Postgraduate and graduate-move student storage in Edinburgh is a door-to-door collection and delivery service that bridges the gap between finishing your degree and moving to your next home. UniMove collects your belongings from your Edinburgh address, whether that is Marchmont, Bruntsfield, Newington, Haymarket, Leith or anywhere else in the city, and delivers them back to you at any UK address when you are ready. No van hire, no depot trips, no fixed minimum period.
Why Postgraduate Students in Edinburgh Need a Different Approach
Undergraduate students move out in June and back in September. Postgraduate students do not follow the same rhythm. An MSc student at the University of Edinburgh submits their dissertation in August and may not know their next move until a job offer arrives in October. A PhD student completing a thesis can defend at any point in the academic year. An MRes student taking up a new role in London in January has a completely different storage window to any undergraduate.
Edinburgh’s private rental market makes this harder still. Landlords in Marchmont, Bruntsfield and Newington rarely allow tenancy extensions beyond the agreed end date. When your programme finishes, your tenancy often ends within days. Standard self-storage depots in Edinburgh require you to transport your belongings to a unit yourself, pay a minimum rental period, and return to collect when you are ready. UniMove removes every one of those steps: the team comes to your door, loads your belongings, stores them securely in Oxfordshire, and delivers them to your next UK address when the time is right.
Edinburgh’s Universities and Their Postgraduate Communities
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh has one of the largest postgraduate communities in the UK, with more than 12,000 students on taught and research programmes. The university draws postgraduates into Marchmont, Bruntsfield and Morningside south of the Meadows, Newington to the east, and Leith for later-year PhD students who want lower rents. Many MSc programmes in the College of Science and Engineering have July-to-September dissertation periods, creating a storage demand in late August and September that overlaps directly with undergraduate move-outs.
Heriot-Watt University
Heriot-Watt’s Edinburgh campus at Riccarton, on the city’s western edge, is home to postgraduates on one-year MSc programmes in engineering, business, marine science and brewing and distilling. A high proportion of these students are international, and when their programme ends they are often relocating either to another UK city or back home. Students living in Currie, Balerno, Haymarket or Dalry use UniMove to store belongings without needing to coordinate a van and a depot visit.
Edinburgh Napier University
Edinburgh Napier’s Sighthill, Craiglockhart and Merchiston campuses serve postgraduates in nursing, business and creative industries. Many live in Tollcross, Fountainbridge or Corstorphine. Napier’s September and January programme ends both generate demand for short-term storage from students finishing one phase of their career and waiting for the next to begin.
Queen Margaret University
Queen Margaret University at Musselburgh has a significant postgraduate cohort in healthcare, drama and business. Students often live in Portobello, Joppa or Musselburgh before moving on to NHS placements or new positions across the UK. UniMove covers these eastern Edinburgh postcodes without any surcharge.
The Four Postgraduate Storage Moments UniMove Handles
End of a Taught Postgraduate Degree
Taught postgraduate programmes in Edinburgh typically end between September and November once dissertation results are confirmed. Students often need to vacate their flat by 31 August but may not hear about a job or a new study place until October. UniMove stores belongings in that gap, then delivers to the new address anywhere on the UK mainland or in Belfast.
PhD Completion and Between-Chapters Storage
PhD students sometimes relocate mid-degree, to a partner institution for a research secondment, to fieldwork elsewhere, or when funding changes require a move. UniMove can store belongings for a few months or considerably longer, with no penalty if the storage period needs to extend when deadlines shift, which in doctoral research they often do.
The Graduation Gap
Edinburgh’s November and December graduation ceremonies create their own storage moment. Students who finished their programme in September but have not yet started a new job or confirmed a permanent address can store their belongings with UniMove after graduation rather than keeping paying Edinburgh rent in the interim.
Graduate Move to a New City
Many Edinburgh graduates move to London, Manchester or another UK city for their first role. UniMove collects from your Edinburgh address and delivers to your new home, a more practical option than hiring a van when you are unsure of the exact move-in date and need storage as a buffer.
