Scottish Higher Education

There has never been a better time to study in Scotland. The establishment of the Scottish Parliament in 1999 has raised the profile of Scotland around the world, and Scottish arts and culture are flourishing. With vibrant cities, unspoilt countryside and one of the world’s most respected education systems, it is no wonder that eight out of ten students said that, if they had the choice again, they would study the same course in the same university in Scotland.

Scotland’s universities and colleges have been world leaders in education for 500 years. The statistics show that more students in Scotland successfully complete their courses than anywhere else in the UK, and that nowhere has a better record in getting students into jobs or further study. Over 170,000 students study in Scotland from more than 100 different countries. Students permanently resident in Scotland don’t pay tuition fees and those with limited incomes are eligible for bursaries.

This website is the ideal starting point if you would like to study in Scotland. Find out who provides the course you are interested by clicking what to study, find the contact details for the university or college by clicking where to study and order a prospectus or arrange a visit. Hopefully, you will discover for yourself why so many students are drawn to study in Scotland.

Diversity and Opportunity

Scotland has 21 universities and colleges providing degree-level qualifications. Most of these are to be found in or around the country’s four major cities, each of which has its own distinctive character. Glasgow is Scotland’s largest city and is often regarded as its liveliest. Edinburgh, known as the ‘Festival City’, is Scotland’s capital and home to the Scottish Parliament. To the north, the ‘Granite City’ of Aberdeen has been transformed in the last 30 years into the oil capital of Europe, while Dundee is set in a spectacular location overlooking the wide Tay estuary. Universities and colleges can also be found at St. Andrews, the original home of golf, and in the historic towns of Stirling, Paisley, Hamilton, Ayr, Dumfries and the Highlands.

In addition to large towns and cities, Scotland boasts one of the biggest wilderness areas in Europe. Students interested in outdoor sports like skiing, hill-walking or canoeing will appreciate the beautiful, unspoilt environment to be found within easy reaching distance of every place of study. Scottish universities and colleges pride themselves in having the perfect environment for living and learning.

A Degree of Flexibility

Typically, students in Scottish universities and colleges study for four years to gain an Honours degree. In years one and two students take a wide range of subjects, only then having to decide which subject or subjects to study during their final two Honours years.

The key aspects of Scottish higher education are flexibility and choice - many subjects can be studied without previous school qualifications, students can often change the nature of their degree as they progress through a course, and advanced entry into second or even third year of a degree is also possible.

There are exceptions to the traditional broad-based Scottish degree. Most vocational and professional courses - engineering, dentistry, medicine, veterinary medicine and architecture, for instance - offer only limited flexibility and opportunities for personal choice. Some professional subjects and some science degrees take more than four years to complete. In addition, some Scottish institutions offer ‘sandwich’ courses, allowing students to gain valuable experience in the workplace during their studies.