This selection of old pictures from the Evening News archive gives a glimpse of what was going on - protests against apartheid and education cuts, sit-ins over rent rises, Christmas food parcels for pensioners, fundraising in fancy dress and a men v women rugby match.
And that’s not to mention the campaigns - and battles - to elect university rectors. There are amazing pictures of Gordon Brown as Edinburgh University rector between 1972 and 1975, while he was still a student.
Scroll through the photos and turn the clock back 50 years to catch the atmosphere of Edinburgh in the 1970s.
You can also check out student life in Edinburgh in the 1950s and 1960s.
And that’s not to mention the campaigns - and battles - to elect university rectors. There are amazing pictures of Gordon Brown as Edinburgh University rector between 1972 and 1975, while he was still a student.
5. Three university rectors
University rectors, BBC Nationwide television presenter Michael Barratt (Aberdeen), Monty Python star John Cleese (St Andrews) with Edinburgh's student rector and Prime Minister-to-be Gordon Brown after a meeting at Edinburgh University in January 1973. | TSPL Photo: Denis Straughan
6. New student refectory
Edinburgh University rector Kenneth Allsop opens the new student refectory in October 1970, accompanied by Principal Michael Swann (left). | TSPL Photo: Ian Brand
7. Rent rise sit-in
Edinburgh University students stage a sit-in to protest against rent increases in December 1979. | TSPL Photo: Stan Warburton
8. Anti-pollution demo
Edinburgh student cyclists stage an anti-pollution demonstration in Princes Street, Edinburgh, in, November 1971. | TSPL Photo: Denis Straughan