Best universities in Scotland 2024
Find out all about Scotland's top universities, and explore their world university ranking performance
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Top 5 universities in Scotland 2024
Scroll down for the full list of best universities in Scotland
| Scotland Rank 2024 | World University 2024 Rank | World University 2023 Rank | University | City/town |
| 1 | =30 | 29 | University of Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 2 | =87 | =82 | University of Glasgow | Glasgow |
| 3 | =193 | 201–250 | University of St Andrews | St Andrews |
| 4 | 201–250 | =192 | University of Aberdeen | Aberdeen |
| =5 | 301–350 | 201–250 | University of Dundee | Dundee |
| =5 | 301-350 | 401-500 | University of Strathclyde | Strathclyde |
Scotland’s epic history, vibrant cities and incredible natural beauty make it a prime destination, whether you’re more at home scaling a cliff or curled up with a good book.
Scotland also has a reputation for excellence in education, according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024. It has the monopoly on Britain’s share of ancient universities too. Four of the top five universities in Scotland were founded before 1600, with the oldest, St Andrews, dating back to 1413.
Its capital is Edinburgh, where the hill of Arthur’s Seat overlooks the cobbled streets and shopfronts of the old city. Once the epicentre of the Scottish Enlightenment, Edinburgh maintains a reputation for intellectual and creative passion.
Every August, the capital hosts the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the largest arts festival in the world. Thousands of theatre and music performances take place over the three-week event.
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4. University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen is one of the leading universities in the UK for graduate employment. Its campuses are a fascinating mix of old and new, reflecting the subject departments they contain.
Old Aberdeen campus has a 15th-century chapel and a state-of-the-art library, where arts and humanities students can find the perfect atmosphere to study.
Life sciences and medicine are mainly taught at the high-tech Foresterhill campus. The university also has a lighthouse field station and the Oceanlab research station, for studies specialising in marine ecology.
3. University of St Andrews
Scotland’s oldest university, the University of St Andrews is located in the town of the same name on the east coast of Fife. It often tops rankings of Scottish universities, and is renowned for its academic rigour and excellent research.
Notable alumni include six Nobel laureates, a handful of ambassadors and the Prince and Princess of Wales.
The university has a focus on sustainability and has boosted efforts to become carbon neutral. To help achieve this, it runs initiatives such as an energy-saving competition between the student halls of residence and provides green spaces on campus where students can grow their own produce.
2. University of Glasgow
As one of the top research universities in the UK, Glasgow produces a vast quantity of internationally recognised papers. Glasgow rivals Edinburgh for its architecture, with more than 100 listed buildings.
Seven Nobel prizewinners and three prime ministers have studied at Glasgow. Unusually, there are two students’ unions at the university. This tradition dates from the time when male and female students attended different institutions.
Glasgow University Union is famous for sports, while Queen Margaret Union’s music venue hosts internationally famous bands. Glasgow’s lively cultural scene and nightlife owe some debt to the presence of the University of Glasgow.
1. University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh is Scotland’s most prestigious institution. It is ranked as one of the best universities in the world for arts and humanities, but also for law and psychology.
Students at the University of Edinburgh have the privilege of studying in some of the oldest and most enchanting buildings in the city.
The university has inspired some of the greatest minds in Scottish history, such as the philosopher David Hume and Sherlock Holmes creator Arthur Conan Doyle. It’s also the place where Dolly the sheep became the first successful example of animal cloning.
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Best universities in Scotland 2024
Click each institution to view its full World University Rankings 2024 results
| Scotland Rank 2024 | World University 2024 Rank | World University 2023 Rank | University | City/town |
| 1 | =30 | 29 | University of Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 2 | =87 | =82 | University of Glasgow | Glasgow |
| 3 | =193 | 201–250 | University of St Andrews | St Andrews |
| 4 | 201–250 | =192 | University of Aberdeen | Aberdeen |
| =5 | 301–350 | 201–250 | University of Dundee | Dundee |
| =5 | 301-350 | 401-500 | University of Strathclyde | Strathclyde |
| 7 | 351–400 | 501–600 | Heriot-Watt University | Edinburgh |
| 8 | 401–500 | 351–400 | University of Stirling | Stirling |
| 9 | 501–600 | 401–500 | Edinburgh Napier University | Edinburgh |
| =10 | 601–800 | 601–800 | Glasgow Caledonian University | Glasgow |
| =10 | 601–800 | 401–500 | SRUC (Scotland’s Rural College) | Edinburgh |
| =10 | 601-800 | 601-800 | University of the West of Scotland | Paisley |
| 13 | 801–1000 | 1001–1200 | Robert Gordon University | Aberdeen |
