List of universities in Scotland
Table:
University
Image
Location
Year of foundation
Year of university status
Motto
Notes

University of St Andrews

St Andrews, Fife
1410
1413[8]
ΑΙΕΝ ΑΡΙΣΤΕΥΕΙΝ
Ever to excel
University status conferred on 28 August 1413 by a papal bull of Pope Benedict XIII.[8]

University of Glasgow

Glasgow
1451
1451[16]
Via, Veritas, Vita
The way, the truth, and the life
University status conferred on 7 January 1451 by a papal bull of Pope Nicholas V.[17]

University of Aberdeen

Aberdeen
1495
1495
Initium sapientiae timor domini
The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord

Established as King's College, Aberdeen in 1495 by a papal bull of Pope Alexander VI, and in 1860 merged with Marischal College (established 1593 as Aberdeen's second university), explicitly maintaining the date of foundation of King's College.[18]

University of Edinburgh

Edinburgh
1582
1582

Established as the ‘Tounis College’ in 1582, after James VI of Scotland granted the Edinburgh Town Council a royal charter to establish a college on 14 April 1582.[19]

University of Strathclyde

Glasgow
1796[20]
1964
The Place of Useful Learning
Granted University Status by Royal Charter in 1964, although the precursor Anderson Institute can be traced back to 1796 and the name Anderson's University was used between 1828 and 1887.

Heriot-Watt University

Edinburgh
1821
1966

First established 1821 as the School of Arts of Edinburgh.

University of Dundee

Dundee
1881
1967
Magnificat Anima Mea Dominum
My soul glorifies the Lord
First established, 1881, as University College, then Queen's College under the University of St. Andrews, until establishment as an independent university in 1967.

University of Stirling

Stirling
1967
1967
Innovation and Excellence
Planned as part of the Robbins Report of 1963, and constructed at a greenfield site on the estate of Airthrey Castle.

Edinburgh Napier University

Edinburgh
1964
1992
Nisi Sapientia Frustra
Without knowledge all is in vain
First established 1964 as Napier Technical College.

Robert Gordon University

Aberdeen
1750
1992
Omni Nunc Arte Magistra
Now by all your mastered arts
First established 1750 as Robert Gordon's Hospital.

Glasgow Caledonian University

Glasgow
1875
1993
For the Common Weal
For the common good
The University traces its origin to The Queen's College, Glasgow (founded 1875) and the Glasgow Polytechnic (founded 1971).

University of Abertay Dundee

Dundee
1888
1994
Beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam.

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom.

First established in 1888 as Dundee College of Technology.

Queen Margaret University

Musselburgh, East Lothian
1875
2007

First established 1875 as The Edinburgh School of Cookery and Domestic Economy. Moved to a new campus in Musselburgh in 2007-8.

University of the West of Scotland

Paisley, Hamilton, Dumfries and Ayr
1836
2007
Doctrina Prosperitas
Success comes through learning
First established 1836 as a School of Arts, then in 1992 as the University of Paisley, and re-formed in 2007 following a merger with Bell College.

University of the Highlands and Islands

Highlands,
Western Isles
and Northern Isles
2001
2011
Foghlam aig ìre Oilthigh air a' Ghàidhealtachd is anns na h-Eileanan
University-level study in the Highlands and Islands
A federation of colleges, planned from 1992 onwards and first established in 2001 as the UHI Millennium Institute[21] and awarded full university status in February 2011. The central administration and largest college is in Inverness.[22]

Taking into account the following table plus the background passages provided.

Provide an answer to this question: What year did the university , once a constituent college of the University of St. Andrews , gain university status ? Return your answer as JSON: {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Do not introduce information beyond the provided sources.

