Scotland's university cities ranked among the safest in the UK for students

Daily Record

24-06-2025

Five of the top ten safest university areas in the UK are in Scotland.
Scotland is home to some of the safest cities in the UK for students, according to a new study. The research into road traffic collisions (RTCs) highlighted the risks around university campuses across the country.
The analysis, carried out by legal specialists Simpson Millar, examined Department for Transport data to determine the average number of crashes per 100,000 people in every local authority hosting a university campus.
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The UK-wide average sits at 186 collisions per 100,000 people annually, but several Scottish institutions performed far better than this national benchmark.
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In fact, five of the top ten safest university areas are in Scotland, with the University of Aberdeen ranking second overall. The Granite City records just 35 crashes per 100,000 people per year, more than five times lower than the UK average.
The Universities of St Andrews, Dundee, Stirling, Glasgow, and Strathclyde also made the top 10.
While Manchester tops the list, Scottish institutions dominate the rankings overall, reinforcing the country's growing reputation as not only academically competitive, but also safer for students exploring their local surroundings.
The report also revealed that Friday at 5pm is the most dangerous time for road collisions across the UK, and October sees the highest number of crashes, coinciding with the return of students for the start of the academic year
Mark Howarth, a personal injury solicitor at Simpson Millar, offered a word of advice for young people heading off to study. He said: 'Students face so many big decisions – what to study, where to live and how to get around.
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"While this report won't change which university you go to, it's a timely reminder for students and parents alike to brush up on road safety. Taking extra care when navigating a new city can help to reduce risks for everyone.'
The safest university cities in the UK:
University of Manchester – 24 RTCs per 100,000 people
University of Aberdeen – 35
University of St Andrews – 67
Cardiff University – 80
University of Bath – 87
University of Dundee – 88
Loughborough University – 92
University of Stirling – 97
University of Glasgow – 99
University of Strathclyde (Glasgow) – 99
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Meanwhile, Scotland's top universities were recently ranked according to how well their graduates fare after leaving campus, with the University of St Andrews once again leading the way.
A newly released list assessing all 14 of Scotland's universities for the 2024 to 2025 academic year reveals how institutions compare on student satisfaction, entry standards, staff-to-student ratio, continuation rates and graduate prospects.
St Andrews not only topped the overall Scottish rankings but also emerged as the best in the country for graduate outcomes, scoring an impressive 89.6 out of 100. It was also ranked fourth across the UK overall.
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St Andrews boasts a remarkable 98 per cent continuation rate, the percentage of first-year students who continue their studies, complete a qualification or successfully transfer to another institution.
Coming in second for graduate success was the University of Strathclyde, which achieved a strong graduate prospects score of 85.7.
It was ranked third overall in Scotland and holds a continuation rate of 95 per cent.