Key Dates & Developments

1964 - Napier Technical College opened its doors to students at Merchiston under the leadership of Dr Joseph Dunning.  About 100 academic staff taught around 800 full-time equivalent students, most of who were studying on part-time City and Guilds or National Certificate courses.

1966 - The institution was renamed Napier College of Science and Technology.

1974 - Edinburgh College of Commerce, based at Sighthill, and Napier College of Science and Technology merged to become Napier College of Commerce and Technology.

1982 - Dr Dunning retired and Professor William Turmeau CBE became Principal.  Several degree programmes now offered, with a significant portion of lower level provision having been transferred to local FE colleges.

1986 - The College became the first institution in Scotland to gain full accreditation from the Council for National Academic Awards and thus to receive permission to validate and monitor its own degree courses.

1986 - The recently acquired Craiglockhart campus was opened.

1988 - The institution was renamed Napier Polytechnic.

1992 - The Further and Higher Education Act was passed in March 1992 and permission was granted to use the title 'Napier University'.

1993 - Formal inauguration of Napier University with Lord Younger of Prestwick appointed the first Chancellor of the University. Professor Turmeau became its first Principal & Vice-Chancellor.

1996 - The former Lothian College of Health Studies and the Scottish Borders College of Nursing merged with the University to create the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences.  

1996 - The recently acquired Craighouse Campus was opened.

2001 - The Jack Kilby Centre was opened, providing a purpose built computer lab with 500 PCs available 24-hours.

2003 - Professor Mavor retired and Professor Dame Joan Stringer DBE became Principal & Vice-Chancellor in January 2003. 

2004 - The newly refurbished Craiglockhart campus was opened to provide an iconic base for the Business School and some professional services.

2007 - Tim Waterstone appointed Chancellor, taking over from the late Lord Younger

2009 -  On 25 January 2009 the University changed its name in law to Edinburgh Napier University. 

2010 -  The newly refurbished campus at Sighthill opened, housing the Faculty of Health, Life & Social Sciences; the Principal & Vice-Chancellor; and a substantial proportion of the University's professional services.

2013 - Professor Dame Joan Stringer DBE retired and Professor Andrea Nolan OBE became Principal & Vice-Chancellor in July 2013.