Universities in Scotland
- Rankings & Reviews -

For business studies see our separate ranking of business schools in Scotland

Latest ranking updates related to universities in Scotland
  • 18 Jul, 2024: QS Global EMBA Rankings (Business Administration) updated with Strathclyde Business School, University of Strathclyde in position 111.
  • 24 Apr, 2024: British Quacquarelli Symonds, UK published most recent results of QS Online MBA Rankings (Business). Robert Gordon University achieves position 54.
  • 11 Feb, 2024: The Financial Times Limited, UK published most recent results of Financial Times: Global MBA Ranking (Business Administration). University of Edinburgh Business School, University of Edinburgh achieves position 92.
  • 25 Oct, 2023: New edition of QS Global MBA Ranking. 4 universities in Scotland ranked.

Rankings of universities in Scotland 2024



Student satisfaction: 4.4 / 5.0 (based on 1081 student ratings)
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Student satisfaction: 4.6 / 5.0 (based on 99 student ratings)
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Student satisfaction: 4.3 / 5.0 (based on 44 student ratings)
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Student satisfaction: 4.5 / 5.0 (based on 170 student ratings)
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Student satisfaction: 4.2 / 5.0 (based on 50 student ratings)
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#17
Scotland

Glasgow School of Art

Student satisfaction: 3.7 / 5.0 (based on 563 student ratings)
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#18
Scotland

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

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#19
Scotland

City of Glasgow College

  • #19 
  • #9644 
Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
[Published 12 July, 2024]

#20
Scotland

Al-Maktoum College of Higher Education


Highest subject rankings of universities in Scotland

Social Work The Times Good University Guide by Subject
#1 
The University of Edinburgh
Education The Times Good University Guide by Subject
#1 
University of Glasgow
Biology The Guardian University League Tables by Subject
#1 
University of Glasgow
Sports Science The Times Good University Guide by Subject
#1 
University of Glasgow
English The Guardian University League Tables by Subject
#1 
University of St Andrews
Medicine The Guardian University League Tables by Subject
#1 
University of Aberdeen
Mathematics The Guardian University League Tables by Subject
#2 
University of St Andrews
Civil Engineering The Guardian University League Tables by Subject
#3 
University of Strathclyde
Law The Times Good University Guide by Subject
#3 
University of Glasgow
Computer Science CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
#4 
University of St Andrews

Scotland Key Facts for International Students

19 out of 20 Universities in Scotland Ranked in at least one ranking

30 Different Rankings list Universities in Scotland (20 institution and 10 subject rankings)

30 Global Rankings rank Universities in Scotland Among TOP 200

Map with location of universities in Scotland

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FAQ

The University of Edinburgh ranks #1 in Scotland in our meta ranking composed of 123 university rankings.

Among all universities in Scotland The University of Edinburgh is listed in the largest number of rankings. See all 40 rankings where The University of Edinburgh is listed.

The University of Edinburgh is ranked best in Scotland for Social Studies & Humanities (Social Work). See all rankings for the The University of Edinburgh.

University of Glasgow is ranked best in Scotland for Education (Education). See all rankings for the University of Glasgow.

University of Glasgow is ranked best in Scotland for Natural Sciences (Biology). See all rankings for the University of Glasgow.

University of Glasgow is ranked best in Scotland for Sports Science (Sports Science). See all rankings for the University of Glasgow.

University of St Andrews is ranked best in Scotland for Languages & Literature (English). See all rankings for the University of St Andrews.

University of Aberdeen is ranked best in Scotland for Medicine & Health (Medicine). See all rankings for the University of Aberdeen.

University of St Andrews is ranked best in Scotland for Mathematics (Mathematics). See all rankings for the University of St Andrews.

University of Strathclyde is ranked best in Scotland for Engineering (Civil Engineering). See all rankings for the University of Strathclyde.

University of Glasgow is ranked best in Scotland for Law (Law). See all rankings for the University of Glasgow.

