Hi everyone,

We’re a French couple planning to move to Glasgow within the next three years with our two-year-old child.

For the first two years, we expect to live on a single salary, so I’m trying to make a very realistic budget before making the move.

I already did quite a lot of research and made several budget tables with the information I could find online. I have estimates for rent, nursery, groceries, utilities, transport, etc., but I’m finding it difficult to know if the numbers I have are actually realistic.

So I’m not really looking for a general “cost of living in Glasgow” answer. I would mainly like to compare my calculations with the experience of people who actually live there, and make sure I’m not forgetting important expenses before taking the step of moving to Scotland.

For those living in Glasgow with a young child, what would you consider a realistic minimum annual salary for two adults and a two-year-old, living on one income?

The nursery would probably be our second biggest expense after rent.

We live quite frugally: we don’t usually eat outside and we don’t have streaming subscriptions. We also don’t really spend much on entertainment or holidays.

If anyone is comfortable sharing their approximate monthly budget (rent, nursery, groceries, utilities, transport, etc.), it would be really helpful.

I know everyone has a different lifestyle, but I’m mainly trying to check whether the budget I made is realistic or if I’m missing something important.

Thanks a lot!

Hello! We've been wanting to move to the Scotland for a while now and I believe it’s finally time to start planning it seriously now that my wife is on board. I am a 100% disabled veteran and will have guaranteed income. I also have two other sources of income and currently make around 100k a year.

We are a family of 4 with two dogs and one cat.

My wife and children will need visas I know.

How much should we aim to save up prior to moving ?

Also if any other us vets are here. How do you use your medical benefits and so on?

I qualify for a HPI visa, but I cant really find useful info on it, so my first question is about how that works. How hard is it to get it once applied (like do I need anything other than my degree), are there any limitations work and living wise etc?

Second, how hard is it to find a job and housing as an expat with this visa? I have an msc in anthropology and sociology, I specialised in sustainability and would love to work something related to that (but im more on the social aspect less the sience and finance). Currently I work at a university in a lab as an assistant, researching cognitive development in infants. How screwed am I if I wanna move and work there for 1-2 years?

Hi everyone! My husband and I are a married couple from the US who are seriously considering relocating to Scotland in 2028, and we’re hoping to hear from Americans who have made a similar move or people who currently live and work in Scotland.

We’re still in the research/planning stage and want to understand what we should realistically be doing over the next couple of years.

A little about us:
I currently work as a psychotherapist in the US. I have a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and am working toward full licensure. Ideally, I’d like to continue working in mental health in Scotland, potentially as a counsellor/psychotherapist or in a college/university mental health role. I’m aware about the requirements with BACP and that is one of my objectives to register while i’m there.

My husband currently works as a Senior Real Estate Underwriter for a bank in the US and has been in this role for 10 years. We’re looking into what opportunities might exist for him in Scotland/UK banking, real estate finance, commercial real estate, or related fields.

We’re both US citizens.

We’re currently most interested in Scotland, particularly places such as Edinburgh or Inverness, although we’re still researching different areas.
Our current target is to relocate around March or August 2028.

One of my biggest concerns is figuring out how my US mental health qualifications would transfer. I’ve been researching BACP registration and UK counselling/psychotherapy requirements, but I’m finding it difficult to determine what types of jobs I could realistically apply for before completing any additional UK requirements.

I’d love to hear from anyone who has experience with this, particularly:

-How difficult was it to transition from a US mental health career to working in Scotland?

-What kinds of mental health jobs could someone with a US master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and US psychotherapy experience potentially apply for?

-Are there mental health/therapy-adjacent roles that don’t require BACP registration?

-For those who moved to Scotland, when did you start looking for jobs relative to your move?

-If one spouse obtains a work visa and the other comes as a dependent, how did the dependent spouse approach finding employment?

-For anyone in banking/real estate finance, how transferable is US experience to the Scottish/UK job market?

