University of Glasgow facts for kids

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University of Glasgow

Scottish Gaelic: Oilthigh Ghlaschu

Coat of arms

Latin: Universitas Glasguensis

Motto

Latin: Via, Veritas, Vita

Motto in English

The Way, The Truth, The Life

Type

Public research university
Ancient university

Established

7 January 1451; 574 years ago

Endowment

£234.3 million (2023)

Budget

£944.2 million (2022/23)

Chancellor

Dame Katherine Grainger

Rector

Dr. Ghassan Abu-Sittah

Principal

Sir Anton Muscatelli

Academic staff

5,255 (2021/22)

Administrative staff

4,530 (2021/22)

Students

42,980 (2021/22)

Undergraduates

23,460 (2021/22)

Postgraduates

19,520 (2021/22)

Location

Glasgow

Scotland, UK

Flag

Colours

Arts

Dentistry

Divinity

Engineering

Law

Medicine

Nursing

Science

Social Sciences

Veterinary Medicine

Affiliations

ACU
EUA
The Guild
PEGASUS
Russell Group
UArctic
Universitas 21
Universities Scotland
Universities UK

The University of Glasgow is a big public university in Glasgow, Scotland. It was started in 1451 by a special paper from the Pope. This makes it one of the oldest universities in the world where English is spoken. It is also one of Scotland's four very old universities.

The university was a key part of the Scottish Enlightenment in the 1700s. Today, it is the largest university in Scotland by student numbers. It also has the second-largest number of postgraduate students in the UK.

In the past, Glasgow University mainly taught students from rich families. But in the 1800s, it started teaching students from the growing middle class too. It helped students get ready for jobs in law, medicine, teaching, and science. The university has a large amount of money to support its work. It is part of important groups like the Russell Group and Universitas 21, which are for top research universities.

The university was first located on High Street in the city. Since 1870, its main campus has been at Gilmorehill in the city's West End. Some other university buildings are in different places. For example, the Veterinary School is in Bearsden. There is also the Crichton Campus in Dumfries.

Many famous people have studied at the University of Glasgow. These include James Wilson, who signed the United States Declaration of Independence. Three UK Prime Ministers and three Scottish First Ministers also studied here. Other famous alumni include economist Adam Smith, engineer James Watt, and physicist Lord Kelvin. The university is also linked to 8 Nobel Prize winners and many Olympic gold medalists.

University History

How the University Started

The University of Glasgow began in 1451. It was founded by a special document called a papal bull from Pope Nicholas V. King James II suggested starting the university. He asked Bishop William Turnbull to add a university to the city's Cathedral.

It is the second-oldest university in Scotland, after St Andrews. It is also the fourth-oldest in the English-speaking world. Glasgow, St Andrews, and Aberdeen universities were started by the church. Edinburgh University was started by the city. Glasgow is one of only eight old UK universities that can award special undergraduate master's degrees.

Lost Documents and Early Buildings

The university lost its original founding document in the 1500s. During a time of political trouble in Scotland, the Archbishop took many important papers to France for safety. These included the university's founding document. Even though the Mace (a ceremonial staff) was returned later, the papers were not.

People tried to find these documents in the 1700s, but they were already lost. They likely disappeared during the French Revolution. Even without the original paper, the university still uses it as the reason it can give out degrees.

Teaching first happened in the Glasgow Cathedral. Later, it moved to a building called the "Auld Pedagogy." In 1563, Mary, Queen of Scots gave the university land on High Street. By the late 1600s, the university had a large building with courtyards and a tall clock tower. This tower was a famous part of Glasgow's skyline.

Some parts of this old building were moved to the new campus later. These include the "Pearce Lodge" and the Lion and Unicorn Staircase.

New Ideas and Growth

John Anderson was a professor at the university. He helped start education for working men and women during the Industrial Revolution. He later started "Anderson's College" to continue this work. This college eventually became the University of Strathclyde.

In 1973, Delphine Parrott became the first female professor at the university. She was the Gardiner Professor of Immunology.

In 2014, the university decided to stop investing in fossil fuel companies. It was the first university in Europe to do this.

University Campuses

University of Glasgow, Older Building Sign

The University of Glasgow has several campuses. The main one is the Gilmorehill campus in Hillhead.

Gilmorehill Campus

The new buildings of the University of Glasgow at Gilmorehill, circa 1895.

The night view of the university's main building

In 1870, the university moved to Gilmorehill. This new site was about 3 miles (5 km) west of its old location. The old High Street site was sold to a railway company.

The new campus was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott. He used a Gothic revival style. The main building looks like a very grand version of the old High Street campus. It has two large courtyards. In 1879, Scott's son, Oldrid, added the grand Bute Hall. He also added a tall spire to the bell tower in 1887. This made the tower about 278 feet (85 meters) tall.

The building looks old with its Gothic design and light-colored stone. But it was built with modern iron frames inside. This made it strong and light. It is the second-largest Gothic revival building in Britain, after the Palace of Westminster. An image of the Main Building used to be on the back of £100 banknotes from Clydesdale Bank.

The university's Hunterian Museum is in the Main Building. The Hunterian Gallery is near the University Library. It includes "The Mackintosh House," a rebuilt house designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

The university kept growing and needed more space. In the 1930s, the round Reading Room was built. The university also bought many Victorian houses and connected them inside. Departments like Psychology and Computing Science are still in these houses.