The University of St Andrews ( Scots : University o St Andras ; abbreviated as St And , from the Latin Sancti Andreae , in post-nominals ) is a public university in St Andrews , Fife , Scotland . It is the oldest of the four ancient universities of Scotland and , following Oxford and Cambridge universities , the third-oldest university in the United Kingdom and English-speaking world . St Andrews was founded in 1413 when the Avignon Antipope Benedict XIII issued a papal bull to a small founding group of Augustinian clergy . St Andrews is made up of a variety of institutions , comprising three colleges - United College ( a union of St Salvator 's and St Leonard 's Colleges ) , St Mary 's College , and St Leonard 's College , the last named being a non-statutory revival of St Leonard 's as a post-graduate society . There are 18 academic schools organised into four faculties . The university occupies historic and modern buildings located throughout the town . The academic year is divided into two semesters , Martinmas and Candlemas . In term time , over one-third of the town 's population are either staff members or students of the university . The student body is notably diverse : over 145 nationalities are represented with 45% of its intake from countries outside the UK ; about one-eighth of the students are from the rest of the EU and the remaining third are from overseas - 15% from North America alone . The university 's sport teams compete in BUCS competitions , and the student body is known for preserving ancient traditions such as Raisin Weekend , May Dip , and the wearing of distinctive academic dress . In the latest national league tables , the university is ranked second in the UK by The Guardian and within the top three in others . It has been twice named University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times ' Good University Guide , one of only two UK universities to achieve this .
St Andrews ( Latin : S. Andrea ( s ) ; Scots : Saunt Aundraes ; Scottish Gaelic : Cill Rìmhinn ) is a town on the east coast of Fife in Scotland , 10 miles ( 16 km ) southeast of Dundee and 30 miles ( 50 km ) northeast of Edinburgh . St Andrews has a recorded population of 16,800 in 2011 , making it Fife 's fourth largest settlement and 45th most populous settlement in Scotland . The town is home to the University of St Andrews , the third oldest university in the English-speaking world and the oldest in Scotland . According to some rankings , it is ranked as the second best university in the United Kingdom , behind Cambridge . The University is an integral part of the burgh and during term time students make up approximately one third of the town 's population . [ citation needed ] The town is named after Saint Andrew the Apostle . There has been an important church in St Andrews since at least the 747 AD when it was mentioned in the Annals of Tigernach , and a bishopric since at least the 11th century . [ citation needed ] The settlement grew to the west of St Andrews cathedral with the southern side of the Scores to the north and the Kinness burn to the south . The burgh soon became the ecclesiastical capital of Scotland , a position which was held until the Scottish Reformation . The famous cathedral , the largest in Scotland , now lies in ruins . St Andrews is also known worldwide as the home of golf . This is in part because The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews , founded in 1754 , which until 2004 exercised legislative authority over the game worldwide ( except in the United States and Mexico ) .
A papal bull is a type of public decree , letters patent , or charter issued by a pope of the Catholic Church . It is named after the leaden seal ( bulla ) that was traditionally appended to the end in order to authenticate it .
Pedro Martínez de Luna y Pérez de Gotor ( 25 November 1328 - 23 May 1423 ) , known as el Papa Luna in Spanish and Pope Luna in English , was an Aragonese nobleman , who as Benedict XIII , is considered an antipope ( see Western Schism ) by the Catholic Church .
The University of Glasgow ( abbreviated as Glas . in post-nominals ) is a public research university in Glasgow , Scotland . Founded by papal bull in 1451 , it is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland 's four ancient universities . Along with the universities of Edinburgh , Aberdeen , and St Andrews , the university was part of the Scottish Enlightenment during the 18th century . In common with universities of the pre-modern era , Glasgow originally educated students primarily from wealthy backgrounds , however , it became a pioneer [ citation needed ] in British higher education in the 19th century by also providing for the needs of students from the growing urban and commercial middle class . Glasgow University served all of these students by preparing them for professions : the law , medicine , civil service , teaching , and the church . It also trained smaller but growing numbers for careers in science and engineering . The annual income of the institution for 2017-18 was £626.5 million of which £180.8 million was from research grants and contracts , with an expenditure of £610.1 million . It is a member of Universitas 21 , the Russell Group and the Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities . The university was originally located in the city 's High Street ; since 1870 , its main campus has been at Gilmorehill in the City 's West End . Additionally , a number of university buildings are located elsewhere , such as the Veterinary School in Bearsden , and the Crichton Campus in Dumfries . Alumni or former staff of the university include James Wilson ( a founding father of the United States ) , philosopher Francis Hutcheson , engineer James Watt , philosopher and economist Adam Smith , physicist Lord Kelvin , surgeon Joseph Lister , seven Nobel laureates , and three British Prime Ministers .
Glasgow ( /ˈɡlæzɡoʊ/ , also UK : /ˈɡlɑːzɡoʊ , ˈɡlɑːsɡoʊ/ , US : /ˈɡlæsɡoʊ , ˈɡlæskoʊ/ ; Scots : Glesga [ ˈɡlezɡə ] ; Scottish Gaelic : Glaschu [ ˈkl̪ˠas̪əxu ] ) is the most populous city in Scotland , and the third most populous city in the United Kingdom , as of the 2017 estimated city population of 621,020 . Historically part of Lanarkshire , the city now forms the Glasgow City council area , one of the 32 council areas of Scotland ; the local authority is Glasgow City Council . Glasgow is situated on the River Clyde in the country 's West Central Lowlands . It is the fifth most visited city in the UK . Inhabitants of the city are referred to as Glaswegians or , informally , as Weegies . Glasgow is also known for the Glasgow patter , a distinct dialect of the Scots language that is noted for being difficult to understand by those from outside the city . Glasgow grew from a small rural settlement on the River Clyde to become the largest seaport in Scotland , and tenth largest by tonnage in Britain . Expanding from the medieval bishopric and royal burgh , and the later establishment of the University of Glasgow in the fifteenth century , it became a major centre of the Scottish Enlightenment in the eighteenth century . From the eighteenth century onwards , the city also grew as one of Great Britain 's main hubs of transatlantic trade with North America and the West Indies . With the onset of the Industrial Revolution , the population and economy of Glasgow and the surrounding region expanded rapidly to become one of the world 's pre-eminent centres of chemicals , textiles and engineering ; most notably in the shipbuilding and marine engineering industry , which produced many innovative and famous vessels . Glasgow was the Second City of the British Empire for much of the Victorian era and Edwardian period , although many cities argue the title was theirs . In the late 19th and early 20th centuries , Glasgow 's population grew rapidly , reaching a peak of 1,127,825 people in 1938 .
