Study In Scotland
Every year, Scotland welcomes more than 70.000 international students hailing from 180 different countries. Scotland’s popularity among international students as a study destination grows out of Scotland’s world-renowned education system, world-class universities and a reputation for producing creative thinkers.
Scotland hosts some of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world and acclaimed higher education institutions such as the University of St Andrews, University of Glasgow and the University of Edinburgh offer some of the best programs with the highest student satisfaction rate in the entire UK.
University Education in Scotland
There are 19 autonomous universities in Scotland and all 19 are funded by the Scottish Funding Council. As in the rest of the world, Scottish universities offer degree-level study programs, including bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, and while some programs may have a vocational nature, the majority of programs taught at Scottish universities are academic in scope. University colleges in Scotland mainly focus on vocational education, and programs offer courses of study that enable students to be employed in a specific industry following vocational training. These programs can be completed in a shorter period of time than bachelor’s degree programs, and at the end of the study period, students become eligible to receive a Higher National Certificate and Higher National Diploma. Additionally, through cooperation and partnership agreements with employers and universities, university colleges provide students with employment opportunities as well as the opportunity to transfer to degree programs taught at universities.
How Long Does It Take To Complete Your Studies?
Programs taught at Scottish universities are subject to the SCQF - Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework, which consists of 12 levels, and bachelor’s degree programs at level 9 can usually be completed in 4 years. Students are expected to take courses for the equivalent of 30 credits in each academic semester and for the equivalent of 60 credits in each academic year. 1 credit equals about 10 hours of work and accordingly, 60 credits correspond to 600 hours of work. Master’s degree programs at level 11 on the SCQF can usually be completed in 1 to 2 years, while it takes 2 to 3 years to complete PhD programs at level 12.
Cost of Studying in Scotland
Tuition fees at Scottish universities vary depending on the university as well as on the type and scope of the study program. Tuition fees at top-ranking and selective Scottish universities such as the University of Edinburgh, the University of Glasgow and the University of St Andrews are higher compared to other universities in the country. Annual tuition fees international students can expect to pay range between £10.000 and £30.000 on average for undergraduate programs related to a generic field of study, while annual fees for programs in medicine, veterinary science & medicine, dentistry, clinical studies and related fields can range between £35.000 and £55.000. Annual tuition fees for master’s degree programs can range between £15.000 and £30.000 on average, while programs related to the fields of medicine, veterinary science & medicine, dentistry, and business can go up to £50.000 per year.
Cost of Living in Scotland
Similarly to many parts of the world, cost of living in Scotland varies depending on region and city, while tuition fees vary depending on university and program of study. Large cities such as Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee and Paisley take the lead in terms of cost of living, followed closely by Inverness, Perth and Stirling. Monthly average cost of living is between £730 and £1.170 for Edinburgh, £800 and £1.000 for Aberdeen, £920 and £1.200 for Dundee, and £850 and £1.100 for Glasgow.
A breakdown of average monthly expenses (accommodation not included) may look like;
- Food and Meals: £170 - £290
- Utilities: £45 - £70
- Transportation: £80 - £170
- Internet and Cell Phone Plan: £30 - £45
- Social Activities, Personal Expenses, Clothes: £85 - £175
Accommodation in Scotland
Analogous to neighboring countries and much of the world, accommodation costs make up the largest portion of monthly cost of living. Many universities in Scotland have residence halls for international students, and while monthly fees for residence halls vary depending on the university, the average for the majority of Scotland is between £430 and £1.030. Alternatively, students can opt for private accommodation and while rents may vary depending on the city, the monthly average is between £400 and £1.400 for Scotland in general.
Why Study in Scotland?
Scotland’s universities are widely recognized for their academic and educational excellence, with the University of St Andrews, the University of Glasgow and the University of Edinburgh ranking in the top 100 in the world university rankings. Welcoming around 70.000 international students from 180 different countries every year, Scotland hosts some of the universities with the highest student satisfaction rates. A research conducted by Universities UK indicates that 91% of international students attending Scottish universities are satisfied with their learning experience and 86% of international graduates would recommend studying at a university in Scotland.
In addition, Scotland’s unique landscape is exceptionally well-preserved and whether you attend a city university or a campus university, you are likely to find vast green spaces anywhere. This means students have access to large green spaces to study, exercise, relax or simply enjoy nature. Moreover, Scotland’s location grants easy access to major European cities. It takes only 1 hour to travel to London and less than 2 hours to Paris by air. Regular flights and airports can be found in almost every corner of the country, providing convenient transportation to anywhere in Europe. Furthermore, festivals are held all year round in almost every major city. From the biggest music events at the TRNSMT Music Festival to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the largest arts festival in the world, more than 350 events are organized every year, so there is always something new and exciting happening in the country.
How to Apply as an International Student?
International students who wish to apply for undergraduate and graduate programs offered by universities in Scotland must meet certain academic and language requirements. Although these requirements may vary depending on the university and the program, general admission requirements may be summarized as follows;
Admission Requirements - Academic (Bachelor’s Degree)
- To Have Completed 11 or 12 Years of Primary and Secondary Education
- Certificate of Secondary Education
- Please note that a certificate of secondary education awarded by a foreign institution requires an equivalency review by the relevant authorities in Scotland. Moreover, universities in Scotland, in addition to a certificate of secondary education (received as a result of a high school education of at least 4 years), require international students to have taken and passed 5 Advanced Placement (AP) courses.
- A High Grade Point Average
or
- International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma
or - GCE A-Level / International A-Level Diploma
or - SAT/ACT Standardized Test Scores
Please bear in mind that international students who are going to apply to programs that are directly or indirectly related to the fields of medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, civil engineering, industrial engineering, bioengineering, mathematics, physics and pharmaceutics may be asked to apply and take the relevant exams administered by the Scottish government or by the respective university.
Admission Requirements - Academic (Master’s Degree)
- Bachelor’s Degree (of a 3 or 4-year undergraduate program)
- High Grade Point Average
- To have accumulated at least 180 ECTS course credit during your university studies
Please note that you may be asked to submit GRE or GMAT test scores depending on the admission requirements specific to the program you are applying to.
Admission Requirements - Language
- Certificate of Proficiency in English (for programs taught in English)
- You will be asked to submit the scores of at least one of the internationally recognized proficiency tests like IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, CAE, CPE, etc.
Application Deadlines
As in the rest of the UK, applications to universities in Scotland are made via UCAS - Universities and Colleges Admissions Centre. To be able to commence their studies in the upcoming academic year, students need to start working on and submit their applications through UCAS in the previous academic year. Universities usually begin accepting applications through UCAS in the middle of May. Students are required to pay their application fees at the beginning of September and submit their applications to UCAS, and the last week of January is the deadline for applications.
Top Universities in Scotland
Top universities in Scotland according to World University Rankings 2023
- University of St Andrews
- The University of Edinburgh
- University of Glasgow
- University of Strathclyde
- Heriot-Watt University
- University of Aberdeen
- University of Dundee
- University of Stirling
- Glasgow Caledonian University
- Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