University of St Andrews is ranked best in Scotland for Computer Science (Computer Science). See all rankings for the University of St Andrews.

The University of Edinburgh is ranked best in Scotland for Architecture, Building & Planning (Architecture). See all rankings for the The University of Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Napier University is ranked best in Scotland for Journalism & Media Studies (Journalism). See all rankings for the Edinburgh Napier University.

University of Strathclyde is ranked best in Scotland for Arts Visual & Performing (Creative Writing). See all rankings for the University of Strathclyde.

The University of Edinburgh is ranked best in Scotland for Design (Graphic Design). See all rankings for the The University of Edinburgh.

University of Strathclyde is ranked best in Scotland for Business (Marketing). See all rankings for the University of Strathclyde.

The University of Edinburgh is ranked best in Scotland for Agriculture (Agriculture). See all rankings for the The University of Edinburgh.

Ranking publishers

4icu

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British Quacquarelli Symonds, UK

Criteria used in ranking -QS World University Rankings:

Academic Reputation 40% Employer Reputation 10% Faculty/Student Ratio 20% Citations per faculty 20% International Faculty Ratio 5% International Student Ratio 5%

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Criteria used in ranking -QS Employability Rankings:

Employer reputation 30% Alumni outcomes 25% Partnerships with Employers per Faculty 25% Employer/Student Connections 10% Graduate employment rate 10%

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CWUR Center for World University Rankings

Criteria used in ranking -CWUR Center for World University Rankings:

Research Performance: 40%

  • Research Output: 10%
  • High-Quality Publications: 10%
  • Influence: 10%
  • Citations: 10%

Quality of Education: 25%

Alumni Employment: 25%

Quality of Faculty: 10%

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Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Leiden University, Netherlands

Criteria used in ranking -CWTS Leiden Ranking:

Scientific Impact Number of Publications Collaboration Open Access Gender Diversity

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NTU ranking

Criteria used in ranking -NTU Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers:

Research Productivity: 25%

  • # Articles last 11 years: 10%
  • # Articles current year: 15%

Research Impact: 35%

  • # Citations last 11 years: 15%
  • # Citations last 2 years: 10%
  • Average # citations last 11 years: 10%

Research Excellence: 40%

  • H-index last 2 years: 10%
  • # Highly cited papers last 11 years: 15%
  • # Articles current year in high-impact journals: 15%

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Nature Index

Criteria used in ranking -Nature Index: Research Leaders Academic Sector:

Article count (AC) Fractional count (FC) Weighted fractional count (WFC)

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RUR Ranking Agency (Moscow, Russia)

Criteria used in ranking -RUR Academic Rankings:

Normalized citation impact (Citations of research publications from all university authors compared with world averages) 20% Citation per papers 20% Papers per academic and research staff 20% International research reputation 20% Share of research publications written in international co-authorship 20%

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Criteria used in ranking -RUR Reputation Ranking:

Teaching Reputation 50% Research Reputation 50%

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Criteria used in ranking -RUR World University Rankings:

Teaching: 40%

  • Ratio Faculty/Student: 8%
  • Ratio Faculty/Bachelor Degrees Awarded: 8%
  • Ratio Faculty/Doctoral Degrees Awarded: 8%
  • Ratio Doctoral Degrees Awarded/Bachelor Degrees Awarded: 8%
  • World Teaching Reputation: 8%

Research: 40%

  • Citations per Academic/Research Staff: 8%
  • Doctoral Degrees per Accepted PhD: 8%
  • Normalized Citation Impact: 8%
  • Papers per Academic/Research Staff: 8%
  • World Research Reputation: 8%

International Diversity: 10%

  • International Faculty: 2%
  • International Students: 2%
  • International Co-Authored Papers: 2%
  • Reputation Outside Geographical Region: 2%
  • International Level: 2%

Financial Sustainability: 10%

  • Institutional Income per Faculty: 2%
  • Institutional Income per Student: 2%
  • Papers per Research Income: 2%
  • Research Income per Academic/Research Staff: 2%
  • Research Income per Institutional Income: 2%

