Skip Navigation

The Education System in the United Kingdom: The Education System in Scotland

NOTE: The education system in Scotland is different from that
which exists in the rest of the United Kingdom. The Scottish Parliament is responsible for the overall supervision and development of the education system, while Scottish Government Education and Training has day-to-day responsibility for education, training, and life-long learning.

Preprimary:

  • Common name: Day nurseries, nursery classes, nursery school
  • Ages of attendance: As early as age 3 to age 4
  • Number of years: 1 to 2
  • Start of universal enrollment: Age 4
  • Compulsory: No

Primary:

  • Common name: Primary school
  • Ages of attendance: 5 to 11
  • Number of years: 7
  • Universal enrollment: Yes
  • Compulsory: Yes

Lower secondary:

  • Common name: Secondary school
  • Ages of attendance: 12 to 13
  • Number of years: 2
  • Universal enrollment: Yes
  • Compulsory: Yes
  • Entrance/exit criteria: No

Upper secondary:

  • Common name: Community education center,further education college, secondary school
  • Ages of attendance: 14 to 17 (graduation generally at age 18)
  • Number of years: 4
  • Universal enrollment: Through age 16
  • Compulsory: No
  • Entrance/exit criteria: A unified system of National Qualifications exams has been introduced for students in secondary schools, further education colleges, and training centers. At the end of upper secondary education, students generally take the examinations for the Scottish Qualifications Certificate (SQC) at Standard Grade or National Qualifications courses/units. These examinations are intended to be taken by the whole school population. Students who plan to go into higher education take the higher level examinations of the SQC.

NOTE: During upper secondary school, students in Scotland have the option to continue in a traditional secondary school or to attend further education colleges. There are also nationally funded training and apprenticeship programs in which students can participate if they choose not to attend upper secondary school.

Postsecondary and tertiary:

  • Common name: Further education college, university
  • Ages of attendance: Varies
  • Number of years: Varies according to course/degree
  • Universal enrollment: No
  • Entrance criteria: The usual entry requirements for university are the higher or advanced higher level examinations of the SQC (see above). Further education colleges admit students who have just left school at age 16, students who have left school at age 17 or 18 with and without formal certification, and are now also admitting an increasing number of older students. Admission requirements at further education colleges are decided by the institution.

Common degree programs:

  • Certificates of higher education: 1-year vocational courses.
  • Higher Education Diploma: Short undergraduate programs, which vary in length, offered at colleges and universities.
  • Bachelor's degree: Courses leading to an ordinary bachelor's degree last 3 years, while courses leading to a degree with honors are typically 4 years. There are also some courses where the first award is a master's degree.
  • Advanced short degree: Short programs, which vary in length, for students who have already acquired a bachelor's degree; for example, the postgraduate diploma of education. Courses offered are often professional development-oriented.
  • Master's degree: Taught master's degrees are typically
  • 1-year programs, but research master's degrees are generally longer. Entrance into a master's program generally requires a bachelor's degree.
  • Professional degree programs: Advanced or extended programs leading to professional registration as a doctor, dentist, etc., that typically require 5 years beyond the bachelor's degree.
  • Doctorate: A doctorate generally requires 3 years of full-time study or 4 to 6 years if part time.

Sources:

Eurybase. (2009). The Information Database on Education Systems in Europe: The Organization of the Education System in the United Kingdom (Scotland), 2008/09. Brussels: Eurydice. Retrieved December 15, 2010, from http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/education/eurydice/documents/eurybase/eurybase_full_reports/SC_EN.pdf.

Eurydice. (2007). Focus on the Structure of Higher Education in Europe 2006/07: National Trends in the Bologna Process. Brussels: Eurydice. Retrieved December 15, 2010, from http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/education/eurydice/documents/thematic_reports/086en.pdf.

Marlow-Ferguson, R. (Ed.) (2002). World Education Encyclopedia: A Survey of Educational Systems Worldwide, Vol. 3 (2nd ed.). Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Group.

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. (1996). Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators. Paris: Author.

Robitaille, D.F. (1997). National Contexts for Mathematics and Science Education: An Encyclopedia of the Education Systems Participating in TIMSS. Vancouver, Canada: Pacific Educational Press.