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Choosing where to study

Universities in Glasgow

Which universities are in Glasgow? Discover location, transport and facility information for each uni.

Glasgow City, Scotland

CONTENTS

  1. Why study in Glasgow?

  2. About Glasgow

  3. University of Glasgow

  4. University of Strathclyde

  5. Glasgow Caledonian University
  6. Glasgow School of Art

  7. Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
  8. Living in Glasgow

  9. Entry requirements

  10. Transport links

  11. Getting around Glasgow

  12. Things to do in Glasgow

Why study in Glasgow?

Glasgow is one of the UK's largest cities, boasting a student population of over 185,000 students from 140 countries between its five higher education institutions and three major colleges. As Scotland’s largest and most diverse city, it’s home to museums, galleries, music, comedy and the arts, as well as famous festivals such as Celtic Connections.

About Glasgow

Few cities have as friendly a reputation as Glasgow. It must be what makes it one of the UK’s most student-populated cities, with student numbers exceeding 185,000. The city is known for its vibrant and lively culture, with a reputation for great food, a colourful art scene and championing diversity.

Students also find Glasgow very affordable, which is why so many graduates choose to stay and work in the city.

University of Glasgow

The University of Glasgow has nearly 40,000 students and offers a wide range of subjects, many of which often appear in the top ten of our UK subject league tables

Location

Gilmorehill campus is set within Glasgow's fashionable West End, a vibrant area that's packed with cafes, pubs and independent shops. You might recognise the cloisters at the historic main building, as they featured in the movie Cloud Atlas and the TV show Outlander. The campus is surrounded by museums, galleries and parks, and the centre of the city is just two miles away, easily accessed by the underground, bus or on foot. It’s a compact, campus-style environment with all the benefits of being in a major city.

At Dumfries, the campus is set in 85 acres of leafy parkland with stunning views to the Solway Firth estuary and hills, proximity to hiking and cycling trails, rivers and lochs, and a walk or short bus ride to the historic town centre.

Facilities

This university offers world-class sporting facilities, including a 25m swimming pool, synthetic all-weather pitches, grass pitches, tennis courts, and a gym. Students can choose between two Students' Unions – the Queen Margaret Union hosts great gigs, while Glasgow University Union offers a brand-new building and is famed for its debating. Among the cluster of university buildings are the Hunterian museum and art gallery, and an enormous library spread over 12 floors.

See the University of Glasgow profile page for an interactive map and more information.

University of Strathclyde

The University of Strathclyde provides excellent industrial placements, scholarships and opportunities to study abroad. As a Strathclyde student you'll have a unique opportunity to spend up to one year of your degree studying at a partner university in Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore or Japan.

Location

The University of Strathclyde is in Glasgow's city centre close to supermarkets, an abundance of high street and second-hand shops, boutiques, restaurants, clubs, theatres, museums and more.

Facilities

The Students’ Union has bars and clubs that cater for all. Strath Union has 200+ societies to join, while the Sports Union has nearly 50 active clubs, from team sports like football and rugby to archery and athletics. Sports facilities include a swimming pool, fitness suite, sports halls and squash courts, dance studios and playing fields.

See the University of Strathclyde profile page for an interactive map and more information.

Glasgow Caledonian University

Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) has campuses in London and New York as well as Glasgow, and enjoys partnerships with leading institutions around the world. Students pursuing undergraduate programmes at GCU can get hands-on work experience in their field of study.

Location

The university is based in the heart of the city of Glasgow and has recently completed an investment of £30 million, reshaping its campus into a modern and welcoming environment for students.

Facilities

The large main restaurant serves everything from a healthy breakfast to a hearty lunch at student-friendly prices. Cafes include the Saltire, Mbeki and the Learning Cafe, serving a varied choice of food including vegan and veggie options.

The modern health and fitness centre hosts numerous affordable classes and activities, and is home to the many university sports clubs.

At the hub of the campus, the Sir Alex Ferguson Library has movable library shelves for easy access to books and group study pods with whiteboards. Students can also access over 2,000 computers across the library, study areas and halls of residence.

See Glasgow Caledonian University profile page for an interactive map and more information.

Glasgow School of Art

Glasgow School of Art was once housed in the renowned building by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Twice devastated by fire this building is currently out of use, but students still study in buildings nearby.

Location

Glasgow School of Art is based in Garnethill, an old residential area overlooking Sauchiehall Street, one of the city's most well-known thoroughfares. Despite the M8 motorway encircling the area to the north and west, it's a relatively quiet spot, with easy access to shops and nightlife in the pedestrianised city centre. Halls of residence are available nearby.

Facilities

GSA provides all the course-specific facilities you'd expect of an art school of its stature, along with a well-stocked library of art, design and architecture collections. IT facilities include bookable PCs and Macs, and workshop technicians support students with their expertise.

See Glasgow School of Art profile page for an interactive map and more information.

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

Focusing on the performing arts, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is truly multidisciplinary, with courses in acting, music, composition, film making, ballet, musical theatre, opera and more. With around 1,250 students on campus there's plenty of opportunity to mix with students from other disciplines, and collaboration is encouraged.