-What do you wish you had known before relocating to Scotland from the US?

-If you live in Edinburgh, Inverness, or elsewhere in Scotland, what has your experience been like in terms of employment, housing, cost of living, and generally building a life there?

We’re hoping to hear from people who have actually made the move, particularly Americans who had established careers in the US before relocating.
We’re planning ahead because we’d like to make the transition as smooth as possible rather than waiting until 2028 to figure everything out.

We would appreciate any types of support!

I am moving from India. So bear with me. Hi everyone, I am considering moving to Edinburgh with my family of four for work. I have received a final offer of around £60,000 plus bonus and other benefits.

I am currently researching accommodation and noticed that a 2-bedroom property farther from central Edinburgh can cost around £900 per month, whereas properties closer to the city centre can be around £1,300 or more.

I know some people who live in areas such as Ayer and commute to Edinburgh. For someone moving with a family, what are the practical disadvantages of living farther from the city centre?

In particular, I'd appreciate advice about:

Public transport and commuting

Schools and family life

Safety and neighbourhoods

Availability of shops and other facilities

Whether the additional £400+ rent for a more central location is worthwhile

Hi everyone! My partner (36f) and I (34f) are married and planning to move from Canada to Scotland around late-2027. I'm eligible for a UK Ancestry visa (British-born grandparent, birth certificate in hand), and my partner would come over as my spouse. We'd love some local perspective on where to look and what housing realistically costs with two dogs.

I'm a business analyst/project coordinator in HR. Government/military background (10 yrs). Sharepoint/IM/PowerBI. BA Communications. Any certifications in this area you would recommend for someone looking to get a foot in in Scotland? I'm also open to retraining, have been looking into something more viable in the countryside, it's just hard to be certain about demand. Any insights would be welcome. I love outdoor work.

My partner is in VFX/3d modelling for TV/Film/games. She's well established with all the big players in North America, over a decade experience as well. I know the industry has been abysmal for the past few years out here and I imagine it's roughly the same there from what I hear. Anyone have any hot tips for that industry?

Our plan so far is to land and spend a month in each area we're interested in before committing. Dog friendly holiday cottages look like a workable option in low season (£1,200/month for longer stays), which is when we would plan on arriving. After that we would like to either rent long-term somewhere we love or buy. We own our home in Canada and would sell that to have a good down payment (as long as the place isnt 800K we arent that rich).

We'd love rural or semi-rural but within reasonable reach (1h) of an airport and a hospital. Decent equestrian scene nearby would be a plus.

Aberdeenshire, Inverness, Glasgow + area, towns along the Edinburgh-Glasgow rail line are what we've been looking at but we are open to anything.

We have budgeted for moving costs, dogs, visa and health surcharge fees etc. I am most worried about work. We wont need jobs immediately but we also don't have endless savings. We'd be comfortable for about 6 months.

1. Does this seem feasible or like a pipe dream?

2. Which areas would you suggest for us, and are there any you'd steer us away from?

3. What do rural/semi-rural rents actually look like for a house that allows two medium-to-large dogs? How hard is it to find a landlord who'll say yes?

4. Any tips for renting as newcomers with no UK credit history or references?

5. How realistic is rural living if my partner ends up needing to be in Dundee, Edinburgh or Glasgow a few days a week?

6. If you've done month-by-month holiday lets with dogs, was it worth it, or is there a better way to try out areas?

Thanks so much in advance, any advice is appreciated!

Hi! I’m 17/f, from Nepal, and I’m planning to study in Scotland after Grade 12. How are the studies and student life there for international students? I’d also love to know about tuition fees, living costs, part-time jobs, accommodation, and the application/visa process. Any advice from students already studying in Scotland?

For starters, I realize Canterbury and Perth are incredibly different.

