Contents
- Which highers are needed for engineering?
- What subjects do you need for engineering Scotland?
- Why do some universities offer minimum requirements?
- What subjects do you need for engineering courses?
- What Highers do you need for civil engineering?
- Highers for engineering: What UCAS points do I need for engineering?
Scotland has a long and proud history in engineering. The country has produced world-class engineers for hundreds of years. If you study engineering in Scotland you’ll be joining the ranks of famous builders and innovators like Alexander Graham Bell, Dorothée Pullinger, Robert Stevenson, and James Watt among many others. 🏗
Engineering is a pretty serious business. Engineers build things that people depend on to live, work and play. Projects can cost millions of pounds and often have to last decades or centuries. Engineers in Scotland typically earn around £84,000 per year with salaries ranging from £26,700 to £178,000, so it’s also a popular option, 21,850 people were studying engineering and technology subjects at Scottish universities in 2020/2021.
Read on to find out all the details about which Highers are needed for engineering and civil engineering at Scottish universities.
Which highers are needed for engineering?
Generally, the Higher entry grades for engineering range from ABBB to AAAAB, but AABBB is the most common requirement. Some universities request Advanced Highers in addition to Highers. Most engineering degrees also ask applicants to have a strong maths background.
What subjects do you need for engineering Scotland?
The one subject you really, absolutely need to study for engineering is maths. Physics and chemistry can also be useful, especially if you want to specialise in something like mechanical engineering or chemical engineering during your degree or at postgraduate level.
Why do some universities offer minimum requirements?
In 2019 universities in Scotland introduced minimum qualification requirements for some students in special circumstances. So, depending on your background there may be a difference in which Highers are needed for engineering to get into some courses if you are considered a “Widening Access student”.
Widening Access students include people who:
- Live in a certain postcode area or attend a school where few people go to uni
- Are children of current or former armed forces personnel
- Have been “looked after” or living in care
- Are of Traveller, Roma or Gypsy background
- Are estranged from their family
- Are an asylum seeker or refugee
- Care for a relative, partner, or friend
If you fall into one or more of these categories you could be offered a place on a course with the minimum requirements in your Highers. The details differ from one university to another, so check their websites for more detailed information about which Highers are needed for engineering.
What subjects do you need for engineering courses?
Here’s our handy summary of which highers are needed for engineering in Scotland:
|
Standard entry grades |
Minimum Qualification Requirements |
Essential subjects |
|
|
University of Aberdeen |
Scottish Higher - ABBB |
BBB and good performance in maths and physics. Or Adjusted: BB with good performance required in maths. |
Highers in m maths and physics or engineering science Plus National 5 in English at C or higher. |
|
University of Edinburgh |
Scottish Higher - AAAA - AAAB |
Scottish Higher - AABB by the end of S6. |
Highers: A in maths and B in physics (preferred), biology, chemistry, computing science or engineering science. In National 5s you need B in physics or engineering science and C in English. |
|
Heriot-Watt University |
Scottish Higher - ABBB |
Scottish Higher - BBBC |
A grade B in maths is required and then either B in chemistry, physics or engineering science depending on what specialist route you wish to take. |
What Highers do you need for civil engineering?
Civil engineering is probably what most people think of when they hear the word “engineering”. It involves designing and building the large-scale infrastructure essential for our towns and cities like bridges, roads, airports and railways. 🚆
|
Standard entry grades |
Minimum Qualification Requirements |
Essential subjects |
|
|
University of Aberdeen |
Scottish Higher - ABBB |
Scottish Higher - BBB with a good performance in maths and physics over S4 and S5 Or Adjusted: BB with a good performance required in maths for Widening Participation students who achieve good performance in maths and one other subject. |
Highers in maths and physics or engineering science plus National 5 in English at grade C or better. |
|
University of Dundee |
Scottish Higher - ABBB |
Scottish Higher - BBBC |
Higher maths |
|
Edinburgh Napier University |
Scottish Higher - BBBB |
Scottish Higher - BCCC |
Higher maths and National 5 grade C in English. |
|
University of Edinburgh |
Scottish Higher - AABB |
Scottish Higher - AABB by the end of S6. BBB must be gained in one year of S4-S6. |
A in Higher maths and B in one of physics (preferred), biology, chemistry, computing science or engineering science. In National 5 you need a B in physics or engineering science and a C in English. |
|
University of Glasgow |
Scottish Higher - AABB at S5 AAAAA at S6 |
BBBB |
Higher mathematics and physics or engineering science. |
|
Heriot-Watt University |
Scottish Higher - AABB Scottish Advanced Higher - BB |
Scottish Higher - BBBC including B in maths |
Maths |
|
University of the Highlands and Islands |
Scottish Higher - C |
Mathematics |
|
|
University of Strathclyde |
Scottish Higher - AAAB / AABBB |
AABB / ABBBB |
A or B in maths and one science at grade A or B |
|
University of the West of Scotland |
Scottish Higher - ABBB Scottish Advanced Higher - CCC |
Scottish Higher - BBBB |
Including maths and one science |
Highers for engineering: What UCAS points do I need for engineering?
If you’re studying Highers or Advanced Higers but you want to study engineering in England, Scotland or Wales, you’ll have to convert your grades into UCAS points and check the requirements of whichever universities you are interested in applying to.
Here are two more tables you can use to convert your SQA Highers and Advanced Highers into UCAS points:
|
SCOTTISH HIGHER |
UCAS POINTS |
|
A |
33 |
|
B |
27 |
|
C |
21 |
|
D |
15 |
|
SCOTTISH ADVANCED HIGHER |
UCAS POINTS |
|
A |
56 |
|
B |
48 |
|
C |
40 |
|
D |
32 |
It’s important to point out that you cannot add your Higher score and Advanced Higher together for a single subject, they must be submitted separately.
Getting into an engineering course isn’t easy. Universities have many applicants to choose from for each course and they don’t want to offer places to students unless they are sure they can cope with the complicated topics and heavy workload. If you have your sights set on an engineering or civil engineering course you’ll want to maximise your grades as much as possible from your National 5s onwards.
It won’t hurt to get some extra support to reach your goals. GoStudent has highly qualified and patient tutors who can see you through your National 5s, Highers and Advanced Highers. Try out a free trial class now and find out how we can help you build your future. 🎓
