The University of Strathclyde

Strathclyde is for the most part a city-centre university, with many of its academic departments and the student union located on the criss-cross of streets just past George Square, and just on the fringes of the upmarket Merchant City area of the city centre. The university precinct is fairly compact, and merges into the rest of the centre pretty seamlessly. The university also has a suburban campus located approximately four miles from the city centre, where its excellent Education faculty is located.

  

Background and History

Strathclyde became the university institution that it is today in 1967. However, it can trace its roots all the way back to the foundation of Anderson's University in 1796. Strathclyde is a newer institution than the University of Glasgow but, bucking the trend found in many British cities of the newer uni standing in the shadow of an older rival, Strathclyde can match its older neighbour in virtually every way, ranging from the size of its student population to its research output and teaching quality assessments.

Location and Accessibility

Rail: Glasgow Queen Street is just five minutes' walk from the main campus; Glasgow Central is a fifteen minute walk, going via the main shopping thoroughfare of Buchanan Street.

Road: The much-maligned M8 brushes the edge of the city centre; exiting it at Junctions 15 or 16 will get you to within walking distance of the university. On-street parking in the centre of Glasgow is fairly limited, but thankfully there are a couple of multi-storey car parks close to Strathclyde.

The university's Disability Service can provide advice on disabled access based on an individual assessment of students' needs.

What's on Offer

BA, BSc, BEd, LLB, MA, MSc, MPhil, MLitt, MRes, MBA, PhD, EDd, PGDE

Entry Requirements

For Arts and Social Sciences: ABB-BBC at A Level, BBBB at Highers For Sciences and Engineering: BBB-BBC at A Level, BBBB at Highers

University Accommodation

The university has its own accommodation at the city centre John Anderson Campus. Accommodation is self-catering only. University accommodation ranges in quality and price from basic and economical, to more opulent, en-suite accommodation.

Private Accommodation

Strathclyde students generally tend to prefer the city centre of Glasgow rather than joining their Glasgow Uni counterparts in the fashionable West End.

Faculties and Departments

The University of Strathclyde is split into four main faculties: the Strathclyde Business School, the Faculty of Engineering, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Faculty of Science.

Academic Strengths and Research Profile

Engineering has been Strathclyde's forte for some years now, and is regarded by many as Scotland's foremost institution for teaching and research in these subjects.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees vary depending on the course of study and whether you are from Scotland or elsewhere in the UK. Undergraduate and postgraduate fees differ, while fees for international students are also likely to be considerably higher than those for UK/EU students. For a full list of fees it is advisable to contact the university directly or visit their website.  

Financial Support

Strathclyde offers Access bursaries to students from low-income families.

Academic Facilities

With roughly 500,000 volumes, Strathclyde's library is perhaps a little on the small side for a university of its size. That said, with Strathclyde students also having access to Glasgow and Glasgow Caledonian universities' libraries, as well as the Mitchell Library, the largest public library in Western Europe, Strathclyde students are spoilt for choice when it comes to study space and resources. The main library is open from 8am to 10pm during the week. Computer rooms are also located across campus.

Other on-site Amenities

Strathclyde's union is well-known for putting on some of the rowdiest student nights in Glasgow, where cheap booze flows and a good time is had by all. The union and the university's facilities are perhaps not so well equipped for students' daytime needs, with some students complaining of a dearth of places to get a sandwich or a cup of coffee. That said, with the centre of Glasgow on your doorstep, there are plenty of non-university facilities immediately available.  

Medical and Social Care

Students are required to register with a local GP. The university has its own medical clinic. Students in need of any other form of help or advice will find a sympathetic and helpful ear from Student Support and Services, and the university also runs a 24-hour phone counselling service called Nightline.

What's on in the Area

Glasgow has seen a real boom in festivals in recent years, with the city now hosting film, comedy and writing festivals. It also hosts the annual World Piping Championships, with teams of bagpipers from as far afield as New Zealand and Pakistan. Glasgow also has a thriving theatre scene, with the Tron, the Citizens Theatre and the Tramway all on your doorstep. Nightlife is also excellent in Glasgow, and along with the many clubs on Sauchiehall Street, the Arches arts venue also throws some of the best parties in town.

Moving On

Strathclyde has its own Careers Service, which provides services such as career consultations, CV-writing assistance and advice on finding internships. It also runs an enterprise scheme called the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship.

Anderson's University, the institution founded in 1796 which would eventually become Strathclyde, was named after a former professor of Glasgow University, whose aim was to provide useful learning', quite possibly making it an eighteenth century equivalent of a polytechnic. Recent famous alumni include Franz Ferdinand frontman Alex Kapranos. With 168,000 students calling Glasgow home, the city has by some counts the largest student population in the United Kingdom outside of London.

Is Strathclyde University the place for you?

Strathclyde is the perfect choice if you want to experience student city life at its most fun and boisterous, whilst also receiving a top quality education. But if you're looking to live student life at a more relaxed pace, then maybe consider an out-of-town campus university, such as Stirling or Keele.