Regions · checked 21 October 2026
Studying in Scotland for Nepali Students: Universities, Four-Year Degrees and Costs
Scotland has some of the UK’s oldest universities and a different bachelor’s system: an Honours degree takes four years. Master’s degrees take one year, as in the rest of the UK, and the visa rules are the same.
Should Nepali Students Study in Scotland?
Scotland has 18 universities in HOA’s guides, including the University of Edinburgh, 35th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, and the University of Glasgow, 80th. A Scottish Honours bachelor’s takes four years and a taught master’s one year. For applications from 30 November 2026 you show £1,203 a month of living costs.
For a master’s, Scotland costs about the same as England outside London and the course is the same length. For a bachelor’s, the fourth year adds tuition and living costs, so compare total cost, not just the annual fee.
Key facts
Checked against the sources cited on 21 October 2026.
- Living costs to show
- £1,203 a month (£10,827 for 9 months) from 30 November 2026; £1,171 (£10,539) beforeUKVI; HC 584
- Universities in HOA’s guides
- 18HOA university profiles
- Russell Group
- Edinburgh (35) and Glasgow (80) in QS 2027The Tab, QS 2027
- Bachelor’s length
- 4 years for an Honours degree; some applicants with strong results can enter year 2University course pages
- Published master’s fees
- £16,275 to £36,540 across the 10 course examples HOA checkedUniversity fees pages
- Graduate visa
- 2 years if you apply by 31 December 2026, 18 months from 1 January 2027, and 3 years after a PhDGOV.UK
All 18 Scottish Universities in HOA’s Guides
| University | Location | Published international fee | Visa living-cost rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abertay University | Dundee, Scotland | from £16,950 | Outside London |
| Edinburgh Business School (Heriot-Watt) | Edinburgh, Scotland | £24,952 for MSc International Business Management | Outside London |
| Edinburgh Napier University | Edinburgh, Scotland | £20,540 for MSc International Business Management | Outside London |
| Glasgow Caledonian University | Glasgow, Scotland | by course (see page) | Outside London |
| Glasgow School of Art | Glasgow | from £24,800 | Outside London |
| Heriot-Watt University | Edinburgh, Scotland | £24,952 for MSc International Business Management | Outside London |
| Queen Margaret University | Edinburgh, Scotland | from £18,000 | Outside London |
| Robert Gordon University | Aberdeen, Scotland | £18,760 for MSc International Business Management | Outside London |
| University of Aberdeen | Aberdeen, Scotland | £26,250 for MSc International Business and Finance | Outside London |
| University of Dundee | Dundee, Scotland | £23,700 for MSc International Business | Outside London |
| University of Edinburgh | Edinburgh, Scotland | £36,540 for MSc Management (Business School) | Outside London |
| University of Glasgow | Glasgow, Scotland | from £27,390 | Outside London |
| University of St Andrews | St Andrews, Scotland | from £27,200 | Outside London |
| University of Stirling | Stirling, Scotland | by course (see page) | Outside London |
| University of Strathclyde | Glasgow, Scotland | £28,250 for MSc International Management | Outside London |
| University of the Highlands and Islands | Inverness, Scotland | from £16,820 | Outside London |
| University of the West of Scotland | Paisley, Scotland | £16,275 for MSc International Management (Paisley) | Outside London |
| University of the West of Scotland (Lanarkshire) | Hamilton | £16,275 for MSc International Management (Paisley campus) | Outside London |
“By course” means the university lists fees course by course; open its profile for the source link. Edinburgh and Glasgow are the two Russell Group members in Scotland.
The Four-Year Scottish Bachelor’s
A Scottish Honours degree takes four years because the first year is broader, closer to the last year of school in other systems. After NEB +2 that can suit students who want time to choose a subject, but it means a fourth year of tuition and living costs, and your Graduate visa starts a year later.
Some universities let applicants with strong results enter the second year. Ask the university, and compare the total cost with a three-year degree in England or Wales.
A taught master’s takes one year in Scotland, as in the rest of the UK.
How Much Money You Show for the Visa
You show the tuition you still owe for the first year plus living costs for up to nine months. For a university outside London: £1,203 a month (£10,827, about NPR 21.1 lakhs) for applications from 30 November 2026, or £1,171 a month (£10,539) before then. The money must stay in the account for 28 days in a row, ending no more than 31 days before you apply.
Worked example. A one-year master’s with £17,000 tuition and a £3,000 deposit paid: £14,000 still owed + £10,827 living costs = £24,827 (about NPR 48.4 lakhs) held for 28 days. Add the £558 visa fee and about £1,164 health surcharge, paid when you apply.
All 20 of Nepal’s Class A commercial banks meet UKVI’s rules for the account. See bank balance for the UK visa and banks in Nepal.
Cities and Student Life
Glasgow is Scotland’s largest city, with four universities in HOA’s guides. Edinburgh has five, including Heriot-Watt and Edinburgh Napier. Aberdeen, Dundee and Stirling are smaller cities with lower rents in HOA’s estimates. Winters are darker and colder than in southern England, so plan warm clothing for October to March.
How to Apply to Scottish Universities from Nepal
Choose bachelor’s or master’s
Remember a Scottish Honours bachelor’s takes four years.
Apply
Master’s: directly to each university. Bachelor’s: through UCAS, by 18:00 UK time on 13 January 2027 for most courses.
Get your CAS
Meet the conditions and pay any deposit.
Prepare the visa file
NOC, TB test and 28-day funds, then apply online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, for an Honours degree. Some applicants with strong results can enter the second year; a taught master’s takes one year.
Yes. It is a UK visa: 2 years if you apply by 31 December 2026, 18 months from 1 January 2027, and 3 years after a PhD.
The outside-London figure: from 30 November 2026, £1,203 a month, up to £10,827 for nine months, plus any first-year tuition you still owe.
The University of Edinburgh and the University of Glasgow.
Some do for some courses; it is decided by each university. Edinburgh and Glasgow generally ask for a test. Check the course page.
For a master’s, costs are similar to England outside London. For a bachelor’s, the fourth year usually makes the total higher.
Yes: up to 20 hours a week in term time at degree level and full-time in official vacations, the same as the rest of the UK.
Cool summers and dark, wet winters. Most students manage well with a waterproof jacket and warm layers.
No. HOA’s admissions guidance is free to students. Partner universities pay HOA when a student enrols; you pay only official costs such as the visa fee, health surcharge, TB test and NOC.
Key Terms
- Scottish Honours degree
- A four-year bachelor’s degree at a Scottish university.
- 28-day rule
- Visa money must stay in the account for 28 days in a row, ending no more than 31 days before you apply.
- Graduate visa
- Lets you stay and work after a UK degree without a sponsor: 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027.
Sources
Every figure on this page was checked against these sources on 21 October 2026. If an official page and this page disagree, the official page is right.
- Home Office, Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 584
- UK Visas and Immigration, Financial evidence for Student and Child Student route applicants
- The Tab, All 24 Russell Group universities in the QS World University Rankings 2027
- Russell Group, Our universities
- GOV.UK, Graduate visa
- UCAS, 2027 entry deadline for most undergraduate courses
About This Guide
Written by House of Admissions (HOA), a UK-only education consultancy founded in 2016 with offices in Kathmandu and Pokhara. All 20+ HOA counsellors hold the British Council’s UK counsellor certification. HOA’s guidance is free to students. Reviewed by Rahul Chhetri, Director. This is admissions guidance, not immigration advice. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
Related Guides
Thinking About Scotland?
A counsellor can compare a Scottish degree with options elsewhere in the UK. HOA’s guidance is free.