Inverness
2 Reviews by Students #8 out of 80 University locations
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Inverness is a great place to live.
By member858578 on 23rd May 2021
Study in Inverness
Inverness is a starting point for exploring the Scottish Highlands, as well as the infamous Loch Ness. It has notable architecture, with stunning landscapes abounding. It’s certainly a picturesque place to spend your student years if you choose to study at The University of the Highlands and Islands, which has colleges situated all over Scotland.
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University of the Highlands and Islands
The University of the Highlands and Islands is made up of 13 colleges and over 70 local learning centres across Scotland. The university offers a wide range of courses from Scottish History to Adventure Education to ensure there is someone for everyone. The university is also in distinctive partnerships with colleges and research institutions to help with their innovative approach to the curriculum.
Study in Inverness? Review your location
Inverness Student Life
Inverness is a small, quaint and historical town if you’re up for a quiet time, but it’s close enough to various major cities so you can enjoy the louder, city lifestyle if you wish to!
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Cost of Living
Accommodation
Student accommodation costs are on average £181 per week.
Compare the average elsewhere: Glasgow: £167/week, Dundee: £138/week, Edinburgh: £202/week.
(prices are for all purpose-built student accommodation (both private and university-owned) in August 2020, as listed on StudentCrowd)
The average price for:
A cheap meal at a restaurant: £15
A pint of beer: £3.40
A regular takeout coffee: £2.64
1L of milk: £0.73
A loaf of white bread: £0.91
Prices are about 9% higher than equivalent costs in Glasgow, about 7% higher than Dundee and the same as Edinburgh.
(Source: Numbeo)
Nights Out
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If you’re up for a classy Scottish night, The Malt Room is a cosy bar which serves all things whiskey. You can find whiskeys from the Scottish region, American bourbon and even Japanese whiskey. But if you’re not into whiskey, they also serve wines and beers!
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Hootananny is the pub to visit if you want to enjoy some live music with a heartwarming meal and drinks. Expect the live music to be authentic Scottish folk music and bring your dancing shoes for the weekly ceilidh!
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Public Transport
Even though Inverness is on the North East coast, public transport links are very accessible. The Scottish Citylink can take you on a day trip to Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen. Smartcards are available for students who are 18-25 years old for discounted tickets. You can also hire bicycles at Bellfield Park if you decide to switch things up. Just a 20 minute drive from the city centre is the Inverness (Dalcross) Airport, which flies to Birmingham, Manchester and outlying islands.
Eating Out
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Cheese & Tomatin serves traditional Neopolitan style pizza, with their dough slowly fermented over 3 days. Their pizzas are topped with local organic ingredients with vegan and vegetarian options available. If you decide to hold a birthday party, make sure to book early as they have a private room upstairs for the madness!
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Nar Mediterranean Turkish Restaurant is an authentic restaurant which is ideal if you’re hungry as they serve big portions! They have been praised for their service, authenticity and portion size.
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Fig & Thistle serves European, British and Scottish food such as steak burgers, sea bass, Scottish lamb and more. Be sure to order their highly recommended cheesecake!
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Shopping
The Eastgate Shopping Centre is the biggest shopping destination in the Scottish Highlands. There are over 60 stores, so there is something for everyone, with brands such as H&M, Lakeland, Superdry and others. Remember to bring your student card, as selected shops are offering 5-25% off.
Top 5 Things to Do on a Day Off
Fort George is one of the most outstanding forts in Europe, built in the wake of the Battle of Culloden in 1746. You can walk around the main rampart, or visit the Highlander Museum, featuring weapons from the battle.
Visit the Black Isle in the warmer months and you’ll have a good chance of spotting some bottlenose dolphins! Spend time exploring some lesser-known Scottish gems with quaint seaside villages and waterfalls all on offer on the Black Isle. There are some reasonably-priced tours to help you make the most of your time.
Loch Ness is known for the cryptozoological Loch Ness Monster, Nessie. Make sure to look out for the Urquhart Castle, which are ruins from medieval times. Why not take a sightseeing cruise to see the beautiful Loch Ness from the vantage point of the water itself?
Scotland is known for its whiskey, so discover more about what goes into their award-winning whiskies. The distilleries were established in 1897, so there is a very rich history to the delicacy. You can even bottle your own whiskey, selecting your choice of strength. Fun fact: 8% of their employees live on site in the distillery houses so this is more than a job for them!
If you’re tired of touring Inverness, Leakey’s Bookshop is the place to go for a quiet moment. It is Scotland’s largest second hand bookshop, situated in a former Gaelic church. And if you’re tired of browsing the books, take a look at their exhibition on local art or old maps and prints.
Read Inverness Reviews
Inverness is a gr...
Inverness is a great place to live. read more
Inverness is a gr...
Inverness is a great city to live in if your not a big fan of big busy cities. It's a small, picturesque city. It has plenty of places to eat out in and the shopping is good. The public transport however is not very reliable as busses never run on time and most times don't turn up. Busses run from 06.30 in the morning which is not great if you start placement at 06.00 . read more