SCOTLAND has its fair share of stereotypes, but for international students, it also has its fair share of perks. It is home to some of the oldest research universities in the British Isles, and though it is often forgotten in place of tartan and haggis, the Scots have a rich tradition of learning and innovation. Their great thinkers have been responsible for inventing the telephone and television, conceptualising the Higgs-Boson particle, discovering penicillin and producing heaps of influential philosophy, literature and music.
So, if you want to push aside the bagpipes and find out what really makes people want to study in Scotland, here’s our guide to the most nothern part of the UK.
Location
Scotland is the northernmost country in the British Isles, consisting of the Scottish mainland and a scattering of islands just off of the coast. Though Scotland is famous for its untouched and awe-inspiring Lochs and national parks, the country has seven cities and some large urban populations too in places like Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Unique Benefits
There are some things Scotland has for international students that other places don’t:
Student Life
British universities put a lot of effort into encouraging students to form their own opinions, ask questions and pursue their ideas. As such, student life in Scotland offers you the chance to get involved: you could run for Student Union elections, set up a society, raise money for charity, write for the university newspaper or play for the university’s sports teams. Whatever your interests, there’s plenty more to student life in Scotland than lectures.
Students in Scotland typically live in shared houses or flats, but there is usually a range of accommodation available. Rent and living costs are generally a bit cheaper than England, which makes Scotland a good option if London's prices make you feel faint.
Applications
All undergraduate applications to UK universities are facilitated by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Centre (UCAS), a centralised service through which you can send multiple applications to universities in Scotland. For a small fee you can apply for up to five courses, or if you want to add more, you can pay more. You will need to prove you meet the course entry requirements for things like academic grades and English proficiency, and you will need to write a personal statement. If you are from outside the EU or European Economic Area (EAA), you will also need a Tier 4 student visa.
For postgraduate degrees, there are two options. Some courses are available on UKPASS, the postgraduate version of UCAS, and some will require you to apply to the university directly. Most postgraduate courses will only accept applicants with a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
Fees & Scholarships
Tuition fees in Scotland are different depending on the course you choose, and the university you choose to study with. They differ yet again if you are from the UK, within the EU or from outside the EU, and which year you will be starting – so you will need to check with the university to find out the specific price.
In terms of financial aid and scholarships, there are various options. Firstly, if you’re from within the EU and starting in 2017, you are still eligible to apply for funding from the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS), who give awards of £1,000-3,000 to full-time students. You can find more information about that here. If you are from India, China, the US or Canada, then there’s also the Saltire Scholarship, which provides students with £4,000 to study in Scotland. The other UK scholarship schemes like the Commonwealth Scholarship may also help, along with the various merit and need-based scholarships on offer at individual universities.
After Graduation
If you like studying in Scotland, you may want to work in Scotland too. Though the UK tightened restrictions on post-study work visas in 2015, Scottish ministers are pushing for the them to be re-introduced to encourage skilled young workers to stay in Scotland. The Scottish government are particularly keen to allow non-EU and Indian students to stay after graduation, but they are also pro-EU. Scotland is pushing for immigration rules that are devolved from England post-Brexit to allow more freedom.
The good news: in 2014, the Higher Education Statistics Agency found that graduates from Scottish universities earned higher starting salaries, and had higher employment rates, than the rest of the UK. So even if you choose to begin your career elsewhere, you’ll still have an internationally-recognised degree and the invaluable cultural, social or ‘transversal skills’ that employers love.
This article was first published in 2015 and updated in March 2017 to refelect the recent information following the EU referendum.
