- Scotland boasts top-ranked universities, with Edinburgh and St. Andrews being notable examples noted for their student experiences.
- Student reviews highlight the supportive atmospheres at universities, with strong community ties in cities like Dundee and Aberdeen.
- Interactivity in classes and access to extensive resources enhance the educational experience at institutions like the University of Edinburgh.
Scotland, a land of breathtaking vistas, cosy towns—and some of the world’s best universities. Across the entire length of the country, there are top-ranked institutions in bustling global cities like Edinburgh and small student towns like St. Andrews. But what do students say about the best universities in Scotland?
On EDUopinions, we have thousands of student reviews of universities in the UK, including those in Scotland. Plus, reviews are all verified, so you can be sure they come from real students.
What do these students say about their study experience at the best universities in Scotland? We’ve selected the top five universities in Scotland on the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2024—which sit in the top 350 in the world—and have scoured student reviews of these institutions to find out what students really think.
The Best Universities in Scotland: Student Reviews
5. University of Dundee (4.4/5 Rating)
A Welcoming Community Atmosphere
The University is literally in the heart of the city centre, with every facility at a walking distance. Dundee being the fourth biggest city of Scotland it is highly welcoming to international students and generally people from all walks of life.
The busy mornings and quiet nights were the highlight for me. The University has a huge Student Union, run by the students themselves, which is perfect for all the party people and caters to students for all types of problems as well.
Lastly, University of Dundee is really generous with scholarships and bursaries. Almost all international students I interacted with had some sort of an award to finance their tuition fee.
A common thread in student reviews of the University of Dundee is the welcoming atmosphere both on campus and in the wider city.
The university has over 20,000 students in a city of less than 150,000 inhabitants, meaning students form a close-knit community in the city centre. The university’s central location also makes it easy to blend seeing city sights with studying.
Student Support
The staff at this University are always so helpful! The lecturers are great and reply to emails quickly! My course is always made fun and interactive which is amazing for learning! Great place to study!
Students at the University of Dundee regularly reflect on the support available from lecturers and wider university staff while studying. For example, according to one student of Community Education, professors are prompt to respond to emails, and other reviewers say that all university staff seem invested in improving courses for students’ benefit.
Affordable Location
Dundee is an affordable city. the main campus locates in the city center, which is a nice location. I like the library in the center of the main campus and the library has many rooms and space to study. especially for medical students, it’s a nice choice to study here.
Dundee is Scotland’s fourth-largest city, but this isn’t reflected in the cost of living in the city centre. In general, costs in Dundee are about 14% cheaper than in the capital, Edinburgh. The University of Dundee suggests students budget approximately £800-£900 per month, excluding rent. Helpfully, bus travel is free in Scotland for anyone under the age of 22, so exploring the local area won’t break your monthly budget.
4. University of Aberdeen (4.6/5 Rating)
Impressive international outlook
The University of Aberdeen has a fantastic English programme. In addition to a set of staff this is dedicated to their students, the curriculum provides an engaging set of books for students, and classes are always lively. The one thing I wish for is more creative writing courses.
Overall, the University of Aberdeen is a global community with an emphasis on discussion and classroom engagement. I have found a great community here. After transferring from a university in the United States, I was nervous about starting school abroad, never having been to Aberdeen before. But switching to UoA was the best thing I could have done.
All in all, I have really enjoyed my time studying in Aberdeen, and I would recommend the uni to students looking for an engaging environment in a fun town.
The University of Aberdeen was built to be an international institution, and today, it certainly achieves that mission. In addition to a Scottish campus, the University of Aberdeen has a campus in Doha, Qatar, and also has partnerships with universities in China and Australia. The university was ranked 6th in the UK for international outlook in the THE World University Rankings 2024, and student reviewers mention that this global perspective feeds into their classroom experience, resulting in a wide-ranging experience.
Interactive classes
The University of Aberdeen is that rare university that makes a deliberate effort to create a global community of students and academicians. My time here at the Aberdeen University was exciting and exhilarating. Being an international student, I got exposed to a new standard of education, and a new way of living, and each day presented me with new learnings. My course Master in Business Administration was outstanding and all my lectures were amazing. At the university, I got an opportunity to debate, discuss, and deliberate ideas in the classroom and in the process create lifelong friendships with my classmates. The academic staff was helpful and welcoming. My professors were ever-embracing in helping me solve my queries, and understand concepts, and encouraged me to excel in my course. The facilities at the university are top quality and cater to students’ needs. The library is absolutely fantastic. Additionally, the campus is truly amazing and especially beautiful during the winter when it’s covered with a white blanket of snow. Overall, I had a wonderful time studying at Aberdeen University and I am a proud alumnus.
