University of Glasgow, details of Glasgow university

Glasgow

University ranking

• 2010  26
• 2009  =16
• 2008  30

History

• Founded in 1451, the University of Glasgow has a tradition of excellence as the fourth oldest university in the United Kingdom.
• University of Glasgow students walk in the footsteps of scientist Lord Kelvin, economist Adam Smith and pioneer of television John Logie Baird, among many others. Throughout its history Glasgow has fostered the talents of six Nobel laureates, one Prime Minister, Scotland's inaugural First Minister and the country's first female medical graduates.
• Glasgow has more listed buildings than any other university in the UK (104).

Location and Transport

• Scotland's biggest city, Glasgow hosts the largest student population in Scotland and has been named one of the world's top ten cities in travel guides.
• Combining a compact campus-style environment with the benefits of being in a major city, the University has two main city campuses: Gilmorehill in the cosmopolitan and friendly West End; and Garscube, 6.5 km (4 miles) from the city.  A third campus is located in Dumfries some 145 km (90 miles) to the south of Glasgow.
• Both city campuses have excellent transport into the city centre via frequent buses and subway. Glasgow International Airport, Glasgow Prestwick International Airport and two city centre rail terminals offer easy connections with the rest of the UK and the world.

Accommodation

• 3,180 university places available.
• A wide range of accommodation, from 7-days catering to self-catered.
• All first year full-time students not within daily commuting distance are offered accommodation.
• Student residences provide unlimited access to the internet, 24/7.  All rooms have data points for internet access.
• More details on accommodation at Glasgow are availablehere.  

Entry standards
League Table

• The university attracts talented students from diverse backgrounds and welcomes applications from all with appropriate qualifications.  
• For further information on entry standards at Glasgow, click here.

Bursaries and Scholarships

• There are no variable tuition fees in Scotland. Fees for 2010–11 have not yet been confirmed. If you are a Scottish-domiciled first degree student you are eligible for your tuition fees to be covered by the Scottish Government. Scottish students should apply to the SAAS to cover this cost. Students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland should apply for a fee loan to Student Finance England, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance Northern Ireland as appropriate. Students from elsewhere in the EU should contact the SAAS.
• Tuition fees for non-Scottish domiciled students for 2009–10 have yet to be confirmed but are expected to be £1,820 a year (£2,895 for medicine).
• The RUK Bursary has been introduced for students normally resident in England, Wales or Northern Ireland only, studying at a Scottish university, who would otherwise have been eligible for a £319 national minimum bursary (i.e. in receipt of full HEMG) had they studied at a university in the rest of the UK. The RUK Bursary is currently worth around £310. 
• Fees for placement year and year abroad are normally 50% of full-time fee.
• Fifty Talent Scholarships worth £1,000 a year.  These are awarded annually to high achieving new entrants living in the UK who could face financial difficulties. 
• For more information on bursaries and scholarships at Glasgow, click here.

Student mix

• Male : female 1:1.4 (10,056:14,056).
• Home : overseas 11.4:1 (22,167:1,945).
• 86.6% of students are from state schools or colleges.
• Applications to places ratio 6.3:1. 

Course flexibility

• Undergraduate students can choose from more than 900 degree combinations.
• The university's flexible degree system means that students don't have to restrict their choice of subjects when they begin studying. As long as students are not studying for a professional degree, it is possible to wait until the end of second year before choosing honours subject(s), allowing time to try out up to four subjects at university level. 

Teaching standards
League Table 

• The University of Glasgow has been building on more than 550 years of teaching excellence to provide an education that inspires respect from employers and satisfaction from students.
• The university's teaching quality consistently achieves the highest ratings in independent assessments.
• Glasgow is a founder member of Universitas 21, an international grouping of universities dedicated to setting worldwide standards for higher education.
• Glasgow students report high levels of satisfaction with their degree programmes, with subjects as diverse as biology, finance and geology recording satisfaction levels of 100% in the 2008 National Student Survey (results available atwww.unistats.com).
• Committed to maintaining these high teaching standards into the future, the university has channelled £152m into new facilities in recent years, with a further £300m of planned investment by 2010. Glasgow has appointed 476 new members of teaching staff since 2006.

