17 Best Public Universities in Scotland for International Students

Search Courses:

Scotland, is one of the states in United Kingdom you should look into if you want to study in a public university. Besides providing a path towards your academic goals, you can also enjoy various activities here to make your studies abroad all worth it. In addition, studying in Scotland can give you valuable insights into its people and the local culture.

There are 18 universities you can find in Scotland, and 17 of them are public universities. Having these many choices makes Scotland a great place for international students.

In this article, you’ll find out the public universities in Scotland, with some added information on programs, tuition, and how many international students you’ll be studying with. Let’s get started!

Rank University Location
1 University of Edinburgh Edinburgh, United Kingdom
2 University of Glasgow Glasgow, United Kingdom
3 University of St Andrews St Andrews, United Kingdom
4 University of Aberdeen Aberdeen, United Kingdom
5 Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh, United Kingdom
6 University of Strathclyde Glasgow, United Kingdom
7 University of Dundee Dundee, United Kingdom
8 University of Stirling Stirling, United Kingdom
9 Edinburgh Napier University Edinburgh, United Kingdom
10 Glasgow Caledonian University Glasgow, United Kingdom
11 Robert Gordon University Aberdeen, United Kingdom
12 University of the West of Scotland Paisley, United Kingdom
13 University of the Highlands and Islands Inverness, United Kingdom
14 Abertay University Dundee, United Kingdom
15 Queen Margaret University Edinburgh, United Kingdom
16 Scotland’s Rural College Edinburgh, United Kingdom
17 Glasgow School of Art Glasgow, United Kingdom

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can International Students Study in Public Universities in Scotland?

Absolutely! International students in public universities in Scotland can pursue different program levels, but the most popular ones are bachelor’s and master’s programs.

As for tuition fees, note that these vary across specific disciplines and program levels, with some charging significantly more than others. Specifically, public universities in Scotland charge up to 32,100 GBP for bachelor’s and 35,900 GBP for master’s studies.


I hope this article can help you in your search for public universities in Scotland. Feel free to check out the Available Programs for International Students to learn more about studying abroad.