University of Glasgow

University of Glasgow

Established in 1451, the University of Glasgow is Scotland’s second-oldest university. The University is home to around 25,000 students and is a founder-member of Universitas 21 (an international network of research-based universities) and a proud member of the Russell Group.

Glasgow’s academic structure consists of four colleges, which are further comprised of schools and research institutes. These are: the College of Arts; College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences; College of Science and Engineering; and College of Social Sciences.

The University Glasgow offers single or joint honours undergraduate degrees. Standard degree terms are four years. Language courses are five years long. Students can choose from over 900 degree combinations. Uniquely, in the Scottish university system, students can choose to study other subjects, as well as their primary subject, for the first two years of university, before choosing final subjects to major in.

As an alumnus of the University of Glasgow, you’re in distinguished company. Past students include: economist Adam Smith, inventors James Watt and John Logie Baird, actor Gerard “This is Sparta” Butler, politician Vince Cable, author William Boyd, comedian Armando Iannucci and scientists Lord Kelvin and Joseph Lister. 

University of Glasgow

Originally housed in Glasgow Cathedral, the University shifted base to the High Street in 1460 and then to the western end of Glasgow in 1870.

The present-day main campus, Gilmorehill, has over 100 listed buildings, at the centre of which is the main building designed by Sir Gilbert Scott. The campus is around three miles away from Glasgow city centre and is famous for its library, Hunterian Museum & Art Gallery, Mackintosh House, the Zoology Museum and the Glasgow University Archives.

Gilmorehill is where most of the teaching and research facilities are, as well as shops, cafes and various other eateries. The two other campuses are the Dumfries campus in southwest Scotland (eighty miles from Glasgow) and the Garscube campus, which is about four miles away from Gilmorehill.

Glasgow hosts the largest student population in Scotland. It’s also changing at a rapid pace, although it still remains true to its working class roots. Trendy bars, world-class venues, galleries, museums, cutting-edge clubs are all springing up at a breath-taking rate. The city is brimming with live music venues and has one of the best music scenes in the UK. 

University of Glasgow

The university guarantees accommodation for most undergraduate students who live outside Glasgow. Undergraduate halls of residence include one catered facility, Wolfson Hall, and five self-catered halls: Cairncross Hall, Murano Street Student Village, Queen Margaret Residences, Student Apartments and Victoria Hall.

Weekly rentals in Wolfson Hall range are around £132 for a standard single and £147 for en-suite single room. A room in self-catered accommodation will set you back between £75 and £113 a week. 

University of Glasgow

The Scottish Government covers tuition fees for Scottish residents and non-UK EU nationals through the SAAS. Students from the rest of the UK (RUK) will be charged £6,750 a year in tuition fees, totalling £27,000 for 4 years. Those studying Dentistry, Medicine and Veterinary Medicine courses will be charged £9,000 per year. The government will provide RUK students with tuition fee loans to help cover the cost.

This might seem like a big investment, but you won’t have to pay a penny of it while you are at university and you’ll only start to repay your loan once you earn over £21,000 a year. 

University of Glasgow

Average monthly expenses for accommodation, food, utilities, transport, communication, laundry, books/stationary and entertainment are estimated to be around £675. Of course, living costs will vary student to student, but if you budget well and take advantage of student perks, such as cheap deals through the Glasgow University Union, Queen Margaret Union and the Glasgow Students’ Representative Council then you should be able to get by.  

University of Glasgow

All RUK students who are not receiving any fee discounts will receive a £1,000 Glasgow Welcome Bursary during their first year. This can be used as a fee discount or as a cash bursary.

Students from household incomes of less than £42,600 will receive Access tuition fee discounts ranging from £500 to £2,000 a year. There is also the University of Glasgow Access Scholarship, which is a cash bursary of £1,000 a year for students with a residual income of less than £42,600 and who achieve at least AAB at A-Level.

Other scholarships on offer for full-time, undergraduate students include Sports Bursaries and Undergraduate Talent Scholarships. The latter scheme is performance-driven and pays out £1,000 per annum for each year of undergraduate study. For more information about the range of scholarships available click here. 

University of Glasgow

Confusingly, there are two students’ unions at the University of Glasgow: Queen Margaret Union and Glasgow University Union. Happily, this means twice the nightlife opportunities.

Queen Margaret Union has three bars. Qudos hosts two club nights, theatre, live music and ceilidhs (this is Scotland). Jim’s Bar offers you the chance to lets loose on stage with karaoke and open mic nights, as well as putting on comedy and pub quizzes too. Champions’ Bar is the ideal place to watch live sport and sample Scotland’s greatest export: malt whisky.

Glasgow University Students’ Union has nine bars, including Playing Fields, Balcony Bar and Deep Six, and a main venue, The Hive. The Hive is one of the campus’ most popular venues, particularly because of its club night, Thursday Night Hive. All in all, with two union services, there’s plenty to do (and drink) throughout the week.

Glasgow is no shirker on the nightlife front either. It’s famous for its great music scene and live venues, has over 700 pubs and bars and a clubbing scene to rival most major cities. Comedy nights are popular as is the Glasgow International Comedy Festival, held each year.

University of Glasgow

There are over 100 clubs and societies devoted to sports, culture, arts, politics and other interests. Both the city and the University have extensive sports facilities which are now being readied for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, following on the heels of the Olympics next year.

Student media consists of the Glasgow University Guardian, the Glasgow Uni Magazine, radio station SubCity and television station, GUST TV.

University of Glasgow

Glasgow University Union has a team of Freshers’ Helpers to help you navigate your way through your first week. The Union puts on an array of events such as themed parties, comedy, live music, DJs and quizzes.

Not to be outdone, the Queen Margaret Union has a calendar of freshers’ events to rival GUU, with silent discos, club nights, quizzes, Speed Mating, cocktail making and a Freshers’ Ball.

University of Glasgow

The University’s Career Service provides advice, information and resources for recent graduates and current students. Services include one-on-one personal consultations, career coaching sessions and an online career vacancies’ portal.