Best universities in Scotland

Check upcoming open days and book your place

Scotland is well-known for plenty of things, from tartan to haggis, but did you know it’s also a great place to study? If you’re Scottish, or have lived in Scotland long enough, you’ll even get free tuition if you go to uni here. Whether you’re looking for a city-based uni or would prefer to live somewhere more rural during your studies, Scottish unis offer a range of experiences to cater to different students’ expectations.

To help you make your decision and find the uni that’s perfect for you, we’ve put together a list of Scotland’s highest ranked unis, based on student-focused criteria. Using Complete University Guide’s 2023 league tables, we’ve found the top Scottish unis for student satisfaction, graduate outcomes, research quality and the overall best uni in Scotland.

Universities in Scotland

With 14 unis to choose from, you won’t be short of choice. These are the unis on offer in Scotland:

Best uni in Scotland for student satisfaction (Complete University Guide 2023)

University of St. Andrews

The University of St. Andrews is one of the oldest in the UK, so it’s had plenty of time to figure out how to provide the best student experience it can. The uni offers a network of dedicated support staff to assist students with any issues that arise during their studies, and the uni also engages in a lot of accessibility and outreach work to ensure that all potential students are included and encouraged to study at the institution, giving it a welcoming and friendly atmosphere.

Read what students are saying about the University of St. Andrews.

Best uni in Scotland for graduate outcomes (Complete University Guide 2023)

University of St. Andrews

The uni’s Career Centre supports students to find internships, part-time jobs and employment after graduation. The dedicated CareerConnect service supports students to develop their employability through events and appointments, as well as find suitable opportunities. Many of the uni’s courses also have the opportunity to do a work placement, allowing you to learn on the job, develop your CV and network with professionals in your field as a part of your degree.

Read what students are saying about the University of St. Andrews.

Best uni in Scotland for research quality (Complete University Guide 2023)

University of Glasgow

The University of Glasgow comes out on top in research quality in Scotland in part thanks to its broad research base. The uni supports research from a wide range of disciplines, and much of the research coming out of the university is rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’, so you can be sure you’ll be learning from some of the leading minds in your field.

Read what students are saying about the University of Glasgow.

Best uni in Scotland overall (Complete University Guide 2023)

University of St. Andrews

The University of St. Andrews is an all-rounder. Thanks to its long and illustrious history, it’s developed a reputation for excellent research quality, attracting staff from the top of their fields, meaning you’ll be learning from the best. On top of this, it places high importance and pride in student satisfaction, meaning the uni is constantly striving to improve its student experience across all areas.

Read what students are saying about the University of St. Andrews.

Our cookies

Privacy overview

Manage consent preferences

Research and Prep

Best universities in Scotland

Similar articles

Student guide to the West Midlands

Student guide to the East Midlands

Student guide to South West England

Student guide to South East England

YOUR UCAS POINTS 0