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Scimago Institutions

Criteria used in ranking -Scimago Institutions Rankings:

Research 50% Innovation 30%
Societal 20%

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ShanghaiRanking Consultancy

Criteria used in ranking -ARWU Academic Ranking of World Universities - ShanghaiRanking:

Quality of Education 10%

  • Alumni winning Nobel Prizes/Field Medals 10%

Quality of Faculty 40%

  • Staff winning Nobel Prizes/Field Medals 20%
  • Highly Cited Researchers 20%

Research Output 40%

  • Papers published in Nature and Science 20%
  • Papers indexed in Science Citation Index-Expanded & Social Science Citation Index 20%

Per Capita Performance 10%

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StuDocu

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THE Times Higher Education, UK

Criteria used in ranking -THE World University Rankings:

30% Teaching (the Learning Environment)

  • Reputation survey: 15%
  • Staff-to-student ratio: 4.5%
  • Doctorate-to-bachelor’s ratio: 2.25%
  • Doctorates-awarded-to-academic-staff ratio: 6%
  • Institutional income: 2.25%

30% Research (Volume, Income and Reputation)

  • Reputation survey: 18%
  • Research income: 6%
  • Research productivity: 6%

30% Citations (Research Influence)

7.5% International Outlook (Staff, Students and Research)

  • Proportion of international students: 2.5%
  • Proportion of international staff: 2.5%
  • International collaboration: 2.5%

2.5% Industry Income (Knowledge Transfer)"

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Criteria used in ranking -THE Global Employability University Ranking:

Employability (survey) 100%

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Criteria used in ranking -THE World Reputation Rankings:

Research Reputation 66,6% Teaching Reputation 33,3%

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Criteria used in ranking -THE World’s Most International Universities:

Proportion of international students 25% Proportion of international staff 25% Proportion of journal publications with one or more international co-authors 25% University’s international reputation 25%

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Criteria used in ranking -THE Young University Rankings:

Teaching 30% Research (volume, income and reputation) 30% Citations 30% International outlook (staff, students, research) 7.5% Industry income (knowledge transfer) 2.5%

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The Guardian News and Media Limited

Criteria used in ranking -The Guardian League Table:

Student to Staff Ratio: 15% Entry Standards: 15% Expenditure per Student: 5% Continuation 15% (non-medical subjects) OR 5% (medical subjects) NSS - Teaching: 8% NSS - Assessment & Feedback: 8% NSS - Overall Satisfaction: 4% Career Prospects: 15% Value added: 15%

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The Times and The Sunday Times

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The University League Tables

Criteria used in ranking -CUG The Complete University Guide:

Entry Standards 12.5% Student Satisfaction 18.75% Student-Staff Ratio 12.5% Research Quality 12.5% Research Intensity 6.25% Academic Service Spending 6.25% Facilities Spending 6.25% Graduate Prospects 12.5% Degree Completion Rate 12.5%

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Thomson Reuters

Criteria used in ranking -Reuters Most Innovative Universities Europe:

Patent volume 11.11% Patent success 11.11% Global patents 11.11% Patent citations 11.11% Percent of patents cited / Patent citation impact 11.11% Patent to Article Citation Impact 11.11% Industry Article Citation Impact 11.11% Percent of Industry Collaborative Articles 11.11% Total Web of Science Core Collection Papers 11.11%

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Criteria used in ranking -Reuters Most Innovative Universities Europe:

Patent volume 11.11% Patent success 11.11% Global patents 11.11% Patent citations 11.11% Percent of patents cited / Patent citation impact 11.11% Patent to Article Citation Impact 11.11% Industry Article Citation Impact 11.11% Percent of Industry Collaborative Articles 11.11% Total Web of Science Core Collection Papers 11.11%

Urap

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Us News

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Webometrics

Criteria used in ranking -Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities:

Visibility 50% Excellence 35% Transparency 10% Presence 5%

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