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Posted Nov. 20, 2024

University of Glasgow

The University of Glasgow is an institution that brings many people north of the border, with its modern research facilities and historic campuses well known and much loved by the undergraduates and postgraduates studying there.

Introducing the University of Glasgow

With a history dating back to 1451, the University of Glasgow has long been an institution known for its research excellence. This Russell Group university boasts over 570 years of heritage in education, research and innovation, and is a proud part of the ‘Ancient Universities’ of the United Kingdom alongside St Andrews, Aberdeen, Oxford and Cambridge.

Despite its forward-thinking reputation, the University of Glasgow was initially established as a centre for religious and classical education. It went on to play a vital role in both the Scottish Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution, with its notable alumni shaping the very course of history.

Rankings and reputation

The university’s research has impacted so many different fields, with medicine, technology and social sciences just some of the areas where the university and its researchers have earned recognition on a global scale. The University of Glasgow pioneered medical advancements, such as ultrasound technology for medical diagnostics in the 1950s which revolutionised prenatal care.

Economist and philosopher Adam Smith is one of the scholars linked to the university. While Lord Kelvin also features in its rundown of men and women of fame:

“William Thomson, Lord Kelvin, began his studies at the University of Glasgow in 1834 at the age of 10. He returned at the age of 22 and took up the chair of Natural Philosophy (Physics), a post he held for 53 years. Arguably the pre-eminent scientist of the nineteenth century, he enjoyed an international reputation for theoretical and practical research across virtually the entire range of the physical sciences.”

In more recent years, the institution’s Boyd Orr Centre won the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for its work tackling infectious diseases that impact agricultural communities across many developing countries, as well as the UK. The University of Glasgow has also previously been named University of the Year at the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards.

The university’s James Watt School of Engineering and Adam Smith Business School are celebrated internationally too, attracting undergraduate and postgraduate students from all over the world. Read what international students really think of the university and its postgraduate offering at Postgrad.com. Here’s MSc student Margarita Grigorova’s story and a case study from International Postgraduate Management Trainee Julian Fieres for further insights.

Course options and opportunities

The University of Glasgow offers a wide range of courses, from undergraduate to postgraduate and research degrees, across its four main colleges. 

The university is renowned for its flexible modular system, which enables its students to explore a variety of subjects in their first year, and encourages interdisciplinary learning and critical thinking. The university also champions students to combine study with opportunities abroad, internships and collaborative projects to ensure they gain practical experience as well as academic learning.

There are several online learning opportunities available, with the university specially adapting its postgraduate programs for students looking to bring balance to studies, achieve their ambitions and join their world-changing community. The flexibility continues, with online postgraduate programs able to be started in January, April or September.

Life as a University of Glasgow postgrad

With a cost of living that’s much lower than many other UK cities, a warm and welcoming atmosphere, stunning green spaces, excellent entertainment and shopping, great food and drink, unique accommodation and great universities, Glasgow is a great place to live and study for so many reasons.

For further information about life as a postgraduate student at the University of Glasgow, check out their upcoming online and on-campus events.

Find out more today

You can browse all postgraduate programs at the University of Glasgow right here at Postgrad.com. Use our search tool to refine course options and discover the postgraduate opportunities that are made for you.

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