A great place to live and learn

Scotland is a vibrant and beautiful place. It is a small country, but has a great diversity of landscapes and cultures with both cosmopolitan city living and rugged unspoilt countryside. It retains a distinctive cultural identity within the UK framework and has its own unique legal and educational systems. Since 1999 it has also had it's own Parliament, which decides on most issues affecting Scotland, although some important powers still remain with the UK Government. Scotland is very much a vital part of the UK and a Scottish education is also a British education.

Education is a fundamental part of Scottish culture. It has been compulsory in Scotland since 1496, and by the time of the union with England in 1707, Scotland already had 4 universities! Today this has grown to 21 universities and colleges providing degree level education and combining both ancient with modern in calm rural campuses, as well as bustling city centre locations. In addition Scotland has 46 Further Education Colleges, 38 Independent Boarding Schools and many specialised English Language Teaching Schools. Scotland's unique Credit and Qualifications Framework integrates all qualifications within a single system, making it much easier for students to move between courses and institutions, and ensures close links between schools, colleges and universities. So there are various flexible routes into and through the Scottish education system.

Higher education is open to all Scots regardless of background and ability to pay, and nearly half of all Scots go into higher education. In fact, Glasgow has a higher percentage of graduates than any other city in Europe and only Japan produces more engineering and IT graduates per head than Scotland. In the field of research Scotland leads the world in the biological sciences, genetics and astrophysics. She comes third in the world over all in research - a pretty impressive figure for a country of only five million people! Scottish universities carry out contract research for leading companies such as Siemens, IBM and Hewlett-Packard. This emphasis on education in Scotland is reflected in the Scots impressive history of producing many crucial inventions such as the electric light, the steam train, the photocopier, the television and telephone and more recently the first cloned animal 'Dolly the Sheep'.

Scottish education enjoys a reputation for unsurpassed quality throughout the world. When France and the USA set up their own education systems it was the Scottish model they copied. Scotland offers four-year undergraduate degree courses, allowing students to study a wider range of subject matter, making it easier to change course and direction if required. At postgraduate level the Scottish system follows a similar pattern to the rest of the UK with one-year masters programmes and MBAs and PhD's usually take three years to complete. Scottish qualifications are recognised throughout the rest of the UK, as well as being highly valued internationally.

Learning in Scotland isn't a one-way process in which students simply receive information from their teachers. Instead, they're encouraged to read widely, to research thoroughly and question what they learn at every opportunity. With its emphasis on proactive and independent thinking a Scottish education encourages skills that are relevant, marketable and much sought-after by today's top companies. Which means students can look forward to better career prospects and higher potential earnings once their studies are complete. And as some would claim that the clearest version of English is spoken in Scotland, where better to learn the international language of science, business and politics? There are enormous opportunities for students to learn English in Scotland, either by taking a specific language course or just by living and studying in an environment where English is all around them. So not only will they receive a world-class qualification, they'll also be fluent in a language that will boost their career prospects the world over.

A good education is best started at a young age, and the Independent Boarding Schools in Scotland will give children a strong academic grounding. They provide a high standard of teaching to help their pupils achieve good qualification results. The Scottish Boarding Schools also have outstanding IT and sporting facilities and offer a wide range of extracurricular activities to keep their student's minds and bodies stimulated and busy outside of lessons as well. The caring staff at the schools understand that being far away from home can take a while to adjust to, especially for young people, so they also provide a high standard of pastoral care in the form of counselling and support. As all of the student's accommodation and dietary requirements are provided for by the school, parents can rest assured that their child's every need is being taken care of. Of all the UK towns and cities, those in Scotland are amongst the safest. So there is no better place for children to experience another culture while they study for their school qualifications.

Scotland was one of the first countries in Europe to establish a quality assurance system for its educational institutions. From student support to the quality of the teaching staff, every school and further and higher education teaching establishment is subject to rigorous scrutiny by the government. This system allows students to compare the choice of courses on offer on a like-for-like basis, secure in the knowledge that each one has been assessed according to the same demanding criteria. In other words, it offers everyone who's thinking about studying in Scotland the peace of mind that comes from knowing that the education they receive will live up their expectations'in every way.

