Glasgow, University of

University of Glasgow

Age: 558

History: Founded in 1451 by Papal Bull, the university was situated in the High Street for 400 years before moving to its present site, on Gilmorehill, in 1870.

Address: Compact campus in the trendy west end of Scotland's biggest city. Main building is designed in fake gothic style by Sir George Gilbert Scott. The campus has more than 100 listed buildings, higher than any other university in the UK.

Ambience: This part of Glasgow is bustling and stylish, with the university at its centre. The cosmopolitan and ever-fashionable Byres Road is almost an extension of the campus itself.

Vital statistics: Big: around 16,500 full-time undergrads, 4,500 part-timers, 5,000 postgraduates and 4,500 students on non-degree courses. The fourth oldest university in the UK, with a global reputation for research and one of the four UK universities in Universitas 21 – an international association of research-based institutions. Glasgow is also famous for medicine and veterinary medicine.

Added value: Good sports facilities, with 92 acres of sports fields, a 25m heated swimming pool and over 60 exercise classes a week. Glasgow has a thriving student newspaper, radio and TV stations, as well as one of the best academic libraries in Europe, with over two million books on 12 floors. Glasgow is also famed for having some of the best shopping in the UK outside London.

Easy to get into? Competitive. The university does not use UCAS tariff points, but top grades are expected. The likes of accounting asks for AAABB at Scottish Highers or three As at A-level.

Glittering alumni: Ex-Liberal Democrat leaders Charles Kennedy and Sir Menzies Campbell; the late John Smith, former leader of the Labour Party; writers John Buchan, William McIlvanney, William Boyd, AJ Cronin, Alistair MacLean, Louise Welsh; John Logie-Baird, the man who invented TV; physicist Prof Jocelyn Bell Burnell; actor Gerard Butler; round the world yachtswoman Emma Richards and Mark Beaumont, who holds the world record for cycling around the globe.

Transport links: Good bus and underground service, two railway stations and Glasgow International Airport is just seven miles away.

Who's the boss? Professor Anton Muscatelli, economist and Glasgow graduate.

Teaching: 12th out of 116 in the Complete University Guide.

Research: 31st out of 115 in the Research Assessment Exercise.

Overall ranking: Came 21st out of 116 in the Complete University Guide.

Nightlife: Two student unions compete furiously, to good effect. Outside campus, 700 pubs, bars and nightclubs beckon, along with a legendary live music scene, almost all the major rock bands include the city in their touring schedule.

How green is it? Not very. Came 101st out of 138 universities graded by People & Planet for their 'Green League 2011'.

Any accommodation? Lots. There are 3,500 places in university-owned accommodation up for grabs each year. It costs £75 to £113 per week for self-catering accommodation. Alternatively, you can add two meals a day for between £132 and £147 per week.

Cheap to live there? Not too bad for such a big city. A self-catered, shared flat in Glasgow will set you back around £66 per week.

Sports Ranking: 31st in the BUCS league table.

Fees: Scottish and EU students do not have to pay any fees. Students from England, Northern Ireland and Wales are charged a standard Scottish tuition fee, which for 2011/2012 is £1,820 per year. Fees for 2012/2013 are yet to be decided, but it is expected they will rise by the rate of inflation.

Bursaties: There are a number of scholarships available for various levels of study, dependent on specific criteria. For further details visit the website.

Prospectus: 0141 330 6062; www.gla.ac.uk

UCAS code: G28