Where it ranks in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, what it’s really like to study there, and what halls and living costs look like.
Stirling has one of the most striking campuses in the UK: a big parkland estate beneath the Ochil Hills, with a loch, woodland and Airthrey Castle. Most first years live on campus, so classes, the Students' Union, the sports centre and a supermarket are all close by.
It's especially good for sport, with a 50-metre pool and Scotland's University for Sporting Excellence status. Halls are affordable, from about £109 a week for 2026/27, with bills included. The trade-off is that it's a campus bubble outside the city, so nightlife is limited compared with Glasgow or Edinburgh.
Known for
The University of Stirling is 91st out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 43.5, below 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 89 | University of Huddersfield | 44 |
| 90 | University of Chester | 43.9 |
| 91 | University of Stirling | 43.5 |
| 92 | Anglia Ruskin University | 42.9 |
| 93 | University of Greenwich | 42.8 |
Each award ranks all 124 universities on one part of student life. Click through for the full table.
7th of 124 · Affordability Score 70.9
28th of 124 · Wellbeing Score 61.2
30th of 124 · Value Score 56.8
43rd of 124 · Freshers Score 60.1
45th of 124 · Balance Score 45.9
45th of 123 · Happiness Score 50.4
53rd of 122 · Careers Score 32.8
58th of 124 · Employability Score 31.9
72nd of 124 · Societies Score 48
72nd of 124 · Safety Score 40.3
91st of 124 · Social Score 42.6
95th of 124 · Inclusion Score 46.4
96th of 124 · Innovation Score 45.3
108th of 124 · Nightlife Score 32.8
111th of 124 · Sustainability Score 30
Stirling as a student city
Ranked 49th of 72 UK university cities in our Best University Cities 2027 ranking, with a score of 48.3.
The University of Stirling appears in 29 of our subject league tables. Here’s where it places in each, best first.
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Work | 24th | of 67 | 141 |
| Politics | 37th | of 78 | 117 |
| Journalism | 28th | of 59 | 98 |
| Artificial Intelligence | 32nd | of 66 | 85 |
| Environmental Science | 23rd | of 47 | 91 |
| Biology | 26th | of 51 | 87 |
| Criminology | 49th | of 94 | 114 |
| Human Resource Management | 31st | of 58 | 98 |
| Software Engineering | 31st | of 58 | 89 |
| Sociology | 46th | of 86 | 121 |
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sports Science | 44th | of 78 | 107 |
| Economics | 49th | of 85 | 105 |
| PPE | 18th | of 31 | 61 |
| Psychology | 63rd | of 108 | 116 |
| Marine Biology | 10th | of 17 | 46 |
| Business and Management | 68th | of 114 | 120 |
| Marketing | 54th | of 88 | 97 |
| History | 47th | of 76 | 95 |
| Data Science | 31st | of 50 | 67 |
| Media and Communication | 49th | of 79 | 101 |
| Teaching | 49th | of 79 | 95 |
| Law | 62nd | of 97 | 101 |
| Philosophy | 35th | of 54 | 72 |
| Film Production | 58th | of 87 | 109 |
| Computer Science | 69th | of 102 | 99 |
| Nursing | 59th | of 85 | 94 |
| Geography | 45th | of 63 | 84 |
| Mathematics | 45th | of 61 | 64 |
| Art and Design | 10th | of 13 | 41 |
Subject tables compare universities on graduate earnings, student satisfaction, teaching quality and academic support. Scores aren’t comparable between subjects.
Campus life is the heart of Stirling. The university says campus has cafés, a cinema, library, Students' Union, sports centre, supermarket and health centre. Stirling Students' Union runs societies, sports clubs and events. Sport is a big deal, with a 50-metre pool and a golf course. Stirling city centre and Bridge of Allan are a walk or short bus ride away, and Glasgow and Edinburgh are easy trips by train.
University halls cost £109.19–£241.13 per week (2026/27, residences open to new undergraduates; bills included) (2026/27 prices).
