Education

Green Party MSP, Q Manivannan is sworn in during the first meeting of the new Scottish Parliament on May 14, 2026 in Edinburgh, Scotland (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Q Manivannan loses bid to become rector of St Andrews University

The result follows an intervention by Monty Python founder John Cleese, a former rector of the insti...

The Catch-22 that keeps the world's poorest countries mired in poverty

Malawi struggles to fund increased access to higher education, but without a better educated workfor...

Public sector reform will be chance to examine 'education funding'

Jenny Gilruth spoke at an education event at the SNP conference

Brighter futures call for young people thanks to mentoring scheme Catriona Stewart

Catriona Stewart

Teacher union boss criticised for 'deeply offensive' pro-trans t-shirt

Mike Corbett of the NASUWT wore the ‘Protect the Dolls’ t-shirt at a fringe event at SNP conference

EX-MSP calls for single reform commission for university and colleges

Des McNulty, the former MSP and academic, has made the call in a letter to SNP minister Alyn Smith

Construction of a supercomputer at a site near Roslin, Midlothian, is now well underway with operation due to start in 2028. PIC: University of Edinburgh

Scots software breakthrough could spur big quantum computer advance

Candidates in the running to become rector of St Andrews University include Q Manivannan MSP (left) and comic actor Brian Baumgartner (right), with former rector John Cleese (centre) sharing his take on the candidacy of the Green Party politician earlier this week .

Comedy and controversy - voting opens at St Andrews Uni for new rector

Former first minister Humza Yousaf

Humza Yousaf to teach Edinburgh Uni students to 'argue productively'

Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh

PhD researchers 'forced to use crisis loans' as uni fails to pay them

Alexander the Great, in a cage, being carried aloft by griffins in the mid 15th century

Universities need more Marcus Aurelius and less Alexander the Great Dr Francisco J Perez-Reche

Exclusive Scots universities warned over Chinese and Russian spies

Alex Cole-Hamilton raised the issue in parliament

Violence in schools: More than 44,000 incidents reported in a year

Astronauts on the International Space Station answered pupils' questions

From Caithness to space: School radio club contacts astronauts

Dr Gerry Hughes, at the opening of the display dedicated to his achievements

'Something extraordinary': Deaf sailor Gerry Hughes celebrated

Ethan Brown

Education secretary apologises to family of student who took his life

Sir Peter Mathieson, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Edinburgh PIC: Neil Hanna

Exclusive Peter Mathieson: 'Unions have weaponised our students during strikes'

Mairi McAllan gives evidence to Holyrood committee

McAllan: 'Still no cost for key pledge to reduce class contact time'

Edinburgh University vice-chancellor Peter Mathieson has accused unions of deliberately timing a strike to 'disadvantage the students' (Picture: Chris Close/University of Edinburgh)

Uni strikers must realise compulsory redundancies can be unavoidable Scotsman comment

Ethan Brown was wrongly told he could not graduate. Picture: PA

Family of student who took own life after grade error reach settlement

Edinburgh University principal Professor Sir Peter Mathieson has said he will step down (Chris Close/University of Edinburgh/PA)

Peter Mathieson to step down as Principal of Edinburgh University

Graduates of Edinburgh College of Art craft courses have gone on to work on films and TV shows such as Downton Abbey (Picture: Rory Mulvey)

Edinburgh College of Art has just damaged Scotland’s cultural identity Irene Kernan

Professor Tommy Curry in Old College's Stairwell

'All black academics are ridiculed' in UK unis, claims Edinburgh prof

Education Secretary Mairi McAllan at a Holyrood committee (Andrew Cowan/Scottish Parliament/PA)

Exclusive 'Deeply alarming' rise in pupils taught in 'unsuitable' buildings

SNP MSP Alyn Smith (Jane Barlow/PA)

Alyn Smith: 'Colleges can innovate their way out of funding crisis'

Edinburgh College principal Audrey Cumberford warns urgent and fundamental reform is necessary if the college sector 'is going to survive'

As colleges face insolvency, education crisis is only getting worse Scotsman comment

Computer science is one of the most popular degree subjects in the UK.

Best Universities for Computer Science: Top 10 degrees in the UK

History is one of the most popular degrees in British universities.

Best Universities for History 2026: The top 10 places to study history

Cabinet secretary for Education, culture and Gaelic Mairi McAllan visits Broughton High School

'Urgent call for action' on Scottish education as reform calls grow

Staff formed a picket line outside of the university's Old College

'We want what we pay for': Student fear as Edinburgh Uni strikes begin

Blair McDougall MP, Minister for Small Businesses and Economic Transformation.

Labour MP criticised for 'vile' remarks on Glasgow schools

The reasons why pupils don't go to school are often complex and challenging - with young people of all backgrounds affected.

'What will become of her?' - the pupils who refuse to go to school

Economics is a popular choice of course at UK universities.

Best Universities for Economics 2026: Top 11 degrees in the UK

Lecturers and other staff attend a rally in Glasgow during strike action by the University and College Union in September 2023

Financial outlook of Scotland's college funding leaves future unknown

A business and management degree can be a great route to a top job, but not all courses are equal according to a new report.

