University in United Kingdom
Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom
University profile
The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) is an integrated university combining further and higher education, the only institution of its kind in Scotland. It operates as a partnership of colleges, specialist teaching centres and research institutes across the Highlands and Islands, Moray and Perthshire, with 48 locations and its registered office at UHI House on Old Perth Road, Inverness. Study runs from access level to PhD, in person at a local campus or online from anywhere in the world.
The academic partners are UHI Argyll, UHI Inverness, UHI Moray, UHI North, West and Hebrides, UHI Orkney, UHI Perth, UHI Shetland, Highland Theological College, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on the Isle of Skye and the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) near Oban. Specialist centres include the Scottish School of Forestry at Balloch, the Centre for Golf in Dornoch, the School of Adventure Studies in Fort William, the Rural Studies Centre in Halkirk and the UHI Archaeology Institute in Orkney.
The academic structure rests on two faculties. The Faculty of Science, Health and the Environment covers Land and Marine Sciences; Engineering, Computing and the Built Environment; and Health, Social Care and Life Sciences. The Faculty of Arts, Humanities, Business and Education covers Education; Business, Leisure and the Creative Economy; and Humanities, Applied Social Sciences and Gaelic. The university offers over 100 degrees and over 60 postgraduate courses across nine subject areas, alongside HNC/HND and further education programmes, and is a partner with the universities of Dundee and St Andrews in the Scottish Graduate Entry Medical programme (ScotGEM).
In 2024/25 UHI had 30,643 students: 9,769 in higher education (4,678 full time, 5,118 part time) and 20,874 in further education. Of its higher education students, 57% came from the university's own catchment area, 32% from the rest of Scotland, 4% from the rest of the UK, 1% from the European Union and 6% from other countries.
Student residences are available at Inverness, Dornoch, Fort William, Perth, Shetland, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and SAMS. The Highlands and Islands Students' Association (HISA) runs clubs and societies, and sport is supported through campus facilities such as the Academy of Sport and Wellbeing in Perth and the sports hall and gym at UHI Inverness. International students apply on campus through programmes approved for the Student Route visa or study online from overseas, supported by the International Office and authorised representatives in many countries.
UHI received taught degree awarding powers in 2008, university title from the Privy Council on 1 February 2011 and research degree awarding powers in 2017. Under the Post-16 Education (Scotland) Act 2013 it is the regional strategic body for further education in the Highlands and Islands. HRH The Princess Royal is the university's first Chancellor.
Applied automatically at offer stage to students starting in 2026/27 who have lived in the EU, EEA or Switzerland for the previous three years. Full-time on-campus undergraduates receive £3,000 off per year for BA/BA (Hons) and £4,000 off for BSc/BEng programmes (2026-27 fees of £13,820 and £13,970 after scholarship), with year 4 of an honours degree free; postgraduate taught students receive a 25% tuition fee discount.
A 10% tuition fee discount on undergraduate courses of at least one year for students permanently resident in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan or Sri Lanka, applied automatically at offer stage.
For full-time undergraduates from England, Wales or Northern Ireland paying RUK fees and eligible for Student Loans Company support, applied as a fee reduction. For 2026-27 entry: £1,800 per year (residual household income £20,000 or less), £1,200 (£20,000 to £22,500) and £600 (£22,501 to £25,000), for up to three years. Request it in the personal statement or by email to [email protected]; deadlines are 31 October (semester 1) and 28 February (semester 2). RUK bursary
A 10% tuition fee discount on taught postgraduate and postgraduate research programmes for UHI graduates of an undergraduate or postgraduate taught degree.
The Discretionary Fund and Higher Education Childcare Fund support students in financial difficulty or with childcare costs; the International Students Emergency Fund, funded by SAAS, helps international students facing specific hardship, with applications accepted throughout the year. The Gaelic Bursary Scheme supports eligible students at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and UHI North, West and Hebrides.
Scottish students are funded through SAAS, and students from elsewhere in the UK through the Student Loans Company. US Federal Student Aid (on-campus courses only) and Canadian Government Federal Student Aid can be used.
Scholarships, bursaries and funds | International fees and scholarships | Undergraduate tuition fees
UHI Low Carbon STEM Scholarship →
UHI Offshore Wind Skills Hub Bursary Fund →
Browse the scholarships listed for University of the Highlands and Islands and check each award’s eligibility.
View scholarships for University of the Highlands and Islands →Full-time undergraduate degree applicants apply through UCAS (institution code name UHI, institution code H49); part-time undergraduate applicants apply directly through the course webpage. Entry requirements are set for each course on its course page. Applicants without the standard requirements are still welcomed, with work and life experience and previous qualifications taken into account, and credit can be recognised through credit transfer and recognition of prior learning (RPL/APEL). Access courses and progression routes are available for those returning to study.
International full-time applicants (on campus and online) usually apply through UCAS (one application fee of £34.50 for up to five choices) or through Common App; part-time applicants apply directly with no application fee. Students needing a Student Route visa must choose an approved on-campus programme studied full time. Country-by-country equivalences are set for EU/EEA and non-EU qualifications; for example, the International Baccalaureate Diploma is accepted with a minimum of 24 points (28 for BSc (Hons) Marine Science), and Ghanaian applicants typically need WAEC passes in at least five subjects at an average of B/C plus the first year of a relevant university degree.
Applicants from non-majority English speaking countries need IELTS Academic of 6.0 overall with no element below 5.5 for undergraduate entry and 6.5 overall with no element below 6.0 for postgraduate entry, or another approved test; IELTS Academic may be taken at any test centre. HNC/HND entry requires IELTS for UKVI (Academic) 5.5 with no element below 5.0 or LanguageCert International ESOL SELT B2 60 with no element below 55, taken at a UKVI approved centre. Exemptions apply to nationals of majority English speaking countries and to those holding, within the last five years, an English-taught UK degree or GCSE English, A-level English or International Baccalaureate in English.
Applications for postgraduate taught and professional programmes are made through the "Apply" tab on each course webpage, with no application fee; the PGDE (Professional Graduate Diploma in Education) is applied for through UCAS. Postgraduate research is offered as the MRes and PhD, on campus or by distance (distance study is not suitable for Student Route visa holders). International graduates can check Overseas Degree Equivalency guidance for recommended undergraduate grades.
Decisions are unconditional, conditional or unsuccessful. Evidence of met conditions (English language results, certificates and transcripts) is emailed to [email protected]. International applicants pay a tuition fee deposit, counted towards fees, before a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number is issued for the visa application. Contact: [email protected].
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