University of Glasgow
Glasgow, United Kingdom • Founded 1451 • QS 2027 #80
Updated Sep 2026 · Source: gla.ac.uk
Overview
The University of Glasgow is a public research university in Glasgow, Scotland, founded in 1451 and one of the oldest universities in the English-speaking world.
It operates three campuses: Gilmorehill, its main site in the city's West End; Garscube, four miles away, home to the School of Veterinary Medicine and several research institutes; and Dumfries, in south-west Scotland, home to the School of Social & Environmental Sustainability. Teaching and research are organised across four colleges - Arts & Humanities, Medical Veterinary & Life Sciences, Science & Engineering, and Social Sciences - comprising 23 schools.
In the 2024-25 academic year the university welcomed 35,614 undergraduate and postgraduate students and employed 7,913 full-time-equivalent staff, drawing a wider community of around 33,000 students from more than 140 countries. It is a member of the Russell Group of UK research-intensive universities and delivers transnational partnership programmes in China (Glasgow College, UESTC) and Singapore (with the Singapore Institute of Technology).
Its motto is Via, Veritas, Vita - the Way, the Truth, the Life.
Location & Contact
Find University of Glasgow on the map and its contact channels below.
Academic Details
University of Glasgow's key academic numbers — student body size, staffing, and accreditation context.
Academic Structures
University of Glasgow's faculties, schools, and constituent units are listed below.
Unit 24 items
- Adam Smith Business School
- College of Arts
- College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences
- College of Science and Engineering
- College of Social Sciences
- Dental School
- James Watt School of Engineering
- School of Chemistry
- School of Computing Science
- School of Critical Studies
- School of Culture and Creative Arts
- School of Education
- School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
- School of Humanities
- School of Interdisciplinary Studies
- School of Law
- School of Life Sciences
- School of Mathematics and Statistics
- School of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing
- School of Modern Languages and Cultures
- School of Physics and Astronomy
- School of Psychology
- School of Social and Political Sciences
- School of Veterinary Medicine
Degrees
The Glasgow School of Art offers degrees awarded by the University of Glasgow: Masters of Education (MEd), Philosophy (MPhil), Research (MRes), Science (MSc) and Masters in Design, Fine Arts and Letters, as well as Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). The Scotland’s Rural College offers degrees awarded by the University of Edinburgh and the University of Glasgow
Master's 6 programs
- Design
- Education
- Engineering Drawing and Design
- Fine Arts
- Literature
- Philosophy
Doctoral 48 programs
- Accountancy
- Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering
- Archaeology
- Art History
- Astronomy and Space Science
- Biological and Life Sciences
- Biomedical Engineering
- Celtic Languages and Studies
- Central European Studies
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Classical Languages
- Comparative Literature
- Computer Science
- Earth Sciences
- Eastern European Studies
- Economics
- Education
- Electronic Engineering
- Energy Engineering
- English
- Environmental Studies
- Film
- Finance
- French
- Geography (Human)
- History
- Italian
- Law
- Management
- Mathematics
- Media Studies
- Medicine
- Music
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Political Sciences
- Power Engineering
- Psychology
- Religious Studies
- Slavic Languages
- Sociology
- Statistics
- Theatre
- Theology
- Translation and Interpretation
- Urban Studies
- Veterinary Science
Faculties & Divisions
All faculties operate under Privy Council.
