University of Glasgow

The University of Glasgow is one of four ancient universities in Scotland, founded back in 1451.

Alumni include seven Nobel Prize winners, Scotland’s First Minister and a Prime Minister, while Albert Einstein gave a seminal lecture on the theory of relativity there in 1933.

The university consists of four colleges:

• College of Arts
• College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences
• College of Science and Engineering
• College of Social Sciences

There are three campuses making up the university. The main campus is Gilmorehill, centred around an impressive neo-gothic building and equipped with contemporary facilities. The university’s sporting facilities are located at the Garscube Campus, and further afield the Dumfries campus offers various courses and is surrounded by acres of parkland.

Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city has a great range of sports facilities and was host to the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the 2018 European Championships, and the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships. With a thriving cultural scene, there are plenty of museums, galleries and theatres to explore in students’ spare time. The streets are lined with a vast mix of historic Victorian buildings and modern skyscrapers, making up the many shops, bars and restaurants around the city.

Postgraduate

The university has over 7,000 postgraduate students from 140 countries around the world, taking up taught and research degrees. There is an extensive range of postgraduate study options, ranging from financial economics to European studies.

One of the main advantages for postgraduate students is The Gilchrist Postgraduate Club, a dedicated place for students and staff to study and socialise in. Facilities include study booths with integrated TV screens, a seminar room and a café/ bar.

Overall, the university offers postgraduate students an extensive range of services and facilities to ensure they have a rewarding and fulfilling experience, both academically and socially.

The university offers a vast range of courses for postgraduate students, taught by leading experts. Students benefit from an extensive range of learning resources, including one of the largest university libraries in the UK with over 800 PCs. There is the opportunity to study full or part-time on a number of the taught degrees, while research degrees and distance courses are also available.

There are more than 300 different taught courses to choose from at the University of Glasgow. Taught master’s courses usually run for one year full-time or two years part-time. Alternatively, postgraduate diplomas usually last for nine months full-time. Postgraduate certificates take 4-5 months.

There are also research degrees available, generally split into research masters and PhDs. The length of these courses can vary.

The faculty consists of genuine experts in their field, often with years of experience working in relevant careers before transitioning into teaching (or teaching alongside their work). They excellent educators, inspiring students with their passion and dedication.

The entry requirements for study at a postgraduate level at the University of Glasgow vary depending on a student’s chosen subject, but in most cases a 2.1 undergraduate degree classification is considered the minimum requirement. Some courses may be able to offer places to students with a 2.2 undergraduate degree.

There is consideration for those students who return to university following time in the workplace – applicants who don’t meet the undergraduate degree criteria but who have relevant career experience may also be considered for a place.

The university’s website has information on the specific requirements for all courses, including those for international students – all courses are taught and assessed in English, but some may have a higher test score requirement, depending on the complexity of the language used within the study program.

January Entry

January entry is available on a range of both on campus and online distance learning postgraduate degrees, for students unable to start in September.

There is a broad range of courses available at the University of Glasgow, with many of them being widely commended and respected by global institutions and industry bodies. The university is known for its quality, offering courses that are often ranked among some of the best in the country, in which students will benefit from outstanding expertise and excellent facilities.

Indeed, one of the main academic strengths of the university is its provision of extensive resources and dedicated learning spaces, often tailored to specific disciplines. As just one example, law students will be able to use a full moot courtroom as well as their own dedicated library that contains all the legal publications and materials they’ll need.

Glasgow also offers a modern approach to all tuition, which means getting students hands-on with their learning as much as possible. While lectures and seminars will play a key role in many courses, wherever possible they are supplemented by practical lessons using the same quality of equipment or software as is used in professional settings.

The University of Glasgow offers exciting opportunities to all students, not just through additional services but also via contemporary approaches to learning, with students benefiting from practical tuition alongside academic studies.

The university has a careers service that postgraduate students are welcome to use. Here, students will be able to book interviews with a careers advisor, as well as coaching appointments to help prepare for the future job hunt. A number of workshops and seminars are organised throughout the year to help and inspire students.

