Study in Scotland

1. Introduction
2. Employability
3. Accommodation
4. Tuition Fees
5. Scholarships
6. Study Visas
7. Top Universities

Scotland is a part of the United Kingdom and is well known for its studies. But before you make your decision, let us have a look at what Scotland has to offer. The official website of Scotland is a central hub to find all the offered courses. You do not have to rush through multiple websites to find a chunk of information, instead, you could directly go to their website and specify your filters in the search bar.

Employability:

Work during Study:
Depending on your Visa, you could work part-time to cover your daily expenses or you could find an internship based on your experiences. Most of the Tier-4 Visa students can work but there is a limit on the number of hours allowed per week. Consult the concerned authorities regarding this issue and keep your employer updated about the same.

Career Opportunities:
Scotland provides a wide variety of opportunities in every field including Healthcare, Teaching, Technology, Sciences, etc. All the opportunities (past and current), along with their terms and conditions, are listed on their official website.

Accommodation:

Majority of the universities provide a range of housing options for international students. Some of them include student halls which provide cleaning and catering services as well, independent spaces to give the freedom one needs or combination of these places to live, study and meet fellow students. These universities have a dedicated page for accommodation which is listed on the official Scotland website under the "Accommodation" tab.

Tuition Fees:

Tuition fee is subjective to the institution and the program (Undergraduate/Postgraduate, field, etc.). International students will have to pay a higher amount than the student coming from the European Union. There are different standards set by the universities depending on your home country. As the United Kingdom (UK) has left the European Union (EU), it could affect the funding and it is best to go through the official page of the UK government regarding studying in the UK if you belong to the European Union.

Scholarships:

Scotland provides a range of scholarships for all kinds of programs. Below are some of the popular scholarships and see which applies to you:

1. British Chevening Scholarship: The scholarship is a joint effort of the UK government, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and partner organisations. The scholarship provides full financial support to any student eligible for a Master's degree at any of the UK's university.
2. Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP): As the name suggests, this scholarship is available for the students of Commonwealth countries. It includes scholarships for PhD positions, Masters programmes, undergraduate study, distance learning and Academic & Professional Fellowships.
3. Fulbright Awards: This scholarship is exclusively for the citizens of the United States. It provides support for post-graduates, academics and professionals to lecture, study, or conduct research in the UK.
4. Royal Society Grants: This includes post-doctoral and early career fellowships, senior career schemes. It also provides grants to work within the industry.
5. Saltire Scholarship: This scholarship is available for Masters students from China (including Hong Kong), India, Japan, Pakistan, Canada and the USA. The courses must belong to any of these areas: Science, Technology, Creative Industries, Healthcare and Medical Sciences, and Renewable and Clean Energy.

Study Visas:

Students from the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA) including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, may need to apply for specific permits to study in Scotland since the United Kingdom (UK) is no longer a part of the European Union (EU).

All the students outside of the European Union (EU) will need to apply for a visa to study in Scotland. The kind of Visa will depend on the duration and kind of program one wants to pursue. The UK Government is responsible for managing the Visas as well as the immigration procedures, therefore, it is advised to visit their website for further details. Below are some of the well-known categories that might come in handy:

1. Tier 4: General Student Visa: If you are an international student who is eligible to take a degree course (lasting six months or more) at any of the university in the United Kingdom (UK), then you can apply under this category of General Student Visa.
2. Tier 4: Child Student Visa: If you are 4 to 17 years old who wants to study at an independent fee-paying school, then this category of Visa is for you. For more details, visit the UK Government page for Visa Application.
3. Standard Visitor Visa: If you want to visit the United Kingdom (UK) for a short period of 30 days (for taking a course but it should not be your main reason to visit) or you are a part of an educational trip or an exchange program, then you can go for this category of Visa.
4. Short-term Study Visa: You can apply for a short-term study visa in case you are planning to take a short course or a training program. However, this kind of Visa also puts some restrictions on your ability to work or carrying out a business.
5. Start-up Visa: As the name suggests, if you planning for starting up a business in the United Kingdom, then you will have to apply for a Start-up Visa. However, you must be endorsed by an authorised body: either a UK higher education institution or a business organisation with a history of supporting UK entrepreneurs. The Start-up Visa allows you to stay in the UK for 2 years after which you could apply for a General Work Visa (Tier 2).

Top Universities:

Below are the top five universities of Scotland sorted according to the World QS Rankings (2021):

1. The University of Edinburgh (World Ranking: 20)
2. The University of Glasgow (World Ranking: 77)
3. The University of St. Andrews (World Ranking: 96)
4. The University of Aberdeen (World Ranking: 207)
5. The University of Strathclyde (World Ranking: 300)

The article only presented a subset of opportunities that Scotland has to offer. Hope it acts as a good start for a ton of exploration and Good luck for your future endeavours.