Scotland is a northern UK territory known for its beautiful mountains, green valleys, and lovely beaches. While it’s widely famous for being a picturesque location, this country has become a top-rated educational destination – just like Great Britain.
To date, there are over 50,000 students from over 180 countries that are enrolled in Scottish universities. More are expected to follow suit given the area’s top-rated universities, which are surprisingly affordable.
To help you out, we have listed the cheapest universities in Scotland for international students down below.
Affordable Schools in Scotland for International Students
1. Robert Gordon University
Robert Gordon University, or RGU, is a public educational institution located in Aberdeen, Scotland. Its history dates back to the 18th century when the merchant and philanthropist Robert Gordon founded it.
The RGU campus, situated in Garthdee, houses the university’s 11 departments: the Schools of Business, Applied Social Studies, Engineering, Computing Science and Digital Media, Art, Creative and Cultural Business, Health Science, Law, Nursing & Midwifery, Architecture & Built Environment, and Pharmacy & Life Science.
This affordable university in Scotland has more than 16,000+ students, comprising domestic and international students from various backgrounds.
2. Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
Queen Margaret University is located in Musselburgh, Scotland. Founded in 1875, the Edinburgh School of Cookery and Domestic Economy was eventually named after St. Margaret, the wife of King Malcolm III.
Currently home to more than 9,000 local and foreign students, this affordable university in Scotland has two departments, one of which is the School of Arts & Sciences. It was formed in 2010 after the merger of the Schools of the Social Sciences, Media & Communications, Enterprise & Management, Business, and Drama & Creative Industries.
The university also has a School of the Health Sciences, which offers programs in Dietetics, Nursing, Speech/Language Therapy, Biology, Occupational Therapy, Audiology, Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Radiotherapy, and Psychotherapy.
3. University of Stirling
The University of Stirling, one of the cheapest universities in Scotland for international students, opened in 1967 in Central Belt Scotland. Housed in the Airthrey Castle estate, its location matches its royal charter status. This has given the university the reputation of being one of the most beautiful campuses in the world.
To date, the university is organized into several departments including the four faculties of Social Sciences, Arts & Humanities, Natural Science, and Health Sciences & Sports. There’s also the Stirling Management School as well as the Stirling Graduate School.
The university, one of the top-rated universities in the UK, is also ranked as one of the best young institutions in the world.
4. Glasgow Caledonian University
The Glasgow Caledonian University, also known as GCU, Caley, or Caledonian, is a public institution based in Glasgow, Scotland. Following the merger between the Queen’s College in Glasgow and the Glasgow Polytechnic, this institution first opened its doors in 1993. With the annual tuition fee starting from around £15,200, Glasgow Caledonian University is one of the cheapest universities in Scotland for international students.
GCU is organized into three schools. The first is the School for Computing, Engineering, and Built Environment, which oversees programs in Applied Sciences, Engineering, and Information Technology. Another is the School of Business & Society, which manages the Departments of Law, Business Management, and Social Science.
The last school of GCU is Health and Life Sciences, which delivers programs related to Nursing, Psychology, and Life Science. As one of Scotland’s top-ranked universities, GCU currently has an enrollment volume of 22,000+ domestic and international students.
5. Edinburgh Napier University
The Edinburgh Napier University, one of the cheapest universities in Scotland for international students, can trace its roots back to 1964 as the Napier Technical College. Named after the eminent mathematician-philosopher John Napier, it was granted university status in 1992.
The public university has branches in Sighthill, Craiglockhart, and Merchiston which serve as campuses for its six schools of Applied Sciences, Arts & Creative Industries, Computing, Business, Health & Social Care, and Engineering & the Built Environment.
Edinburgh Napier University ranked one of the best Scottish universities, is also heralded as one of the Best Young Universities in the World. Famous for its European teaching programs, the university currently has 15,000+ students comprising a diverse student body from across the globe.
6. Abertay University
Abertay University, formerly the University of Abertay Dundee, is one of the two public institutions in the Dundee area. Its history goes back to 1888 when Sir David Baxter’s efforts funded the opening of the Dundee Institute of Technology.
The university, comprising thousands of local and foreign students, is famous for launching unique programs. To name a few, this institution offered the first Computer Game degree in 1997, and the Ethical Hacking course in 2006.
Apart from these programs, Abertay University also offers degrees in Design & Informatics, Applied Sciences, Business, and Law & Social Sciences. In addition to all the undergraduate programs, this college has a dedicated Graduate School for Master’s and Ph.D. programs.
7. University of Strathclyde
Located in Glasgow, Scotland, the University of Strathclyde was founded in 1796 as the Andersonian Institute and is the region’s second-oldest university. At the same time, it is recognized as Scotland’s third-largest university with nearly 23,000 students.
To date, the University of Strathclyde is also listed as the first technological institution in the UK. The university, housed in the John Anderson Campus, is home to four prestigious faculties. One is the Faculty of Engineering, which handles Architecture and engineering courses.
Another is the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences, which offers programs in Education, Government, Law, Humanities, Psychology, and Social Work. There’s also the Strathclyde Business School which houses students majoring in Accounting, Economics, Entrepreneurship, and Management.
Last but not least is the Faculty of Science, which oversees programs in Chemistry, Computer Science, Math, Physics, and Pharmacy. Due to these varying departments, many students can choose which courses to take and when to take them.
FAQs: Studying in Scotland
What Are the General Requirements to Study in Scotland?
As with most UK universities, you can apply to Scottish institutions through the Universities & Colleges Admissions Center or UCAS. Here, you need to fill out a form where you can select four to five-degree options. Next, you will need to upload the essential requirements, the most important of which is a high school diploma.
How Expensive are Tuition Fees at Scottish Universities?
If you plan to go to Scotland to get a bachelor’s degree, the program could be completely free. If you are a Scotland resident from the European Union, you won’t have to pay anything to get a bachelor’s degree. Since universities are funded by the government, tuition fees for undergraduate Scottish applicants are paid by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).
The only exception is for students from other countries in Great Britain, who pay tuition fees, at only a fraction of the standard international rate. In addition, international students from the rest of the world will also have to pay tuition fees, and these are more expensive than the tuition fees for U.K. residents, but they tend to vary greatly depending on the programs.
In the case of postgraduate and doctoral programs, everybody has to pay tuition. There are certain exceptions for a few programs in which the government wants to attract more students. In this case, free tuition fees are offered for Scottish and EU students while international students are charged with an annual tuition fee.
For most international students, the bone of contention when it comes to studying in the UK is the question of affordability. As elaborated in this article, exploring universities in Scotland could be a sure way to find your dream institution and program. Dive deeper into the five universities mentioned and kickstart your educational journey!
You can also find more information on different European universities and scholarship opportunities on the Study in the UK and Available Programs for International Students in the UK pages.