Pope Nicholas V ( Latin : Nicholaus V ; 13 November 1397 - 24 March 1455 ) , born Tommaso Parentucelli , was Pope from 6 March 1447 until his death . Pope Eugene made him a cardinal in 1446 after successful trips to Italy and Germany , and when Eugene died the next year Parentucelli was elected in his place . He took his name Nicholas in memory of his obligations to Niccolò Albergati . The Pontificate of Nicholas saw the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks and the end of the Hundred Years War . He responded by calling a crusade against the Ottomans , which never materialized . By the Concordat of Vienna he secured the recognition of papal rights over bishoprics and benefices . He also brought about the submission of the last of the antipopes , Felix V , and the dissolution of the Synod of Basel . A key figure in the Roman Renaissance , Nicholas sought to make Rome the home of literature and art . He strengthened fortifications , restored aqueducts , and rebuilt many churches . He ordered design plans for what would eventually be the Basilica of St. Peter .
The University of Aberdeen ( abbreviated as Aberd . in post-nominals ) is a public research university in Aberdeen , Scotland . It is an ancient university founded in 1495 when William Elphinstone , Bishop of Aberdeen and Chancellor of Scotland , petitioned Pope Alexander VI on behalf of James IV , King of Scots to establish King 's College , making it Scotland 's third-oldest university and the fifth-oldest in the English-speaking world . Today , Aberdeen is consistently ranked among the top 200 universities in the world and is ranked within the top 30 universities in the United Kingdom . In 2019 , Aberdeen was ranked 31st in the world for impact on society according toTimes Higher Education University Impact Rankings . Aberdeen was also named the 2019 Scottish University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide . The university as it is currently comprised was formed in 1860 by a merger between King 's College and Marischal College , a second university founded in 1593 as a Protestant alternative to the former . The university 's iconic buildings act as symbols of wider Aberdeen , particularly Marischal College in the city centre and the crown steeple of King 's College in Old Aberdeen . There are two campuses ; the predominantly utilised King 's College campus dominates the section of the city known as Old Aberdeen , which is approximately two miles north of the city centre . Although the original site of the university 's foundation , most academic buildings apart from the King 's College Chapel and Quadrangle were constructed in the 20th century during a period of significant expansion . The university 's Foresterhill campus is next to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and houses the School of Medicine and Dentistry as well as the School of Medical Sciences . Together these buildings comprise one of Europe 's largest health campuses .
Aberdeen ( /ˌæbərˈdiːn/ ( listen ) ; Scots : Aiberdeen , listen ( help·info ) ; Scottish Gaelic : Obar Dheathain [ opəɾ ˈɛ.ɛɲ ] ; Latin : Aberdonia ) is a city in northeast Scotland . It is Scotland 's third most populous city , one of Scotland 's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom 's 39th most populous built-up area , with an official population estimate of 196,670 for the city of Aberdeen and 227,560 for the local council area . During the mid-18th to mid-20th centuries , Aberdeen 's buildings incorporated locally quarried grey granite , which can sparkle like silver because of its high mica content . Since the discovery of North Sea oil in the 1970s , Aberdeen has been known as the off-shore oil capital of Europe . The area around Aberdeen has been settled for at least 8,000 years , when prehistoric villages lay around the mouths of the rivers Dee and Don . The city has a long , sandy coastline and a marine climate , the latter resulting in chilly summers and mild winters . Aberdeen received Royal burgh status from David I of Scotland ( 1124-1153 ) , transforming the city economically . The city has two universities , the University of Aberdeen , founded in 1495 , and Robert Gordon University , which was awarded university status in 1992 , making Aberdeen the educational centre of north-east Scotland . The traditional industries of fishing , paper-making , shipbuilding , and textiles have been overtaken by the oil industry and Aberdeen 's seaport . Aberdeen Heliport is one of the busiest commercial heliports in the world and the seaport is the largest in the north-east of Scotland . Aberdeen used to host the Aberdeen International Youth Festival , a major international event which attracted up to 1000 of the most talented young performing arts companies but the council ended funding in 2017 and the festival was wound up in 2018 . In 2015 , Mercer named Aberdeen the 57th most liveable city in the world , as well as the fourth most liveable city in Britain .
King 's College in Old Aberdeen , Scotland , the full title of which is The University and King 's College of Aberdeen ( Collegium Regium Abredonense ) , is a formerly independent university founded in 1495 and now an integral part of the University of Aberdeen . Its historic buildings are the centrepiece of the University of Aberdeen 's Old Aberdeen campus , often known as the King 's or King 's College campus . The focal point of the college , as well as its oldest building , is the late 15th century King 's College Chapel . A number of other historic buildings remain , with others being subject to renovation and rebuilding in the 18th and 19th centuries . In the early 20th century , a great deal of expansion saw the university buildings increase around the historic college buildings . In the later 20th century , the university expanded dramatically in size , dominating Old Aberdeen and expanding out from the High Street with a number of modern buildings .
Pope Alexander VI , born Rodrigo de Borja ( Valencian : Roderic Llançol i de Borja [ roðeˈɾiɡ ʎanˈsɔl i ðe ˈbɔɾdʒa ] , Spanish : Rodrigo Lanzol y de Borja [ roˈðɾiɣo lanˈθol i ðe ˈβoɾxa ] ; 1 January 1431 - 18 August 1503 ) , was Pope from 11 August 1492 until his death in 1503 . Born into the prominent Borgia family in Xàtiva in the Crown of Aragon , Rodrigo studied law at the University of Bologna . He was ordained deacon and made a cardinal in 1456 after the election of his uncle as Pope Callistus III , and a year later he became vice-chancellor of the Catholic Church . He proceeded to serve in the Curia under the next four popes , acquiring significant influence and wealth in the process . In 1492 , Rodrigo was elected Pope , taking the name Alexander VI . Alexander 's bulls of 1493 confirmed or reconfirmed the rights of the Spanish crown in the New World following the finds of Christopher Columbus in 1492 . During the second Italian war , Alexander VI supported his son Cesare Borgia as a condottiero for the French King . The scope of his foreign policy was to gain the most advantageous terms for his family . Alexander is considered one of the most controversial of the Renaissance popes , partly because he acknowledged fathering several children by his mistresses . As a result , his Italianized Valencian surname , Borgia , became a byword for libertinism and nepotism , which are traditionally considered as characterizing his pontificate . On the other hand , two of Alexander 's successors , Sixtus V and Urban VIII , described him as one of the most outstanding popes since Saint Peter .
