Hitting the Books for International Students in the UK: Studying in England vs. Scotland

Studying in England vs. Scotland: what’s the difference? And why should you care?

What’s the difference? Well, the education systems in these two popular destinations have drastically different educational systems that lead to different ways of looking at university, and different experiences for students who want to attend. We’re breaking down what you need to know to choose between them.

What’s the difference between England and Scotland?

First things first: England and Scotland are two countries within the same “country of countries.” Wait, what? 

Both countries lie within the United Kingdom, a collection of countries including Scotland, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Together, they share a passport and citizenship in a greater entity: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Great Britain is the island where you’ll find England, Wales, and Scotland.

Because the countries are different, their secondary school systems are different. Their universities cater to their own systems, and the differences create confusion across the border, and especially for international students from farther away.

Grading System Differences in the UK

In the U.S., the grading scale changes between classes. This isn’t the case anywhere in the UK.

In the U.K., percentile grades are low! This is the case whether you’re in Scotland or England. UK students start failing their classes when their grades dip below 40%. They’re outstanding “A” students at 70% or above. You won’t find a 70% takes the same effort as 70% in the US. In many schools, scoring 70% and above is all but impossible. It’s not that your “B+” 65% is “bad,” it’s just that there is a different cultural understanding of greatness, learning, and student performance.

I looked at both Scotland and England. In the end, I wanted to get right into my area. It was expensive and time-consuming to take classes I knew I would never use.

Some universities have their own grading scales to learn, too. But the basic takeaway to remember is that you’ll likely be marked off a big chunk more than you would be for your work in the US. 

We’ve heard from students who get glowing comments about papers with nothing wrong, then take home a 75%. What? Where’d my 25% go, then?

Why Study in Scotland? Why study in England?

In Scotland, university degrees take 4 years, just like the US. And that means other simmilarities: a broad set of requirements in general education. Math. Science. Social sciences. Students apply to universities as a whole, then decide in their 3rd year what their specialty will be.

In England, you’ll save a year of tuition but miss out on the chance to experiment. Students in England apply directly to their departments and embark on a largely predetermined course of study with a few electives within their major area. There’s no room for exploring multiple interests, and changing your mind? No way. You haven’t even been admitted to the “rest” of your university.

If you’re ready to commit to your future career, you’ll save cash in England.

Willing and able to pay, and desire a breadth of study with time to make up your mind as you go? Scotland’s right for you.

Another consideration is the volume of opportunities that populous England gives its students. You’ll have plenty more universities from which to choose, so you’ll be able to access higher education in more niche areas. For example, check out a tournament golf degree on the windswept courses of Cornwall. While you’ll be hundreds of miles away from the birthplace of golf in St. Andrews, Scotland, the University of St. Andrews can’t offer you a degree in golf. It doesn’t even offer a sports studies degree. Or landscape design. You get the picture.

Further, graduates who want to stay in the UK find their English degrees come with a higher return on investment than a comparable degree in Scotland. Perhaps that’s just because there are more job opportunities in vibrant London than in charming Edinburgh.

Overall, studying in Scotland vs. England doesn’t make the difference. London attracts a global workforce and can be a better choice for getting a future position in England. But hardly a bad educational choice, Scotland is right on its heels.

Tuition Differences Between England and Scotland

If you’re Scottish, university in Scotland is capped much lower than in England. English students won’t get the benefit of this tuition discount. And international students are left out, too. So in that sense, you’ll pay fairly steep tuition all over the UK. It’s usually somewhere between $20,000 and $30,000 annually (for tuition alone), which can be more than in-state schools, but is much less than the more prestigious US private schools (consider MIT’s $57,000).

Sure, at Oxford, tuition in some programs is around $36,000. And that degree is just 3 years long. While you’re in the south of England, where prices are higher, that still represents a savings for Americans who don’t always have any realistic chance at a world-class education for the cost of in-country UK resident students (under $12,000 annually). 

In Scotland, tuition and living fees can be a little lower. And students with medical needs take note: England residents pay for prescriptions (this is much less than in the US, however, around $13 a pop). 

However, the 4th year really puts the lid on arguments about overall costs. You’ll almost always save cash by choosing college in England.

Similarities and Differences in Student Accommodation

Students in Scotland are slightly more likely to find “traditional” American-style university housing compared to their English counterparts. That’s because more Scottish university rooms are shared and publicly owned, rather than handled by third-party private housing providers. That means fewer en suite bathrooms or kitchens, but more assurance you’ll be awarded a room at a student-friendly price.

At universities like St. Andrews in Scotland, “catered” student accommodation doesn’t just mean you’ll go without a kitchen. Catered meals take place at predetermined times and are served in your hall. You won’t be able to grab a bite at any university dining hall, so you’ll have to stay closer to home than in US universities, where students might head out to a club, sporting event, or library and pop into any dining hall they like at any time that works for their schedule. The upside to Scottish catering is that students say they have a better social experience by sharing every meal with their hall family.

You’ll get a more communal experience in other ways in Scottish halls, too. Halls might have basements or group rooms with tons of student-led entertainment and a cozy feel you won’t get in most American dorms. Sometimes, there are even cleaning staff that come to vaccuum and take out the trash so you don’t have to worry about it. Students report afternoon cake, which seems awesome.

England accommodation can be similar: halls often have free events for students programmed right in, from crafts to cooking. In some universities, student cafes supplement the catered hallway meals, giving students some choice. Student-run bars are another facet of university life in both countries, with corporate-run bars, like corporate-run housing, becoming more common everywhere.

While there are a few significant differences between studying in Scotland vs. England, living in student accommodation isn’t so different.

Cultural Differences between England and Scotland

Biking around as a student? You’ll find Scotland more of a slog. There are hills! And bigger nature. It’s great for adventurers, but students often find they self-sort into the bigger landscapes of Scotland only to be unable to get to its most famous landscapes during the school year. They’re trapped in Edinburgh, a vibrant, innovative city that feels just as cutting-edge as London, if not more prone to pushing the envelope. Edinburgh can also be very expensive. It’s not necessarily a place to save cash compared to other large universities in the UK. Though there will be plenty to do in big cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow, other places in Scotland can feel isolated.

In general, Scotland has a long history as distinct from England. There’s “Scottish” pride, Scottish traditions, and Scottish food. Scots voted against Brexit, and its strong independence movement got a boost from the ensuing fallout and cost-of-living crisis. While both countries are huge with lots of diversity, stereotypes paint Scots are more independently-minded, liberal, and oriented toward the EU.

In England, the flatter landscape lends itself to easier travel, a more populous cityscape, and easier access to nearby places and activities. Dotted with little towns, there may be more to do nearby, but only if you’re close to a city. England has always hosted more international expats and migrants than Scotland, with bumpy political consequences.

Scotland takes the win for LGBTQIA+ rights in the EU, but both Scotland and England are generally welcoming countries with strong LGBTQIA+ communities, student societies, and festivals.

What You Need to Know About Studying in Scotland vs. England

Overall, Scottish students come to university with a year less of secondary education, ready to study for 4 total years, and come out with a broad-based education. Local students attend for an incredibly low cost, so you’re more likely to find students from all over Scotland and multiple backgrounds. 

However, that diversity won’t compare to the internationalization of larger universities in England (especially near London), where the global influence of English culture has led to tons of immigration and foreign students.

Scotland vs. England? That’s not the question. As a place to study, both have brilliant education systems and can be stellar spots to earn an undergraduate degree. Find out more about how to get a degree in England if the narrow/fast route is right for you.