Healthcare, banking, schooling and more

Healthcare in Scotland

Healthcare in Scotland is provided by NHS Scotland. If you have relocated from outside the EU, you (and your accompanying family members) will have paid NHS surcharges as part of your application fee. Most healthcare in Scotland has no extra charge. The exceptions are dental care and eye care.

NHS dentists are subsidised by the government, however, there is usually a small charge to pay depending on the treatment you require. Opticians don't charge for testing your eyes, but any treatment required is chargeable.

Access to Healthcare

When settled in a place of residence in Scotland you and your family should register with a local doctor 鈥� a聽GP聽(General Practitioner). Your聽GP聽will be able to care for your health conditions and to provide treatment if you become unwell. Any prescriptions prescribed by your聽GP聽are free of charge. .

Registering with a Dentist

You and your family can get care, advice and treatment from聽NHS Scotland聽to keep your mouth, teeth and gums healthy. Scotland also provides free dental checks. You can find a dentist near you using the links at聽

NHS聽Eye Care

Scotland is the only country in the聽UK聽to provide free universal聽NHS-funded eye examinations. In some cases, the聽NHS聽will also give an optical voucher towards the cost of glasses or contact lenses.聽

Opening a UK bank account

To open a bank account, you usually have to fill in an application form. Often, you can do this in a branch or online, and sometimes you can also do this over the phone.

You will have to provide proof of your identity including your full name, date of birth and address. You usually have to show the bank two separate documents that prove who you are, for example, your passport, and where you live, for example, a recent utility bill.

Local Banks and Building Societies

Bank of Scotland - 65-69 Murraygate, Dundee, DD1 2EA
Virgin Money - 7-8 High St, Dundee, DD1 1SS
Royal Bank of Scotland - 3 High Street, Dundee, DD1 9LY
Santander, 47-49, Reform Street, Dundee, Angus, DD1 1SW
TSB - 29 Meadowside, Dundee, DD1 1DD
Nationwide Building Society, 9 Reform St, Dundee DD1 1TF
Barclays - 24 High St, Dundee, DD1 1SZ

Online banks

These banks do not have branches, you open and use your account through an iOS or Android app.

Bank accounts you can open without visiting a branch

The following is a list of bank accounts that can be opened entirely online without needing to visit a branch.

Monzo -
Nationwide -
Santander -
Starling -
Virgin Money -

Applying for a National Insurance Number

A National Insurance number (NINO) is used to uniquely identify you in the UK system. It also ensures that the National Insurance contributions (NIC) or taxes you pay are properly recorded on your HMRC record. .

You can apply for a National Insurance number if you:

live in the UK
have the right to work in the UK
are working, looking for work or have an offer to start work

You can start work before you receive your National Insurance number if you can prove you have the聽聽in the UK.

If you already have a National Insurance number, you do not need to apply for a new one, even if your personal details change. Your National Insurance number remains the same for life.

A close-up of people sitting together, one pointing at handwritten notes on paper while the other holds them, with a laptop open nearby showing a colourful screen.

Driving in Scotland

If you plan to drive while you鈥檙e in Scotland, there are a few things you should know:

There are strict speed limits in place across all of Scotland鈥檚 roads. These will vary depending on the type of road you are on.聽
You must be at least 17 years to drive a car in the UK. For mopeds and motorcycles, the required age varies between 16 and 24, depending on the type of bike you wish to drive.
If you do not have a driver鈥檚 licence but want to learn to drive in Scotland, you must first聽then pass the theory and practical driving tests.
If you wish, you can take driving lessons from a professional instructor. You can take your test when you feel you are ready. There is not a set number of hours you have to practice driving before you can take your test.

Find out more about聽.

If you are relocating from abroad and already have a drivers licence you may be able to apply for a UK driving licence. Find out if you can聽.

An overhead shot of a car driving on a long stretch of road, on either side there are green trees.

Cycle to Work Scheme

Abertay staff can now purchase a bicycle (or e-bike) worth up to 拢3000 through the .

The Cycle to Work Scheme is a Government-backed initiative that enables staff to obtain a bike and/or cycling accessories to use for riding to work whilst making tax and National Insurance savings from your Gross pay. You choose your perfect combination of bike and accessories and then rent the equipment through salary sacrifice from Abertay.

For more information on the Cycle to Work Scheme, contact us at peopleservices@abertay.ac.uk.

A cyclist wearing a bright jacket riding a bicycle along a paved road through a misty, rural landscape with trees and grassy hills in the background.

The Scottish School System

The school system in Scotland is made up of three distinct sections: Nursery (preschool), Primary School (ages 5 - 12) and Secondary School - also known as High School (ages 12 - 18).

Throughout these years, children are taught under a system聽known as Curriculum for Excellence, which places an emphasis on interdisciplinary learning and skills development. The qualifications gained in Scottish schools may look different to聽what you are used to, but they are benchmarked against聽.