Marischal College is a large granite building on Broad Street in the centre of Aberdeen in north-east Scotland , and since 2011 has acted as the headquarters of Aberdeen City Council . However , the building was constructed for and is on long-term lease from the University of Aberdeen , which still uses parts of the building to house a museum and for ceremonial events . Today , it provides corporate office space and public access to council services , adjacent to the Town House , the city 's historic seat of local government . Many Aberdonians consider Marischal College to be an icon of the Granite City and to symbolise the zenith of Aberdeen 's granite-working industry . The construction of the modern college building began in 1835 , following the demolition of previous buildings on the site , and was completed in its present form in the early 1900s . It is the second largest granite building in the world . Formerly the seat of the Marischal College and University of Aberdeen founded in 1593 , the building was retained by the unified University of Aberdeen which was created in 1860 by the merger of Marischal College and King 's College . The buildings of Marischal College continued to be used for academic purposes until the mid-20th century and less and less until the early 2000s . During this period they were frequently rebuilt and expanded upon . In the mid-to-late 20th century , teaching and academic activities at the university began to move to King 's College or Foresterhill ( for students of medicine ) and by the early 21st century a new purpose for Marischal College was required . After a number of unsuccessful proposals , the majority of the building was leased to Aberdeen City Council to be restored and refurbished as office accommodation . The extensive renovation was completed on schedule and significantly under budget and the building opened to the public in June 2011 .
The University of Edinburgh ( abbreviated as Edin . in post-nominals ) , founded in 1582 , is the sixth oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland 's ancient universities . The university has five main campuses in the city of Edinburgh , with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university . The university played an important role in leading Edinburgh to its reputation as a chief intellectual centre during the Age of Enlightenment , and helped give the city the nickname of the Athens of the North . The University of Edinburgh is ranked 20th in the world by the 2020 QS World University Rankings . It is ranked as the 6th best university in Europe by the U.S. News ' Best Global Universities Ranking , and 7th best in Europe by the Times Higher Education Ranking . The Research Excellence Framework , a research ranking used by the UK government to determine future research funding , ranked Edinburgh ( joint submission with Heriot-Watt ) 4th in the UK for research power , and 11th overall . It is ranked the 48th most employable university in the world by the 2020 Global Employability University Ranking . It is a member of both the Russell Group , and the League of European Research Universities , a consortium of 21 research universities in Europe . It has the third largest endowment of any university in the United Kingdom , after the universities of Cambridge and Oxford . The annual income of the institution for 2018-19 was £1,080.6 million of which £285.7 million was from research grants and contracts , with an expenditure of £1,211.9 million . Alumni of the university include some of the major figures of modern history , including 3 signatories of the American declaration of independence and 9 heads of state and government ( including 3 Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom ) .
Edinburgh ( /ˈɛdɪnbərə/ ( listen ) ; Scots : Edinburgh ; Scottish Gaelic : Dùn Èideann [ ˈt̪uːn ˈeːtʲən̪ˠ ] ) is the capital of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas . Historically part of the county of Midlothian ( interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921 ) , it is located in Lothian on the Firth of Forth 's southern shore . Recognised as the capital of Scotland since at least the 15th century , Edinburgh is the seat of the Scottish Government , the Scottish Parliament and the supreme courts of Scotland . The city 's Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official residence of the monarch in Scotland . The city has long been a centre of education , particularly in the fields of medicine , Scots law , literature , philosophy , the sciences and engineering . It is the second largest financial centre in the United Kingdom ( after London ) and the city 's historical and cultural attractions have made it the United Kingdom 's second most popular tourist destination attracting 1.75 million visits from overseas in 2016 . Edinburgh is Scotland 's second most populous city and the seventh most populous in the United Kingdom . The official population estimates are 488,050 ( 2016 ) for the Locality of Edinburgh ( Edinburgh pre 1975 regionalisation plus Currie and Balerno ) , 518,500 ( 2018 ) for the City of Edinburgh , and 1,339,380 ( 2014 ) for the city region . Edinburgh lies at the heart of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland city region comprising East Lothian , Edinburgh , Fife , Midlothian , Scottish Borders and West Lothian . The city is the annual venue of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland . It is home to national institutions such as the National Museum of Scotland , the National Library of Scotland and the Scottish National Gallery . The University of Edinburgh , founded in 1582 and now one of four in the city , is placed 20th in the QS World University Rankings for 2020 .
James VI and I ( James Charles Stuart ; 19 June 1566 - 27 March 1625 ) was King of Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the Scottish and English crowns on 24 March 1603 until his death in 1625 . The kingdoms of Scotland and England were individual sovereign states , with their own parliaments , judiciaries , and laws , though both were ruled by James in personal union . James was the son of Mary , Queen of Scots , and a great-great-grandson of Henry VII , King of England and Lord of Ireland , positioning him to eventually accede to all three thrones . James succeeded to the Scottish throne at the age of thirteen months , after his mother was compelled to abdicate in his favour . Four different regents governed during his minority , which ended officially in 1578 , though he did not gain full control of his government until 1583 . In 1603 , he succeeded the last Tudor monarch of England and Ireland , Elizabeth I , who died childless . He continued to reign in all three kingdoms for 22 years , a period known after him as the Jacobean era , until his death . After the Union of the Crowns , he based himself in England ( the largest of the three realms ) from 1603 , returning to Scotland only once , in 1617 , and styled himself King of Great Britain and Ireland . He was a major advocate of a single parliament for England and Scotland . In his reign , the Plantation of Ulster and British colonisation of the Americas began . At 57 years and 246 days , James 's reign in Scotland was the longest of any Scottish monarch . He achieved most of his aims in Scotland but faced great difficulties in England , including the Gunpowder Plot in 1605 and repeated conflicts with the English Parliament .
