View source for List of universities in Scotland

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{{further|Universities in Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2025}}

[[File:St Salvators Chapel , St Andrews.jpg|300px|thumb|St Salvator's College of the [[University of St Andrews]], built in 1450]]

There are fifteen [[Universities in Scotland|universities based in Scotland]], the [[Open University]], and three other institutions of higher education.<ref name=uniscot>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723071847/http://www.universities-scotland.ac.uk/index.php?page=briefing|archive-date=23 July 2011|url=http://www.universities-scotland.ac.uk/index.php?page=briefing |title=Briefing |publisher=Universities Scotland |access-date=1 April 2011}}</ref><ref name=HighlandCouncil2008>{{cite web|url=http://www.highland.gov.uk/news/article/2239/uhi_is_awarded_taught_degree_awarding_powers |title=UHI is awarded taught degree awarding powers, news release 26 June 2008, Highland Council website |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom |date=26 June 2008 |access-date=17 July 2014}}</ref>

The first university in [[Scotland]] was [[St John's College, St Andrews]], founded in 1418.<ref>P. Daileader, "Local experiences of the Great Western Schism", in [[Joëlle Rollo-Koster|J. Rollo-Koster]] and T. M. Izbicki, eds, ''A Companion to the Great Western Schism (1378–1417)'' (BRILL, 2009), {{ISBN|9004162771}}, p. 119.</ref> [[St Salvator's College, St Andrews|St Salvator's College]] was added to St. Andrews in 1450. The other great bishoprics followed, with the [[University of Glasgow]] being founded in 1451 and [[King's College, Aberdeen]] in 1495.<ref name=Durkan2001>J. Durkan, "Universities: to 1720", in M. Lynch, ed., The Oxford Companion to Scottish History (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001), {{ISBN|0-19-211696-7}}, pp. 610–12.</ref> [[St Leonard's College (University of St Andrews)|St Leonard's College]] was founded in Aberdeen in 1511 and St John's College was re-founded in 1538 as [[St Mary's College, St Andrews]].<ref>J. E. A. Dawson, ''Scotland Re-Formed, 1488–1587'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2007), {{ISBN|0748614559}}, p. 187.</ref> Public lectures that were established in Edinburgh in the 1540s would eventually become the [[University of Edinburgh]] in 1582.<ref name=Thomas2012pp196-7>A. Thomas, "The Renaissance", in T. M. Devine and J. Wormald, ''The Oxford Handbook of Modern Scottish History'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012), {{ISBN|0-19-162433-0}}, pp. 196–7.</ref> A university briefly existed in [[Fraserburgh University|Fraserburgh]] between 1592 and 1605.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aberdeenshire Council Historic Environment Record - Aberdeenshire - NJ96NE0028 - FRASERBURGH |url=https://online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/smrpub/master/detail.aspx?refno=NJ96NE0028 |access-date=2024-06-24 |website=online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk}}</ref> In 1641, the two colleges at Aberdeen were united by decree of [[Charles I of England|Charles I]] (r. 1625–49), to form the ‘King Charles University of Aberdeen’.<ref name=Ditchburn2002pp332-3>D. Ditchburn, "Educating the Elite: Aberdeen and Its Universities”, in E. P. Dennison, D. Ditchburn and M. Lynch, eds, ''Aberdeen Before 1800: A New History'' (Dundurn, 2002), {{ISBN|1862321140}}, p. 332.</ref> They were demerged after the [[Restoration in Scotland|Restoration]] in 1661.<ref name=Ditchburn2002pp332-3/> In 1747 St Leonard's College in St Andrews was merged into St Salvator's College to form the [[United College, St Andrews|United College of St Salvator and St Leonard]].<ref name=UStA>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022093605/https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/media/court-office/documents/medieval_university.pdf|archive-date=22 October 2014|url=http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/media/court-office/documents/medieval_university.pdf |title=The Mediaeval University |access-date=17 July 2014 |publisher=University of St Andrews}}</ref> A new college of St Andrews was opened in [[University of Dundee|Dundee]] in 1883, though initially an independent institution.<ref name=Anderson2001pp612-14>R. D. Anderson, "Universities: 2. 