18 Best Universities In Scotland For International Students 2025

Scotland is surely one of the places you should be considering if you’re looking to study in United Kingdom. This location has a lot to offer for international students, including world-class universities and exciting student experiences. With more than 18 universities and colleges in Scotland, you’ll surely have a wide range of choices.

Out of 18 universities in Scotland, University of Edinburgh and University of Glasgow are the top-performing schools in Scotland.

To help you narrow down your school options, we’ve compiled the best universities in Scotland. We based our rankings on academic reputations from reputable sources and the number of international students. By doing this, you’ll have an efficient way of comparing your target universities and choose your host university in Scotland.

How do I get admission to the best universities in Scotland?

Applying to the universities in Scotland involves submitting requirements and following specific admissions procedures set by your chosen university. The requirements often include a student visa, application packages, and language scores. Check out our guide for international students who want to study in Scotland to learn more about applying for admission in this country’s universities!

How much are the tuition fees at the best universities in Scotland?

Tuition fees at Scotland’s universities can vary depending on which university, degree, and program you will be enrolling in. Generally, tuition fees for the bachelor’s level range from 2,500 GBP to 32,100 GBP , while tuition fees for the master’s level range from 4,950 GBP to 35,900 GBP. If you are interested, check out the affordable universities in Scotland!

As we cover the best universities in Scotland for international students, feel free to check out the university’s information on Admission, Tuition, Courses, and Language Requirements by looking at the individual university pages.

Top Universities in Scotland for International Students

The University of Edinburgh is a public research university located in Scotland, a picturesque country known for its castles and whisky. It is one of the nation’s oldest centers of excellence as it was founded in the year 1583. Due to how highly regarded it is, many students choose to pursue their tertiary education at the university. With that, it has a long list of noteworthy alumni such as renowned psychologist and neuroscientist May-Britt Moser, molecular biologist and biophysicist Richard Henderson, as well as economist Sir James Alexander Mirrlees.

Founded in 1451, The University of Glasgow is one of the oldest universities in Scotland. Throughout the years, this renowned institution has collaborated and partnered with the best and highly acknowledged universities across the globe.

Moreover, the university prides itself on being at the forefront of supporting sustainability. It is fully aware of the impacts of climate change and has since committed to attaining carbon neutrality by 2030. Most of its study programs and courses are aligned and designed with its commitments. Truly making it one of the respected UK universities that promote positive influence to its student body.

The University of St Andrews, or St And for short, is the oldest of the four “ancient universities of Scotland,” while it is the third-oldest in the English-speaking world, following Oxford and Cambridge. Initially founded by an assembly of Augustinian clergy in 1410, Antipope Benedict XIII bestowed the school ‘university status’, due to Bishop Henry Wardlaw’s petition, on August 28, 1413. Since then, the University of St Andrews has been comprised of three different institutions: United College, St. Leonard’s College, and St. Mary’s College. St And has also been dubbed as “University of the Year” twice by The Times and Sunday Times, and the first university ever to surpass Cambridge and Oxford in British rankings after being ranked as the best university in the UK in the 2022 Good University Guide.

The University of Aberdeen is one of the oldest institutions in the world. Its establishment dates back to 1495, and it classifies as an ancient university. Today, it is known for its unique blend of tradition and innovation, boasting an iconic campus that houses modern facilities and historic buildings alike.

Heriot-Watt University is a specialist school that focuses on providing education in the fields of design, engineering, business, and science. It started as a mechanics institute – the first in the world – and it continues to be a leader in finding practical solutions to contemporary problems today. Because of its strong reputation in these highly-technical fields, Heriot-Watt is considered one of the most elite universities in the UK.

The University of Strathclyde may be the perfect university for students dreaming of studying in Scotland. This public institution is highly-esteemed, even earning the title of the University of the Year in 2012 and 2019. It has welcomed and honed thousands of students for over two centuries, ranking 5th in the United Kingdom for student satisfaction. Moreover, it is located in Glasgow, one of the most vibrant and welcoming cities worldwide.

