Scotland isn’t just known for its tourism; it’s also known for its high level of education. You can easily find cheap universities in Scotland with state-of-the-art research facilities. The universities are also affordable, offering different programs for local and international students.
We recently published an article on cheap universities in South Africa and you might wonder if Scotland is also an ideal place to study for foreigners. As an international student, you should know that this country is an excellent place to study. There are a lot of affordable universities in Scotland that make provisions for international students to come to the university every year. You also do not need to worry about the accreditation of their certificates, as most of the schools have global recognition and affiliations.
7 Cheap Universities in Scotland for International Students 2023
Table of Contents
If you are looking for the most affordable universities in Scotland, you have come to the right place. This article will discuss 7 cheap universities in Scotland for international students in 2023. We will also discuss the feasibility of studying in Scotland for free and their work and study program.
1. Queen Margaret University
Queen Margaret University is a popular university in Scotland. This university is at Queen Margaret University Way, Musselburgh EH21 6UU, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1875 and named after the Scottish queen Saint Margaret. This university is one of the cheapest universities in Scotland, as it boasts of having over 8000 local and international students.
This university has 2 major colleges, the school of arts & science and the school of health. The school of arts & science offers disciplines such as enterprise and management, drama and creative industry, social science, business, and more. The school of health, on the other hand, includes disciplines such as audiology, physiotherapy, nursing, and more. These programs apply to undergraduate and graduate studies.
To study at this school, you only need to visit the UCAS website and apply. You will see guidelines such as the courses to take, how to complete your online application, funding your course and more. If you meet all the admission requirements, you will have no problem getting admission to this school as an international student.
The tuition fee for this school is also remarkably low, as undergraduate fees cost 7000 pounds per year. Graduate fees cost 15,000 pounds per year which makes it one of the cheap universities in Scotland.
2. Edinburgh Napier University
Edinburgh Napier University is also one of the popular cheap universities in Scotland that is ideal for international students. This university is a leading university that was founded in 1965. It has 3 schools or campuses in Merchiston, Sighthill, and Craiglockhart. Edinburgh Napier University boasts over 15,000 local and international students across its 3 campuses.
The business school of this university is located on the Craiglockhart campus, while the school of arts and creative studies, computing, and engineering is situated in Merchiston. The school of health, social care, and applied science, which is widely regarded, is located on the Sighthill campus. These schools offer programs for both graduate and undergraduate students.
According to a study conducted by Times Higher Education, this university is currently ranked among the top 600 universities in the world. To register at this university, you must have a minimum IELTS or TOEFL score of 6.0 and 80, respectively, for bachelor’s degrees. It would be best to meet all the qualifications, have a personal statement, get a reference or recommendation letter, and much more.
The tuition fee for international students seeking to study a bachelor’s degree program starts at £32,100 per year. Different scholarship programs are also available for international students at this prestigious university.
3. University of the Highlands and Islands
The University of the Highlands and Islands is a university that offers both graduate and undergraduate studies. This university is located at 12b Ness Walk, Inverness IV3 5SQ, United Kingdom. It is made up of 12 different colleges and research institutions spread across different parts of the Highlands and Islands. The University of the Highlands and Islands has over 31,000 local and international students across its institutions.
The University of the Highlands and Islands offers programs ranging from computer science and information technology to creative industries, humanities & social science, and much more. These courses are available for both part-time and full-time online international and local students. According to UNIRANK, the University of Highlands and Islands is among the top 800 universities in the world. It is also ranked among the top 2500 universities worldwide, according to EDURANK.
For both local and international students, the entry requirements for this university largely depend on the course you want to study. However, they have a minimum IELTS requirement score for international students. The tuition fee is also affordable, starting from £9,090 to 13,428 per year for foreign undergraduate students.
4. Robert Gordon University
Robert Gordon University is a public university in Scotland. This university is located at Garthdee House, Garthdee Rd, Garthdee, Aberdeen AB10 7AQ, United Kingdom, around the coastal city of north Scotland. Although this university might be a public institution, it still has a very high standard of education as it has an acceptance rate of just 22 percent. This university was founded in 1992 and has over 10,000 students, with over 25 percent being international students from different backgrounds worldwide.
Robert Gordon University, also known as RCU, has over 10 faculties. These include a school of business, engineering, health science, applied social studies, architecture & built environment, and much more. These universities offer over 100 courses combined. The courses are open to part-time, full-time, and postgraduate students.