Almost as important as the academic advantages of a Scottish education are the chances it offers to experience life in Scotland. If studying for a qualification in Scotland is the key to a more successful future, then living there is the key to a more fulfilling present. Scottish culture has a long and proud history and tradition. Even if you know very little about Scotland you will probably still have heard of tartan, whiskey & maybe even the national dish of haggis. But international students coming to Scotland will discover that it has an exciting and vibrant modern culture as well, with writers such as Iain Banks and Irvine Welsh and Scottish music acts like Travis and Texas. As home to the famous Edinburgh Festival, the world's most important performing arts event, Scotland is pivotal in the world of theatre, comedy and popular culture. International students will be able to get closer to the heart of their subject in Scotland than anywhere else. Those studying the arts for example will do so against a backdrop of works by Scottish artists like Charles Rennie Mackintosh. While aspiring media professionals can seek direction from a film and television industry responsible for groundbreaking films such as Trainspotting and Shallow Grave. The Scottish Borders area is home to many important players in the textiles industry and as a result local colleges offer excellent fashion design courses. Scottish City life offers a vibrant mixture of music, clubs, culture, theatre and the arts. There are restaurants specialising in the cuisine of many countries, reflecting the rich cultural and religious diversity of the population ' for example the favourite dish of those living in Glasgow is said to be Indian curry! Traditional Scottish food is also found everywhere as well, and enjoys a reputation for excellence, from fish and chips to Scottish Salmon and Aberdeen Angus beef.

The Scottish people are famous throughout the world for their hospitality and friendliness to strangers, which has ensured that Scotland has long standing international links. For centuries we have been welcoming international students to Scotland, and at present have over 100 nationalities represented in our institutions. Former student Yuri Andreev from Russia has the following to say about how he found his time studying in Scotland 'Scottish people know how to make you feel comfortable although you are far from home. I have made friends in the University and city that will remain friends forever'.

With the air, rail, coach and bus networks it's easy to get around and about in Scotland, as well as travel to almost anywhere else in the UK. Discounts or special rates are generally available for students on most forms of transport. It's also a great base to see the rest of Europe from. The Channel Tunnel, cheap flights and ferries mean that you're never too far away from the other great capital cities of the European mainland.

Scotland is also an affordable option. While there is no short answer to the question 'How much will a Scottish education cost?' it is fair to say that people are often surprised at how reasonably priced it can be. Like anywhere else, the cost of an education in Scotland consists of two main areas: course fees and living costs. Course fees in Scotland will vary depending on the type of course studied and up to date prices can be easily obtained from the institution that runs the course. The cost of living in Scotland is generally less expensive than it is in the rest of the UK and there are many benefits available to international students to make it even more so. All international students and their dependants qualify for free healthcare through the National Health Service (NHS), as well as reduced-cost medicines, dental treatment and eye tests. Then there's the level of discounts negotiated for members of the National Union of Students, for which many students qualify for free membership. As a member they can save up to 50% off anything from books, stationery and food to clothes, travel and entertainment. It's worth noting too that a lot of Scotland's famous museums, galleries and libraries are free.

Accommodation options in Scotland are varied and can suit all budgets. Halls of Residence are owned by the university or college and are usually located on or very close to the campus where the student will study and are reasonably priced. Homestays involve the student staying in the home of a family who live nearby. This is a popular option for young international students who may be living away from home for the first time, as they have the support and local knowledge of the family who they are living with to help them settle into their new environment. Private flats and houses can also be rented out, and students opting for this type of accommodation often choose somewhere with several bedrooms and group together to share the cost between a few of them.

In today's Scotland there are literally thousands of courses for prospective students to choose from. Have a look at the course search section of this website where you can search for details of every course available in Scotland by subject, level of study, and location. You will also find lots of other useful information on this site about matters such as course fees, scholarships, work experience opportunities, visas and general advice on living and studying in Scotland. Education UK Scotland can help with any questions you may have about studying in Scotland. Use the FAQ's section of this site to see if your question is covered there, and if not contact us directly - we will be happy to help.

Quite simply there is no better place than Scotland for International students who want to study overseas to take hold of their future and be the best they can be!