The University of Dundee has been delivering high-quality education to Scottish locals and international students since 1967. Its excellence was recently recognized by StudentCrownd, which ranked the university as 1st among other academic institutions in Scotland. Moreover, global rankings have recognized the university’s prestige in life sciences and medicine. All these and more assure aspiring students of excellent training within its walls.

The University of Stirling is a modern university whose mission is to provide education with a purpose. It has won multiple awards for its excellent curriculum, impactful research, and strong support for athletics. The university is also known for its iconic campus situated within the 18th-century Airthrey estate, with a castle and loch just within walking distance. Students benefit from the inspiring study atmosphere made possible by the exotic fauna and cutting-edge facilities found on campus.

The Edinburgh Napier University was firstly founded as Napier Technical College in 1964. The name originated from John Napier, a Scottish physicist, mathematician, and astronomer. It was then renamed to Napier University in 1992 by inauguration of Lord Douglas-Hamilton. After a variety of acquisitions and mergers, it then became Edinburgh Napier University in February of 2009.

Inclusivity and diversity are evident in one of Scotland’s most prominent universities, Glasgow Caledonian University. Students from many countries have experienced a Glasgow Caledonian University education, and you might be the next! The institution takes pride in its excellent teaching, grounded on experience since 1875. The university’s training and strong industry connections have allowed high employability rates. Moreover, it has fared well in various rankings and performance assessments, even ranking 4th in the United Kingdom for learning experience.

Scotland’s Robert Gordon University offers a wide array of courses, many of which are well-ranked and highly-regarded. The institution itself is well-esteemed, placing high in teaching quality, course satisfaction, student experience, academic support, learning opportunities, and employability of graduates. The university is also committed and invested in its campus, facilities, innovation, research, and entrepreneurship initiatives. All these things and more have no doubt made it a sterling university.

The University of the West of Scotland (UWS) is a public institute of higher studies that is regarded as one of the best universities all across the globe in terms of education quality and research. This institution has campus locations in Ayr, Dumfries, Lanarkshire, Paisley, and London. Moreover, UWS specializes in learning areas such as engineering, biological sciences, communication, and many more.

One of the newly established universities in Scotland is the University of the Highlands and Islands. This modern university provides a unique approach to teaching and research. Its degree programs are highly concentrated on academics, training, and industry-specific skillset as the institution’s primary goal is to produce qualified and readily employable individuals.

Abertay University offers a range of academic programs, but it is widely known as one of the best technology universities to obtain a degree in video games education. The university is located in Scotland, where tuition fees are relatively low compared to other institutions in the UK. Its lively environment is comprised of students and academic staff from across the globe, assuring them that inclusiveness on the campus is heavily advocated.

Named after Queen Margaret of Scotland, Queen Margaret University was established to help women and working families. Dedicated to its original purposes, it continues to help the community by establishing itself as a campus without borders, open and working closely with its locality. Nationally, the university is included in the top 100 universities based on several ranking sites. These rankings and other awards like the e-Government National Award show the institution’s commitment to excellence.

Scotland’s Rural College is an institution focused on research and education in the fields of agriculture and life sciences. The school aims to develop the knowledge and skills of students for their contributions to improving the agricultural sector. Its vision and mission are centered on Scotland having a natural economy that is sustainable.

As an art school, the Glasgow School of Art has general and specialized courses in different subjects like design and fine arts. It consists of five departments divided into architecture, design, fine art, innovation, simulation, and visualization. The university has its own share of notable alumni, and it has also received recognition in international rankings for its performance among art and design schools.

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is one of the best universities when it comes to performing arts. The institution is specialized in the following subject areas: dance, drama, education, film, music, and production. They have notable alumni who have made an impact in their own fields, such as acting. Students are thoroughly trained through specialized teaching and other opportunities with the school’s national and international partners.