Where it ranks in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, what it’s really like to study there, and what halls and living costs look like.
Glasgow is one of the oldest universities in the world, with a famous Gothic campus on a hill in the city's West End. Kelvingrove Park, Byres Road, Ashton Lane and Finnieston are all on the doorstep, so you get cafés, bars, gigs and green space within a few minutes' walk.
It's a big Russell Group university, with nearly 39,000 students and a large international community. Halls are spread across the West End and the north of the city, and many are a 15–20-minute walk or a mile or more from campus. If you want history, a big city and a lively student neighbourhood, it's a great choice.
Known for
The University of Glasgow is 26th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 53.9, above the UK median of 48.5. Our rankings are built around the student experience, combining employability, freshers experience, happiness, nightlife, sustainability, inclusion, innovation and societies. That means big research names don’t automatically top the table. See how we score universities.
Marker shows the UK median across all ranked universities.
| Rank | University | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | University of Cambridge | 54.5 |
| 25 | Royal Holloway, University of London | 53.9 |
| 26 | University of Glasgow | 53.9 |
| 27 | Northumbria University | 53.7 |
| 28 | University of Liverpool | 53.4 |
Each award ranks all 124 universities on one part of student life. Click through for the full table.
10th of 124 · Societies Score 66.8
15th of 124 · Balance Score 54.1
18th of 124 · Social Score 66
21st of 124 · Nightlife Score 62.7
21st of 122 · Careers Score 40.9
23rd of 124 · Employability Score 40.6
25th of 124 · Value Score 59
28th of 124 · Inclusion Score 71.3
42nd of 124 · Wellbeing Score 54.5
52nd of 124 · Affordability Score 57.8
54th of 124 · Innovation Score 57.2
56th of 124 · Freshers Score 56.1
64th of 123 · Happiness Score 46.1
69th of 124 · Safety Score 41
85th of 124 · Sustainability Score 44.7
Glasgow as a student city
Ranked 28th of 72 UK university cities in our Best University Cities 2027 ranking, with a score of 54.9.
The University of Glasgow appears in 37 of our subject league tables. Here’s where it places in each, best first.
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Artificial Intelligence | 11th | of 66 | 117 |
| Veterinary Science | 2nd | of 10 | 41 |
| Neuroscience | 8th | of 26 | 75 |
| Pharmacology | 13th | of 37 | 76 |
| Dentistry | 3rd | of 8 | 37 |
| Music | 21st | of 56 | 109 |
| Psychology | 42nd | of 108 | 149 |
| Software Engineering | 23rd | of 58 | 117 |
| Teacher Training 2026 table | 4th | of 10 | – |
| Computer Science | 42nd | of 102 | 151 |
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biochemistry | 26th | of 60 | 108 |
| Nursing | 37th | of 85 | 132 |
| Law | 45th | of 97 | 124 |
| Marine Biology | 8th | of 17 | 51 |
| Chemistry | 21st | of 44 | 90 |
| Economics | 42nd | of 85 | 117 |
| Bioinformatics 2026 table | 5th | of 10 | – |
| Sports Science | 39th | of 78 | 117 |
| Biology | 26th | of 51 | 87 |
| Zoology | 20th | of 37 | 78 |
| Statistics | 15th | of 27 | 60 |
| Aerospace Engineering 2026 table | 17th | of 30 | 67 |
| Environmental Science | 27th | of 47 | 84 |
| Theology and Religious Studies 2026 table | 6th | of 10 | – |
| Electrical Engineering | 41st | of 67 | 86 |
| Aeronautical Engineering | 5th | of 8 | 29 |
| Robotics | 20th | of 32 | 70 |
| Medicine | 19th | of 30 | 57 |
| Product Design | 28th | of 43 | 70 |
| Civil Engineering | 40th | of 58 | 74 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 54th | of 77 | 94 |
| Mathematics | 43rd | of 61 | 74 |
| Geology | 15th | of 21 | 38 |
| Geography | 46th | of 63 | 83 |
| Archaeology | 21st | of 28 | 57 |
| Physics | 35th | of 45 | 69 |
| Construction Management 2026 table | 10th | of 10 | – |
Subject tables compare universities on graduate earnings, student satisfaction, teaching quality and academic support. Scores aren’t comparable between subjects.
Glasgow has four student bodies: the Students' Representative Council (SRC), two historic unions (Glasgow University Union and Queen Margaret Union) and the sports association, GUSA. Between them they support over 300 clubs and societies. The campus is in the West End, next to Kelvingrove Park, the Kelvingrove Art Gallery, Byres Road and Ashton Lane, with Finnieston's food scene a short walk away. For bigger nights, the city centre and venues like King Tut's, the Barrowland and SWG3 are close by.
University halls cost £129.92–£239.40 per week (2026/27; most rooms on a 39-week contract, 11 September 2026 to 11 June 2027; standard single rooms £168) (2026/27 prices).
