The University of the Highlands and Islands

HISTORY

While the University of the Highlands and Islands is Scotland’s newest university, many of its 13 colleges and research institutions have longer histories, the earliest having been founded in the 19th Century. The UHI network has had a unique structure and the way that it has evolved as a multi-campus institution has been constrained by a legislative framework that deals with further and higher education separately. Technology has played an important part in connecting the partner institutions.

In April 2001, it became known as the UHI Millennium Institute, following the Scottish Parliament awarding Higher Education Institute status. By 2004 full-time deans had been appointed its three faculties, with experienced figures having been attracted from other academic bodies.

University degrees were authenticated by the Open University Validation Service, the University of Strathclyde and the University of Aberdeen until 2008 when the UHI was awarded taught degree awarding powers (tDAP) by the Privy Council under recommendation from the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA); Higher National Certificate and Higher National Diploma courses are awarded by the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

University status was awarded by the Privy Council in February 2011, and UHI became the University of the Highlands and Islands.

COURSES

The university is divided in two faculties:

• Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business;
• Faculty of Sciences, Health and Engineering.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Typical standard entry requirements are three Highers at grade C, or two A Levels at grade C.

Further details of entry requirements it can be found on the University of the Highlands and Islands website.

ACADEMIC STRENGTHS

Business and leisure: adventure tourism management, business and management, golf management.

Science, energy and technology: marine science, sustainable rural development, sustainable mountain development, sustainable energy solutions, developing low-carbon communities.

Arts and humanities: contemporary textiles, Scottish history, archaeology, fine art, Gaelic.

Engineering: electrical engineering and mechanical engineering with renewable energy.

Visit their website to see the full list of courses at the university.

TEACHING STANDARDS

The University of the Highlands and Islands courses has consistently received the highest commendation from the Quality Assurance Agency.

The University of the Highlands and Islands students benefits from attentive personal care and small class sizes.

The University of the Highlands and Islands is committed to working in partnership with SQA to quality assure all its SQA qualifications to maintain national standards and to ensure the public recognition and credibility of these awards.

CAREERS GUIDANCE

The services of the Careers and Employability Centre include:

• Free confidential careers and employability advice through their “speak to an advicer” service;
• Free confidential CV and application form feedback;
• Jobs and work placements on their jobs database;
• Seminars and workshops offered by videoconference and recordings of previous seminars;
• Careers and employability information provided on their website, including a full range of advice sheets, interactive learning resources and links to e-books available on their Resource Library;
• Regu;ar news and opportunities publicised on their Facebook page and Twitter page.

Services are available to all the university’s students, and to all the university’s graduates within two years of graduating.