Scotland was the first country in the world to introduce universal education – a place in school for every boy and girl – and from that has developed an internationally renowned education system alongside an array of prestigious academic institutions.
The value of a good education is unquestioned in Scotland, and the quality of the experience is second to none.
Scotland has the highest concentration of universities in Europe. The oldest is St Andrews, founded in 1413, followed by Glasgow in 1451, Aberdeen in 1495 and Edinburgh in 1583. The newest is the University of the Highlands and Islands granted full university status in 2011.
There are 16 universities, three specialist institutions and more than 40 colleges welcoming over 40,000 international students every year from more than 180 countries.
Scottish education institutes have always been pioneering in the fields of medicine, energy, scientific breakthroughs and life-changing inventions, such as cancer and stem cell research and the development of the world’s first bionic hand.
Today you can study a huge range of subjects, from offshore engineering to computer games technology.
Key facts:
- Historically, the Scottish education system has contributed greatly to scientific breakthroughs and life-changing inventions, such as penicillin, anaesthesia, CT and MRI scanners and the p53 cancer suppressor gene
- Scotland’s educational institutes produce more citations per head of population than any other country in the world. Scotland produces one per cent of the world’s published research with only 0.1 per cent of the world’s population
- Scottish higher education exports more than £400 million worth of services making it one of Scotland’s biggest service sector exporters
- More medical research is carried out per head of population in Scotland than anywhere else in Europe
Thinking of studying abroad?
Wondering if Scotland is the right place for you? Take a look at our top ten reasons why studying in Scotland is a good idea before making up your mind.
- Scotland has been leading the way in education since the 15th century. The education systems of countries like the USA, Canada and China mirror the model that was pioneered by the Scots.
- Scottish education will teach you not just what to think, but how to think, with inspirational teachers who will give you the confidence to put your ideas into practice.
- Scotland is a multicultural society and people have been coming to live here from all over the world for centuries. Scotland is consistently rated as a friendly, safe place to be so you can be sure of a warm welcome.
- Study in Scotland and you will experience lively cosmopolitan cities, spectacular landscapes and a vivid and varied sports, arts, entertainment and social scene.
- A Scottish university (University of Glasgow) has been ranked 1st in the UK for satisfaction in a worldwide survey of international students. (International Student Barometer 2011.)
- More than half of Scotland’s academic research is rated as either world-leading or internationally excellent. In 2008 Scotland achieved 1.8 per cent of citations, despite having a population of less than 0.1 per cent.
- Teachers in Scottish institutions are the people writing the textbooks, creating the inventions and making the groundbreaking discoveries. They will challenge and support you at every stage in your studies to ensure that you reach your full potential.
- Flexibility is at the heart of the Scottish education system, and you will be encouraged to build a programme that suits your needs, including cross-faculty study. For example, you can be developing skills in product development as well as learning how to market it at the same time.
- Some of the world’s most famous inventors and intellectuals were educated in Scotland including leading Scottish Enlightenment figure David Hume, Adam Smith, the ‘Father of Modern Economics’, and John Logie Baird, inventor of the television. Study in Scotland and you’ll be following in the footsteps of greatness.
- The satisfaction rate for students in higher education is greater in Scotland than anywhere else in the UK with an overall satisfaction rate for course quality of 86 per cent, according to a 2011 National Student Survey.
