Study at Scotland's Rural College

Location and student life

The main base is at King's Buildings in Edinburgh, shared with the University of Edinburgh. From there you have a capital city at hand, with direct trains to Glasgow and Aberdeen and an international airport nearby. The other campuses feel quite different: Craibstone Estate near Aberdeen, Riverside in Ayr, Barony near Dumfries, Elmwood in Cupar, Fife, and Oatridge in West Lothian. Several are working farms and estates, so much of daily life is practical and outdoors. Libraries, cafes and sports facilities are on site, and buses link each campus to nearby towns and cities.

Courses and subjects

Departments cover Agriculture and Business Management, Animal and Equine, Engineering, Science and Technology, Environment and Countryside, and horticulture and grounds design and care, with sport and tourism alongside them. Subjects with a long track record here include agriculture, animal care and animal science, veterinary nursing and veterinary science, equine studies, forestry and arboriculture, horticulture, food, and countryside and environmental management. You can study from further education certificates (HNC/HND) and bachelor's degrees up to taught masters and PhD research. Placements and practical training on the college's own farms and estates form part of many courses.

Entry requirements for international students

What you need depends on the level you want to study at. In general, international applicants need recognised secondary or bachelor's qualifications comparable to Scottish Highers, A-levels or an honours degree. SRUC publishes guidance by country and accepts a wide range of equivalents. For English, undergraduate degrees typically ask for Academic IELTS 6.0 overall with no component below 5.5. Some postgraduate courses ask for more, including those delivered with the University of Edinburgh, and a pre-sessional English programme is available if you need it. Requirements vary by course, so check the course page and the English language requirements page before you apply.

Accommodation

Some campuses have student housing of their own: halls at Aberdeen and Oatridge, and catered hostels at Barony near Dumfries, for example. What is available differs by campus, so apply as soon as you can after accepting an offer. In Edinburgh, students use independently run residences or rent privately in the city. Each campus page lists current options, costs and contacts, and the college can advise on private housing where on-campus places are limited.

Scholarships and funding

SRUC's fees and funding pages list awards aimed at international students. They include the Global Citizen Scholarship (£3,000), the Global Excellence Scholarship (£6,000) and the Global Provost's Scholarship (£9,000) for postgraduate students with strong academic results. Amounts, who qualifies and deadlines change from year to year. Check the current scholarships pages and the terms for your year of entry before you count on any award when planning your budget.