Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

17 Best Universities in Scotland for Art & Design

We ranked the top 17 universities for Art & Design in Scotland based on strict academic metrics. Our methodology evaluated 78.7K subject-specific papers and 1.78M citations to find the strongest faculties. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

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1

Edinburgh

University of Edinburgh

For Art & Design

#5 in United Kingdom #5 in Europe

51% Acceptance

24,409 Enrollment

1583 Founded

2

Glasgow

University of Glasgow

For Art & Design

#6 in United Kingdom #6 in Europe

48% Acceptance

28,693 Enrollment

1451 Founded

3

St Andrews

University of St Andrews

For Art & Design

#28 in United Kingdom #58 in Europe

33% Acceptance

10,425 Enrollment

1413 Founded

4

Aberdeen

University of Aberdeen

For Art & Design

#35 in United Kingdom #93 in Europe

38% Acceptance

24,409 Enrollment

1495 Founded

5

Glasgow

University of Strathclyde

For Art & Design

#41 in United Kingdom #122 in Europe

47% Acceptance

18,857 Enrollment

1964 Founded

6

Stirling

University of Stirling

For Art & Design

#42 in United Kingdom #126 in Europe

11% Acceptance

14,000 Enrollment

1967 Founded

7

Dundee

University of Dundee

For Art & Design

#48 in United Kingdom #153 in Europe

49% Acceptance

28,693 Enrollment

1967 Founded

8

Edinburgh

Heriot-Watt University

For Art & Design

#76 in United Kingdom #297 in Europe

51% Acceptance

19,449 Enrollment

1966 Founded

9

Glasgow

Glasgow Caledonian University

For Art & Design

#86 in United Kingdom #343 in Europe

70% Acceptance

19,290 Enrollment

1993 Founded

10

Edinburgh

Edinburgh Napier University

For Art & Design

#89 in United Kingdom #377 in Europe

60% Acceptance

15,555 Enrollment

1992 Founded

11

Paisley

University of the West of Scotland

For Art & Design

#103 in United Kingdom #439 in Europe

78% Acceptance

15,555 Enrollment

1897 Founded

12

Aberdeen

Robert Gordon University

For Art & Design

#106 in United Kingdom #480 in Europe

73% Acceptance

15,555 Enrollment

1992 Founded

13

Edinburgh

Queen Margaret University

For Art & Design

#115 in United Kingdom #572 in Europe

73% Acceptance

10,798 Enrollment

2007 Founded

14

Dundee

Abertay University

For Art & Design

#120 in United Kingdom #683 in Europe

70% Acceptance

15,555 Enrollment

1994 Founded

15

Glasgow

Glasgow School of Art

For Art & Design

#129 in United Kingdom #771 in Europe

11% Acceptance

1,500 Enrollment

1845 Founded

16

Inverness

University of the Highlands and Islands

For Art & Design

#130 in United Kingdom #779 in Europe

86% Acceptance

14,000 Enrollment

2011 Founded

17

Glasgow

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

For Art & Design

#140 in United Kingdom #959 in Europe

31% Acceptance

1,000 Enrollment

1993 Founded