1720–1960", in M. Lynch, ed., ''The Oxford Companion to Scottish History'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001), {{ISBN|0-19-211696-7}}, pp. 612–14.</ref> The two colleges at Aberdeen were considered too small to be viable and they were restructured as the [[University of Aberdeen]] in 1860. Marischal College was rebuilt in the Gothic style from 1900.<ref name=Checkland&Checkland1989pp147-50/> The University of Edinburgh was taken out of the care of the city and established on a similar basis to the other ancient universities.<ref name=Checkland&Checkland1989pp147-50>O. Checkland and S. G. Checkland, ''Industry and Ethos: Scotland, 1832–1914'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1989), {{ISBN|0748601023}}, pp. 147–50.</ref>

After the [[Robbins Report]] of 1963 there was a rapid expansion in higher education in Scotland.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/features/robbins-50-years-later/2008287.article|title=Robbins: 50 years later|last=Gibney|first=Elizabeth|date=23 October 2013|website=[[Times Higher Education]]|access-date=9 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.educationengland.org.uk/documents/robbins/extras.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419064854/http://educationengland.org.uk/documents/robbins/extras.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 April 2015|title=Robbins Report 1963 – extras|last=Gillard|first=Derek|publisher=educationengland.org.uk|access-date=9 July 2016}}</ref> By the end of the decade the number of Scottish Universities had doubled.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XIZtwLxq5BUC|title=Scottish Education: Post-devolution|last=Bryce|first=T. G. K.|last2=Humes|first2=Walter M.|date=1 January 2003|publisher=Edinburgh University Press|isbn=9780748616251|pages=678|language=en}}</ref> New universities included the [[University of Dundee]], [[University of Strathclyde|Strathclyde]], [[Heriot-Watt University|Heriot-Watt]], and [[University of Stirling|Stirling]]. From the 1970s the government preferred to expand higher education in the non-university sector and by the late 1980s roughly half of students in higher education were in colleges.{{Citation needed|date=July 2016}} In 1992, the distinction between universities and polytechnic colleges/central institutions was removed.<ref name="Paterson2001pp614-5">L. Paterson, "Universities: 3. post-Robbins", in M. Lynch, ed., ''The Oxford Companion to Scottish History'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001), {{ISBN|0-19-211696-7}}, pp. 614–5.</ref> This created new universities at [[Abertay University|Abertay]], [[Glasgow Caledonian University|Glasgow Caledonian]], [[Edinburgh Napier University|Edinburgh Napier]], [[University of the West of Scotland|West of Scotland]] and [[Robert Gordon University|Robert Gordon]].<ref>R. Shaw, "Institutional and curricular structures in the universities of Scotland" in T. G. K. Bryce and W. M. Humes, eds, ''Scottish Education: Post-Devolution'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2nd edn., 2003), {{ISBN|0-7486-1625-X}}, pp. 664–5.</ref> In 2001 the [[University of the Highlands and Islands]] was created by a federation of 13 colleges and research institutions in the Highlands and Islands and gained full university status in 2011.<ref name=HighlandCouncil2008/>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! University!!Image!!Location!!University grouping!!Year of university status!!Total HE students ({{HESA year}})<ref name="HESA citation">{{HESA citation}}</ref>!!Academic staff ({{HESA staff year}})<ref name="HESA staff citation">{{HESA staff citation}}</ref>!!Motto!!Notes
|-
| [[University of St Andrews]] || [[File:St Salvators chapel and north street -St Andrews.jpg|100px|alt=The 15th-century St Salvator's Chapel in the winter sun]] || [[St Andrews]] || [[Ancient Universities of Scotland|Ancient university]] || 1413 <br/>(foundation 1410)<ref name=UStA />  || {{HESA student population|INSTID=10007803}} || {{HESA academic staff population|INSTID=10007803}}  
|| ΑΙΕΝ ΑΡΙΣΤΕΥΕΙΝ<br>''Ever to excel'' || University status conferred on 28 August 1413 by a [[papal bull]] of [[Antipope Benedict XIII|Pope Benedict XIII]].<ref name=UStA/> 
|-