First-year accommodation guarantee
New undergraduates are guaranteed one offer of accommodation if they: are new to the University of Glasgow and don't need family accommodation; submit an online accommodation application by 14 July in their year of entry; have met their conditions and are Unconditional Firm by 25 August; and are studying for the full academic year from September. In years of exceptionally high demand, students living within about an hour's commute by public transport won't be offered a room until one becomes available, which may be after term starts. You won't necessarily get your preferred residence. Insurance and Clearing applicants can only apply once they've accepted a firm offer. The policy shown applies to 2026/27.
| Hall | Area | Rooms | From | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cairncross House | About 15 minutes from campus | shared (twin), single or large single | £129.92/wk | 212 students. The cheapest option is a shared room at £5,066.88 for the year. Singles are £168 a week. |
| Student Apartments | About 5 minutes from campus | shared (twin) or single | £141.47/wk | The closest university-run option to campus. Singles £168, large singles £177.94 a week. |
| Murano Street Student Village | North of the West End, about 1 mile from campus | standard single (shared bathrooms) | £168/wk | The biggest residence (1,175 students) in flats of 4/5 and 10/12. £6,552 for the 39-week contract. |
| Kelvinhaugh Street | 15–20 minutes from campus | standard single | £168/wk | 346 students in 5-person flats, near Finnieston. |
| Havannah House (iQ) | East of the city centre, 2.6 miles from campus | en-suite or studio | £183.05/wk | Run by iQ. A standard 51-week contract (from £9,335.55), so the total cost is much higher than 39-week halls. Studios up to £239.40 a week. |
| Queen Margaret Residence | About 1 mile from campus | en-suite | £209.51/wk | 391 students in 5-person flats. |
| Maclay Residences | 15–20 minutes from campus | en-suite | £209.51/wk | 410 students in 3- and 5-person flats. Large en-suites £224.84 a week. |
| Thurso Street (Unite) | About 5 minutes from campus | en-suite double bed | £218.05/wk | Run by Unite Students, with 150 places for UofG students. Very close to campus. |
Prices are the university’s published weekly starting prices and can change. Always check the official accommodation site before applying.
The classic student area around campus, full of tenement flats, cafés and bars.
Just west of campus, a bit cheaper than Hillhead and handy for the subway.
Next to the university and known for its food and drink scene. Trendy, but rents can be high.
Between the West End and city centre, with lots of tenements and easy walking to campus.
Top tip
Get your online accommodation application in by 14 July of your entry year to keep your guarantee. The guarantee covers one offer only, so if you turn down or don't accept the offer in time, there may not be another. To confirm your booking, you'll need to pay a £200 advance, then fees are paid in seven instalments from October to April.
Glasgow is good value for a big UK city. University rooms on the standard 39-week contract cost from £129.92 a week (shared) or £168 for a single, with heating, utilities and Wi-Fi included. En-suites cost around £210 a week. Getting around is cheap, especially if you're under 22 and get free bus travel. The university doesn't publish an all-in estimate on the pages checked.
Getting around
The main campus is a short walk from Hillhead and Kelvinhall subway stations. The Glasgow Subway's circular route links the West End with the city centre: a smartcard single costs £1.80 and a 7-day ticket is £15.50. If you're under 22 and live in Scotland, you can travel free on buses with a National Entitlement Card.
Weighing up your options? Here’s how nearby universities compare in the Unifresher Rankings 2027.
The University of Glasgow is 26th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 53.9. Its strongest results are for student societies (10th), work-life balance (15th), social life (18th).
In our 2027 subject rankings, the University of Glasgow places highest for Veterinary Science (2nd of 10), Dentistry (3rd of 8). Across our awards, it also stands out for student societies.
Yes, if you're a new undergraduate, apply online by 14 July, are Unconditional Firm by 25 August and are studying for the full year. The guarantee is for one offer. In very high-demand years, students who live within about an hour's commute may have to wait for a room.
For 2026/27, most rooms are on a 39-week contract (11 September 2026 to 11 June 2027). Prices run from £129.92 a week for a shared room to around £239 a week for a studio. Standard singles are £168 a week, and en-suites are about £210. Heating, utilities and Wi-Fi are included.
Student Apartments and Thurso Street are about 5 minutes away. Cairncross House, Kelvinhaugh and Maclay are 15–20 minutes. Murano Street, Queen Margaret and Winton Drive are about a mile, and Havannah House is 2.6 miles.
They're Glasgow's two historic student unions, Glasgow University Union and Queen Margaret Union. Along with the Students' Representative Council (SRC) and the sports association (GUSA), they make up the university's four student bodies.
Yes. Glasgow is one of the 24 Russell Group universities, and it's also part of the Universitas 21 international network.
Most walk around the West End. The Subway links the West End and city centre (£1.80 single by smartcard). Under-22s who live in Scotland get free bus travel with a National Entitlement Card.
About this guide. Rankings data comes from the Unifresher Rankings 2027 (methodology). Facts, hall prices and costs come from the university and official sources listed below. Last updated 23 October 2026.
