Glasgow, University of

(Glasgow University, one of only two universities to list the vice-chancellor’s pay increase and a reason for it)

Overall ranking: Came 30th out of 123 in the Complete University Guide for 2015.

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. The fourth oldest university in the United Kingdom after Oxford, Cambridge and Durham.

Address: Compact campus in the trendy west end of Scotland's biggest city. The main building is designed in fake gothic style by Sir George Gilbert Scott but the campus has over 100 listed buildings, more than any other university in the UK. Another campus is located four miles from the city while a third, 90 miles south, is home to the School of Interdisciplinary Studies.

Ambience: The west end 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. Glasgow hosted the Commonwealth games in 2014- an event which has set up the buzz rating across the city and attracted more sporty types.

Who's the boss? Professor Anton Muscatelli is principal and vice-chancellor, an economist and a Glasgow graduate.

Prospectus: 0141 330 2000 or request one here.

UCAS code: G28

What you need to know

Easy to get into? Competitive. The university does not use UCAS tariff points but top grades are expected. For general degrees like science, engineering, along with arts and social sciences, Glasgow asks for AAB at A-level, or AAAA to AAABB in Scottish Highers at first sitting. With professional courses like medicine, dentistry, vet medicine and law and Accountancy, AAAs at A-level are expected, with Scottish Highers varying according to the degree. See more on their entry requirements here.

Vital statistics: Big. More than 17,000 undergrads and over 7,000 postgrads study here every year and come from 134 countries worldwide. One of the four UK universities in Universitas 21- an international association of research-based institutions. Glasgow is famous for medicine and veterinary medicine and is one of 24 Russell Group universities, dedicated to the highest levels of academic excellence.

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, plus one of the best academic libraries in Europe with over two million books on 12 floors, with books being accumulated there for over 500 years. £7.5m has been spent on lecture theatres/seminar rooms since 2007 with plans to invest a further £3.5m by 2017. Up to £160m is expected to be invested into facilities by 2015. Glasgow is also famed for having some of the best shopping in the UK outside London. This year the University of Glasgow finalised the purchase of a 15 acre area of land adjoining the existing central Gilmorehill campus. The university now has the opportunity to re-shape the campus and provide modern, fit for purpose facilities that are in keeping with Glasgow’s status as a world leading research-intensive university.

Teaching: Came 38th out of 123 in the Complete University Guide 2015 student satisfaction rankings.

Graduate prospects: Ranked 28th with 74.4 per cent entering graduate employment.

Any accommodation? Lots. Prices for 2014/15 range from £85 to £129 per week on a 39 week basis. 52 week contracts are also available. Accommodation also includes Sports and Recreation membership.

Cheap to live there? Not too bad for such a big city, although private accommodation varies greatly. Prices range from £95 to £200 per week –normally over 44-52 week contracts.

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

Fees: Scottish and EU full-time students pay £1,820 per year while costs for students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland are between £6,750 and £9,000 depending on course choice. Overseas undergraduates can expect to pay between £12,000 and £30,000 per year.

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

The fun stuff

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.

Price of a pint: About £2.75 on average.

Sporting reputation: Not bad- currently ranked 26th in the BUCS league table.

Notable societies: Build your own race car with the UG Racing team and compete against other universities. Various alcohol-based societies including one for the appreciation of whisky.

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. The country's first female medical graduates came from Glasgow.

Alternative prospectus: Read what current and recent students make of Glasgow's university experience on Which? University here.