Experience student life
Scotland is one of four countries that make up the UK – a friendly and welcoming place to study as an international student. The multicultural population makes it a vibrant and inclusive place to live. We’ll help you to make the most of UK culture, discover what student life in Scotland is like and find out more about typical Scottish weather.
What is it like to live in Scotland?
Scotland is located in the northern part of Great Britain. The country has 800 small islands including Arran, Lewis, Harris and Skye. Glasgow is ranked 3rd best student city in the UK (QS Best Student Cities 2022), and it’s easy to see why.
The country is famous for its breathtaking landscapes, stunning mountains and historic castles. It is the perfect place to enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities, including hiking, kayaking and mountain biking.
The beautiful Scottish scenery is popular with filmmakers. The dramatic valley of Glen Coe was featured in James Bond’s Skyfall, and the historic Glenfinnan Viaduct was used in the Harry Potter films.
Scotland hosts exciting events all year round, including more than 350 festivals like TRNSMT Music Festival and the world-famous Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
The University of Strathclyde is in Glasgow, the sixth largest city in the UK. It has plenty of museums, shops, events and green spaces to enjoy.
Things to do in Scotland
Historic cities
Scotland has many historic cities, including its capital city, Edinburgh. It is home to the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh Castle, the historic Royal Mile and Arthur’s Seat, as well many museums, galleries and cultural venues.
Other historic cities within easy reach of Glasgow include Stirling, Perth and the coastal town of Dundee.
Scottish culture
Scotland has a distinct cultural identity compared to the rest of the UK, which Scottish people are very proud of. The country has a long history of literature, art, sport and food. It even has its own languages, which pre-date the Viking invasion.
One of Scotland’s most famous icons is tartan. This woollen fabric is woven in different colours and checked patterns that are associated with ancient Highland clans. Tartan is typically worn as knee-length skirts called kilts, which are worn by men to weddings and other important events.
Events and festivals
The Highland Games are annual events held across Scotland. They feature traditional Scottish culture, sports and music. Bagpipe music is often played at national events such as Ceilidhs (dances), university graduation ceremonies, and other traditional Scottish celebrations such as Burns Night in January, St Andrew’s Day in November and Hogmanay on New Year’s Eve.
What about the weather?
When you’re living abroad in Scotland, you’ll notice differences in the weather between each of the four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, winter.
As Scotland is in the more northerly part of the UK, it has more annual rainfall and snow in winter. Average temperatures in summer range from 14°C to 22°C. Average temperatures in winter range from 0°C to 6°C.
Students share their experience of Scottish weather and seeing snow for the first time