The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) (Scottish Gaelic: Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean) is an integrated, tertiary institution encompassing both further and higher education.

It is composed of 12 colleges and research institutions spread around the Highlands and Islands, Moray and Perthshire regions of Scotland.

UHI offers further education, undergraduate, postgraduate and research programmes which can be studied at a range of locations across the area and online.

[3] While UHI is Scotland's newest university,[4] many of its 12 colleges and research institutions have longer histories, the earliest having been founded in the 19th Century.

The UHI network has had a unique structure and the way that it has evolved as a multi-campus institution has been constrained by a legislative framework that deals with further and higher education separately.

A compass rose with a fleur-de-lys indicating north denotes University's northernly location and two open books symbolise learning, the 13 hazel leaves represent UHI's partners, and a tree associated with wisdom in Celtic and Norse tradition.

Specific tasks are assigned to a number of committees;[22][23] The Foundation creates a link between UHI and its communities and contains a maximum of 120 members.

[24] The Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business has three subject networks;[20] In the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business, courses such as honours programmes in Gaelic,[25] Theological Studies,[26] and Scottish History,[27] all reflect the distinctive nature of the region, its past, present and future.

The Centre for History is based in Dornoch and teaches a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees via videoconference to students around the UHI network and worldwide.

[28] The faculty also offers an interdisciplinary course in Scottish Cultural Studies,[29] which received the 2005 Times Higher Education Supplement Award for Most Imaginative Use of Distance Learning.

UHI purchased the Centre for Health Science in Inverness from Highlands and Islands Enterprise in a £9.83m deal.

[43] The new life sciences innovation centre is a collaborative project between UHI and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Argyll College does not have a single campus; staffed learning centres are located in Oban, Lochgilphead, Helensburgh, Campbeltown, Islay, Dunoon, Rothesay and Arran.

Lews Castle College campus is set in 600 acres of parkland beside the principal harbour town of Stornoway.

Sabhal Mòr Ostaig UHI is situated close to the sea on the southern peninsula of Sleat on the Isle of Skye.

Due to UHI's regional characteristic, academic partners can determine their own strategy and they are authorised to make their own investments and manage recruitment independently.

Its research is focused into three areas; Renewable Energy and Environment, Carbon Water and Climate, and Environmental Contamination and Ecological Health.

[52] Based on the Orkney Mainland, the UHI Archaeology Institute also has research and teaching staff in both Shetland and the Western Isles.

[53] Founded in 2007, Institute for Northern Studies operates at UHI Orkney, Shetland and Perth from three main locations.

The LSI will expand on the work of the Soillse project, with a special emphasis on the traditional Gaelic speaking communities of Scotland.

[55] Founded in 2012, the Institute specializes in work on molecular genetics to help conserve and maintain all rivers and lochs biodiversity, including fish stocks.

[56] UHI offers Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Masters by Research (MRes) degrees in a number of academic areas;[57][58] UHI offers undergraduate degrees in academic areas such as; Accounting and Finance, Adventure Education, Literature and Creative Writing, Marine and Coastal Tourism, Engineering, Nursing, Philosophy, Archaeology and History.