The politics of Edinburgh are expressed in the deliberations and decisions of the City of Edinburgh Council , in elections to the council , the Scottish Parliament and the UK Parliament . Also , as Scotland 's capital city , Edinburgh is host to the Scottish Parliament and the main offices of the Scottish Government . The City of Edinburgh became a unitary council area in 1996 , under the Local Government etc . ( Scotland ) Act 1994 , with the boundaries of the post-1975 City of Edinburgh district of the Lothian region . As one of the unitary local government areas of Scotland , the City of Edinburgh has a defined structure of governance , generally under the Local Government etc . ( Scotland ) Act 1994 , with The City of Edinburgh Council governing on matters of local administration such as housing , planning , local transport , parks and local economic development and regeneration . For such purposes the City of Edinburgh is divided into 17 wards . The next tier of government is that of the Scottish Parliament , which legislates on matters of Scottish national interest , such as healthcare , education , the environment and agriculture , devolved to it by the Parliament of the United Kingdom . For elections to the Scottish Parliament ( at the Scottish Parliament Building , in the Holyrood area of Edinburgh ) , the city area is divided among six Scottish Parliament constituencies , each returning one Member of the Scottish Parliament ( MSP ) , and is within the Lothians electoral region . The Parliament of the United Kingdom ( at the Palace of Westminster ) legislates on matters such as taxation , foreign policy , defence , employment and trade . For elections to the House of Commons of this parliament , the city area is divided among five United Kingdom Parliamentary constituencies , with each constituency returning one Member of Parliament ( MP ) by the first past the post system of election . On 18 September 2014 , Edinburgh voted No in the Scottish Independence Referendum by 61.1% to 38.9% with an 84.4% turnout rate .
The University of Strathclyde is a public research university located in Glasgow , Scotland . Founded in 1796 as the Andersonian Institute , it is Glasgow 's second-oldest university , having received its royal charter in 1964 as the first technological university in the United Kingdom . Taking its name from the historic Kingdom of Strathclyde , it is Scotland 's third-largest university by number of students , with students and staff from over 100 countries . The institution was named University of the Year 2012 by Times Higher Education and again in 2019 , becoming the only university to receive this award twice . It was Entrepreneurial University of the year 2013 by Times Higher Education . The annual income of the institution for 2017-18 was £304.4 million of which £68.9 million was from research grants and contracts , with an expenditure of £304.0 million . Entry into many of the courses in the university is competitive and successful entrants in 2015 had an average of 480 UCAS points . It is also one of the 39 old universities in the UK comprising the distinctive second cluster of elite universities after Oxbridge .
Heriot-Watt University is a public research university based in Edinburgh , Scotland . It was established in 1821 as the School of Arts of Edinburgh , world 's first mechanics ' institute and subsequently was granted university status by royal charter granted in 1966 . It is the eighth oldest higher education institute in UK . The name Heriot-Watt was taken from Scottish inventor James Watt and Scottish philanthropist and goldsmith George Heriot . Heriot-Watt was named International University of the Year in recognition of its global presence and impact by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018 . In 2020 , the university ranked among top 300 in the world by Times Higher Education World University Rankings . The same year , The Complete University Guide ranked Heriot-Watt at 35 in UK , ahead of several Russell Group universities . Since its foundation , the university has maintained strong ties with the neighbouring University of Edinburgh for teaching and research . Known for its strength in science and engineering , it is one of the 39 old universities in the UK comprising the distinctive second cluster of elite universities after Oxbridge .
The University of Dundee ( abbreviated as Dund . for post-nominals ) is a public research university in Dundee , Scotland . Founded in 1881 the institution was , for most of its early existence , a constituent college of the University of St Andrews alongside United College and St Mary 's College located in the town of St Andrews itself . Following significant expansion , the University of Dundee gained independent university status in 1967 while retaining much of its ancient heritage and governance structure . The main campus of the university is located in Dundee 's West End which contains many of the university 's teaching and research facilities ; the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design , Dundee Law School and the Dundee Dental Hospital and School . The university has additional facilities at Ninewells Hospital , containing its school of medicine ; Perth Royal Infirmary , which houses a clinical research centre ; and in Kirkcaldy , Fife , containing part of its school of nursing and health sciences . The annual income of the institution for 2017-18 was £246.2 million of which £74 million was from research grants and contracts , with an expenditure of £255.2 million . It is ranked within the top 300 universities in the world and within the top 40 in the UK by national university rankings .
Dundee ( /dʌnˈdiː/ ( listen ) ; Scottish Gaelic : Dùn Dè or Dùn Dèagh [ ˈt̪uːn tʲeː ] ) is Scotland 's fourth-largest city and the 51st-most-populous built-up area in the United Kingdom . The mid-year population estimate for 2018 was 148,750 , giving Dundee a population density of 2,478/km2 or 6,420/sq mi , the second-highest in Scotland . It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay , which feeds into the North Sea . Under the name of Dundee City ( officially the City of Dundee ) , it forms one of the 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland . Historically part of Angus , the city developed into a burgh in the late 12th century and established itself as an important east coast trading port . Rapid expansion was brought on by the Industrial Revolution , particularly in the 19th century when Dundee was the centre of the global jute industry . This , along with its other major industries gave Dundee its epithet as the city of jute , jam and journalism . Today , Dundee is promoted as One City , Many Discoveries in honour of Dundee 's history of scientific activities and of the RRS Discovery , Robert Falcon Scott 's Antarctic exploration vessel , which was built in Dundee and is now berthed at Discovery Point . Biomedical and technological industries have arrived since the 1980s , and the city now accounts for 10% of the United Kingdom 's digital entertainment industry , including mobile app development and gaming . Dundee has two universities - the University of Dundee and the Abertay University . In 2014 Dundee was recognised by the United Nations as the UK 's first UNESCO City of Design for its diverse contributions to fields including medical research , comics and video games . A unique feature of Dundee is that its two professional football clubs , Dundee F.C .