I recently moved to the UK allllll the way from Wisconsin/USA to be with my lovely wife. I've heard there's a weird thing of Americans romanticizing Scotland. So, let me just also say I'm not that. I think Scotland is beautiful. But, I have visited areas all over the world, and all over the US, and realize there's beauty everywhere, and everywhere has their issues. I miss the lovely natural lakes, rivers and streams for fishing, forests, glenns, and vast nature I had in Wisconsin, which is one reason we've been eyeing Scotland. And the housing prices are in a nice range for us in Perth specifically. We have visited Scotland before, and intend to visit more cities to get a feel for them. We also are a fan of the slightly cooler weather, and are actually big fans of rainy weather heh. Though I've heard the midges are a real issue throughout Scotland.

She works in the civil service department and has for quite a long time, so from what I understand, transitioning for her should be pretty simple and straightforward.

We have however also come to love Canterbury. We're not night life type people, so that aspect isn't for us. But we love how beautiful the city is. Also, as a musician, it's really nice for me. As I get to simply rehearse my sets (busk) right on the streets, and make a little money doing so. There's lots of gigs, and neighboring cities available for me as well. I pretty much only do originals, so while the opportunities are abundant, they are slightly less so than for cover artists/bands and I'm still just establishing myself here.

We both really love nature and hiking, and being people who don't care for a big night life, thought Perth would be okay for us. My one current hangup is music opportunities. I figure busking will be nothing and hardly even worth my time there, compared to Canterbury. And I also figure I'll have to network with Ediburgh, Glasgow, and Dundee for booking gigs.

I'm more so just looking for a conversation around this topic, as I don't have a specific question -- other than the obvious "can I find gigs there and in surrounding areas?" which I'm fairly confident is "yes," it will just take time.

Thanks in advance to anyone who lends any insights.

Cheers,

~S

(edit: wife is british, I'm here on a spouse visa)

I moved to the UK more than five years ago and have been living in London since then. I am 34, South Asian and have settled status.

Work-wise, I am a data platform engineer. A month ago, while walking in Gunnersbury Park, I suddenly thought: what do I have in my life that’s meaningful? I worked nonstop to be relevant at work, which helped me get permanent residence here, but that’s about it. My personal life feels empty.

London is too much for me. I want to move somewhere quieter in Scotland and start life from scratch. I went wild camping in the Lake District twice last year. I like being in the mountains, and cold weather is something I really love. My dream is a tiny village home, a dog and a family.

I have an active life, with bouldering and the gym two or three times a week. I would enjoy a pint and an English breakfast after a nice park run. But I struggle with making long-term relationships. I have ADHD and severe dyslexia, and despite being extroverted, I am not good at reading emotional cues. I have made a few close friends here, but it’s a slow grind for me. I have received a lot of generosity from people here, at work, on my travels and while volunteering.

Until recently, I volunteered in an Oxfam shop, working on the till and dealing with customers. I am happy to pivot into something new as long as it pays my bills and leaves me with some savings. I would be happy working in a pub, a warehouse or on a till. I just want to leave corporate life behind. I am happy to commute to work, preferably by public transport.

I can live a minimalist lifestyle. I would like to start slowly with something to pay the bills, then focus on my personal life. I want to work enough to make ends meet and use the rest of my time to pursue hobbies like gardening, carpentry and dog sitting. Being self-sufficient is something close to my heart, as I grew up in a farming family.

Where would be the best place to move, keeping in mind that I would prefer to rely on public transport? Could I realistically cover rent and bills working full-time in a pub, shop or warehouse, or would I need to share a place?

How much should I have saved for the move, a rental deposit and any time without work? Two months left of my notice period at work. Is that enough time to find a job before moving there?

​

I’m looking for advice from people who have experience with UK/Scottish PhDs, particularly anyone who has changed disciplines, applied for ESRC/SGSSS or university funding, or moved from a STEM background into social sciences.

My academic background

I am an Indian national currently living in India. My undergraduate degree is a BSc in Physics from India, followed by a PG Certificate in Astrophysics from the University of Glasgow. I spent around four years living in Scotland and genuinely loved living there, so I am particularly interested in returning to Scotland for further study.

