I am now in my 9th year at the University of Glasgow. I've achieved this unusual feat because I first attended as an undergraduate on a 5 year MSci course and, liking it so much, I decided to stick around for a 3.5 year PhD - I'm now in the fourth year (the final 6 months) of my PhD. I considered waiting until I complete the PhD to write this review, but knowing the emotional highs and lows that come with postgraduate study, I thought I could be more objective if I wrote it now. Perhaps when I graduate I'll write and updated review.
To students considering universities they might like to attend I'll say this, you could do a lot worse than Glasgow. The University is absolutely dedicated to taking care of you and your education and to making sure that your experiences are as positive as possible. There will be times for a few students where this goes wrong - it's too large an organisation to be perfect all the time - but for the majority, provided you do what's expected of you in terms of studying and assignments, I think you can expect a world class education and experiences to match.
To students who have recently arrived, welcome. Go out and explore your university, don't limit yourself to the few buildings that you have your lectures, labs and seminars in. Go and sign up to both of the unions - it's free and there's no rule that says you can't join both. Having two unions means good things for you, because they will always be competing both in prices, facilities and events. Join both to get the best of both worlds.
Go and check out the different cafes and eateries. Both unions have places for food but so does the Boyd Orr, so does the Wolfson, so does the Gilchrist club and the Fraiser Building and there's even 1A, The Square. Take advantage of the low prices and student discounts.
Go and check out the museums. Oh yes, of course there's more than one. Most of the Hunterian Museum is in the main building at Gillmorehill (the Hogwarts-looking place) but there are little bits of exhibits scattered through other buildings as well. Then there's the Anatomy Museum, hidden away in the Anatomy Building - it's not for the faint hearted and is sometimes used for teaching, so you may not always be given access, but it is fascinating. There's the Zoology Museum as well, in the Graham Kerr Building, if you want something a little fluffier after spending too much time gazing at strange things floating in jars. All the museums are free and the Hunterian especially is a great place to send you parents (or other visitors) if they show up unexpectedly but you have to go to class.
Go and check out the student clubs and societies. These are supported by the Sports Association (GUSA) or the Student Representative Council (SRC). There's one for almost every hobby, pass-time, sport or niche interest. Get involved with them and meet like-minded people. If your hobby is somehow not represented, there is support available to set up the society for it.
At Glasgow your physical and mental well being are considered carefully. There is a GP on campus and first year undergraduate students are required register with both a GP and a dentist when they arrive. Several organisations exist to help more generally, whether with physical and mental health or simply with study trouble and are only a quick Google search away.
The library is the oldest and largest university library in Europe and holds over 2.5 million books and journals, many of which are now available in digital formats. Plus it's open until midnight for those late night study sessions. So no need to worry about not being able to get the text you need (although you may occasionally need to queue for it).
The University is old too. The forth oldest in the UK (after Oxford, Cambridge and St Andrews). It was established in 1451 although the main campus moved to its current location in 1870. Many of the buildings are far more recent than that, and you'll have to forgive Glasgow for its brief flirtation with Brutalist architecture, but nevertheless, its age means there are hidden gems all over campus if you only know where to look.
I moved to Glasgow for university and I got stuck. I fell in love with the university and with the city. Partly my decision to stay was based on my research interests but mostly it was based on how quickly this place had become home. I've rarely visited a friendlier, more vibrant university, nor one more comfortably integrated into its city. read more