List of first ministers of Scotland by education
A list of first ministers of the Scotland and the educational institutions they attended. As of January 2024, every first minister has been university-educated with a minimum honours degree. Of the eight first ministers to date, all eight attended universities in Scotland, with three attending the University of Glasgow. Six UK prime ministers were also educated in Scotland: three at the University of Edinburgh and three the University of Glasgow.
University | Number of first ministers |
---|---|
University of Glasgow | |
University of Edinburgh | |
University of Cambridge | |
University of St Andrews | |
University of Stirling | |
Edinburgh Napier University | |
Heriot-Watt University |
Two of Scotland's seven first ministers attended a fee-paying high school, Donald Dewar[1] and Humza Yousaf.[2] All eight attended state primary schools.
Three first ministers pursued degrees in law, two working as solicitors (Nicola Sturgeon[3] and Donald Dewar[4]), the other an advocate (Jim Wallace[5]). Only one first minister of Scotland, Jim Wallace, has attended an English university.
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John Swinney, Scotland's current first minister, attended Forrester High School in Edinburgh and studied politics at the University of Edinburgh
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Jim Wallace is the only Scottish first minister to have attended a university in England, the University of Cambridge
List of Scottish first ministers by education
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Glasgow Academy". Guide to Independent Schools. 2018-02-08. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
- ^ Mount, Harry (2023-02-25). "Humza Yousaf and Anas Sarwar's debt to private schools". The Spectator. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
- ^ "Who is Nicola Sturgeon? A profile of the SNP leader". BBC News. 2014-09-19. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
- ^ a b c "University of Glasgow :: Story :: Biography of Donald Dewar". 2021-07-25. Archived from the original on 2021-07-25. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
- ^ a b c "Wallace of Tankerness, Baron, (James Robert Wallace) (born 25 Aug. 1954)". WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U38682. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
- ^ "Henry McLeish". The Guardian. 2001-03-16. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
- ^ "The Rt Hon Lord Jack McConnell | About". University of Stirling. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
- ^ Swanson, Ian (23 March 2020). "Alex Salmond: A brief history of his career". The Scotsman.
- ^ "SNP leader returns to alma mater | University of St Andrews news". news.st-andrews.ac.uk. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
- ^ "University of Glasgow - Schools - School of Law - 100 Years - Women in Law timeline". www.gla.ac.uk. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
- ^ "University of Glasgow - Alumni - Our alumni - Life after Glasgow - Notable alumni". www.gla.ac.uk. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
- ^ "Biography | John Swinney MSP". m.johnswinney.scot. Retrieved 2024-05-08.