Lori Meadows
The fees that students pay to attend university in Scotland vary depending on their fee status, which is determined by their country of residence. Scottish students and students from EU countries are considered Home students and pay the lowest fees, which are often covered by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). Students from England, Wales, and Northern Ireland are classified as Rest of UK or RUK students and pay higher fees, which are set by the individual institution. These students can apply for living cost grants and student loans from their home funding body. Postgraduate students from Scotland and the rest of the UK are also required to pay tuition fees set by the university.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who pays English university fees? | Students from England, Wales, and Northern Ireland are called "Rest of UK" or "RUK" students and pay the "rest of UK" fee. |
| Who is exempt from paying English university fees? | Undergraduate students from Scotland are eligible for home tuition fees, which are paid by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). |
| Who pays international student fees? | EU students who started a new course in the academic year 2021-22 will pay international student fees. Each university sets its own fees for EU students. |
| What about postgraduate students? | Postgraduate students from Scotland and the rest of the UK will need to pay a tuition fee set by the individual institution. |
| Are there any scholarships or bursaries available? | Many universities in Scotland offer scholarships and bursaries to assist with the cost of tuition fees or living costs. There are also Saltire Scholarships sponsored by the Scottish Government. |
| What if I'm unsure about my eligibility? | If a prospective student is unsure about their eligibility, they should discuss it with their university and SAAS. |
| What are the fees for the University of Glasgow? | The tuition fee for students from England, Wales, and Northern Ireland for the academic year 2025-2026 is £9,535. |
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What You'll Learn
Postgraduate fees
EU students usually pay less than non-EU international students. However, as of the 2021-2022 academic year, EU students are now required to pay international student fees. Only EU nationals who are 'settled' or 'pre-settled' in the UK remain eligible for home tuition fees, provided they meet the residency conditions.
There are scholarships and bursaries available to assist with the cost of tuition fees or living costs, such as the Saltire Scholarships, which are sponsored by the Scottish Government and open to students from the USA, Canada, India, Pakistan, Japan, and China who are pursuing a Master's degree.
Students from England, Northern Ireland, and Wales studying in Scotland can apply for living cost grants and student loans from their home funding body, receiving the same level of funding as they would if studying in their home country.
For Scottish students studying at English universities, the standard undergraduate tuition fee for 2024 entry is £9,250 per year. These students may be eligible for Student Finance and can get a Tuition Fee Loan to cover the cost of tuition.
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Undergraduate fees
Students from England, Wales, and Northern Ireland are considered "Rest of UK" or "RUK" students and are subject to higher fees. The University of Glasgow, for example, has set its tuition fees for RUK students at £9,535 for the 2025-2026 academic year. RUK students are UK citizens who have been residents in the UK (outside Scotland) for at least three years before the start of their program. These students can apply for living cost grants and student loans from their home funding body and will receive the same level of funding as they would if studying in their home country.
Following the UK's exit from the European Union, new EU students arriving in Scotland are no longer considered "Home" students and do not qualify for free tuition. However, EU nationals with settled status in the UK who have been ordinarily resident in the UK for three years may still be eligible for home fee status and student support.
International students, or those from outside the UK and EU, typically pay the highest tuition fees. These fees are set by the individual institutions and can vary depending on the course and institution.
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Fee status
The fee status of a student dictates the cost of their tuition fees at a Scottish university. There are three levels of fee status:
- Home fee status: Students with 'home' fee status live in Scotland and have a 'relevant connection' with the country. This means that they are ''settled'' in the UK and 'ordinarily resident' in Scotland on the 'relevant date'. They must also generally have lived in the UK for the three years immediately before this date. Undergraduate home fees are capped by the Scottish Government; for the 2025-2026 academic year, this was £1,820.
- Rest of UK (RoUK) fee status: Students with RoUK fee status live elsewhere in the UK or Ireland but outside of Scotland. RoUK fees are set at a middle rate, equivalent to the 'home' fees charged in England. For the 2025-2026 academic year, this was £9,535.
- International fee status: Students with international fee status are those from outside the UK and the EU. These students usually have to pay higher tuition fees, set by the individual institution, which can be much higher than the other fee statuses.
Following the UK's exit from the European Union, the Scottish Government announced that new higher education students arriving from the EU would no longer qualify for home fee status and free tuition from the 2021/22 academic year. However, European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals, who have been granted settled or pre-settled status, will be eligible for home fee status and student support.
It is important to note that the fee status of a student is not always straightforward and is determined by the university based on the information provided in the student's application. Students who are unsure about their eligibility should discuss it with their university and the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).
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Funding and scholarships
Scottish students ordinarily resident in Scotland and studying for their first degree will generally be eligible for free tuition. The Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) will cover the tuition fees of eligible students for five years in total. Undergraduate home fees are capped by the Scottish Government at £1,820 for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Students from England, Wales, and Northern Ireland are classified as "Rest of UK" (RUK) students. The RUK fee is capped at a middle rate equivalent to the 'home' fee charged in England (£9,535 for the 2025-2026 academic year). Students from England, Wales, and Northern Ireland can apply for living cost grants and student loans from their home funding body, and will receive the same level of funding as they would if studying in their home country.
Following the UK's exit from the European Union, new EU students are no longer eligible for home fee status and free tuition from the 2021/22 academic year. However, EU nationals with settled status who live in Scotland and have been ordinarily resident in the UK for three years are generally eligible for home fee status, free tuition, and student loans, bursaries, and grants.
Many universities in Scotland also offer scholarships and bursaries to assist with the cost of tuition fees or living costs. One example is the Saltire Scholarships, sponsored by the Scottish Government, which are open to students from the USA, Canada, India, Pakistan, Japan, or China who want to pursue a Master's degree in one of a set of focus subjects.
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EU and international students
EU students who started a course in the 2021-22 academic year or later will pay international student fees. Each university will set its own fees for EU students. Only EU nationals with 'settled' or 'pre-settled' status in the UK remain eligible to apply for home tuition fees, providing they meet the residency conditions.
EU students can apply for scholarships or funding in most places, and there is a total of over €16 billion worth of scholarships available every year across Europe.
International students from outside the EU will usually have to pay higher tuition fees than EU students. They will also not be able to get a student loan from the UK government, although some universities do offer their own loan schemes for talented students from low-income backgrounds.
In Scotland, EU students no longer get free undergraduate tuition—this benefit ended in 2021. However, some Scottish universities offer special discounts or scholarships for EU students.
At Universities of Applied Sciences, EU/EEA students pay around €363 per semester, while non-EU/EEA students pay between €727 and €7,500 per semester. At private universities, international students should expect to pay between €6,000 and €15,000 per academic year for a Bachelor's degree, and between €3,000 and €23,000 per academic year for a Master's degree.
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Frequently asked questions
Scottish students are considered '"home" students in Scotland and are therefore not required to pay English university fees. Scottish students studying in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland can apply for living cost grants and student loans from their home funding body.
No, students from England, Wales, and Northern Ireland are considered 'Rest of UK' (RUK) students and are charged higher fees than Scottish students. For the 2025-2026 academic year, the University of Glasgow, for example, has set the RUK fee at £9,535.
Undergraduate Scottish students are eligible for home tuition fees, which means that their tuition fees are paid by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). Postgraduate Scottish students, however, do need to pay tuition fees, which are set by the individual institution.
Yes, many universities in Scotland offer scholarships and bursaries to assist with the cost of tuition fees or living costs. One example is the Saltire Scholarships, sponsored by the Scottish Government, which are open to students from the USA, Canada, India, Pakistan, Japan, or China pursuing a Master's degree.
