: £6.8m (14.1%)
Other Interesting Facts
- We were established in 1875. Throughout our history, we have focused on serving the community and improving the quality of life through education and research which is relevant to society’s needs.
- We offer the broadest range of allied health professional degrees in Scotland including nursing, dietetics, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry, radiography, audiology, art psychotherapy, music therapy, and speech and language therapy.
- We have won the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for our work in speech science.
- Through collaborative agreements, students are studying for our degrees in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Greece, Egypt and other countries.
Some of our Alumni
- Ashley Jensen, actor (US hit TV series ‘Ugly Betty’, Nativity, Agatha Raisin)
- Edith Bowman, Scottish music critic, radio DJ and TV presenter (BBC Radio 1)
- Kevin McKidd, actor (‘Trainspotting’, TV hit series ‘Rome’, Grey’s Anatomy’)
- Michael Matheson, MSP
- Shirley-Anne Somerville, MSP and Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice in the Scottish Government
- Matt Baker, TV presenter (formerly ‘Blue Peter’, currently ‘The One Show’ and ‘Countryfile’)
- Dame Louise Martin, (Immediate) Past President of the Commonwealth Games Federation
- Dr James Robson MBE, former Team Doctor and Chief Medical Officer for the Scotland national rugby team
Read our alumni (and current student) case studies
Economic Impact
- According to research by the University of Strathclyde, QMU is worth £77 million to the economy (2009).
- Employment attributable to the University represents 3% of all East Lothian employment.
- Students from outside Scotland who come to study at QMU generate an estimated £11 of economic output each year.
Our Strategic Plan
Our Strategic Plan 2020-2025 demonstrates how we will contribute to society’s recovery and recalibration following COVID-19. It sets out how we will help create a better society through teaching, learning and innovation. It shows how we will nurture our distinctive person-centred approach to learning, and how we will build on our unique academic portfolio. Promoting creativity, agility, resilience and collaboration, the strategy holds true to the ethos of social justice on which this institution was founded.
Find out more about our strategy in our Strategic Plan
Annual Accounts
Find our Annual Accounts in the Finance section of our website
