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I’m probably one of many people who dreams about moving to Scotland one day. You know the one: a little cottage somewhere in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by nature, living a quiet and peaceful life and wondering why on earth I didn’t do it sooner.

And no, I’m not under the illusion that Scotland consists entirely of dramatic mountains, cosy cottages and atmospheric mist. 😄 I know the weather can be absolutely miserable, and I’m also very aware that Scotland is a real country with real problems, just like everywhere else. Wherever there are people, there are people problems. We have a saying in German, „Wo Menschen sind, da menschelt es“, and I’m not sure if there’s a Scottish equivalent, but I think you get the idea.

I’m 36 and from Germany. I currently run my own dog grooming salon, although I’m not even sure whether I’d want to continue doing that forever. I’m also an artist and have started selling commissioned drawings, so maybe I’ll expand that business. Or maybe I’d be perfectly happy working for someone else doing something completely different. I’m honestly pretty average. I don’t have some incredibly valuable profession or special skill that Scotland desperately needs. I’m just someone who loves nature, likes a quiet life and has somehow fallen rather badly for your country.

And to make my romantic cottage in the middle of nowhere plan slightly more ridiculous: I don’t even have a driving licence, so I can’t drive. 😅 I’m well aware that this might be a rather significant problem if “the middle of nowhere” is actually the goal.

Moving isn’t something I could do right now anyway. Realistically, it would still be several years away, so at the moment I’m mostly trying to find out whether this dream is even worth working towards.

And one thing I genuinely wonder about is: would I actually be welcome?

Not in terms of visas and immigration rules – I know that’s an entirely different and rather complicated subject since Brexit. I mean socially. How do Scots generally feel about people from elsewhere moving to Scotland, particularly Germans/Europeans? And does it make a difference if someone wants to move to a rural area rather than one of the cities?

I’d also really love to hear from people who actually live there: What is everyday life in Scotland really like? What do you love about it, what drives you mad, and what do foreigners tend to romanticise or completely underestimate?

Basically, if someone told you, “I have five or ten years to prepare and I genuinely want to build a life in Scotland” – would you tell them to go for it, or to keep Scotland as the lovely place they visit on holiday?

And maybe there are some people here who moved from Germany to Scotland themselves. I’d especially love to hear from you. How has it worked out for you? Was reality very different from what you expected? And most importantly: have you ever regretted making the move?

i'm an international student moving to scotland in less than 2 weeks. do i have to wait until i get there or can i submit my application already? I've heard that it can take a while to get your card and i'm gonna be depending on the buses to go to uni and anywhere else so.. i could save quite a bit of money if i applied now and got my card within a few days of reaching there

Hello!

So I already live in Scotland, specifically I moved to Edinburgh early 2025 from Australia.

I’ve only ever lived right in the city centre of Edinburgh and as much as I love not having to commute, and being able to walk everywhere, I’m wanting to rent my own flat (not share any longer) and also wanting somewhere quieter.

Fringe has been a lot for me to handle, especially as an autistic person, but I also really need a quieter environment in general. I’m considering the trade-off of moving to a town outside Edinburgh where I could afford a small flat of my own and in return needing to commute.

So a few questions:
1. What towns would you suggest between Edinburgh and Glasgow? I’ve looked into places like Bathgate and Livingstone which seem commutable and affordable, but what are they actually like?
2. Is it worth it to commute? Will the expenses of commuting end up costing me more in the long run than just renting in a quieter area of Edinburgh might?

Thanks for any advice!! x

I have been living in Scotland for past 5yrs. Loved every second of it but Husband insisted on moving to Canada. We live in Vaughan now for past 1year now. I miss Scotland and I want to go back. Going back would be living in lost distance marriage and probably for a very long time. Anyone else in similar situation? I have no friends here and no social life probably thats the reason but idk I might be just missing my comfort zone.

Hi everyone!

We are a family of four living near London at the moment. We own (well, we took out a mortgage 5 years ago) a new-built flat that we are planning to sell, then we plan to move to Edinburgh. We will have some savings that we want to use to buy a house there later, but first, we want to rent for about 6 months. How does one find an affordable temporary home for a family that is in a somewhat decent area, with schools around; all that is somewhat affordable? How did others who relocated with kids solve this problem? I checked airbnb prices but it is not affordable even for a month (£4-6000 per month). If we straight go for a proper rental, it takes time to go through, we will have to live somewhere while the paperworks will finish. Any ideas?