First-year accommodation guarantee
The university says it "will guarantee an offer of University-managed accommodation in your first year of full-time study, commencing in September 2026, if you meet the eligibility criteria and your application reaches us by the advised deadline." The guarantee is subject to terms and conditions in its accommodation allocation policy. New undergraduates are given priority when rooms are allocated. Applications for September 2026 entry opened on 30 March 2026.
| Hall | Area | Rooms | From | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polwarth House | On campus | single standard room | £109.19/wk | The cheapest option for new undergraduates. |
| John Forty's Court | Off campus | standard or en-suite | £120.67/wk | Off-campus option, also used for nursing and paramedic students. En-suites up to £193.03. |
| Fraser of Allander House | On campus | single standard room | £121.62/wk | Up to £124.03 a week. Also available to January 2027 starters. |
| Alexander Court standard flats | On campus | single standard room | £136.29/wk | Up to £153.18 a week. |
| Muirhead House | On campus | single standard room | £154.78/wk | Up to £173.96 a week. |
| Andrew Stewart Hall | On campus | standard, shared or private shower room, en-suite | £171.51/wk | Mix of room types up to £176.06 a week. |
| Juniper Court | On campus | en-suite or studio | £214.51/wk | En-suite flats at £214.51; studios at £241.13. |
| Beech Court | On campus | en-suite or studio | £214.51/wk | En-suites £214.51–£241.09; studios £241.13, the top of the new-undergraduate range. |
Prices are the university’s published weekly starting prices and can change. Always check the official accommodation site before applying.
A small, pretty town about a mile from the main entrance, popular with students who want to walk to campus.
More shops, pubs and the train station, but a longer walk or bus ride to campus.
Between the city and campus, below the Wallace Monument.
Top tip
Accept your offer to study, then use the login details the university emails you to apply through the student portal, where you can rank the residences you'd most like. Apply before the advised deadline to keep the first-year guarantee, and accept your accommodation offer by the date given. If you're watching your budget, put Polwarth House and Fraser of Allander House high on your list. Check the rules on how many students can legally share a private flat in Scotland before renting later on.
Stirling's halls are good value for a UK university. For 2026/27, residences open to new undergraduates cost £109.19 to £241.13 a week, with heating, electricity, contents insurance and wifi included. Standard rooms on campus are mostly £109–£175, and en-suites start at £214.51. Under-22s living in Scotland get free buses. The university doesn't publish a total living-cost estimate.
Getting around
Most first years walk around campus. The university says Bridge of Allan station is about 30 minutes' walk and Stirling station about 40 minutes, with new cycle lanes from Stirling station. Buses link campus with the city and Bridge of Allan, and under-22s living in Scotland travel free. Trains run to Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Weighing up your options? Here’s how nearby universities compare in the Unifresher Rankings 2027.
The University of Stirling is 91st out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 43.5. Its strongest results are for affordability (7th), student wellbeing (28th), value for money (30th).
Yes, if you meet the eligibility criteria and apply by the advised deadline. The guarantee is for university-managed accommodation in your first year of full-time study, and new undergraduates get priority when rooms are allocated.
For 2026/27, residences open to new undergraduates cost from £109.19 a week (Polwarth House) to £241.13 a week (a studio at Juniper or Beech Court). Bills, wifi and contents insurance are included.
The university says it's about 30 minutes' walk from Bridge of Allan station and about 40 minutes from Stirling station. There are buses and cycle lanes too.
Yes. The Scottish Government named it Scotland's University for Sporting Excellence in 2008, and its facilities include a 50-metre swimming pool and a 9-hole golf course.
Some courses have January starts. For January 2027, accommodation for new undergraduates is at Alexander Court standard flats, Fraser of Allander House and Muirhead House, on an 18-week contract.
If you're under 22 and live in Scotland, yes: you're entitled to free bus travel across Scotland 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.