The University of Stirling is a public university in Stirling , Scotland , founded by royal charter in 1967 . It is a plate glass university located in the Central Belt of Scotland , built within the walled Airthrey Castle estate . Since its foundation , it has expanded to four faculties , a Management School , and a number of institutes and centres covering a broad range of subjects in the academic areas of arts and humanities , natural sciences , social sciences , and health sciences and sport . The university campus is approximately 360 acres ( 1.5 km2 ) in size , incorporating the Stirling University Innovation Park and the Dementia Centre . The campus , with its wildlife , loch and mixture of native and exotic flora are located in the foothills of the Ochil Hills and is often cited as among the most beautiful in the UK . In 2002 , the University of Stirling and the landscape of the Airthrey Estate was designated by the International Council on Monuments and Sites as one of the UK 's top 20 heritage sites of the 20th century . The institution also occupies buildings in the city of Stirling . The university attracts students from a wide range of backgrounds , with more than 14,000 part-time and full-time students enrolled in the 2016/17 academic year . Stirling has international degree programme partnerships in China with Hebei Normal University , Singapore with Singapore Institute of Management , Oman and Vietnam .
Stirling ( /ˈstɜːrlɪŋ/ ; Scots : Stirlin ; Scottish Gaelic : Sruighlea [ ˈs̪t̪ɾuʝlə ] ) is a city in central Scotland , 26 miles ( 42 km ) north-east of Glasgow and 37 miles ( 60 km ) north-west of the Scottish capital , Edinburgh . The market town , surrounded by rich farmland , grew up connecting the royal citadel , the medieval old town with its merchants and tradesmen , the bridge and the port . Located on the River Forth , Stirling is the administrative centre for the Stirling council area , and is traditionally the county town of Stirlingshire . Proverbially it is the strategically important Gateway to the Highlands . It has been said that Stirling , like a huge brooch clasps Highlands and Lowlands together . Similarly he who holds Stirling , holds Scotland is often quoted . Stirling 's key position as the lowest bridging point of the River Forth before it broadens towards the Firth of Forth made it a focal point for travel north or south . When Stirling was temporarily under Anglo-Saxon sway , according to a 9th-century legend , it was attacked by Danish invaders . The sound of a wolf roused a sentry , however , who alerted his garrison , which forced a Viking retreat . This led to the wolf being adopted as a symbol of the town as is shown on the 1511 Stirling Jug . The area is today known as Wolfcraig . Even today the wolf appears with a goshawk on the council 's coat of arms along with the recently chosen motto : Steadfast as the Rock .
The Robbins Report ( the report of the Committee on Higher Education , chaired by Lord Robbins ) was commissioned by the British government and published in 1963 . The committee met from 1961 to 1963 . After the report 's publication , its conclusions were accepted by the government on 24 October 1963 . The report recommended immediate expansion of universities , and that all colleges of advanced technology should be given the status of universities . Consequently , the number of full-time university students was to rise from 197,000 in the 1967-68 academic year to 217,000 in the academic year of 1973-74 with further big expansion thereafter . The report also concluded that university places should be available to all who were qualified for them by ability and attainment ( the so-called Robbins principle ) and that such institutions should have four main objectives essential to any properly balanced system : instruction in skills ; the promotion of the general powers of the mind so as to produce not mere specialists but rather cultivated men and women ; to maintain research in balance with teaching , since teaching should not be separated from the advancement of learning and the search for truth ; and to transmit a common culture and common standards of citizenship . Chapter X recommended the establishment of the Council for National Academic Awards . Lord Robbins subsequently became the first chancellor of the University of Stirling in 1968 . The Senior Research Officer for the committee that drew up the report was economist Richard Layard .
Edinburgh Napier University is a public university in Edinburgh , Scotland . Napier Technical College , the predecessor of the university was founded in 1964 , taking its name from 16th-century Scottish mathematician and philosopher John Napier . The technical college was inaugurated as a University in 1992 by Lord Douglas-Hamilton , becoming Napier University . In 2009 the University was renamed Edinburgh Napier University . The university is based around its three main Edinburgh campuses : Merchiston , Craiglockhart and Sighthill . It has over 19,500 students , including those on-campus in Scotland and others studying on transnational programmes abroad and online . In 2018 this included nearly 9,500 international and EU students , from more than 140 nations worldwide .
Robert Gordon University , commonly called RGU , is a public university in the city of Aberdeen , Scotland . It became a university in 1992 , and originated from an educational institution founded in the 18th century by Robert Gordon , a prosperous Aberdeen merchant , and various institutions which provided adult education and technical education in the 19th and early 20th centuries . It is one of two universities in the city ( the other is the much older University of Aberdeen ) . RGU is a campus university and its single campus in Aberdeen is at Garthdee , in the south-west of the city . The university awards degrees in a wide range of disciplines from BA/BSc to PhD , primarily in ( but not limited to ) professional , technical , health and artistic disciplines and those most applicable to business and industry . A number of traditional academic degree programmes are also offered , such as in the social sciences . In addition , the university 's academic and research staff produce world-class research in a number of areas . According to the 2013 Times Good University Guide it is the best modern university in the UK , while according to The Guardian University Guide 2013 it is the best modern university in Scotland and 2nd-best in the UK . It was named Best Modern University in the UK for 2012 by The Sunday Times University Guide . In 2016/17 , it was ranked as the top university in Scotland for employment , with 97.6% of graduates in work or further study within six months of leaving university , according to independent survey Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education ( DLHE ) . The Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey results , published in 2018 , demonstrated that RGU is number one in Scotland and top 10th in the UK for the high-quality facilities on campus . In the same survey , the university was placed top in Scotland and 10th in the UK for industry connections .
Glasgow Caledonian University ( informally GCU , Caledonian or Caley ) is a public university in Glasgow , Scotland . It was formed in 1993 by the merger of The Queen 's College , Glasgow ( founded in 1875 ) and Glasgow Polytechnic ( founded in 1971 ) . In June 2017 , the university 's New York partner institution , which was founded in 2013 , was granted permission to award degrees in the state , the first higher education institution founded by a foreign university to achieve this status .
Abertay University is one of two public universities in the city of Dundee , Scotland . In 1872 , Sir David Baxter , 1st Baronet of Kilmaron , left a bequest for the establishment of a mechanics ' institute in Dundee and the Dundee Institute of Technology was formed in 1888 . As early as 1902 it was recognised by the Scottish Education Department as an educational hub , and was one of the first to be designated a central institution , akin to an 'industrial university ' . Abertay gained University status in 1994 . Abertay launched the world 's first computer games degree in 1997 and in 2017 held a programme of events celebrating 20 Years of Games . Abertay was also the first to offer a degree in Ethical Hacking , starting in 2006 . According to the results of the Research Excellence Framework 2014 ( REF2014 ) published on 18 December 2014 , Abertay was the highest ranked modern university in Scotland for 'research intensity ' . Abertay has been ranked number one in Europe for undergraduate videogames education by the Princeton Review in five consecutive years from 2015 to 2019 .
