Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh is committed to providing thoroughly relevant teaching and research. Our research is focused on making a real practical impact on everyday life, and our courses are designed to produce well prepared, well rounded and flexible graduates. Our Mission Statement: To enhance the quality of life and serve communities, through excellence and leadership in vocationally and professionally relevant education, research and consultancy, as a university which is outward looking and committed to innovation, participation and lifelong learning. History: Queen Margaret has a proud history of achievement and progress extending for over a century. Founded in 1875, the institution has always been driven by the highest ideals and purposes, focusing on contributing in practical ways to improving the quality of human life and serving the community. Its staff are dedicated to delivering vocational and professional learning and specialising in research which is of value to the community and enhances people’s lives. In January 2007, Queen Margaret was granted full university title, resulting in a change of name from ‘Queen Margaret University College’ to ‘Queen Margaret University’ and confirming the institution’s long established position as a university level institution. The forerunner to the college was The Edinburgh School of Cookery which 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. This was established as a voluntary effort to address some of the key problems. It was set up in 1875 for two basic reasons. a) As part of the U.K.-wide mid Victorian "Womens Movement", which was a campaign for better education and improved career opportunities for females. A main element of this campaign was, of course, directed at securing equality of opportunity for school girls, but another purpose was to open up post-scho