The institution now named Queen Margaret University was established as the Edinburgh School of Cookery in 1875.

This institution emerged in a period that was notable for real economic progress, but also characterised by many social and economic divisions and inequalities, and widespread poverty. Christian Guthrie Wright and Louisa Stevenson—the latter the sister of Flora Stevenson, the first female chair of the Edinburgh School Board—were the principal founders of the institution.

Additionally, these ladies played a major role in spearheading the effort to get women admitted to the University of Edinburgh. They had the support of many interest groups when they established the School of Cookery, but they were especially helped by the progressive local doctors and church leaders.

Undergraduate courses in Health Science, Health Professionals, Management in International Hospitality and Tourism, Drama and Performing Arts, Psychology, Sociology, Teacher Education, Film Media and Communications are the core programs provided by QMU.

Bachelor Programs

• BA Hons. Acting and Performance, BA Hons. Business Management, BA Hons. Business Management with Analytics, BA Hons. Business Management with Entrepreneurship, BA Hons. Business Management with Finance
• BA Hons. Business Management with Marketing, BA Hons. Costume Design and Construction, BA Hons. Drama, BA Hons. Education Studies, BA Hons. Events and Festival Management
• BA Hons. Film and Media, BA Hons. International Hospitality and Tourism Management, BA Hons. Media and Communications, B.Sc. Hons. Nutrition, B.Sc. Paramedic Science
• BA Hons. Performance, B.Sc. Hons. Physical Activity Health and Wellbeing, B.Sc. Hons. Psychology and Sociology, B.Sc. Hons. Public Health, BA Hons. Theatre and Film

Postgraduate Programs

• M.Sc. Applied Global Health, MSc. Accounting and Finance with CIMA, M.Sc. PGDIP Advancing Practice in Community Health and Wellbeing, M.Sc. PGDIP Advancing Practice in Dietetics, M.Sc. PGDIP/PGCERT Advancing Practice in Health Framework
• M.Sc. PGDIP Advancing Practice in Medical Imaging, M.Sc. PGDIP Advancing Practice in Occupational Therapy, M.Sc. PGDIP Advancing Practice in Physiotherapy, M.Sc. PGDIP Advancing Practice in Podiatry, M.Sc. PGDIP Advancing Practice in Radiotherapy
• M.Sc. Advancing Practice in Sign Spoken Language Interpreting, MA/PG Cert Applied Arts and Social Practice, M.Sc. Art Psychotherapy International, PgCERT Arts Management, MA Arts, Festival and Cultural Management
• M.Sc. Audiology, M.Sc. Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), PgCERT Collaborative Working Therapy, Professional Doctorate in Cultural Leadership, M.Sc. Diagnostic Radiography, M.Sc. Dietetics
• M.Sc. Digital Campaigning and Content Creation, MA Digital Performance, M.Sc. Drama Therapy, MSc. Gastronomy, M.Sc. Global Film Studies, M.Sc. Global Health

• PgCERT Health in Fragile and Conflict-Affected States, PGDE Home Economics, Graduate Diploma in Integrated Community Nursing, M.Sc. Mad Studies
• M.Sc. Mammography, Independent and Supplementary Prescribing for Healthcare Professionals, M.Sc./PG Cert International Management and Leadership
• M.Sc./PG Cert International Marketing, M.Sc. Media Management and Creative Studies, M.Sc. Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, M.Sc. Musculoskeletal Medicine, M.Sc. Music Therapy, M.Sc./PG Dip/PG Cert Occupational Therapy
• M.Sc./PG Dip/PG Cert Person-Centered Practice, Advanced Forensic Nursing Practice, Advanced Care Home Practice, District Nursing, Health Visiting, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Palliative Care, Public Health and Wellbeing, School Nursing,
• PgCERT Strategic Communications and Public Relations, PhD, M.Sc. Physiotherapy, M.Sc. Play Therapy, M.Sc. Podiatry
• M.Sc. Political Communications and Public Affairs, e-PgCERT Higher Education, Professional Doctorate, PgCERT Public Sociology, Master of Research (Research Degree), Master of Research Business Administration, Master of Research Clinical Science
• Master of Research Cultural Leadership, Master of Research Cultural Practice, Master of Research Education/Psychology/Public Administration/Public Sociology/Rehabilitation Science/Sociology/Speech Language and Hearing
• M.Sc. Sexual and Reproductive Health, M.Sc. Speech and Language Therapy, M.A. Stage Management and Technical Theatre Production, M.Sc./PG Dip Strategic Communication and Public Relations, M.Sc. Theory of Podiatric Society, M.Sc. Therapeutic Radiography

All things considered, Queen Margaret University is a respectable establishment that offers excellent instruction in a nurturing setting. It offers a wide range of other academic subjects, but is most known for its health and social care degrees.