Location

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is situated near Sauchiehall Street, not far from Glasgow School of Art and Glasgow Caledonian University and with easy access to bus and train stations, shops and nightlife. Student accommodation is at Base Glasgow, less than five minutes' walk away.

Facilities

This relatively modern building features five purpose-built performance venues, a large number of practice rooms, recording studios, dance studios and professional production facilities. As well as this, the Whittaker Library houses a comprehensive collection of materials for music and drama, including access to online resources for film and music. Head to the cafe bar to enjoy some food or a hot drink, and you may also find yourself enjoying a performance from fellow students or guests.

See Royal Conservatoire of Scotland profile page for an interactive map and more information.

Living in Glasgow

With five higher education institutions in the city there's a lot of demand for somewhere to live. Accommodation is prioritised for first-year students, but check your options early.

Each of the three universities has their own halls, and arrangements with private providers may also be in place. New undergraduates studying at Glasgow School of Art and the Royal Consevatoire of Scotland may also be able to secure accommodation with partner student halls.

The benefits of living in student halls include being near campus, having access to uni facilities, security, 24/7 support and social spaces to meet people. Some halls will also offer a range of rooms, from single or standard to a studio or with an en suite.

Most students live in private accommodation from their second year onwards. Where you choose to live and the size of your accommodation will dictate how expensive your rent is. Common student areas in Glasgow include Finnieston, Hillhead, Kelvinbridge, Dennistoun and Scotstoun.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements vary from uni to uni and course to course – the best way to check what you need to get into your preferred course at each university is to use our course chooser and see what each course’s entry requirements are.

Transport links

Average train journey times from Glasgow

Birmingham 4 hours 55 minutes
Cardiff 7 hours 20 minutes
Edinburgh 1 hour 20 minutes
London 4 hours 30 minutes
Manchester 3 hours 25 minutes
Oxford 6 hours 30 minutes
Southampton 7 hours
 

Getting around Glasgow

Glasgow offers an array of transport options making it easy to travel across the city, to your uni campus or to halls of residence by public transport. Glasgow also boasts three international airports within 45 minutes of the city centre: Glasgow Airport, Glasgow Prestwick Airport, and Edinburgh Airport.

Bus

First Bus operate Glasgow’s main bus network around the city and offer student tickets at a cheap rate. Citylink buses and array of coach operators will take you to other parts of Scotland and the UK.

Underground

It’s quick and cheap to get around Glasgow on the city’s subway. One of the oldest underground systems in the world, it is definitely the simplest – you can go round in one direction, or the other, and that's it! Between the north and south of the River Clyde there are fifteen stations, and it's only four stops from Buchanan Street to Hillhead station in the West End. Get a Subway Smartcard for cheaper travel if you’re using the underground often.

Train

There are two main train stations in Glasgow. Glasgow Queen Street will connect you to other parts of Scotland, while Glasgow Central will take you to southern Scotland, London and around the UK. Buy a 16–25 Railcard for one-third off train tickets.

Cycle

Thanks to Glasgow’s OVO Bikes, cycling around the city is made easy. These bikes are dotted around the city. You’ll need to download the app and sign up to rent a bike, and on Fridays, you can get a free ride for up to thirty minutes. Glasgow also has many cycle lanes, so it’s worth investing in a bike. Keep your eyes out for any second-hand bike shops or see whether your uni has any bike schemes.

Walk

Glasgow is a walkable city. If you’re living near campus, this will not only be your cheapest transport option but a fantastic way to explore the area. You’ll come across some spectacular architecture along the way.

Other

If in need, Glasgow does have taxi services, along with Uber. This will be your safest option for getting home after a night out.

Things to do in Glasgow

Students thrive in Glasgow thanks to the variety of places to go, activities to do and events to attend. While you're working hard towards your degree it’s important to take breaks to enjoy yourself and take advantage of all there is to see and do.

Food and drink

The West End is where you’ll find a truckload of independent pubs, bars, and food spots to meet up at with friends. Argyle Street in Finnieston is also where you’ll find great bars, cafes, and street food, along with the Dockyard Social. Other popular spots to go out for drinks include Sauchiehall Street and Bath Street.

Arts and culture

Glasgow's art scene is vibrant. Go for a walk along the City Centre Mural Trail to see some remarkable street art, or spend a few hours at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. If you’re after a movie, pop into either the Glasgow Film Theatre or Everyman Glasgow. More of Glasgow’s arts scene can be experienced by going to performances by the Scottish Ballet or the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

Events

For gigs in Glasgow, see who’s performing at OVO Hydro, Barrowlands, King Tut’s or Glasgow’s O2 Academy. If you’re after live sport, you can watch two of world football’s most famous clubs, Celtic or Rangers, with other options including Partick Thistle and Glasgow City. Aside from football, there’s the Glasgow Warriors rugby team and top sporting venues for cycling and athletics. Glasgow also has film, comedy, science, jazz, and theatre festivals happening throughout the year.

Outdoors

Many consider Glasgow as one of the UK’s greenest cities, given it has over ninety parks and public gardens. The Botanic Gardens, the Hidden Gardens in Pollokshields and Pollok Park are all ideal for an adventure through nature. Further out from the city, Loch Lomond and the Highlands are both charming spots to spend the weekend away from the city.

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