5 Top Universities in Scotland Every Indian Student Should Consider

We know that Scotland is a country of spectacular natural landscapes and rich culture putting it at the top of every tourist map. But, did you know that Scotland also boasts of some of the oldest and most prestigious universities? No matter what course of study you’re looking for, Scotland has the right program for you. 

Let’s take a quick look at the top 5 universities in Scotland based on QS World University Rankings 2020:-

University of Edinburgh

About the University

Established in 1582, the Uni of Edinburgh is one of the oldest universities in Scotland and the UK. The university is significant for its vibrant culture and distinctive education and is home to more than 13,000 international students. 

Campus Life

The university is located in the beautiful city of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. The university campus has a well-established library, health and fitness club, student associations, on-campus accommodation facilities and also supports disabled students.

Famous Alumni

The university alumni include 19 Nobel Laureates and many famous personalities like Charles Darwin (Theory of Evolution), Alexander Graham Bell (Inventor of Telephone), Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (author of Sherlock Holmes) etc.

Prestige Factor

The uni of Edinburgh is a member of the global research network ‘Universitas 21’ and the European networks ‘COIMBRA’ and ‘LERU’, setting it apart as one of the most prestigious universities in the world. 

Major Courses Offered

While the university offers postgraduate courses in diverse disciplines, the school’s major offerings are in the humanities, arts and social sciences, medicine and veterinary medicine, and the College of Science and Engineering. 

Average Tuition Fee and Living Cost

The average tuition fee for postgraduate courses offered by different departments of the University of Edinburgh ranges between £15,000 – £32,500 (~14-30 INR Lakhs)

The average cost of living  adds up to £9,000 (~ INR 8 Lakhs) annually

Entry Requirements

An undergraduate degree from a deemed university with a minimum of 60% marks

IELTS: 6.5 overall scores with no less than 6 in any module

Scholarships

A few scholarships accepted and provided by the university include:

• Chevening Scholarships
• Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme
• Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP)
• The Charles Wallace India Trust
• Goa Education Trust Scholarships

University of Glasgow

About the University

Established in 1451, as a public research university, this is the fourth oldest university in the UK. The university was known for its contribution to industrial development during the Renaissance movement – one of the major contributions being the development of steam engine technology by James Watt in the late 1700s. 

Campus Life

The university has 3 beautiful campuses- the GIlmore Hill campus, the Garscube campus and the Dumfries campus- each with its own historical significance and state of the art facilities. 

Famous Alumni

Several writers, renowned thinkers and political leaders are alumni of this university, including the economist Adam Smith, James Watt, former prime ministers such as Campbell-Bannerman and Bonar Law. The university is associated with seven Nobel Laureates. 

Prestige Factor

The University of Glasgow has a vast global network with 420 study abroad and exchange partners. The university has collaborations with businesses to develop new products and processes with the help of cutting-edge research.

Major courses offered

The major graduate schools of the university include college of arts, college of medical, veterinary and life sciences, college of science and engineering and the college of social sciences. 

Average Tuition Fee and Living Cost

The average tuition fee for postgraduate courses offered by different departments of the University ranges between £15,000 – £23,500 (~ INR 14-22 Lakhs)

The average cost of living adds up to  £10,000 (~ INR 9 Lakhs) a year

Entry Requirements

A bachelor’s degree from a deemed university with a minimum of 60% marks

IELTS: 6.5 overall scores with no less than 6 in any subtest

A Statement of Purpose (SOP)

2-3 Letters of Recommendation (LORs)

Funding and Scholarships

The university provides a lot of different scholarships in various diverse fields. A few of the most famous scholarships provided and accepted by the university include:

• College Of Science And Engineering Deans’ Award
• University Of Glasgow College Of Arts India Award
• University Of Glasgow International Leadership Scholarship
• Postgrad Solutions Study Bursary
• GreenMatch Sustainability Scholarship
• Commonwealth Scholarship schemes
• Chevening Scholarship

University of St Andrews

About the University

Established in 1413, the University of St Andrews is Scotland’s oldest public university and is considered to be third best in Scotland. 

Campus Life

The university has 140 student societies,  50 sports clubs and a huge library with a collection of 2,10,000 odd and rare books. Home to 4,387 international students with 18 different academic schools, this is truly a university of global education. 