Top 11 Best UK Universities For Business and Management 2026

Protestors take part in the Let Women Speak rally following the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act coming into force, outside The Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh on Saturday, April 6, 2024. (Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)

Police Scotland 'risks alienating women' with stance on sex and gender

Architecture is one of the most popular - and hard to get into - university courses.

Best Universities for Architecture 2026: Here are the top 10 in the UK

Senior education leaders gave evidence to a Holyrood committee

Warning 'value' of reducing class contact time 'impossible to know'

Staff at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) are escalating their industrial actionJohn Devlin/The Scotsman

GCU strikes: Uni financial decisions 'deeply offensive' to staff

Three Scottish universities appear in the UK's top 10 for studying medicine.

Best UK Universities For Medicine 2026: Three Scottish unis in top 10

Drone image of the University of Highlands and Islands campus in Fort William

Highlands and islands colleges 'starved of cash' as job cuts loom

Heads relying on 'goodwill' of teachers as ASN level 'not sustainable'

Eyemouth Primary School

Parents cautiously welcome plans for new primary after 11 year delay

Teachers in the independent schools system report that total bans and partial restrictions on mobile phone usage in the classroom is seeing more device-free pupil interaction.

Independent schools lead the way on mobile phone ban in classrooms

Gaining admission to university can be markedly more difficult depending on which one you wish to attend.

10 Toughest UK Universities To Get Into 2026: Scottish unis dominate

University of Dundee

University urged to rule out compulsory job losses as strike begins

Scottish Labour leader Michael Marra

Michael Marra vows to put education at the heart of Scottish politics

For many careers, education may need to become a life-long pursuit (Picture: David Cheskin)

A qualification at 21 may be out of date by 35. Education must change Alyn Smith

Students had differing views of how well they had been tought depending on the Scottish university they went to.

Top Scottish Universities: 10 unis students rate best for teaching

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide has arrived for 2027, with 14 of Scotland's unis ranked.

Good University Guide 2027: Scotland's top universities ranked

Edinburgh Uni to mothball 90 courses as five weeks of strikes to start

Education Secretary Mairi McAllan

McAllan declines invite to Tories education summit with Michael Gove

It's a great feeling to have graduated from university, but then the tricky business of getting a job begins.

The 10 best universities in Scotland for graduate employment

Ad Feature Why training wins glory but nutrition delivers results for physique

New Gen Yoto Player

The new Yoto Player has already made my son’s Christmas list

Eyemouth Primary School

Councillors to discuss scrapping disputed plans for Borders school

Dentistry is one of the most difficult courses to gain admission to in British universities.

Best Universities for Dentristry 2026: 10 best universities in the UK

Thousands of students are starting - or returning to - university in Scotland this month.

Scotland's Top Universities 2026/27: The 10 best Scottish unis ranked

The high quality of Scottish education was once acknowledged all round the world but, in recent years, it has been in decline (Picture: Martin/Fox Photos)

The seven people most to blame for the Scottish education scandal Brian Monteith

Education Secretary Mairi McAllan with pupils receiving exam results at Broughton High School (Lesley Martin/PA)

Exclusive Curriculum change is coming insists education secretary after PISA woe

Professor John Underhill

Professor calls UK 'minnow culprit' in climate change

John Swinney needs to do some thinking about how to improve Scotland's education system (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

Our ailing education system needs a 'big idea'. Where's the SNP's? Brian Wilson

According to the international Pisa ranking, schools in England are performing substantially better than those in Scotland (Picture: Jonathan Hordle)

Comparing pupils in 2009 and 2025 reveals how SNP ruined education Cameron Wyllie

New College Lanarkshire

Scotland's colleges suffer a near-200% increase in fiscal deficit

Education Secretary Mairi McAllan (Jane Barlow/PA)

SNP accused of being 'in denial' over Scotland's PISA results

Education Secretary Mairi McAllan, pictured meeting students as they receive their exam results at Broughton High School last month, must change course if all pupils are to have a chance of fulfilling their potential (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

SNP must break taboo and learn from English education's success Scotsman comment

Antibiotic resistance is a real problem for science.

ASN pupils 'missing out on science lessons due to lack of supports'

Scottish Education Secretary Mairi McAllan celebrated with pupils receiving their exam results at Broughton High School in Edinburgh in August (Lesley Martin/PA)

Mairi McAllan: 'Pisa score doesn't count artistic expression'

Queen Camilla, seen at the opening of a library at Christ Church Primary School in London, has been working to encourage children to read more for pleasure (Picture: Justin Tallis/WPA pool)

PISA figures have a clear message for Scottish education: copy England Professor Lindsay Paterson

Mairi McAllan smiling while chatting to two pupils in a classroom

PISA figures show Scots pupils a year behind their English peers

Parents want to stop catchment changes for Linlithgow Academy

Parents' fight back over boundary changes to West Lothian school

The Scotsman Top Stories

Scotland has failed to meet its latest target for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the latest official figures show. Picture: John Giles/PA Wire

Fail: Scotland misses climate target

Pro-independence protesters with Scottish Saltire flags (top) march for Scottish independence. Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images

Yousaf: Growing popular support for Yes the only way to Scottish independence

Nadine Dorries. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

SNP MP cleared of bullying Nadine Dorries