Hi there, I hesitated for a long time to ask my questions here, without knowing if it was the right sub, and feeling I could've other forgotten question later.

First of all I will candidate for a job in Ayr: how's the life there ? Boring or vibrant ? Easy to travel to Glasgow and Edinburgh ?

Next, I am a french town planner, currently struggling to get the RTPi (Royal town planning institute), but resolute to go up there through the skilled worker visa. Are there here any town planner that could give some information about the work marketplace, what's the city councils roles in this specific topic (or beyond), and most importantly, does the public sector struggling to recruit ?

I don't really seek advice on the geographical preferences, as I already made my choice for the biggest urban areas, but french and UK/scottish systems can be quite different, and I have the feeling this sub is the right place to ask more personnal questions.

Merci et à bientôt !

Hey guys,

I am an IT support professional having pursued my BSc IT in Kenya and completing my MSc Cyber security in leicester. Im looking to move to scotland and potentially settle there .

I do have cybersecurity internship experience from kenya and i volunteer as a Cyber security analyst. I'd appreciate any advice in the area

I have always thought of moving to scotland even before I cam to the UK and have visited scotland twice in the 1 year i've been here and everytime i just long to stay longer

I do have care assistant experience and restaurant (waiting) experience

Hi everyone,

I am a 26-year-old international student planning a career change into secondary education in Scotland. My goal is to teach S1 to S4 students (ages 11–15) in General Science and Physics.I would love to get some honest advice, tips, and opinions from current Scottish teachers or PGDE graduates regarding my profile and long-term visa sponsorship prospects.

My Profile & Qualifications:

PG Cert in Astrophysics – University of Glasgow (SCQF Level 11, Dec 2024).

B.Sc. (Hons) in Physics – Top-tier university in India (7.93/10 CGPA / UK 2:1 equivalent, 2021). Final semester SGPA was 9.75.

Language Proficiency: Previous IELTS score of 8.0 overall (fully English-taught background).

Target Program: PGDE Secondary Physics with Science (targeting Strathclyde, Aberdeen, UWS, Dundee, or Stirling).

Experience: Securing 2 weeks of science classroom observation/shadowing this autumn.

My Questions: Given that Physics is a high-shortage subject, how realistic is securing Skilled Worker visa sponsorship from local councils after completing the Teacher Induction Scheme (TIS) probationary year?

How is the split between teaching Broad General Education (BGE) Science (S1–S2) versus National 4/5 Physics (S3–S4) for a physics specialist?

For international STEM career-changers who did a PGDE, what was your experience adjusting to Scottish classroom management and the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE)?

Appreciate any insights or brutal honesty you can share! Thanks in advance.

Hi!

Recently, I’ve been really into the idea of moving up North but I’m from Glasgow initially and I wanted to hear some opinions on it. I’ve heard that there is such a horrific housing crisis up North with young people being pushed down to the central belt and families no longer being able to remain up North. I just wanted to get some real local opinions on this topic!

I’ve heard some say that the issue is holiday home owners but I wanted to ask about my specific situation incase it is different or still an issue. I’m a 21 year old girl & I’m training to be a history teacher, and I’d plan to do that up North, I promise not to irritate people up North with my weegie ways, I kind of view up North as being this different version of Scottishness than I’m use too and I’d love to learn about it more! (I know cringe, sue me, I’m no even a big fan of Outlander), and I’m just wondering if this would be an issue? I’m also conscious of the History Teacher job market which can be far and few between and I don’t want to steal that job from a Highlander who wants it.

Last thing I want to do is hurt the communities up North or be even more of irritant to the housing crisis. Any advice would be great! and don’t be afraid to tell me to bolt!

Hi, I’m currently living in London but will be relocating to Falkirk soon, and I’m excited (and admittedly a little nervous) about starting a new chapter in Scotland and making new friends is a priority.

I’ll be commuting to Edi and Glasgow like 3–4 times for work monthly so I’m hoping Falkirk will give me a nice balance, quiet as well as well connected. I work in advisory for an engineering consultancy so my work is mostly remote and i can make time for any activities.