| [[University of Glasgow]] || [[File:University of Glasgow Gilbert Scott Building - Feb 2008-2.jpg|100px]] || [[Glasgow]] || [[Ancient Universities of Scotland|Ancient university]] || 1451<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gla.ac.uk/about/history/ |title=History |access-date=29 April 2010 |publisher=University of Glasgow}}</ref>  ||  {{HESA student population|INSTID=10007794}} || {{HESA academic staff population|INSTID=10007794}} 
|| Via, Veritas, Vita<br>''The way, the truth, and the life'' || University status conferred on 7 January 1451 by a papal bull of [[Pope Nicholas V]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.universitystory.gla.ac.uk/on-this-day/?day=7&month=1 |title=On This Day: 7th of January |access-date=29 April 2010 |publisher=The University of Glasgow Story }}</ref> 
|-
| [[University of Aberdeen]] || [[File:King's College, Aberdeen - geograph.org.uk - 108991.jpg|100px|King's College, Aberdeen – geograph.org.uk – 108991]] || [[Aberdeen]] || [[Ancient Universities of Scotland|Ancient university]]|| 1495 ||  {{HESA student population|INSTID=10007783}} || {{HESA academic staff population|INSTID=10007783}}
 || Initium sapientiae timor domini<br>''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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gla.ac.uk/media/media_302697_en.pdf|title=Universities (Scotland) Act 1858|page=1|quote=The University and King's College of Aberdeen, and Marischal College and University of Aberdeen shall be united and incorporated into one University and college, in all time coming, under the style and title of the "University of Aberdeen"; and the said united University shall take rank among the Universities of Scotland as from the date of erection of King's College and University, viz., the year one thousand four hundred and ninety-four; and all the funds, properties, and revenues now pertaining or belonging in any manner of way to the University and King's College, or to Marischal College and University, shall in time coming pertain and belong to the University of Aberdeen.|access-date=27 August 2017}}</ref>
|-
| [[University of Edinburgh]] || [[File:Old College Quad.jpg|100px]] || [[Edinburgh]] || [[Ancient Universities of Scotland|Ancient university]] || 1582 ||  {{HESA student population|INSTID=10007790}} || {{HESA academic staff population|INSTID=10007790}} 
||Nec temere, nec timide<br>''Neither rashly nor timidly''|| 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.<ref>{{cite book |last=MacGregor |first=Geddes |author-link=Geddes MacGregor |title=Scotland: An Intimate Portrait |year=1990 |publisher=Mariner Books |isbn=0395562368 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/scotlandintimate00macg}}</ref>
|-
| [[University of Strathclyde]] || [[File:University of Strathclyde Campus.jpg|100px|University of Strathclyde Campus, Glasgow]] || [[Glasgow]] || Chartered university || 1964 <br/>(foundation 1796) || {{HESA student population|INSTID=10007805}} || {{HESA academic staff population|INSTID=10007805}} 
|| The Place of Useful Learning || The Royal College of Science and Technology was 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]] || [[File:Heriot-Watt Reception.jpg|100px]] || [[Edinburgh]] || Chartered university || 1966 <br/>(foundation 1821) || {{HESA student population|INSTID=10007764}} || {{HESA academic staff population|INSTID=10007764}} 
||  Leaders in ideas and solutions|| Heriot-Watt College was granted university status by [[royal charter]] in 1966, although the precursor School of Arts of Edinburgh was established in 1821.
|-
| [[University of Dundee]] || [[File:Dundee University.jpg|100px]] || [[Dundee]] || Chartered university || 1967 <br/>(foundation 1881) || {{HESA student population|INSTID=10007852}} || {{HESA academic staff population|INSTID=10007852}}
 || Magnificat Anima Mea Dominum <br/>''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]] || [[File:Fmstirlinguni.jpg|100px]] || [[Stirling]] || Chartered university|| 1967 || {{HESA student population|INSTID=10007804}} || {{HESA academic staff population|INSTID=10007804}}
 || 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]] || [[File:Napier University Merchiston Campus.JPG|100px|Napier University Merchiston Campus]] || [[Edinburgh]] || [[Post-1992 University|Modern university]] || 1992 <br/>(foundation 1964) || {{HESA student population|INSTID=10007772}} || {{HESA academic staff population|INSTID=10007772}}
 || Nisi Sapientia Frustra<br>''Without knowledge all is in vain'' || First established 1964 as Napier Technical College.
