Ancient universities of Scotland

Ancient universities of Scotland. Clockwise from upper left: St Andrews, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh.
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Locations of the ancient universities

The ancient universities of Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Oilthighean ann an Alba)[1] are medieval and renaissance universities that continue to exist in the present day. Together, the four universities are the oldest universities in continuous operation in the English-speaking world after the universities of Oxford and Cambridge. The majority of the ancient universities of the British Isles are located within Scotland, and have a number of distinctive features in common, being governed by a series of measures laid down in the Universities (Scotland) Acts 1858–1966. The Universities (Scotland) Act 1966 uses the term 'older universities' to refer to St Andrews, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh.[2] The four universities are generally regarded as the country's most selective, eminent and well-ranked universities.[6]

In common with the other ancient universities of the United Kingdom, the Scottish ancients find themselves administered in a quite different fashion from the new universities (there are now fifteen universities in Scotland) and are granted a number of privileges as a result of their different status. The ancient universities are part of twenty-seven culturally significant institutions recognised by the British monarchy as privileged bodies of the United Kingdom.[7]

  1. ^ "Sabhal Mòr Ostaig – Naidheachd – Prionnsabal Oilthigh Obar Dheathain a' toirt seachad Òraid an t-Sabhail". smo.uhi.ac.uk.
  2. ^ s.16
  3. ^ Ancient universities of Scotland#Rankings
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Telegraph2019 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Scotsman2015 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ rankings,[3] eminent,[4] and highly-selective[5]
  7. ^ Elston, Laura (7 March 2023). "King invites leading institutions to reaffirm loyalty to him at historic ceremony". The Independent.