The University of Aberdeen doesn’t just endeavour to get a range of perspectives into the classroom but also gives students the space to interact with different opinions. Student reviewers on EDUopinions mention the practical-oriented classes, which give opportunities for debates and discussions on study topics. This helps with fostering a community among students, particularly those from abroad.
A beautiful campus
During my three and a half years studying history at The University of Aberdeen, I have gradually come to feel at home in a place that was at first, nothing short of alien. The university has a beautiful, old campus, full of history- which could only inspire my study of the topic. While the accents are strong, the people are some of the friendliest you will ever meet and it is safe to say you will never feel lonely. It is a beautiful place to be a student and it has been a great experience for me.
The University of Aberdeen has a historic campus that dates right back to the university’s founding in the late 15th century. Wander among the Gothic buildings and green spaces as you make your way to class, then study in the state-of-the-art library, also located in the city-centre campus.
3. University of St. Andrews (4.6/5 Rating)
Broad and flexible studies
At sub-honours, the university’s module system feels very flexible, as students can choose modules from subjects that are not part of their degree title. However, at honours, the selection of modules available within your subject(s) changes each year. Some years are better than others. Additionally, the addition of a dissertation in your final year makes it much harder to choose modules you are actually interested in. Even with the option to not do a dissertation (an option available to joint-honours students), the student’s choices will still be restricted, as they need to do a year-long module rather than 2 semester-long modules. It becomes rather restrictive. No matter what module you choose, however, the teacher of that module will be extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic about their subject and, although you may not find it the most interesting, you still appreciate the passion that they feel for it.
At the University of St. Andrews, undergraduate students join a four-year degree programme with unique flexibility. In the first year, students can choose up to three subjects to study, both inside and outside their core faculty. In later years, this means you can adjust your degree programme to something new or obtain a Joint Honours degree, majoring in two subjects. This is an aspect of studying that comes up frequently for St. Andrews students, with reviewers saying that it helped them become a more well-rounded graduate.
A cosy student city
The University of St Andrews, situated in coastal Fife, is a wonderful place to study and live. From vibrant social life to quiet coffee shops and libraries, St Andrews has something for everyone. My favourite thing about St Andrews is the people. This quaint little town is home to lovely, kind locals that are always helpful and welcoming to students. The students themselves are also kind and create a diverse and inclusive community. There are over 150 clubs and societies that are all extremely welcoming and are great ways to make friends and connect with like-minded people and you are sure to find something new that you will love. University definitely wouldn’t have been as good an experience if I had gone somewhere other than here.
St. Andrews is a historic town on the east coast of Scotland, where the university campus dominates the old town on the clifftops. Here, the large student population mingles with friendly locals, giving international and home students alike the chance to meet new people and learn about new cultures. The town is also known for its beautiful sights, from the cosy coffee shops to beach walks.
A rewarding study experience
St Andrews is a wonderful, picturesque place straight out of a period-drama. But the university isn’t for the faint-hearted. I would only recommend this university for those who are highly driven and studious, but also want to have a good time.
For humanities students, there is a constant stream of readings and essays that need to be completed. If you stay on top of these, the student can easily enjoy the social side of the university. There are so many societies and clubs to join, with interests that range far and wide.
I studied Art History as my main subject, and completed modules in Classical Studies, Management, Divinity, and Film Studies across my first two years. All courses demanded a lot, and at the time I wish I had attended a different university where I could focus on one thing. But looking back, I am grateful for my learning experience, as those subjects ended up making me a well-rounded student with more academic experience than my peers at other universities.
The best thing was the town, there isn’t a place like it. I think the calm, university town cultivates studying. St Andrews isn’t well connected to cities, and so on the slower days, studying is all you can do. Students make their own fun, and you really have to be willing to put in the effort to get the most out of the university and its community.
St. Andrews is one of the best universities in the world, and students recognise this commitment to educational excellence. Reviewers note the high rigour of degree programmes, especially for those who have opted for multiple subjects in their first and second years. However, this is equally rewarding and challenging, and there are plenty of extracurricular societies to get involved in when you need a break from studying.
2. University of Glasgow (4.3/5 Rating)
A lively student experience
Throughout my four years at Glasgow I have to say I loved 99.9% of it – as the University has four student unions and hundreds of social and sports clubs, it’s super easy to get involved in clubs, societies or volunteering work that suits you! I made a ton of friends right off the bat in Queen Margaret Residences, but there were opportunities to expand your horizons and get involved with other clubs for as long as you’re at the uni – and even beyond! Lecturers were super friendly and approachable on the whole and would respond to queries really quickly (at least on the Zoology course). Lots of opportunities for both intra- and extra-curricular trips, I even found myself doing my dissertation research in the Caribbean for 9 weeks through the Exploration Society! The one downer for me was Glasgow’s reaction to the UCU marking boycott – we’ve still not received our final degree results even though we graduated in June as Glasgow won’t negotiate with the union 🙁 However, right up until then I had no complaints!
