University of the Highlands and Islands

Headquartered in Inverness, UHI, the University of the Highlands and Islands, operates as a collegiate university made up of colleges and research institutions working in partnership throughout the Highlands, Moray, Perthshire and Scotland's islands. It grew out of the UHI Millennium Institute, founded in 2001, which was given taught degree awarding powers in 2008; university title followed in 2011.

Its structure is unusual among UK universities. Of roughly 30,000 learners, about 11,000 are higher education students and the rest are in further education. Several partners have merged, as when three colleges combined in 2023 to form UHI North, West and Hebrides, and many courses are available online. The region shapes its specialisms: marine science through the Oban-based Scottish Association for Marine Science, Gaelic language and culture at Skye's Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, archaeology through the Orkney-based UHI Archaeology Institute, and also forestry, theology, golf management and adventure tourism. The broadest selection of degree subjects is found in Inverness and Perth. Classes tend to be small, helping to foster a close-knit student community.

Information for International Students

Advice on visas, applying and course eligibility comes from UHI's International Office. Student Route sponsorship is limited to approved full-time degree programmes that are mainly delivered in person. Eight campus locations are open to international students: Inverness and Perth, which have the broadest subject range, and Skye, Orkney, Oban, Halkirk, Fort William and Dornoch, each tied to specialist subjects. Many courses are also open online, without a visa, to applicants who stay outside the UK.

For on-campus Student Route study, the requirement for undergraduates is IELTS Academic 6.0 overall with every element at 5.5 or higher, and for postgraduates 6.5 with every element at 6.0 or higher; alternative approved qualifications are accepted too. A deposit, credited against tuition fees, must be paid before a CAS is issued, and some campuses allow the balance to be settled in instalments. Country-of-residence scholarships are awarded automatically to eligible applicants at the offer stage, and a funding finder lists subject bursaries. Guidance before arrival deals with reaching Scotland, working during studies, money, health and personal safety. Housing options differ by campus, and eligible graduates can apply for the Graduate Route.