I’m ethnically East Asian and have lived in England for a while. One thing I’ve heard repeatedly is that Scottish people tend to be very friendly, welcoming which is one of the reasons I’m looking forward to moving and making new friends.

How is Falkirk generally perceived by other Scots? Is it considered a good place to settle down and build a life? What do you like (or dislike) about living around Falkirk?

I’d also love to make some friends locally. I enjoy hiking, cars, cooking and gardening, also into kpop, anime etc… and I’m always up for exploring new places (looking to explore the highlands), going for a walk, grabbing a coffee or just having a good chat over drinks. Are people generally quite social and welcoming towards newcomers, or does it take a while to get into local friendship groups?

I’m also Christian and would like to start attending church on Sundays after I move. The church I currently attend in England has quite a lot of elderly members, and while they’re lovely people, I sometimes feel a little out of place and would really like to find a church with a good mix of families, younger people and perhaps some youth/community activities.

Are there any churches around Falkirk that you would recommend for someone in my situation? I’d especially appreciate recommendations from people who actually attend them.

And finally, any general advice for someone moving from London to Falkirk?

What surprised you when you first moved to the area? Anything I should know, places I should visit, or things I absolutely need to try?

I am a critical care nurse in England and I am considering relocating to Scotland (Aberdeen) but I can't find any info about what the work culture or experience is at Aberdeen royal infirmary ICU.

Please can anyone who has worked in that hospital (especially within Critical care) spill the tea of what to expect?

Thank you

As the title says... I'm a Canadian passport holder, my main work experience is as a salesman in a music store, audio engineer, producer and musician(not a big shot but I've gotten by for while now), but I've also done a lot of service industry stuff...

I know visa's are rarer for people with my work experience and in my age group... Is there any options I'm missing? Any help would be appreciated...

I've been fascinated with Scotland forever, and with my former employer going under and us employees getting a settlement, I could finally do it...

Any help is welcome!

Hi, I'm moving up to Glasgow from Newcastle, England in just under a year. My child is 15 and will be completing his GCSE (final high school year exams in England) exams then we will move soon after that.

I'm wondering how the Scottish education system works after high school? He wants to go to city of Glasgow college and we've looked on the website but are unsure of what any of the terms mean (like HNC or HND) and how they are equivalent to terms used in England?

I'm mainly wondering what the path most people take in Scotland after their (equivalent to GCSEs) National 5s. He doesn't want to go to university, just be educated til 18 then move from part time work to full time.

Thank you all

My friend is moving to Edinburgh and I'm making her a bingo card of things to do there to help her feel like a local quicky after the move.

So, what things should she do?

Are there any vibey coffee shops she should go to? Is there a community sauna place? Perhaps a salsa class? These are all things she does here and I think she would like to do when she moves.

Obviously being new to the city, I am sure there are some touristy things that she will want to do soon. Any suggestions on these are also welcome 🤗

I've been reading up on the school enrolment process and surprised to learn that catchment isn't a guarantee of enrolment, particularly for high ranked schools and there can be a waitlist.

Is it accurate that you can't enrol a child until they are physically in the country? How quick is the enrolment process onee you're on the ground?

We weren't going to be arriving until three weeks before the 2027 school year so I am mostly resigned to the fact we probably will not get into our first choice catchment school.

My concern is that we won't know the assigned school until a week or two from starting, and unable to get the kids excited, to say nothing of organising uniforms, books, transport etc.

I'm planning to move in 2029, so I still have some time. is getting a Prince2 (project management) certification worth it to help secure a job? Most of my financing will come from liquidating my current assets so the cert will come out of existing funds.

so before I commit, I just wanted to know if its worth the expense.

How can I help?

How can I help the Muslim community, and/or other ethnic minorities/people of a religion that is currently facing unwarranted negativity?

Its no secret that lately, the UK seems like a horrible and dangerous place to live if you do not look a certain way. I want to firstly apologise to those affected and to those who are scared. I wish it was different and I hope you know I will always fight in the corner of others being treated unfairly. It also isnt everyone that shares those views, however I know its hard to tell and you are probably cautious of all of us

I used to be so proud of my country and excited for others coming here and loving it also.

But genuinely, how can I help? I attempt to educate those who are ignorant and it mostly falls on deaf ears, how can I actually do something that makes life a bit better for you all? If anything?

Thanks!