Study in Scotland
Study in Scotland and fall in love with this beautiful country
Study in Scotland – why is it worth it? Scotland has a long history of educational excellence, going back to the fifteenth century, when universities were established at St Andrew’s (1413), Glasgow (1451) and Aberdeen (1495), with Edinburgh joining the so-called “Ancients” in 1582. Over time, another eleven universities were set up in Scotland, and at present it is possible to study over 450 courses at undergraduate level.
Scottish research is highly rated, with 86 per cent of studies having an “outstanding impact” and, when measured relative to GDP, Scotland’s research is the strongest in the world. If you are still trying to decide where to apply to study in Scotland, then one of factors which could influence your final choice is the ranking of the university. The table, below, provides up to date information on the rankings:
World University Rank 2021 | Scotland Rank 2021 | University | City/town |
30 | 1 | Edinburgh | |
92 | 2 | Glasgow | |
178 | 3 | Aberdeen | |
201–250 | 4 | Dundee | |
201–250 | 4 | St Andrews | |
301-350 | 6 | Stirling | |
351–400 | 7 | Edinburgh | |
401–500 | 8 | Edinburgh | |
401–500 | 8 | Strathclyde | |
501–600 | 10 | Paisley |
Times Higher Education World University Rankings, 2021
NB: Edinburgh and Glasgow are both members of the Russell Group, the UK’s most prestigious research universities.
Study in Scotland - the higher education system
Unlike England, Scottish universities run four-year bachelor degrees. There is one idiosyncrasy worth knowing, and this is the fact that the four Ancients universities, as well as Dundee, grant Master’s degrees to students who have done their first degree in the Arts- so they will receive an MA rather than the usual BA.
If you intend to study in Scotland for a traditional Master’s (postgraduate) degree, this takes around 12 months to complete. Applications to study in Scotland are processed through UCAS, the UK’s central admissions system, and, as in England, you can apply to five universities and for more than one course at each university.
Study in Scotland - practical information
1. The UK has left the EU. You will therefore now need a student visa to study in Scotland, England, and Northern Ireland. The process is simple, and can be done on your smartphone, as long as you can upload a biometric passport to confirm your identity – a national identity card will not be accepted.
To apply for the Tier Four student visa you will need:
- to provide a copy of your passport
- to prove that you can support yourself financially
- have an unconditional offer from a university
- demonstrate that you can speak, write and understand English (for example, by uploading an IELTS certificate)
- pay an application fee of £348 ( at time of writing)
- pay the Immigration Health Surcharge ( IHS) a £470 charge, which will cover the cost of using the National Health Service and provide you with access to doctors, dentists and hospitals. The IHS is not optional, and forms part of your student visa application - even if you already have private health insurance. This surcharge fee is an annual one, so if you are intending to study for three years, you will need to pay £470X3= £1410.
- International students make up 21 per cent of the student body in Scotland.
3. 94% of international students recommend their university and are happy that they chose to study in Scotland.
4. Scottish universities have the UK’s highest rates of graduate employment/ moving on to further studies six months after finishing their courses.
5. Teaching quality is highly-rated at every Scottish university.
6. You are entitled to work 20 hours a week during term-time , within the terms of your visa.
Study in Scotland - popular courses
- Medicine
- Life sciences
- Business and management
- STEM subjects
- Engineering
- Pharmacology
- Dentistry
- Biological sciences
- Veterinary medicine
- Computer science
- Nursing
In addition, certain universities have an outstanding reputation for particular courses: Glasgow is known for its forensic sciences, Aberdeen for modern languages and marine ecology , Edinburgh for law, physics and psychology, Dundee for STEM subjects, St Andrew’s for international relations, physics and mathematics.
If you are feeling overwhelmed by the broad range of choices open to you to study in Scotland, call us here at Elab, and we will talk you through the possibilities, narrow down options, and help you find the best universities and courses for you. Remember, you will study in Scotland for four years, so it’s also important to find the ideal location, since it will become your home. For further information on the cities and towns of Scotland, contact us at Elab and we will match your preferences with the perfect university.
Study in Scotland - world-class research
Scottish universities have cutting edge technology, modern facilities and amazing libraries. Perhaps the best way of illustrating how much Scotland has contributed to the world is to draw up a list of Scottish inventions and innovations – the products of its research!
- TV
- steam engine
- telephone
- vacuum flask
- cloning of the first sheep, Dolly
- discovery of Proxima Centauri
- hypodermic syringe
- insulin
- penicillin
- asthma therapy
- discovering the composition of the rings of Saturn
- MRI scanner
- keyhole surgery
- earthquake risk assessment methodology
- the flush toilet
- the kaleidoscope
- electric toaster
- beta blockers
- typhoid vaccine
- proof that mosquitoes carry malaria
- quantum mechanics... the list is virtually endless
And don’t forget that Higgs, of the Higgs-Bosum particle, is an emeritus professor at Edinburgh University and St Andrew’s awarded an honorary doctorate in music to none other than Bob Dylan.
Study in Scotland - the cost of living
This varies from city to city and town to town but, overall, the costs of studying in Scotland are 20 per cent lower than living expenses in London, and 10 per cent cheaper than the rest of the UK. As a rough guide, you need around £800 a month to cover your expenses, the largest part of which is the £375-475 you will have to spend on accommodation.
Study in Scotland -the land of Braveheart
Anyone who has seen Braveheart , Highlander, Ring of Bright Water or the frightening Wicker Man cannot have failed to notice the astonishing natural features of Scotland. Mountains and lochs, castles and battlements, fields of flowering heather and herds of Highland Cattle , beaches, rivers and hundreds of islands, many of which remain uninhabited, encircling a landscape which just takes your breath away. Scotland is beautiful.
It is not surprising that, when Amazon starts filming its new TV series of Lord of the Rings, it will be shot in Scotland.
Apart from the amazing landscapes, Scotland has a long and proud cultural history. Its kilts and Highland Games, its whisky and piping-in of the haggis on Burns Night are known the world over, and thousands of tourists flock to Edinburgh for its Festival every autumn, or flock through the streets to celebrate Hogmanay and sing Auld Lang Syne, arm in arm with former strangers , now friends. Scotland is sociable and welcoming , and studying in Scotland is a life-changing and wonderful experience.
Study in Scotland -tuition fees
At present, February 2021, the UK government has yet to make a formal declaration on how Brexit will affect tuition fees from August 2021. Here at Elab, we are monitoring the situation daily. All that has been stated to date is that EU citizens will no longer be treated as home students, and will therefore have to pay a different tier of fees for tuition. EU students will also not be eligible to apply for government loans.
Individual universities and a number of banks are preparing to step in and set out financial plans and options, but they too are waiting for a government statement. As a result, the situation remains unclear. Once we have further information, we will post it online and on our Facebook page, so keep an eye out. If you want to discuss finances, then don’t hesitate to call us or drop us an email.
What do the following people have in common?
- Emeli Sandé
- Klaus Fuchs
- Walter Scott
- David Livingstone
- John Logie Baird
- The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
- Hastings Banda
- John Cleese
- Gerard Butler
- J K Rowling
Yes, they are all alumni of Scottish universities.
Join them and apply to study in stunning Scotland, and gain a respected degree from a world-class university.
Contact Elab and let us work together to maximise your chances of being accepted to study in Scotland.
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