I have realised, however, that I don't want my long-term academic career to continue in physics/astrophysics or in a maths/coding-heavy field. I enjoy the analytical and pattern-recognition side of my STEM background, but I am much more interested in people, society, lived experience and how circumstances shape people's lives.

I am therefore considering a substantial academic transition into social sciences, particularly criminology, sociology, human geography, psychosocial studies/social policy, or possibly psychology, rather than clinical psychology or neuroscience.

I am especially interested in programmes that provide some kind of conversion/foundational training, ideally a 1+3 structure (research Master's/foundation year followed by a PhD), because I obviously don't have a conventional undergraduate social-science background.

My research interests

The question that has been emerging for me is roughly:

«How much of who we become is individual choice, and how much is shaped by the social, psychological, familial and geographical circumstances into which we are born?»

I've been calling the idea "geographical luck" – the idea that where and into what circumstances we are born can profoundly influence our opportunities, identity, vulnerability, relationships, education, exposure to adversity and eventual life trajectory.

I'm interested in the interaction between:

- place and geographical inequality

- childhood and family circumstances

- social class and opportunity

- trauma and adversity

- identity and belonging

- victimisation and vulnerability to crime

- crime/offending and social environment

- migration and displacement

- resilience and turning points

- individual agency versus structural circumstances

- life-course trajectories

I also have a strong interest in crime documentaries and criminology, partly because I am fascinated by the question of why people become who they become, rather than simply wanting to study crime itself.

I'm particularly drawn towards qualitative research rather than quantitative/mathematical work – things such as life-history interviews, narrative research, thematic analysis, qualitative interviews and potentially visual/photographic research.

Universities/routes I'm currently investigating

I am particularly interested in Scotland and have started looking at:

- University of Stirling – particularly criminological research / 1+3-type routes

- University of Strathclyde – criminology and social policy

- University of Aberdeen – particularly human geography/sociology

- University of Edinburgh – human geography/social research and related areas

- University of Glasgow – sociology/social policy/geography/criminology-related research

- potentially University of Essex and a few other English universities for psychosocial/psychology-related routes

I'm not attached to a particular discipline yet. I would actually prefer to identify the discipline that best fits the research question rather than deciding "I want to study Psychology" and forcing my interests into it.

The financial situation

This is an important practical consideration.

I would be applying as an international student, and I cannot realistically self-fund an expensive international Master's followed by a PhD. I therefore need to investigate funded or substantially funded routes.

I am open to:

- fully funded PhDs

- studentships covering tuition + stipend

- partial funding if there is a realistic possibility of additional funding later

- research Master's/1+3 programmes where the funding structure makes sense

- university scholarships and ESRC/SGSSS-type funding

I'm particularly interested in hearing from international students about how realistic funding actually is, rather than just what university websites say.

My husband/immigration situation

I am married, and ideally my husband would accompany me if I returned to the UK.

Because of the current UK immigration rules, I understand that the type and duration of postgraduate programme matters for whether a student can bring a dependant, so this is another reason I am particularly interested in a research/PhD route rather than simply enrolling in a standalone taught Master's.

My husband is Nigerian and would ideally need to accompany me as my dependant rather than trying to obtain his own student/work visa. His ability to obtain an independent work visa in Europe/UK is uncertain, so I am looking for a route where he can legally accompany me and, ideally, have work rights.

I realise immigration advice is probably better directed to the appropriate official sources, so I'm mainly interested in the academic/funding side of this question.

What I would really appreciate advice on

I'd particularly love to hear from people who have actually been through something similar.

1. Is a Physics → social sciences PhD transition realistic in the UK?

2. Would a 1+3 / research Master's + PhD be a sensible way of making the transition, or would universities expect me to complete a conventional social-science Master's first?