Arts (College) 22 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Archaeology
- Art History
- Arts and Humanities
- Celtic Languages and Studies
- Classical Languages
- Czech
- English
- European Languages
- Film
- French
- History
- Italian
- Media Studies
- Music
- Philosophy
- Polish
- Psychology
- Russian
- Slavic Languages
- Spanish
- Theatre
- Theology
Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences (College) 18 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Anatomy
- Biochemistry
- Biological and Life Sciences
- Cell Biology
- Dentistry
- Genetics
- Immunology
- Marine Biology
- Medicine
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Neurosciences
- Nursing
- Pharmacology
- Physiology
- Surgery
- Veterinary Science
- Zoology
Science and Engineering (College) 15 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering
- Architecture
- Astronomy and Space Science
- Biomedical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Science
- Earth Sciences
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Geography
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Physics
- Psychology
- Statistics
Social Sciences (College) 15 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Accountancy
- Business Administration
- Central European Studies
- Eastern European Studies
- Economics
- Education
- Environmental Studies
- Finance
- Health Sciences
- Law
- Political Sciences
- Primary Education
- Religious Education
- Social Policy
- Sociology
Glasgow School of Art (School) 11 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Architecture
- Communication Arts
- Computer Graphics
- Engineering Drawing and Design
- Fashion Design
- Interior Design
- Jewellery Art
- Painting and Drawing
- Photography
- Sculpture
- Textile Design
Programs Offered
Below are University of Glasgow's active programmes, grouped by degree level, with search.
1,027 programmes on record. Each level below shows a sample. Compare these on the programs page All programs in United Kingdom
Bachelor's Degree 2 programmes
Honours Degree 616 programmes
Showing 10 of 616.
Master of Business Administration 1 programme
Master's Degree 299 programmes
Showing 10 of 299.
Doctorate 98 programmes
Showing 10 of 98.
Professional Doctorate 6 programmes
Postgraduate Certificate 5 programmes
Scholarships in United Kingdom
Below are scholarships available to students in the United Kingdom.
How to apply to University of Glasgow
The application path for University of Glasgow, in five steps.
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1
Identify the right programme
Begin by reviewing the programmes section above. University of Glasgow offers 1,027 programmes grouped by qualification level. Decide on a target tier (bachelor's, master's, or doctoral) before narrowing by subject.
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2
Check entry requirements
Each programme at University of Glasgow has its own entry requirements — academic minimums, language proficiency, supporting documents, and sometimes interviews or portfolios. Check the programme-specific page or contact admissions to confirm eligibility.
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3
Prepare your application documents
Most applications require certified academic records, identification documents, language test certificates (IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent for English-medium programmes), CV/résumé, and a statement of purpose. Allow extra time for document authentication.
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4
Submit via UCAS or the institution
Undergraduate applicants apply through UCAS (ucas.com) rather than directly to University of Glasgow. Postgraduate applicants apply directly through University of Glasgow's own admissions portal at www.gla.ac.uk.
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5
Get in touch with admissions
After submitting, confirm receipt with the admissions office and track your application status through the portal. Reach the institution by phone at +44 (141) 330 2000. Set reminders for any interview requests, additional document submissions, or admission decision deadlines.
Frequently Asked Questions about University of Glasgow
Common questions about University of Glasgow, answered from data on record.
In what year was University of Glasgow established?
University of Glasgow was founded in 1451 (approximately 575 years ago).
What city is University of Glasgow in?
University of Glasgow operates from Glasgow, United Kingdom.
Is University of Glasgow a public or private institution?
It is a public higher-education institution.
How big is University of Glasgow's student body?
University of Glasgow serves approximately 38,710 students.
What is University of Glasgow's ranking?
It ranks QS 2027 #80.
What qualification levels does University of Glasgow offer?
University of Glasgow delivers bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes across its academic units.
How many faculties does University of Glasgow have?
The institution comprises 24 academic units.
Is University of Glasgow officially recognised?
Yes, University of Glasgow is recognised by Privy Council.
What is University of Glasgow's official website?
The institution's website is www.gla.ac.uk.
Top-Ranked Universities in the United Kingdom
Research output among the United Kingdom's top universities sets the publication-and-citation upper bound. Comparing University of Glasgow's research output to this benchmark gives a fair institutional read.
Members of European University Association (EUA)
University of Glasgow and the universities below are both members of European University Association (EUA).
Faculties at nearby universities
Universities located near University of Glasgow are listed below.
Where Else to Study Humanities & Cultural Studies
Other institutions in the United Kingdom teaching Humanities & Cultural Studies are listed below for comparison with University of Glasgow.
Universities Compared with University of Glasgow
These universities are of a comparable scale to University of Glasgow.
Studying in United Kingdom: guides and resources
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