Glasgow Caledonian University

Overview

Glasgow is a very popular student city, and for good reason. The city has plenty to offer young people, and is a vibrant, welcoming and bustling community. Glasgow Caledonian University is centrally-located, and home to over 10,000 undergraduate students. The uni prides itself on being forward-thinking and inclusive and is committed to its mission for the common good.

The uni is equipped with high-quality facilities, and offers students excellent support services, contributing to its place as 58th in the UK for student satisfaction according to Complete University Guide 2024. You can choose from over 100 courses, and many of these courses offer the chance to undertake an industry placement or year abroad.

The city is well-connected, with multiple train stations and direct connections to cities including Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham and London. Glasgow itself also has a metro system, making it easy to get around the city using public transport. There are also lots of bus services running around the city, so no matter where you need to get to, you’ll have no trouble finding a route.

Glasgow Caledonian University is a great choice for students looking for a career-focused course, world-class facilities and innovative teaching. As a campus-based university you can immerse yourself in the student community, while also enjoying the incredible things on offer in the city of Glasgow.

Glasgow Caledonian University has over 100 undergraduate courses available across a wide range of subject areas. Some of the subject areas covered at this university include applied science, economics and law, mechanical engineering, media and journalism, psychology and vision science – a broad range from STEM to medicine to the arts to social sciences.

Typically, undergraduate courses in Scotland last for four years. You may have the chance in your third year to undertake a year abroad, and there may also be the opportunity on your course to complete a work placement.

You can expect to learn through a variety of methods. You’ll likely have lectures alongside seminars, practical work and group projects, depending on the subject you’re studying. Assessment methods also vary, but you’ll likely be assessed via a mixture of exams and coursework. Coursework could include things such as essays, group presentations or lab reports.

All offers at Glasgow Caledonian University are made based on individual applications. Typical entry requirements depend on the course you’re applying for but are usually between 64 and 147 UCAS points. Courses on the GCU pathway often have lower entry requirements than this.

Students identified as widening access students may be given a lower or adjusted offer. You may be considered a widening access student if you’re living in a target postcode, have experience of being in care, a refugee or asylum seeker, or if you’ve completed a pre-entry SWAP programme.

Alternative qualifications such as Foundation Apprenticeships, HNC/HND and Access courses are considered.

Usually, you’ll need to have five GCSEs at grade C/4 or above, including English language and maths. You may also need to have studied specific subjects at A-level, Scottish Highers or equivalent, depending on the course you’re applying for.

You’ll find the most up-to-date entry requirements for the course you’re interested in on Glasgow Caledonian University’s website. Entry requirements are subject to change at any time.

The university offers accommodation to students at Caledonian Court, their ‘village within the city’. There are 660 rooms available, arranged in flats shared between six to eight students. Students are not automatically guaranteed accommodation at Caledonian Court due to the high volume of applications, but priority is given to care experienced students, disabled students, international students and those aged under 19 on September 1st of the year their accommodation would commence. Commuting distance is also considered where possible.

Rooms at Caledonian Court are priced between £114 per week and £135 per week, and all rooms are self-catered, meaning you’ll have access to shared kitchen facilities in order to prepare your own meals. Rooms with shared bathrooms are £114 per week, while en-suite rooms are £135 per week. Rent is inclusive of utilities and internet. Laundry facilities are available at an extra pay-as-you-go cost.

If living in university halls isn’t for you, then you can consider private accommodation in and around the city. If you live within commuting distance of the university, you may also choose to live at home and commute to university.

The uni’s careers service offers you plenty of ways to develop your employability during your studies. They offer guidance on career planning, including creating a career roadmap or discussing initial ideas, perhaps based on the subject you’re studying.

You can also make use of the career mentoring services on offer, which include opportunities to discuss your career and plans in a one-to-one meeting, support to take the first step towards achieving your career goals, feedback on your CV and interview skills, and an insight into the world of graduate work. You can get support on all stages of the recruitment process from CV writing to speculative applications to interviews.

The online services available include a jobs board for graduate roles and internships, the ability to sign up for career-focused events, video and text resources, advice for improving performance in psychometric tests skills and the opportunity to have an online meeting with a career advisor or submit a question to the team online.

Glasgow Caledonian University has a range of different support available to students in the form of scholarships and bursaries. These are non-repayable and are usually on top of any support you’re entitled to from your student finance body.

All students from England, Wales or Northern Ireland are granted a £2,000 cash bursary for the first three years of their studies, and their final year tuition fees are waived on four-year honours programs.

As well as this, the university offers bursaries to undergraduate students from disadvantaged backgrounds, for those on certain courses and for asylum seekers living in Glasgow and the surrounding areas.

On top of support provided by the university, you may be eligible for extra support if you’re a care leaver, an unpaid carer for an adult, disabled or a parent. This support would come from your student finance body and would typically be non-repayable.

For full eligibility criteria and up-to-date information on funding, please refer to the university’s website, or to the website of your relevant student finance body.