|-
| [[Robert Gordon University]] || [[File:Plaza at The Robert Gordon University 1.jpg|100px]] || [[Aberdeen]] || [[Post-1992 University|Modern university]] || 1992 <br/>(foundation 1750) || {{HESA student population|INSTID=10005500}} || {{HESA academic staff population|INSTID=10005500}}
 || Omni Nunc Arte Magistra<br>''Now by all your mastered arts'' || First established 1750 as Robert Gordon's Hospital.
|-
| [[Glasgow Caledonian University]] || [[File:Saltire Centre, GCU.jpg|100px]] || [[Glasgow]] || [[Post-1992 University|Modern university]]|| 1993 <br/>(foundation 1875) || {{HESA student population|INSTID=10007762}} || {{HESA academic staff population|INSTID=10007762}} 
|| For the Common Weal<br>''For the common good'' || The university traces its origin to The Queen's College, Glasgow (founded 1875) and the Glasgow Polytechnic (founded 1971).
|-
| [[Abertay University]] || [[File:Library, University of Abertay, Dundee - geograph.org.uk - 1154390.jpg|100px|Library, University of Abertay, Dundee – geograph.org.uk – 1154390]] || [[Dundee]] || [[Post-1992 University|Modern university]] || 1994 <br/>(foundation 1888) || {{HESA student population|INSTID=10007849}} || {{HESA academic staff population|INSTID=10007849}}
 ||Beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
''Blessed is the man who finds wisdom''
| First established in 1888 as Dundee College of Technology.
|-
| [[Queen Margaret University]] || [[File:Queen Margaret University main building.jpg|100px]] || [[Musselburgh]] || [[Post-1992 University|Modern university]] || 2007 <br/>(foundation 1875) || {{HESA student population|INSTID=10005337}} || {{HESA academic staff population|INSTID=10005337}}
 ||  Head, Heart and Hand|| 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]] || [[File:UWS, Ayr Campus.jpg|100px]] || [[Paisley, Renfrewshire|Paisley]], [[Hamilton, South Lanarkshire|Hamilton]], [[Dumfries]] and [[Ayr]] || [[Post-1992 University|Modern university]]|| 2007 <br/>(foundation 1836) || {{HESA student population|INSTID=10007800}} || {{HESA academic staff population|INSTID=10007800}}
 || Doctrina Prosperitas<br/>''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]] || [[File:UHI Millennium Institute.jpg|100px|alt=Executive Offices of the University of the Highlands and Islands, Inverness]] || [[Highlands and Islands]],<br>[[Moray]] and [[Perthshire]]|| [[Post-1992 University|Modern university]] || 2011 <br/>(foundation 2001) || {{HESA student population|INSTID=10007114}} || {{HESA academic staff population|INSTID=10007114}}
 || Foghlam aig ìre Oilthigh air a' Ghàidhealtachd is anns na h-Eileanan <br>''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<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uhi.ac.uk/home/about-uhi/history-of-uhi |title=History of UHI |publisher=University of the Highlands and Islands |access-date=4 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110620190742/http://www.uhi.ac.uk/home/about-uhi/history-of-uhi |archive-date=20 June 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and awarded full university status in February 2011. The central administration and largest college is in [[Inverness]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uhi.ac.uk/home/about-uhi |title=Introducing the University of the Highlands and Islands |publisher=University of the Highlands and Islands |access-date=4 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809070649/http://www.uhi.ac.uk/home/about-uhi |archive-date=9 August 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|}

==See also==
*[[Armorial of UK universities]]
*[[Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland]]
*[[Education in Scotland]]
*[[List of further education colleges in Scotland]]
*[[Universities in Scotland]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Universities in Scotland |state=collapsed}}
{{Scottish education}}
{{List of universities in Europe|state=collapsed}}
{{Education in the United Kingdom|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Universities in Scotland|*]]
[[Category:Lists of universities and colleges in the United Kingdom|Scotland]]
[[Category:Lists of buildings and structures in Scotland|Universities]]
[[Category:Scottish education-related lists|Uni]]
[[Category:Lists of organisations based in Scotland|Universities]]