Queen Margaret University , Edinburgh ( formerly Queen Margaret University College and Queen Margaret College ) is a public university located in Musselburgh , Scotland . It is named after Saint Margaret , wife of King Malcolm III of Scotland . Its predecessor , Queen Margaret University College , was awarded full university status becoming Queen Margaret University , Edinburgh in January 2007 .
Musselburgh ( /ˈmʌsəlbərə/ , Scottish Gaelic : Baile nam Feusgan ) is the largest settlement in East Lothian , Scotland , on the coast of the Firth of Forth , 5 miles ( 8 km ) east of Edinburgh city centre . The population of Musselburgh is 21,900 .
The University of the West of Scotland , formerly the University of Paisley , is a public university with four campuses in south-western Scotland , in the towns of Paisley , Blantyre , Dumfries and Ayr , as well as a campus in London , England . The present institution dates from August 2007 , following the merger of the University of Paisley with Bell College , Hamilton . It can trace its roots to the late 19th century , and has undergone numerous name changes and mergers over the last century , reflecting its gradual expansion throughout the west of Scotland region . Holding a regional reputation for vocational undergraduate and post-graduate courses the university currently has 15,955 students , with approximately 1300 staff , spread across six schools of learning . The Crichton Campus in Dumfries is maintained in partnership with a number of other institutions , including the University of Glasgow . The university 's highest ever ranking for UK Institutions came in 2009 when the Complete Universities Guide placed UWS 62 out of 113 universities . In 2017 , UWS was ranked 100th out of 129 universities in the same league table .
Paisley ( /ˈpeɪzli/ PAYZ-lee ; Scots : Paisley , Scottish Gaelic : Pàislig [ ˈpʰaːʃlɪkʲ ] ) is a town situated in the west central Lowlands of Scotland . Located north of the Gleniffer Braes , the town borders the city of Glasgow to the east , and straddles the banks of the White Cart Water , a tributary of the River Clyde . It serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area , and is the largest town in the historic county of the same name . Paisley is often cited as Scotland 's largest town and is the fifth largest settlement in the country , although it does not have city status . The town became prominent in the 12th century , with the establishment of Paisley Abbey , an important religious hub which formerly had control over other local churches . By the 19th century , Paisley was a centre of the weaving industry , giving its name to the Paisley shawl and the Paisley Pattern . The town 's associations with political Radicalism were highlighted by its involvement in the Radical War of 1820 , with striking weavers being instrumental in the protests . By 1993 , all of Paisley 's mills had closed , although they are memorialised in the town 's museums and civic history .
Hamilton is a town in South Lanarkshire , in the central Lowlands of Scotland . It serves as the main administrative centre of the South Lanarkshire council area . It sits 12 miles ( 19 km ) south-east of Glasgow , 35 miles ( 56 km ) south-west of Edinburgh and 74 miles ( 120 km ) north of Carlisle . It is situated on the south bank of the River Clyde at its confluence with the Avon Water . Hamilton is the county town of the historic county of Lanarkshire .
Dumfries ( /dʌmˈfriːs/ ( listen ) dum-FREESS ; possibly from Scottish Gaelic : Dùn Phris ) is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland . It is located near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth . Dumfries is the traditional county town of the historic county of Dumfriesshire . Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South . The nickname has also given name to the town 's professional football club . People from Dumfries are known colloquially in Scots language as Doonhamers .
Ayr ( /ɛər/ ; Scottish Gaelic : Inbhir Àir , Mouth of the River Ayr ) is a town situated on the southwest coast of Scotland . It is the administrative centre of the South Ayrshire council area and the historic county town of Ayrshire . With a population of 45,595 in 2015 , Ayr is the largest settlement in Ayrshire and the 14th largest settlement in Scotland . The town is continuous with the smaller town of Prestwick to the north . Ayr was established as a Royal Burgh in 1205 . It served as Ayrshire 's central marketplace and harbour throughout the Medieval Period and was a well-known port during the Early Modern Period . On the southern bank of the River Ayr sits the ramparts of a citadel constructed by Oliver Cromwell 's men during the mid-17th century . Towards the south of the town is the birthplace of Scottish poet Robert Burns in the suburb of Alloway . Ayr has been a popular tourist resort since the expansion of the railway in 1840 owing to the town 's fine beach and its links to golfing and Robert Burns . Ayr was represented by a Conservative MP continuously for a period of 91 years - from 1906 ( as part of the Ayr Burghs constituency ) until 1997 , followed by Labour from 1997 to 2015 , and the Scottish National Party from 2015 to 2017 . The town forms part of the Ayr constituency in the Scottish Parliament , the first Conservative constituency seat in the Parliament , which has been represented by Conservative MSP John Scott since a by-election in 2000 . In the UK Parliament , Ayr is situated within the Ayr , Carrick and Cumnock constituency which was represented by Conservative MP Bill Grant from the 2017 general election , until he was unseated in the 2019 general election by Allan Dorans of the Scottish National Party .
The College was created in 1972 , and was initially known as Bell College of Technology . The main campus was constructed in Almada Street , West Hamilton . A Memorandum of Understanding between the College and the University of Strathclyde was signed in 1993 to allow the College to offer degree level courses . In 1995 , the Lanarkshire and Dumfries & Galloway Colleges of Nursing & Midwifery were amalgamated into Bell College . On 1 August 2007 Bell College merged with the University of Paisley to form the largest 'modern ' ( post-1992 ) Scottish University . The amalgamated body began life as the University of Paisley , but applied to be renamed as 'The University of the West of Scotland ' . This change came into effect on 30 November 2007 . The buildings remained in use as part of the UWS facilities until 2018 , when a new campus at the Hamilton International Technology Park ( actually situated outside the town , closer to Blantyre ) was completed . By then , plans had been submitted for the intended redevelopment of the Almada Street site into a mix of office , retail and residential use and a park area , with the working name Hamilton Green urban village .
The University of the Highlands and Islands ( Scottish Gaelic : Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean ) is a tertiary university composed of Academic Partners which are the 13 colleges and research institutions in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland delivering higher education . Its executive office is in the former Royal Northern Infirmary building in Inverness . The University of the Highlands and Islands has a number of undergraduate , postgraduate and research programmes , most of which can be studied at a range of locations across the area . There are 8,720 students who are on undergraduate and postgraduate courses and 33,000 further education students . There are 70 learning centres spread around the Highlands and Islands , Moray and Perthshire .