Online, there are step-by-step guides for CV help, as well as interview tips, advice on networking with employers, and information on where to look to find a job. There is also the Internship Hub, which posts current vacancies from businesses in the local area, as well as a Jobshop for part-time work and volunteering opportunities. If students are thinking of starting their own business after graduating, the startup support initiative will be able to offer them advice.

Student union

Glasgow University Union (GUU) is made up of seventeen elected student members, known as The Board of Management.

There is also a second union – Queen Margaret Union (QMU), who are elected bi-annually. All members strive to maintain the everyday running of their union, overseas events, arrange social activities and voice the concerns of the students to the university.

Clubs and societies

There is a large selection of societies for students to join. They include the Student Theatre Group, the Singapore Students’ Society, the Geography Society and the Creative Writing Society. There are more than 40 different sports clubs, ranging from windsurfing and sailing to skiing and surfing. The variety of clubs on offer is regularly featured in student reviews.

City life

As the largest city in Scotland, it’s impossible to be bored in Glasgow. In 2022 it was ranked as the world’s friendliest and 2^nd most affordable city by Time Out.

Famous for its world-class culture, there are plenty of museums, galleries and venues spread around the city. For music fans, the city hosts over 130 shows and concerts every week and is the UK’s first UNESCO City of Music.

Accommodation

The university offers a number of self-catered postgraduate accommodation options, with standard and en-suite rooms to choose from.

Facilities vary depending on the site but include internet access, laundry facilities, a TV area or common room, 24/7 security and personal possession insurance.

Facilities

The universities library is one of the largest in the UK, with over 2,200 study spaces, 800 PCs and an impressive collection of manuscripts, archives and rare books.

Around the university there are another 10 cafes and restaurants, as well as a second-hand book shop, a sports shop, and an art gallery.

The university is investing GBP 1 billion into a new campus which will benefit students for years to come. Some features include a learning hub and an advanced research centre.

James McCune Smith Learning Hub

The JMS Building provides creative space for students. There are flexible study and social learning areas, in which many styles of technology-led teaching take place.

Advanced Research Centre

The ARC is a space for nurturing interdisciplinary thematic research ‘at scale’ – crossing traditional boundaries and established ways of working. This includes the Innovation Accelerator Area, where top-quality office and laboratory spaces can facilitate entrepreneurs and corporate spin-offs.

The University of Glasgow offers a wide range of student support services to ensure that all students are able to focus on their study program, minimising the distractions that life can often provide.

Support ranges from financial service to help with finding accommodation and searching for a job. A confidential disability support service is also available, which can offer guidance on additional tuition support, additional resources and more.

Each student is allocated a personal tutor, who will be able to assist with any academic decisions. The Students’ Representative Council maintain a Nightline service, where students can speak to someone in confidence over the phone anytime between 7 pm – 7 am. Counselling groups, courses, workshops and one-to-one sessions are free of charge and open for all students.

The majority of students have spoken fondly about both the academic and personal support they’ve received from the university, especially when it came to money advice.

There are many different scholarships and bursaries that students can apply for when attending the University of Glasgow, details of which can be found on the university’s website. Some of these scholarships are awarded for recognition of academic talent and application, while others are available to benefit students from diverse backgrounds. Most are awarded in the form of a tuition fee discount, applied directly to the student’s account with the university.

Taught

Taught courses are made up of seminars, tutorials and lectures, typically lasting one year if completed on a full-time basis. Assessments are in the form of exams or coursework – or both, depending on the course. Usually, the programme will consist of core and elective modules, which will allow students to specialise in areas of particular interest. Guest speakers and workshops are also incorporated into many of the degrees.

Research

Research students will undertake an independent project, under the guidance of an academic supervisor specialising in their field of study. Work is not formally examined until the final thesis is submitted. A number of the courses also offer students the opportunity to teach undergraduate students.

Distance learning

The university currently offers a number of distance courses, including creative writing, education and public health. Courses are completed online, meaning students can study anywhere in the world. The university virtual learning environment will give students access to all the necessary learning resources, lectures, journal articles, interactive quizzes and they will be able to interact with fellow students on the online campus.