Famous Alumni

The university alumni include famous personalities like Benjamin Franklin and James Wilson, the founding fathers of the United States of America, among many others. The university has an extensive network of alumni across the globe.

Prestige Factor

The University of St. Andrews is the oldest public university in Scotland and has maintained excellent infrastructure and a high quality of education and research since its inception. 

Major courses offered

While being known for its research in psychology and English literature, the university has notable faculty and teaching programs in the departments of art, ancient history, medicine, biology, chemistry, classics, comparative literature, engineering, management, mathematics, philosophy, languages, music, creative writing, earth, and environmental sciences. 

Average Tuition Fee and Living Cost

The average tuition fee for postgraduate courses offered by different departments of the University ranges between £19,400 – £23,090 (~ INR 18-22 Lakhs)

The average cost of living  adds up to £10,764 (~ INR 10 Lakhs) a year

Entry Requirements

A bachelor’s degree from a deemed university with a minimum of 60-80% marks

IELTS: 7.0 overall scores with no less than 6.5 in any module

Funding and Scholarships

A few of the most famous scholarships provided and accepted by the university include:

• Chevening Scholarships
• Commonwealth Masters Scholarships
• Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme (CSSS)
• Scotland’s Saltire Scholarships

University of Aberdeen

About the University

Founded in 1495, the university of Aberdeen is among the six oldest universities in Scotland. It is known for its modern teaching and research facilities. The university sets itself apart with its unique learning and teaching model that allows students to switch subjects as per their convenience, providing a ground for flexible and holistic learning to meet your career goals.

Campus Life

The university has multiple campuses, including a historical one at the heart of the city, the Foresterhill campus hosting the medical and life science departments, the Oceanlab campus for marine research and a new international campus in Qatar. 

Famous Alumni

Notable alumni include Tony Hilton, Dr. Adam Watson, Susan Rice and Sir Ian Wood. 

Major courses offered

The university comprises 12 schools and offers 186 diverse postgraduate courses in the fields of arts & social sciences, life sciences and medicine, physical science, business and postgraduate research.

Average Tuition Fee and Living Cost

The average tuition fee for postgraduate courses offered by different schools ranges between £15,000 – £23,000 (~ INR 14-21 Lakhs)

The average cost of living  adds up to £9,700 (~ INR 9 Lakhs) a year

Entry Requirements

An undergraduate degree from a deemed university with a minimum of 60-80% marks

IELTS: 6.5 overall scores with no less than 5.5 in any module

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

A Statement of Purpose

1-2 LORs from your university or current/most previous employer

Funding and Scholarships

A few of the famous scholarships provided by the university include –

• CB Davidson Fund
• Commonwealth Shared Scholarship (Selected Masters Programmes)
• James Carnegie Scholarship

University of Strathclyde

About the University

The University of Strathclyde is the third-largest university in Scotland in terms of student count. Founded in 1796, the university has maintained its status among the top 20 universities in the UK and is known for its research facilities. The university has a special Technology and Innovation Center helping researchers and industry form collaboration, providing employment and investment opportunities in the city of Glasgow.

Campus Life

Home to around 7,000 postgraduate students, the majority of them being international students (around 150 Indian students join this university every year), the university campus is a diverse and multicultural space. 

Famous Alumni

John Logie Baird, James Blythe and Thomas Graham are some of the famous names associated with the university. 

Major courses offered

The university mainly comprises 28 departments offering STEM courses (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) besides business, humanities and social science courses. 

Average Tuition Fee and Living Cost

The average tuition fee for postgraduate courses offered by different schools ranges between £18,000 – £29,000  ( ~ INR 16- 27 Lakhs)

The average cost of living  adds up to £10,300 (~ INR 9 Lakhs) a year

Entry Requirements

An undergraduate degree in a related field with a minimum of 60% marks

IELTS: 6.5 overall scores with no less than 6.0 in any module

Funding and Scholarships

The University of Strathclyde provides several different scholarships based on the course you choose. To name a few –

• University of Strathclyde Performance Sport Scholarship
• Faculty of Science Masters Scholarship for International Students
• Dean’s International Excellence Award – Postgraduate Taught: Humanities and Social Sciences
• Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme

The details above provide an overview of each university, its offerings and strengths. Remember to check each university’s website for the latest updates on tuition fees, living costs, entry requirements, and scholarships for the course of your choice. If you are unsure of which university is the right one for you or need any other kind of assistance, our student support team is just a click away.