Student Records

The main records series

The main student records for the University of Edinburgh are listed below. The detials of any individual students may occur in one or many of these, depending on what they studied and at period they were at the University. Becuase, until the mid 19th century in particular, some students did not go through the formalities of matriculation and graduation, there names can be absent from some or all of these records series.

Laureation and degrees albums (1587-1896)

These volumes contain the students signatures, recorded at the time of their graduation.

Matriculation Albums (1627-1980)

Although not beginning until 1627 these provide the most comprehensive record of enrolled students. Typically they contain:

• matriculation number
• name
• faculty
• place of origin

A manual index (sheaf binders) of names up to 1858 lists names alphabetically, one index for medical students, another for everyone else.

A general overview of changes in content over time follows: 1786: • A-Z listing within class groupings 1807: • Completely A-Z with no class groupings 1811: • Form-based • Matriculation numbers begin with names in numerical order • Place of origin • Faculty and year of study 2 1865: • Age next birthday added 1869: • Age next birthday replaces above 1898: • Home address added 1923 • Degree/Diploma added

Matriculation Indexes and Class Lists (1783-1986)

   /4 - First Matriculation (1869-1961)
   /5 - Graduates in Arts (under new ordinances) (1893-1966)
   /6 - Graduates in Education (1914-1947)
   /7 - Graduates in Law (1914-1947)
   /8 - Graduates in Medicine (1833-1959)
   /9 - Graduates in Science (1899-1965)