Scottish Universities

[ClarasZoo]

Please can someone explain to me how it works with English Students who go to Scottish Universities. Do they start in year 2? If so, is it harder to make friends as they all know each other?
Thank you.

As far as I know they usually begin in year 1 but can go straight into second year depending on the university and the course. Again as far as i know many Scottish universities don't charge students from England fees for the 4th year. Most undergrad degrees in Scotland last for 4 years.

As the pp said in some cases they can go into 2nd year. So can Scottish students who have the right Advanced Highers. I think it would be easier to start in first year rather than try and break into established friendship groups. Though it is quite common to have students start in the later years as (in addition to Advanced Highers) there are articulation routes through colleges that are popular and are used to access 2/3 year of university courses.

I would say it is better to start in Year 1 whether an English/Welsh/NI or a Scottish student, especially in these Covid times. Going into second year on any course would always be demanding in lots of ways, socially and/or academically.
In my experience most students with Advanced Highers (S6) from Scottish state schools (including my own) do opt to go into Year 1 and get their unconditional offers based on Highers (S5) results in hand on that basis.
When you apply to UCAS you have to state your desired year of entry and Year 1 is the assumption with applicants having to justify why they can skip Year 1. Extremely good Advanced Highers results is one of the justifications for some courses but that doesn't mean that this would not be a lot more demanding for the young person and that they might not benefit from a gentler start.
It seems that going to a Scottish University at the end of S5 after Highers has become much less common - maybe because of the pressure on Scottish funded places, so the Universities minimise their risk by making offers to those with good Highers already.
Given that our DC will likely be expected to work until they are in the seventies, I don't think an extra year at University is a bad thing.

Ah thank you- year 1 it is then- but that means paying for 4 years:(

My daughter (we are in England) is in her 4th year now st St Andrews, paying for each year.

My dd is a Scottish student direct entry into second year. Her fellow bubble buddies are all first year entry and in lots of her modules there are other second years from various science disciplines. She finds it challenging but in a positive way and was clear she did not want to study any other subjects. If there are any doubts first year leaves choices open. Its dependent on the individual student. Dd discussed this with her academic tutor prior to a final decision as to what was best for her.
To reassure you she is not missing out socially at all as her bubble are from all different disciplines.

Second year entry quite common amongst DDs school friends where it was available. DDs friend is doing pharmacy and 2nd year entry more common than 1st year. Agree it is for those who are set on their subjects as doesn't have the same flexibility as a usual Scottish degree.

@ByTheSea

My daughter (we are in England) is in her 4th year now st St Andrews, paying for each year.

My DD is in 4th year at Edinburgh and pays.

@ClarasZoo

Please can someone explain to me how it works with English Students who go to Scottish Universities. Do they start in year 2? If so, is it harder to make friends as they all know each other? Thank you.

Even when I was at Edinburgh back in the 80s, it was unusual to go straight into 2nd year, and was only available to A-level students, not CSYS.

University moves much faster than school, so you quickly run out of A-level knowledge. My DD (Economics) had surpassed her A-level economics and maths within about 4 weeks.

An option for A-level students is to get a first year exemption from a compulsory first year module.

I think a good way to look at a four year course from A-levels is that you get 2 first years and so can do lots of outside modules (not science/engineering where there is a high degree of compulsory modules).

I think if you want to skip first year, you have to question why you want to go to a Scottish university.

Again as far as i know many Scottish universities don't charge students from England fees for the 4th year.

Is this new? We had to pay for our daughter's 4th year (in advance as this was some time ago)

Quote Alittlewornout: To reassure you she is not missing out socially at all as her bubble are from all different disciplines.'

But she could be long-term, as she is making friends with people who will be there 4 years when she will leave after 3.

Some but not all Scottish Universities cap fees for English students. Both Glasgow and Strathclyde cap a 4 year undergraduate degree at £27,750. St Andrews charges for all four years.

@dotoallasyouwouldbedoneby actually she wont as it's an Mmath course which she will complete in 4 years instead of 5. Therefore will go throughout univerdity with her cohort. But obviously it depends on the course chosen.

[quote Alittlewornout]@dotoallasyouwouldbedoneby actually she wont as it's an Mmath course which she will complete in 4 years instead of 5. Therefore will go throughout univerdity with her cohort. But obviously it depends on the course chosen.[/quote]
Oh I see yes. If she didn't go into Year 2, she would need 5 years. That makes sense.

St Andrews I think discourages skipping the foundation year. I know my dd has found the work more demanding than expected but very interesting. So it’s not an ‘easy’ year.

Yes 4 years all to be paid for 😳 so an expensive option. But it is very nice up there!

@Newgirls

St Andrews I think discourages skipping the foundation year. I know my dd has found the work more demanding than expected but very interesting. So it’s not an ‘easy’ year.

Yes 4 years all to be paid for 😳 so an expensive option. But it is very nice up there!

First year is not a foundation year. It is first year.

It is foundation for my dd course - no idea why. Perhaps just a terminology thing.

As far as I know its only Science/Math etc. courses that allow you to skip first year. Arts and Humanities courses don't allow it as the module choice is so broad and the school curriculum so varied in the humanities. Its definitely not a foundation year, my DS had three very good Advanced Highers and while this meant he had good training in essay writing he still had to work hard to get decent grades in First Year.
The four years are to allow breadth in subject and module choice as much starting at a lower level, especially in the humanities. I can see how this might be less relevant in Maths though.

Following this thread as DD has applied to Glasgow and there was no option to skip a year in her chosen subject. She’s checked again at the course she’s applied to and yes it is a 4 year long course. It did however state that you only pay tuition fee for 3 years if you’re a UK citizen. Obviously the additional years accommodation isn’t included in this.

One of DS2s classmates gets an excellence bursary from Glasgow. It's not means tested but helps offset the extra years accommodation. I think there are also means tested bursaries. Not sure if you need to apply or whether you are automatically considered.