Study for free in Scotland: free Bachelor and free Master

Study for free in Scotland

Study for free in Scotland. In Scotland you do not have to pay a tuition fee for universities and colleges. As an EU-citizen you can, just like the Scottish population, enroll in university for free. So, whereas in England and Ireland you need to pay an obscene amount of tuition fee, in Scotland it is for free. For a lot of students this is a great opportunity. Why wouldnt you do it? Here are all the pros and cons of studying in Scotland summed up.

Scotland, a country that people associate with beautiful landscapes and a friendly population. A country in which the people still spend a lot of their time in pubs, and are always up for a laugh. However, it is not all fun, because they as well need to be educated. The Scottish government has decided that universities and colleges need to be for free. And we as EU-citizens can profit from that a great deal. According the European law an EU member state cannot discriminate on nationality,and consequently needs to treat other EU-citizens like their own citizens. The only exception (more of a loophole) made regards the English, as they are considered to be from the same country, they do have to pay tuition free. It is nevertheless still cheaper to study in Scotland. This exception has caused quite some controversy. But the Scottisch government is afraid of getting flooded by international students, and the English students constitute the majority. But if you are not English and are part of the EU you can study in scotland for free. Studying abroad is a great experience, especially when it is for free. Lets now discussed the pros and cons of studying in Scotland.

Pros of studying in Scotland

Studying in Scotland is free, no tuition fee

The main advantage of course is that studying is for free. Besides paying for the study books and for some universities paying for registration (administrative costs), it is completely free!

Decent level of education in Scotland

There are a few universities in Scotland that have a very good reputation in the world. St Andrews and Edinburgh ranking on top of the charts for many years now. St Andrews is being considered as one of the very best universities of the United Kingdom. Other universities do not meet this level, but are also of a decent reliable standard. A degree from this universities will be accepted everywhere. Within the United Kingdom they do know the difference between the individual universities, so going to a top university gives you better job prospects. When choosing your university or college, make sure that you see the distinction, because some colleges are also called universities. On the universities' website you will be able to find the the bachelor and master degrees they offer. Also via bachelorsportal.eu en mastersportal.eu you can find what you are looking for per field.

Scotland is an English speaking country

Attending university in an English speaking country has a number of advantages. Firstly, you will not feel completely lost, as might be the case in a different language speaking country. Secondly, there are more degrees to choose from, and they will be taught by professors who can actually speak English very well. And finally, finding a student job on the side will be a lot easier. You might have to get used to the strong scottish accents in the beginning, but you will get the hang of it soon enough.

Bringing your government funding / student aid

In most cases, if your country provides you with student aid that is, you will be able to bring it with you to Scotland.

Cons of studying in Scotland

Pretty expensive living standard

Life in Scotland is rather expensive, depending on from which country you are ofcourse. It is in general a little more expensive than most European countries. But if you can take care of your budget it should not be too big of a problem. Food is a little more expensive, but especially going out at night will make your wallet a little slimmer. Living on campus is usually a little more expensive than living in the city. First year students in Scotland start out on campus, and in their second year they usually rent an apparment our house with the friends they made in their first year. On average you should consider paying around 350-450 euro's for a room. If you want a very fancy one, it can even be a whole lot more. Your general monthly budget is probably around 800 euro's. It is, however, pretty easy to get a job since you can speak english, and as an EU-student you do not need a work permit.

English profiency test

In order to be accepted you need to prove that your English is of an adequate level. You must take either an TOEFL or an IELTS test. The downside is that they are rather expensive. And you must not forget that they are usually only valid for 2 years, so make sure to sign up before those 2 years run out. If you are from an English Speaking Country, you do not have to take the tests.

Scottish climate and lack of daylight

Scotland is known for its rather hard weather. In large parts of scotland there is a very high amount of rain. Moreover, the winters are cold and with a lot of snow. During these times you are not guaranteed that public transport will run. Another disadvantage, at least for people who get affected by such a thing, is the lack of daylight / sunlight. During wintertime you do not have to hope for more than 3 or 4 hours of real daylight, depending on your locating. The more up north you go, the darker it will be.