CRC

Photo © 2005 Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Scotland is a hotbed of academic excellence, known for leading programs in Engineering, Biomedical & Health Sciences, History, Language, Literature and the Arts. The origins of modern economics, sociology and linguistics can all be traced to 18th century Scottish Enlightenment, and Scotland has long been associated with innovation, discovery and enterprise. Technologies we take for granted today – telephone, television, steam train, bicycle, ATM machines, and penicillin – are some of the most significant products of Scottish knowledge and ingenuity.

Scotland is home to 19 universities, including four of the ‘ancients’ – medieval and renaissance universities which continue to exist in the present day – all of which are publicly funded by the Scottish Government, some of which consistently rank in the top 1% globally.

Scottish higher education differs from that of the rest of the UK, in that undergraduate courses are typically four years instead of three (with the exception of clinical courses such as Medicine or Veterinary Science), and offer a higher degree of flexibility, with the option to study up to three different subjects within one faculty in Year 1.

The four ancient universities – Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and St Andrews – are distinctive in conferring a Master of Arts (MA) upon completion of undergraduate studies. However, this is the same ‘value’ as a BA obtained elsewhere; the difference is purely in name alone, and reflects an ancient tradition of these well-established institutions.

Students seeking a Law degree (LLB) should note that Scots law differs from English and Welsh law, and a conversion course is required to practice in either place. Only Scottish universities offer degrees in Scots law. However, some Scottish universities also offer degrees in English and Welsh law, or joint honors degrees that cover both legal systems.

Scotland offers not only an abundance of fantastic opportunities in higher education, but also a chance to explore the dramatic sweeping countryside of mountains, lochs, and beguiling coastlines.