Whether you’re from Scotland or elsewhere, studying across the border can be an exciting adventure! However, there are some differences between the Scottish and other UK university systems that you might want to note before confirming your place up north.
1. Tuition fees
If you’ve been a resident in Scotland for three years and are planning on attending a Scottish university, you won’t have to pay tuition fees. You will need to register and confirm your funding status at the start of each year with the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS), but once that’s done, you won’t pay a penny!
On the other hand, if you do not live in Scotland, you will have to pay for tuition fees, but these are unlikely to set you any further back than in the rest of the UK. Of course, you can also still apply for a bursary or student loan to help you through.
The cost of living is also generally lower in Scotland and there are plenty of ways to save money – one of the biggest being Young Scot Cards which gets you free bus travel around the country!
2. Degree length
One of the major differences in Scottish universities is that most degrees last four years instead of three. If you have studied your subject at A-Level or Advanced Higher, you might be given the chance to fast-track into the second year of your degree, but most students still tend to choose to start in first year. This is worth being aware of, since it obviously entails an extra year of living and tuition costs (if they apply to you). It can also feel strange still being at university in fourth year when some of your other friends have graduated.
However, due to this extra length, Scottish degrees are often more flexible and will enable you to study a larger breadth and variety of subjects. For example, if you’re doing an English Literature degree, you could also opt to study a social science or a language in your first few years, before specialising when you get to Honours. This flexibility could help you find a subject you’re really passionate about, but might not have chosen to study, and could even lead you to change your degree!
3. Timing of offers
Since Scottish students receive their results a bit earlier than England and Wales (usually the first week of August), they’ll know whether they have a place a bit sooner and have some more time to get everything ready for uni.
Notably, if you are not a Scottish student, this does not affect your chances of being accepted, it just means you will have slightly less time to prepare and may need to be more organised!
Since the most important exams are sat in the penultimate school year, Scottish school students are also more likely to get an unconditional offer. This also means students can leave school early, and tend to be younger when they go to uni (17 or 18-years-old). This is something to be aware of when planning nights out with Scottish friends!
Conclusion:
All in all, whilst there are certain differences in the Scottish uni system to be aware of, it is still relatively similar to the rest of the UK. If you come from Scotland, you might want to make the most of free tuition and early place offers. However, if this is not the case, paying for tuition and getting accepted a little later are unlikely to have a major impact on your university experience. Similarly, although Scottish degrees last slightly longer, they can provide you with a wider range of opportunities and career paths in the long run. Whether you choose to study in Scotland or not, we’re sure you’ll have a great university experience and will be with you to support you every step of the way!
