Telephone: 0141 339 8855 Website: http://www.gla.ac.uk/
Fax: 0141 330 4045 E-mail: -
Applications: UCAS Students: Total full-time 19,930. Male/female ratio 5:6. First degree students 14,490 (657 from overseas; 21% mature on entry). Postgraduates 2635 (1016 of which are p-t).
Staff: 1542. Student enquiries: Registrar's Office.
Broad study areas: Arts & social sciences, divinity, education, engineering, law & financial studies, medicine, science, veterinary medicine. Accommodation: Almost all first years housed.
In brief: Traditional research-led university. Location: Glasgow, central Scotland. UCAS points on entry: 22.8.
Background: Founded: 1451. Site: Compact central campus. Access: Within easy reach of bus, rail and underground stations. Awarding body: Glasgow University. Main undergraduate awards: BA, BAcc, BArch, BD, BDS, BEd, BMus, BN, BSc, BEng, MEng, LLB, MA, MB ChB, MSci, BVMS, BTechEd, BTheol, BTechnol. Length of courses: 4 years (hons); others 3 years and 5 years. Library & information services: Main and departmental libraries with over 2 million volumes; separate reading area with all first year texts. Annual expenditure on information provision, £120 per (FTE) student. IT service separate; 393 points with access to internet, 3000+ to the library. IT facilities open 12+ hours/day with 2 user support staff. Familiarisation sessions with library and information services as part of general induction; certificate in IT compulsory for all new students. Other learning facilities: Computer centre, language laboratories. Specialist collections: Extensive and valuable collection of books and manuscripts. Also Hunterian Museum (anatomical and surgical drawings, instruments etc); Hunterian Art Gallery (old masters, Whistlers, Chardins, Charles Rennie Mackintosh House), ethnographic and Roman collections. Study abroad: 5% of students spend a period abroad. Wide range of exchanges with universities and colleges across the EU, North America, Canada & Australia for students in many subject areas. Careers: Advice (including summer jobs) and placement service. Student support: Student health centre (works in co-operation with students' own local doctor). Student counselling service, effective learning advisers; academic advisers for all students. Amenities: SRC shops, travel bureau, bank, insurance bureau, printing and photocopying facilities; 2 student unions with lounges, bars, TV rooms; mature student association. Sporting facilities: Physical education building offering wide range of indoor sports, 25m swimming pool, 3 activity halls, cardiovascular and muscle-conditioning suites and sauna. Athletic grounds with bar and pavilion about 2 miles from campus. Access to international sports facilities in Kelvin Hall sports arena.
Accommodation: 99% of first years are in university accommodation, 60% of all students who require it. 3800 places available (3000 for first years): catered standard room £66-£76 pw (en-suite £88 pw); standard self-catering room £45-£51 pw (en-suite £65 pw); private accommodation - self-catering £55 pw, half board £70 pw. 40% of first degree students live at home.
Term-time work: No university policy on part-time work in term time (30% of students believed to work). Some work available on campus in registry, helping with student recruitment, admissions, matriculation; also SRC operates a JobShop.
Hardship funds: Total available £958,251 government access funds, 1431 students helped. Special help for those in private accommodation, those with child-minding costs, extra costs arising from a disability or special needs, or mature students. £109,125 own funds, 487 students helped. Tuition fees Scottish and EU students pay no fees during course; other UK home students up to £1075 pa for first degrees; overseas students £7100 (classroom), £8800 (lab/studio), £13,980-£17,230 (clinical).
Student view: It comes as a surprise to many freshers that Glasgow University has two independent student unions; the first major decision is not what course to study, but which union to join. Glasgow University Union (GUU) is the bigger, and many say the better of the two. Within this grade II listed building at the foot of University Avenue, the best and cheapest watering holes on campus can be found in the form of the renowned Beer Bar or Beerie and, in the basement, Deep 6 (recently refurbished). The Union also boasts its own nightclub, The Hive, which frequently plays host to a variety of big-name DJs and is one of the most popular student venues in town; especially on Thursday, Lollipop night. On further inspection, 5 other bars can be found as well as libraries, dining room, smoke room, buffet (excellent filled rolls), coffee shop, billiards hall (10 full size tables), pool hall, bedrooms and, last but by no means least, the debates chamber where big bands have been known to play and five separate pairs of World Debating Champions have been trained over the last 15 years.
Student life: Housing: Uni accommodation for 1 year; then accommodation office has approved list of local housing. 15 bedrooms at cheap rates in union for overnight stays. Large percentage live at home. Drink: GUU beer bar and Deep 6 cheapest on campus (£1.45 a pint), excellent promotions. The Rock, Bar 200 cheap local places. Tennents, Belhaven good local brews. Eats: GUU catering - fresh filled rolls, vegetarian dishes, halal meat and normal meat-catering also in Beer Bar. Meal on campus from £2. Bar Oz and Nicos good food locally (reasonable prices). Nightlife: Theatre Royal, Glasgow Film Theatre and Citizens Theatre all offer student discounts. GUU has its own nightclub, the Hive (cheap and popular); bands include Cast, Ben Folds, Five etc ... The Hive, The Garage, Alaska good local clubs. Locals: Nicer than other Scottish cities. Some pubs don't welcome students (have signs outside). Sports: Kelvin Hall and Stevenson Building. Travel: Scholarships on offer include McGill, Georgetown and Freiburg universities. Jobs: Work not well paid and difficult working hours. Shops and lots of bar work in summer. Best features: The Union system (and not a member of NUS); Daft Friday. And worst: The weather.
Alumni: Ian McGregor, Teddy Taylor MP, John Smith (former Labour Party leader), William Boyd (author), Pat Kane (Hue and Cry), Donald Dewar MP, Charles Kennedy MP, Lord Irvine (Lord Chancellor).