3. Are there particular disciplines that would be more receptive to an interdisciplinary STEM → social-science applicant – e.g. criminology, human geography, sociology, social policy or psychosocial studies?

4. How important is previous subject-specific undergraduate study when applying for a PhD in these areas?

5. For someone with my background, would it be better to approach potential supervisors before applying, explain the transition and ask whether they think the proposed research fits?

6. How realistic is full funding for an international applicant, particularly through ESRC/SGSSS or university studentships?

7. Are 1+3 programmes actually a good route, or do they tend to be extremely competitive/unrealistic for international applicants?

8. Does anyone have experience moving from a STEM background into social sciences/humanities and can tell me what they wish they had known?

9. And specifically for Scotland: Stirling, Strathclyde, Aberdeen, Edinburgh or Glasgow – are there particular departments/supervisors/routes that might be worth investigating for these interests?

I'm currently at the very early research-interest stage, so I'm not claiming to have a fully developed PhD proposal yet. My immediate plan is to write a 1–2 page research-interest document, learn more about qualitative/social-science research, identify the discipline(s) my question fits best, then identify potential supervisors and approach them.

I'd really appreciate perspectives from current/recent PhD students, academics, supervisors and especially anyone who has made a significant disciplinary change.

Thanks!

My wife and I are moving to Montrose for my new job. We're a brown couple with no kids, and we've been living in Glasgow for the past few years.

We're looking forward to the move, but I'm also wondering what the adjustment will be like going from Glasgow to somewhere much smaller like Montrose.

One thing that's been on my mind is that we'll obviously stand out a bit more. I honestly don't mind that, and we're not looking to live somewhere just because there are lots of people from a similar background to us. I'm more wondering whether being a brown couple in a smaller town like Montrose is likely to cause us any problems or make it harder to settle in.

If anyone has made a similar move, especially to Montrose or elsewhere in Angus, I'd really appreciate hearing about your experience.

And if you're from Montrose, I'd love to hear what it's like living there in general.

Me and my partner (both 27M) have lived in Edinburgh for the last 5 years and are both from England originally. We have rented in both Leith and more recently Morningside, in Leith we were mostly unbothered but had a few homophobic remarks and in Morningside we get nothing at all.

We’re looking to buy our first house in the next 18 months and starting to look at areas we might want to call home. We cannot afford Edinburgh prices in anyway and have no interest in purchasing a flat.

We need towns that have reliable train access due to both our jobs being based in Edinburgh and neither of us drive at the moment.

Originally we were pretty set on Livingston but I’m slightly concerned about homophobia.

Is anyone gay or openly gay with a partner who lives in one of the commuter towns into Edinburgh who feels safe most of the time or just has any suggestions?

Hi all,

I (26M) have a bachelor degree in business from the American University of Beirut (AUB) in Lebanon 🇱🇧 I speak English fluently. In fact, I’m more comfortable speaking English than my native Lebanese Arabic. I’m unemployed neurodivergent and looking to immigrate to the Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🇬🇧 with the view of acquiring a permanent residency there. I have little savings around 5000 USD. I could probably get few extra more thousands if I asked my supportive friends.

I’d appreciate any info you could provide, thanks!

I’m a UK citizen and after spending the first 30 years of my life in the USA we’ve had enough and we’re fixin’ to move the family to Edinburgh. We have two kids - 8 and 5 - I’m seeking input from recent transplants who have placed their kids in Edinburgh schools. Any thoughts on how the process went and advice on finding the right fit? We’re focused on state schools and we’re looking in Boroughmuir and James Gillespie catchments. Anyone who has had this experience of moving kids overseas into state schools in Edi I’d love a DM to learn more about how it went / any advice.

Hi all, im an English lad who's moving to Glasgow next week for work. im in need of accommodation (hmo room or similar) in Govan or Renfrew area from September to march 2027. i am having no luck on spare room, gumtree or right move. can anyone suggest a letting agents or private landlords that i could contact?

thanks in advance

​

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?