University of Edinburgh to hold US election event

More than 1,000 students will congregate at the University of Edinburgh for the result of the US presidential election.

The polls are close between Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump. Picture: Getty

The event will be held at Potterow and will see results beamed in on several big screens from 1am

Experts from the university’s School of History will provide live analysis of the results as part of a free online course that focuses on the election.

The Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), The Making of the US President: A Short History in Five Elections, is open to students and non-students alike.

It has taken learners through some of the key US presidential campaigns from the past, providing fresh insights into this year’s contest.

Professor Robert Mason, School of History, Classics & Archaeology, said: “This has become one of the most fascinating struggles in US political history. By taking this free course, learners are discovering the historical background to the 2016 contest, examining other key moments and figures from the past, including Abraham Lincoln, Lyndon Johnson and Ronald Reagan.”

Edinburgh is the most popular university amongst UK-bound American and Canadian students and it has long-standing links with North America.

Two Edinburgh graduates were signatories of the US Declaration of Independence, while many universities across Canada and the US were established and influenced by those with an Edinburgh education.