Research standards
League Table 

• A member of the prestigious Russell Group of 20 major research-led universities in the UK.
• Around 2,500 staff engaged in research.
• In 20067–08, the value of research grants and contracts awarded exceeded £108m; funding comes from research councils, charities, government and industry.
• A total of 56 new professors and 441 new researchers, plus £45m of investment from the Science Research Investment Fund over a four-year period is enabling Glasgow to make an enormous contribution to research. In 2007–08 the university received the highest particle physics funding and the highest arts funding for higher education in the UK.
• In the last year the university has worked on commercial research with more than 30 companies, filed 25 new patents and granted 11 new intellectual property licences.
• Postgraduate numbers have increased by 20% over the last five years and applications have increased by 41% since 2007. Over 40 new postgraduate taught courses have been launched in September 2008.
• More information on research at the University of Glasgow is available here.

Academic strengths

• Key areas include: the British Heart Foundation Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre, the Glasgow Biomedical Research Centre and the Wolfson Medical School; the University's Creative Writing Masters and the only university department dedicated to Scottish Literature in the world; the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, with approved status from the American Veterinary Medical Association.
• The university's Faculty of Engineering is the oldest in the UK, with the only Department of Aerospace Engineering in Scotland. Students can access wind tunnel facilities to test aerofoils, cars and bridges.
• The university's Business School is one of an elite group in the world to have achieved accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Student facilities, including Library and Computing
League Table 

• The library provides access to 2.5 million books on 12 floors, access to c. 25,000 e-journal titles, excellent opening hours (7.15am–2am daily), 600 computer workstations available for drop in use by all students and wireless enabled public areas.
• 3,000 computer workstations across campus are available for use outside classes. There are also more than 40 wireless hotspots around campus.
• Since 2001, £152m has been invested into facilities across the university. Plans are in place to invest £300 million by 2010.
• Continuous investment in facilities that support learning and experience includes the multimillion-pound development of a student HUB in the heart of the university's main campus. The new HUB will offer easy access to a variety of services, such as careers and international office, coffee bars, a food court with seating for 400, and space earmarked for a bookstore, GP practice and a pharmacy. Competing in early 2009.

Disability Services

• For Information on disability services at the University of Glasgow telephone 0141 330 549, email or visit the website.

Students’ Union

• The university has a choice of two unions, both with distinctive characteristics: Glasgow University Union and Queen Margaret Union.
• The GMU has an impressive reputation as a live music gig venue.
• The GUU has held the world debating title and the Observer Mace more often than any other institution in the world.
• The Student Representative Council represents students on all the main university committees and provides a range of student services. 

Sport

• First-class sport facilities include two sports centres at convenient sites on university campuses with facilities including: 25m heated swimming pool; sauna and steam rooms; health and exercise advice centre; fitness, cardiovascular and strength suites; large multi-purpose games hall; 2 all-weather synthetic pitches; 3 tennis courts; a cricket oval.
• Additional services include chiropractors, sports, massage, Thai yoga clinics and alternative therapies.
• Sports and Recreation has more than 10,500 members, one of the highest participation rates within British Universities.
• Glasgow is the host city for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Recent/prospective new builds

• The HUB front-line student service facility with coffee bars, a food court, bookshop and GP practice/pharmacy (£11.5-m redevelopment due for completion early 2009).
• Small Animal Hospital Extension and Large Animal Holding Building with refurbishment to teaching building (£18.7m new build due for completion in 2009). This new facility will be a teaching and referral hospital with a holistic approach and state of the art equipment.
• A 6-month refurbishment of Level 4 of the university Library providing improved student study space, group study rooms, dedicated facilities for IT training and student PCs (completed in April 2008).
• Ongoing multi-million pound refurbishment of Glasgow's teaching and research laboratories including investment in the Cullen Research Laboratory, which is used for third year teaching. A complete refit of first and second year physics teaching laboratories is complete and construction of a new chemistry teaching lab and two-level inorganic research lab is currently underway.

Availability of part-time work

• The Student Representative Council (SRC) Job Shop keeps students up to date with the latest part time, casual and seasonal job opportunities. The website has advice on CVs, interview skills and job hunting.
• The University's Careers Service connects students and employers through initiatives such as the JEM website, which contains information on opportunities for voluntary, paid and vacation work, as well as internships and vacation work overseas. 
• The University's Club 21 Business Partnership Programme offers undergraduate students high-quality work experience opportunities with a diverse range of businesses and organisations.
• Glasgow's Student Network puts prospective, new and current students in touch with more experienced students, who can answer queries about studying at Glasgow and give insights and advice on local sources of part-time employment.      

For further information

• www.glasgow.ac.uk
• e.shortt@admin.gla.ac.uk
• University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ
• +44 (0)141 330 2000
• Travel and maps