The University of Glasgow is the largest university in Scotland in terms of student population, with 43,000 people enrolled in undergraduate and postgraduate courses. The scale of the institution means students have access to plenty of support and experiences, from networking events to extracurricular societies and sports events. All of this contributes to a memorable study experience.
large international student population
This University has a prestigious reputation and I feel in actuality it only partially lives up to this. While a lovely scenic campus and an extensive library with 12 floors it still lacks in communication. This is one of the few things which I believe is a flaw with this university. When you email a member of staff for help or a query you are typically left waiting days and days until you receive a reply, by which point you have had to sort it out yourself or the problem has grown. I also think that feedback on work is sometimes lacking. I would appreciate more feedback on a piece of work on what I can improve and what I should continue to do but usually it is just generic feedback for the full class. Despite these small flaws, the university earns its prestigious title with their challenging classes and engaging tutorials where you can really delve into a topic and explore it from all angles. The wide international student population also allows for new experiences and mixing with people who you have not before and it gives you a complete different view of the world and the different cultures and lives out there.
The university prides itself on its large international student population—students come from 140 countries. The diversity of perspectives in the classroom enables students to learn more about different cultures and connect with people with the same experiences as them.
An inclusive campus environment
University of Glasgow (UoG) give me the very best experience of learning with the very inclusive value they applied here.
My lecturers are very open to understanding and helping us with our difficulties. The students here are also very nice, the staff, everyone is nice and friendly.
Facilities here are also complete with a very near park, accommodation, and subway station. We also provided with student kitchen, a comfortable learning hub, and a library. Students are also provided with some places to pray.
Learning here very encourage me to give my best result and push myself to develop more.
You would expect a university with such a large international student population to be welcoming, and student reviewers on EDUopinions indeed comment that the University of Glasgow feels like home to them. Even students who have travelled halfway around the world to study at the University of Glasgow—from the US or China—say that they’ve been welcomed into the student societies and the wider city with open arms.
1. The University of Edinburgh (4.3/5 Rating)
An unforgettable city
The University of Edinburgh is, depending on what you want to gain from University, a great place to be. Ultimately, every student experience differs, but everybody tends to unite on the fact that the city is a fantastic place to be as a young adult. As an English Literature student, the bookshops everywhere offer a great way to engage with my course, and the standard of teaching is excellent. The tutors are a particular standout – they are always willing to offer help and are genuinely interested in the content.
Edinburgh is one of the most popular tourist destinations for a reason. From its packed cultural calendar (including the world-famous Fringe Festival) to its picture-perfect lanes and incredible landscapes, you’ll never want to leave. Students say that the city’s history is the perfect accompaniment to their studies, especially for those studying the humanities.
Plenty of study resources
As one of the oldest universities in the world, the University of Edinburgh has a lot of old buildings, so everyday it seems that I study in old castles with beautiful sceneries. Our school has a lot of resources, for example, library resources. In case we don’t make good use of it, our school set a course to help us with that, which is really nice. For my major, we have practical homework and readings. Tutors would explain some theories in seminars and we do our practice and have further discussions in out tutorials. I think it is a good place to study.
As a prestigious global university, Edinburgh offers plenty of resources to students in every faculty. From world-class laboratories for science students to a library that’s cram-packed with historical works, as you study here, you’ll be able to study to the best of your ability. Plus, the Gothic university buildings mean you can romanticise your studies as much as you wish.
High-quality education
As one of the oldest universities in the world, the University of Edinburgh has a lot of old buildings, so everyday it seems that I study in old castles with beautiful sceneries. Our school has a lot of resources, for example, library resources. In case we don’t make good use of it, our school set a course to help us with that, which is really nice. For my major, we have practical homework and readings. Tutors would explain some theories in seminars and we do our practice and have further discussions in out tutorials. I think it is a good place to study.
Professors and researchers at the University of Edinburgh are always there to assist students with their studies, whether that’s answering a quick question about an essay or encouraging students in new directions during classes. While the prestigious nature of Edinburgh means that it’s not as diverse as other universities in Scotland or the UK, you’ll still have the advantage of faculty who come from a wide variety of backgrounds and studies.
Conclusion
If you’re thinking of studying in Scotland, then you’ve got a great variety of top-ranked universities and programmes to choose from.
If making a decision is challenging, then student reviews can be a great alternative to rankings to consult. Reviews let you into each student’s world, introducing you to aspects of the student experience that you wouldn’t hear about in a top ten list.
If you need more information about what it’s like to study in the UK, check out our blogs on the UK universities with the happiest students and our overview of the university grading system in the UK.
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