Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and its second largest city, after Glasgow, which is 45 miles (72 km) away to the west. It is in the south-east of Scotland, on the east coast of Scotland's Central Belt, on the south shore of the Firth of Forth, on the North Sea and, because of its rugged setting and vast collection of Medieval and Georgian architecture including numerous stone tenements; it is often considered one of the most dramatic cities in Europe. It forms the City of Edinburgh council area; the city council area includes urban Edinburgh and a 30square mile rural area.

It has been the capital of Scotland since 1437 (replacing Scone) and is the seat of the Scottish Parliament. The city was one of the major centres of the Enlightenment, led by the University of Edinburgh, gaining the nickname Athens of the North. The Old Town and New Town districts of Edinburgh were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. There are over 4,500 listed buildings within the city. In the census of 2001, Edinburgh had a total resident population of 448,624.

Edinburgh is well-known for the annual Edinburgh Festival, a collection of official and independent festivals held annually over about four weeks from early August. The number of visitors attracted to Edinburgh for the Festival is roughly equal to the settled population of the city. The most famous of these events are the Edinburgh Fringe (the largest performing arts festival in the world), the Edinburgh International Festival, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, and the Edinburgh International Film Festival.

Other notable events include the Hogmanay street party (31 December), Burns Night (25 January), St. Andrew's Day (November 30), and the Beltane Fire Festival on the (30 April).

The city is one of Europe's major tourist destinations, attracting around 13 million visitors a year, and is the second most visited tourist destination in the United Kingdom, after London.

Edinburgh has a temperate maritime climate, which is relatively mild despite its northerly latitude. Winters are especially mild, with daytime temperatures rarely falling below freezing. Summer temperatures are normally moderate, with daily upper maxima rarely exceeding 28 °C.

Edinburgh has a number of Universities and colleges of international repute, such as, University of Edinburgh, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, Edinburgh College of Art, Heriot-Watt University, Napier University, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh’s Telford College, Scottish Agricultural College etc.

The capital of Scotland is a great place to live and study, with a wide range of theatres, galleries, clubs and shops to explore, not to mention the plethora of arty bars and cafes.

Named after the great Scottish Civil Engineer ‘Thomas Telford’, Edinburgh's Telford College was established in 1968 and has since expanded to become one of the main colleges in Scotland. Its state-of-the-art campus located at the heart of Edinburgh’s Waterfront.

The College offers training in 22 different subject areas in tune with today's workplace and tomorrow's society from introductory level through to Degree. During the course of studies, students are entitled to work part time. International students are also eligible to apply to the Fresh Talent Initiative (Scheme for working in Scotland for 2 years without a work permit) on successful completion of an HND at the college.

A student have access to the very best equipment and resources including teaching spaces that are equipped with data projectors and interactive whiteboards, bringing the most up-to-date technology into the classroom. In addition to cutting-edge information technology, the College features a fully-equipped sports hall, dance studios and an award-winning nursery – ‘Waterfront Nurseries’, wireless enabled central social are - ‘The Hub’, The Studio hairdressing salon, The Spa beauty therapy salon, catering options and the College's own restaurant - Zero One. These facilities are also open to the public – in fact the whole campus is designed to be as accessible and welcoming as possible. The College has a student population of over 15,000, accounting for 20,055 enrollments.

Edinburgh’s Telford College is part of the state system. Inspectors from a government department (Her Majesty’s Inspectorate) come every 4 years to carry out a full inspection of teaching, facilities and the student experience.

In addition, most of the vocational courses the college delivers, such as Higher National Diplomas, are regulated by the Scottish Qualifications Authority. They send inspectors or moderators regularly to make sure that assessments meet the correct standards. The English Language Department has been accredited by the British Council. Courses at Edinburgh’s Telford College are of a high standard.