UniMove vs the Alternatives for Edinburgh Postgraduate Students
| Option | Collection | Minimum Period | Delivery to Any UK Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| UniMove | Door-to-door from your Edinburgh address | None | Yes, GB mainland and Belfast |
| Edinburgh self-storage depot | You arrange transport yourself | Often 4 weeks minimum | No, you must collect in person |
| Leaving items with a friend | You arrange delivery yourself | No cost but no reliability | Depends on your friend’s own plans |
| Parcel courier to family home | Drop-off at courier point | Not applicable, one-way only | Items go home, not to your next address |
Get a quote for Edinburgh postgraduate storage
Edinburgh Student Areas Covered
UniMove collects from every Edinburgh postcode. The areas below are where postgraduate students most commonly book:
- Marchmont and Bruntsfield: The most popular area for University of Edinburgh postgrads, just south of the Meadows. Tall Victorian tenements and shared flats throughout.
- Newington and Southside: Close to King’s Buildings campus and Pollock Halls. Many postgrads in shared flats on Causewayside, Dalkeith Road and Mayfield Road.
- Tollcross and Fountainbridge: Popular for Napier and Edinburgh students wanting city-centre access at a postgraduate budget.
- Haymarket and Dalry: A practical base for Heriot-Watt students using the train or tram out to Riccarton. Full collection coverage along the tram corridor.
- Leith and Leith Walk: Increasingly chosen by later-year PhD students who prefer lower rents and good bus connections to central campuses.
- Morningside and Craigmillar Park: Quieter residential streets often preferred by mature postgraduate and doctoral students.
- Portobello and Musselburgh: Coastal areas east of the city, well served by UniMove for Queen Margaret University students and others.
If you are unsure whether your postcode is covered, email smile@unimove.org. Full coverage also applies to purpose-built student accommodation across Edinburgh, including Pollock Halls, Buccleuch Place and blocks on Fountainbridge and Canonmills.
For further detail on UniMove’s Edinburgh coverage, see the student storage in Edinburgh overview and the end-of-tenancy student storage Edinburgh page.
How to Book
Booking takes about four minutes online. You describe your belongings, choose a collection date and pay a deposit. UniMove confirms the booking and sends a reminder as the date approaches. On the day, the team arrives at the agreed time and loads everything. When you are ready for delivery, you log in, choose a date and pay the balance. Delivery to any UK mainland address or Belfast is included.
If plans change, whether a viva is delayed or a job start shifts, you can extend your storage period at any time without penalty. Postgraduate timelines rarely go exactly as planned, and UniMove’s pricing reflects that.
Book Edinburgh postgraduate storage online
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I book if my Edinburgh MSc ends in September?
Book as soon as you know your collection date, ideally four to six weeks in advance. September is the busiest month in Edinburgh for student storage because undergraduate and postgraduate move-outs overlap. Earlier bookings get more choice of collection slots.
Can UniMove deliver my belongings to a different city when I get a job?
Yes. UniMove delivers to any address on the GB mainland or in Belfast, so if you move to London, Manchester or anywhere else after your Edinburgh programme, your belongings follow you. There is no requirement to have them returned to Edinburgh.
What if I extend my PhD and need storage for longer than expected?
You can extend your storage period at any time online or by emailing smile@unimove.org. There are no penalties for extending, and the monthly rate stays the same. UniMove stores belongings for as long as students need, from a few weeks to over a year.
Does UniMove collect from Heriot-Watt student accommodation at Riccarton?
Yes. UniMove collects from the Heriot-Watt campus and surrounding areas including Currie and Balerno. Book online and give your full address including flat number; the team is familiar with the Riccarton campus and accesses it without difficulty.
How are my belongings protected while in storage?
Items are stored at UniMove’s secure rural depot in Longcot, Oxfordshire, and insured at the declared replacement value. The depot is not a public-access facility, which keeps conditions stable and reduces the number of times items are handled.
Can I arrange a second collection if I have more items to add later?
Yes. If you need a second collection from your Edinburgh address, contact the team at smile@unimove.org and they will arrange an additional slot. Extra collection visits are priced separately and can be booked alongside your original order or added at a later date.