This university, ranked among the top 1200 universities in the world according to Times Higher Education, has a tuition fee of £4,00000 per year for undergraduate students and £15,000 per year for graduate students. Different scholarship programs are also available for international students applying to this university.
5. University of Strathclyde
The University of Strathclyde is among cheap universities in Scotland that is ideal for international students in 2023. This university is the second oldest in Glasgow, Scotland, at 16 Richmond St, Glasgow G1 1XQ, United Kingdom. The University of Strathclyde was founded in 1976 and is ranked among the top 350 universities in the world according to QS rankings. It is also ranked among the top 500 universities in the world, according to Times Higher Education.
This university has 4 major faculties. This includes the engineering faculty, which covers engineering and architectural courses at this institution. It also has a humanities and social sciences faculty, including courses like government, law, social work, and much more. A business school offers entrepreneurship, economics, accounting, and more courses. Last but not least, there is the faculty of science, which teaches major science subjects.
With over 20,000 students, this university is recognized as the third-largest university in Scotland. It has over 5000 international students studying various courses across its faculties. The tuition fee is also relatively affordable as undergraduate studies cost £15,000 per year while graduate programs cost £12,000 per year.
There are also scholarship programs for students that meet the criteria or requirements.
6. Abertay University
Abertay University is a publicly funded university that was founded in 1872. It is one of the oldest universities in the region. This university has a wide range of undergraduate and graduate student programs. Abertay University offers undergraduate courses ranging from business management computer science, criminology, and much more. It also offers master’s programs in accounting and finance, ethical hacking and cybersecurity, counseling, construction management, and more.
This university is located at Bell St, Dundee DD1 1HG, United Kingdom. It is ranked among the top 2000 universities in the world according to EDUrank. It is also ranked among the top 1100 universities based on the Unirank world index. It is a popular university ideal for international students, with notable alumni, including David Jones, Stewart Hosie, and many more.
The admission process for this university varies as it largely depends on your country or nationality. The tuition fee for this university is also affordable as undergraduate studies cost £14,000 per year while graduate studies cost £15,000 per year. There are also several scholarship programs available for international and local students. Abertay University is an all-encompassing institute with over 7000 local and international students. It is popular as it is also one of the cheap universities in Scotland one can apply to.
7. Heriot-Watt University
Heriot-Watt University is one of the cheap universities in Scotland. This university is a public research university that is home to the world’s first mechanics institute. Heriot-Watt University is located on Campus The Avenue, Edinburgh EH14 4AS.
The university was founded in 1821 and is among the UK’s most respected universities. Many people see this institution as a university for the elite. Among the faculties at Heriot-Watt are various, from social science to computer science, physical science & engineering, and much more. It currently has over 11,000 students, with more than 3000 of them being international students.
The tuition fee at this university is quite affordable making it rank as one of the affordable and cheap universities in Scotland. You can study at this university for as low as £10,000 to £20,000. There are also different scholarship programs available at this university. According to the QS ranking, Heriot-Watt University is ranked among the top 300 universities in the world.
Can You Study in Scotland for free?
It is possible to study in one of the cheap universities in Scotland for no fee as long as you meet the criteria for free tuition. School scholarships and government programs offer free tuition to Scottish citizens and students worldwide. However, certain requirements must be met before you are eligible for free tuition.
Some of these requirements include being an EU national or a UK citizen. If you meet this criterion, you do not have to pay any money for tuition.
There are also full scholarships some schools in this country offer. If you qualify and get a scholarship, you can study in Scotland for free.
Are there Scholarships for International Students at Scottish Universities?
Yes. Scholars are available for international students who want to study at universities in Scotland. Different schools in Scotland offer different scholarship programs. These schools include Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh University, and more.
The scholarships offered by these universities are usually partial. The university pays a certain amount of your school fees while you pay the remaining amount. To qualify for these scholarships, visit the institution’s website and check their requirements.
Can I Work while Studying in Scotland?
You can do a work and study program in Scotland. As an international student, you must get a work permit before you begin working in the country.
Getting a work permit is pretty simple, as you can either apply with the help of your university guardian or apply directly at the embassy.
How Much Is a Student Visa Fee in Scotland?
The student visa application fee in Scotland costs £363 per person. You must know that the cost of this fee isn’t fixed as it tends to rise or fall annually. When getting a student visa, you should apply at least 3 months before you travel. This will allow you to sort out the visa process well before your travel date.
Conclusion
There are a lot of cheap universities in Scotland where you can study as an international student in Scotland. We have discussed some of these universities in this article. We have also discussed their requirements and the feasibility of doing a work and study program. Read this article to get all the details you need.