Abstract The N = 34 isotope 55Sc has been investigated using in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy at the RIKEN Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory. Spectra from the direct (p, pn) reaction as well as indirect reaction channels have been investigated. γ rays with energies 496(10), 570(12), 682(14), 1510(30), 1780(36), 2345(57) and 2470(50) keV have been observed. A level scheme was constructed based on γ γ coincidence analysis and relative intensities. The results have been compared to the level scheme already reported in literature, as well as to large-scale shell model calculations in the sd − pf model space. A new level at 1510keV, decaying directly to the ground state, has been proposed and spin-parity J π = 7/2− was tentatively assigned. The effect of including the ν g 9/2 orbital is discussed. It can be concluded that the main low-energy properties of 55Sc seem to be included in the original sd − pf model space.