The Highlands ( Scots : the Hielans ; Scottish Gaelic : A Ghàidhealtachd [ ə ˈɣɛːəl̪ˠt̪ʰəxk ] , 'the place of the Gaels ' ) is a historic region of Scotland . Culturally , the Highlands and the Lowlands diverged from the later Middle Ages into the modern period , when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands . The term is also used for the area north and west of the Highland Boundary Fault , although the exact boundaries are not clearly defined , particularly to the east . The Great Glen divides the Grampian Mountains to the southeast from the Northwest Highlands . The Scottish Gaelic name of A ' Ghàidhealtachd literally means the place of the Gaels and traditionally , from a Gaelic-speaking point of view , includes both the Western Isles and the Highlands . The area is very sparsely populated , with many mountain ranges dominating the region , and includes the highest mountain in the British Isles , Ben Nevis . Before the middle of the 19th century the Highlands was home to a much larger population , but from circa 1841 and for the next 160 years , the natural increase in population was exceeded by emigration ( mostly to Canada , the United States , Australia and New Zealand , and migration to the industrial cities of Scotland and England . ) : xxiii , 414 and passim The area is now one of the most sparsely populated in Europe . At 9.1 per km2 ( 23.6 per square mile ) in 2012 , the population density in the Highlands and Islands is less than one seventh of Scotland 's as a whole , comparable with that of Bolivia , Chad and Russia . The Highland Council is the administrative body for much of the Highlands , with its administrative centre at Inverness . However , the Highlands also includes parts of the council areas of Aberdeenshire , Angus , Argyll and Bute , Moray , North Ayrshire , Perth and Kinross , Stirling and West Dunbartonshire . The Scottish highlands is the only area in the British Isles to have the taiga biome as it features concentrated populations of Scots pine forest : see Caledonian Forest .
The Outer Hebrides ( /ˈhɛbrɪdiːz/ ; Scottish Gaelic : Na h-Eileanan Siar [ nə ˈhelanən ˈʃiəɾ ] ( listen ) or Na h-Eileanan an Iar [ nə ˈhelanən əˈɲiəɾ ] ( listen ) ) , also known as the Western Isles , Innse Gall ( islands of the strangers ) or the Long Isle/Long Island ( Scottish Gaelic : An t-Eilean Fada ) , is an island chain off the west coast of mainland Scotland . [ Note 1 ] The islands are geographically coextensive with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar , one of the 32 unitary council areas of Scotland . They form part of the archipelago of the Hebrides , separated from the Scottish mainland and from the Inner Hebrides by the waters of the Minch , the Little Minch , and the Sea of the Hebrides . Scottish Gaelic is the predominant spoken language , although in a few areas English speakers form a majority . Most of the islands have a bedrock formed from ancient metamorphic rocks and the climate is mild and oceanic . The 15 inhabited islands have a total population of 26,830 and there are more than 50 substantial uninhabited islands . From Barra Head to the Butt of Lewis is roughly 210 kilometres ( 130 mi ) . There are various important prehistoric structures , many of which pre-date the first written references to the islands by Roman and Greek authors . The Western Isles became part of the Norse kingdom of the Suðreyjar , which lasted for over 400 years until sovereignty was transferred to Scotland by the Treaty of Perth in 1266 . Control of the islands was then held by clan chiefs , principal of whom were the MacLeods , MacDonalds , Mackenzies and MacNeils . The Highland Clearances of the 19th century had a devastating effect on many communities and it is only in recent years that population levels have ceased to decline . Much of the land is now under local control and commercial activity is based on tourism , crofting , fishing , and weaving .
The Northern Isles ( Scots : Northren Isles ; Scottish Gaelic : Na h-Eileanan a Tuath ; Old Norse : Norðreyjar ) are a pair of archipelagos off the north coast of mainland Scotland , comprising Orkney and Shetland . The climate is cool and temperate and much influenced by the surrounding seas . There are a total of 26 inhabited islands with landscapes of the fertile agricultural islands of Orkney contrasting with the more rugged Shetland islands to the north , where the economy is more dependent on fishing and the oil wealth of the surrounding seas . Both have a developing renewable energy industry . They also share a common Pictish and Norse history . Both island groups were absorbed into the Kingdom of Scotland in the 15th century and remained part of the country following the formation of the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707 , and later the United Kingdom after 1801 . The islands played a significant naval role during the world wars of the 20th century . Tourism is important to both archipelagos , with their distinctive prehistoric ruins playing a key part in their attraction , and there are regular ferry and air connections with mainland Scotland . The Scandinavian influence remains strong , especially in relation to local folklore , and both island chains have strong , although distinct , local cultures . The place-names of the islands are dominated by their Norse heritage , although some may retain pre-Celtic elements .
Inverness ( /ɪnvərˈnɛs/ ( listen ) ; from the Scottish Gaelic : Inbhir Nis [ iɲɪɾʲˈniʃ ] , meaning Mouth of the River Ness ; Scots : Innerness ) is an ancient cathedral city in the Scottish Highlands . It is the administrative centre for The Highland Council and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands . Historically it served as the county town of the county of Inverness-shire . Inverness lies near two important battle sites : the 11th-century battle of Blàr nam Fèinne against Norway which took place on the Aird , and the 18th century Battle of Culloden which took place on Culloden Moor . It is the northernmost city in the United Kingdom and lies within the Great Glen ( Gleann Mòr ) at its northeastern extremity where the River Ness enters the Moray Firth . At the latest , a settlement was established by the 6th century with the first royal charter being granted by Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim ( King David I ) in the 12th century . The Gaelic king Mac Bethad Mac Findláich ( MacBeth ) whose 11th-century killing of King Duncan was immortalised in Shakespeare 's largely fictionalized play Macbeth , held a castle within the city where he ruled as Mormaer of Moray and Ross . The population of Inverness grew from 40,969 in 2001 to 46,969 in 2012 , according to World Population Review . The Greater Inverness area , including Culloden and Westhill , had a population of 56,969 in 2012 . In 2018 , it had a population of 69,696 . Inverness is one of Europe 's fastest growing cities , with a quarter of the Highland population living in or around it , and is ranked fifth out of 189 British cities for its quality of life , the highest of any Scottish city . In the recent past , Inverness has experienced rapid economic growth : between 1998 and 2008 , Inverness and the rest of the central Highlands showed the largest growth of average economic productivity per person in Scotland and the second greatest growth in the United Kingdom as a whole , with an increase of 86% .