10 best schools in Scotland to prepare for universities in Scotland and abroad

Education information

Nowadays, Scotland is one of the most popular countries among international students wishing to get high-quality education abroad. SMAPSE offers 10 best Scottish schools and colleges where foreign students can get preparation courses that will help to enter prestigious universities in Scotland and abroad. Due to the list of TOP-10 prestigious schools and colleges in Scotland, you will definitely find the most appropriate option. Please, don't hesitate to contact SMAPSE experts at any time as they are always ready to answer all your questions.

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Best courses and programs for international students in Scotland

Foreign students can get higher education in Scotland in two ways: after graduating from a high school with a certificate and IELTS 6.0 or after the Foundation program.

Scottish International Foundation Program - a program that will help students from other countries to enter universities in Scotland: Aberdeen, Robert Gordon, Dundee. Here is a list of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the country.

University	Location	Year of foundation
University of St Andrews	St Andrews, Fife	1410
University of Glasgow	Glasgow	1451
University of Aberdeen	Aberdeen	1495
University of Edinburgh	Edinburgh	1582
University of Strathclyde	Glasgow	1796
Heriot Watt University	Edinburgh	1821
Dundee University	Dundee	1881
Stirling University	Stirling	1967
University of Edinburgh Napier	Edinburgh	1964
Robert Gordon University	Aberdeen	1750

For entering Scottish International Foundation Program, a candidate must have a certificate with a high average mark and pass the IELTS or TOEFL. Depending on student's level of knowledge and the result that he wants to get, the program can last from 3 to 12 months:

3-month program. This is mainly a summer course (from July to September), the main goal is to prepare an applicant for exams in specific subjects. Estimated cost - £ 1,750
9-month program. The course begins in January and lasts until September. Such a program is suitable for those who have high final exam results after school. Here, students and teenagers will be able to prepare for the Foundation exams in September, and then go through the university entrance step in October. Estimated cost - £ 4,850
12-month program. It starts in September. Foreign students study intensive English course that allows to get excellent English proficiency to enter universities in Scotland + an SCE educational certificate of the Scottish standard, which is quoted at many universities.

Both exams indicated in the last program, in case of successful passing, can be counted upon admission to a Scottish university. However, if the SCE exam is successfully passed, Foundation certification doesn't need to be passed. In other cases, when enrolling, a combination of the results of two exams is considered.

To achieve the best result in preparation, SMAPSE experts recommend foreign students to study Foundation program for 1-2 years in Scottish high school.

Advantages of prep courses in Scotland for foreign students

High level of education. Scotland deserves this status, there are 4 universities from the list of TOP-200 universities in the world (according to The Times)
Compliance with high international standards. Diplomas issued by Scottish universities are highly appreciated throughout the world. Over 80% of Scottish graduates find a prestigious job within six months of graduation
Low cost of studying in comparison with other European countries. The average cost of living and studying during the month is from 500 to 1000 pounds
Friendly student atmosphere. This country is so compact that makes it one large student city. Every year, students from more than 150 countries come here to study - this is more than 45 thousand people!

The cost of studying in Scotland, as already mentioned, is lower than in other countries. The annual preparation for a university in Scotland depending on the institution (school, college, university course) will cost in the range from 6,000 to 13,000 pounds per year. Payment for one trimester is in the range of 3 to 5 thousand pounds.

Top 5 best schools in Scotland 2021

1	Fettes College
2	Glenalmond College Perth
3	Strathallan School
4	St. Leonards School
5	Dollar Academy

Learning programs-summary information

Name	Meaning	Equivalent	Min. age	Duration, years	Next stage	Cost
GCSE	General certificate of secondary education	secondary education (non-accomplished)	14	1–2	A-Levels	15,000 USD+
A-Levels	Advanced level	secondary education (accomplished)	16	2	University	15,000 USD+
BTEC	Business and Technology Education Board	secondary special education	14	2–3	University/ work	15,000 USD+
Oxbridge Preparation	Preparing for Oxford and Cambridge	secondary education (accomplished)	17	1	University	15,000 USD+
International Baccalaureate	International baccalaureate	secondary education (accomplished)	16	2	University	18,000 USD+
Foundation/ Pathway Year	Preparatory year	admission to the 1st year of university	17	1	University	14,000 USD+
NCUK	The Northern consortium	2 year university	17,5	1	2 year University of NCUK	13,000 USD+
Special Preparation (Medics/Math/Business)	Specialized training	-	14	optional	optional	4,000 USD+
Academic English	Academic English	Language school	8 +	6–12 months	School or University	8,000 USD+

Top 21 best boarding colleges in England 2021

1	Cardiff Sixth Form College
2	National Mathematics and Science College
3	Abbey College Cambridge
4	d'Overbroeck's College
5	MPW London
6	CATS Cambridge
7	Kensington Park
8	DLD London
9	King's College St Michael’s
10	Bellerbys Cambridge
11	Chelsea Independent College
12	MPW Cambridge
13	Bellerbys Brighton
14	CATS London
15	St Clare's Oxford
16	Bishopstrow College
17	CATS Canterbury
18	Bellerbys London
19	Ealing Independent College
20	Cambridge Tutors College
21	Abbey Manchester

Top 35 best universities and colleges in Canada 2020

1	University of Toronto
2	McGill University
3	University of British Columbia
4	University of Alberta
5	Simon Fraser University
6	Montreal University
7	University of Windsor
8	York University
9	University of Guelph
10	McMaster University
11	University of Manitoba
12	University of Waterloo
13	Royal Roads University
14	Vancouver Film School
15	Kwantlen Polytechnic University
16	University of Calgary
17	Dalhousie University
18	Fanshawe College
19	University of Ottawa
20	Laval University
21	Sheridan College
22	University of Regina
23	Brock University
24	Thompson Rivers University
25	Humber College
26	Vancouver Island University
27	Mohawk College
28	Centennial College Toronto
29	Niagara College
30	Capilano University
31	Seneca College
32	Algoma University
33	Saint Clair College
34	Douglas College
35	LaSalle College

Accommodation in Scotland

Shared room outside of centre	604
Shared room in city centre	795
1 bedroom apartment outside of centre	914
1 bedroom apartment in city centre	1242

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