Apply for 2026 / 2027 intake.

Study at University of the Highlands and Islands

Inverness

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Location: Inverness
Founded: 2011 (university status)
Students: about 31,000 (further and higher education combined)
Type: Public university
Main intakes: September, January
Study levels: Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Research (plus further education)

The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) is a public university based in Inverness, Scotland. It works as a partnership of colleges, specialist institutions and research centres spread across the Highlands and Islands, Moray and Perthshire, and it is the only university based in that part of Scotland. It gained university status in 2011 and enrols about 31,000 students across further and higher education, with about 11,200 at degree level or above. Teaching is organised into two faculties, covering arts, humanities, business, science, health and engineering. The university is known for subjects tied to its region, including marine science through the Scottish Association for Marine Science, Gaelic language and culture through Sabhal Mor Ostaig, archaeology, history and environmental studies, alongside business, engineering, health and education. Research is supported by specialist institutes for health, environmental science, agronomy, archaeology and northern studies.

Location and student life

UHI is based in Inverness, where the Inverness Campus hosts modern teaching buildings and purpose-built student accommodation, with frequent bus links to the city centre and local amenities close by. Teaching also takes place at partner colleges and specialist centres across the region, from Shetland, Orkney and the Hebrides to Moray, Argyll and Perth, and many programmes can be studied online. This spread means student life differs by location: Inverness offers a city-based campus experience, while smaller sites give a close-knit college setting amid the towns, coast and countryside of northern Scotland.

Courses and subjects

Courses sit in two faculties: Arts, Humanities and Business, and Science, Health and Engineering. Well-known areas include marine and environmental science, Gaelic language and culture, archaeology, history, business, engineering, health and education, including teacher training and nursing. Postgraduate options include taught masters such as the MSc in Aquaculture, Environment and Society, and research degrees supported by specialist institutes. Below degree level, colleges offer HNCs and HNDs, and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses run from elementary to advanced levels.

Entry requirements for international students

International entry requirements depend on the course and the applicant's country, so applicants should check the entry-requirements section and the relevant course page. For English, the published minimums are IELTS Academic 6.0 overall with no element below 5.5 for undergraduate degrees, and 6.5 with no element below 6.0 for postgraduate degrees; some programmes, such as optometry, ask for higher scores. Colleges also run ESOL courses for learners building their English before degree study.

Accommodation

Purpose-built student accommodation is situated on the Inverness Campus, with local amenities close by and frequent bus links to the city centre. Accommodation bookings open in April, and accommodation is guaranteed for first-year applicants. Other partner campuses provide their own options, and the university lists dedicated halls of residence among its accommodation across sites. Check the accommodation pages for the campus you will study at.

Scholarships and funding

For 2026/27 the university publishes residency-based scholarships that are awarded automatically at offer stage. The EU Scholarship gives undergraduates on campus £3,000 a year off BA tuition or £4,000 a year off BSc and BEng tuition, with the fourth honours year free, and postgraduates 25% off. The South Asia Scholarship gives undergraduates from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka 10% off. Awards change each year, so check the fees, funding and scholarships pages for current details.