More buildings were added to the west for science and medicine. The veterinary school moved to a new campus in Garscube in 1954. The university also moved its sports facilities and built student housing there.

In the 1960s, many modern buildings were built on Gilmorehill. These included the Mathematics Building, the Rankine Building, and the Adam Smith Building. A new dining hall called the Hub opened in 1966. The Glasgow University Union building was also made bigger.

In 2001, the Bower Building was badly damaged by fire. After repairs, it reopened in 2004. The Wolfson Medical School Building opened in 2002. The St Andrews Building, which houses the School of Education, opened in 2003.

In 2016, the Kelvin Hall was updated. It now includes the Hunterian Collections and Study Centre. The Mathematics Building was taken down in 2017. A new 'Learning Hub' was built there for students to study. It opened in 2021 and is named after James McCune Smith. The university is spending a lot of money to improve the campus, especially the area where the Western Infirmary used to be.

University Chapel

Interior of the Chapel

The University Chapel was built to remember the 755 university members who died in the First World War. It was finished in 1929. The names of those who died are on tablets inside. Other tablets list the 405 people who died in the Second World War.

Daily services are held in the chapel during term-time. Special events happen before Christmas. Students, staff, and their children can get married in the chapel. It is also used for baptisms and funerals.

Library and Archives

The university's library hosts over three million volumes.

The University Library is one of the oldest and largest libraries in Europe. It has 12 floors and holds over three million books and journals. It also offers many online resources. The library is open almost every day of the year.

Besides the main library, there are smaller libraries for specific subjects. These include Medicine, Chemistry, and Veterinary Medicine. In 2007, a special section for old photographs was opened.

The Archives of the University of Glasgow keeps all the university's historical records. These go back to its founding in 1451.

Crichton Campus, Dumfries

The university opened the Crichton campus in Dumfries in the 1980s. It helps students in an area far from big cities. The University of Glasgow, the University of the West of Scotland, and the Open University run it together. It offers different undergraduate degrees and postgraduate study options.

Student Housing and Sports Facilities

The university has student halls of residence in and around the North-West of Glasgow. These can house about 3,500 students. Some of these are Murano Street halls, Wolfson halls, and Queen Margaret halls.

The Stevenson Building on Gilmorehill opened in 1961. It has a fitness center, squash courts, a sauna, and a swimming pool. The university also has a large sports complex on the Garscube Estate. This is a new facility that replaced the old Westerlands sports ground. The university's rowing club trains at the East Boathouse on the River Clyde.

How the University is Run

The University of Glasgow is run by three main groups: the University Court, the Academic Senate, and the General Council. These groups help manage different parts of the university.

University Leaders

Dame Katherine Grainger, the current Chancellor

Sir Anton Muscatelli, the current Principal

The university has three important leaders: the Chancellor, the Principal, and the Rector.

The Chancellor is the official head of the university. They give out all the degrees. The current Chancellor is Dame Katherine Grainger. She is a famous rower and an alumna of the university. She is the first woman to hold this job at the university.

The Principal manages the university every day. The current Principal is Sir Anton Muscatelli. There are also several Vice-Principals who help with specific tasks.

All students can vote for the Rector. The Rector holds office for three years and leads the University Court. Famous Rectors have included politicians like William Gladstone and Charles Kennedy. More recently, celebrities like Johnny Ball and Richard Wilson have been Rectors. In 2014, Edward Snowden was elected Rector. The current Rector is Dr. Ghassan Abu-Sittah.

University Court

The University Court is the main governing body. It handles money, hires staff, and makes plans for the university. The Rector leads the Court.

Academic Senate

The Academic Senate manages all academic matters. It decides who gets degrees. Professors, elected academic staff, and student representatives are part of the Senate. The Principal is the head of the Senate.

The Clerk of Senate makes sure the university's academic rules are followed. This includes rules about exams and academic honesty.

What Students Study

The university has four main Colleges. Each College has several Schools.

[College of Arts & Humanities]
- [School of Critical Studies]
- [School of Culture and Creative Arts]
- [School of Humanities]
- [School of Modern Languages and Cultures]

[College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences]
- [School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine]
- [School of Cancer Sciences]
- [School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health]
- [School of Health & Wellbeing]
- [School of Infection & Immunity]
- [School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing]
- [School of Molecular Biosciences]
- [School of Psychology & Neuroscience]

[College of Science and Engineering]
- [School of Chemistry]
- [School of Computing Science]
- [James Watt School of Engineering]
- [School of Geographical and Earth Sciences]
- [School of Mathematics & Statistics]
- [School of Physics and Astronomy]

[College of Social Sciences]
- Adam Smith Business School
- [School of Education]
- [School of Social & Environmental Sustainability] (at Crichton Campus, Dumfries)
- School of Law
- [School of Social & Political Sciences]

When the university started in 1451, it had four main areas of study: Arts, Divinity, Law, and Medicine. Over time, new areas like Science and Engineering were added. The Faculty of Engineering was officially created in 1923. Engineering had been taught since 1840. This is when Queen Victoria started the first Engineering Chair (a special teaching position) in the UK.

In 2010, the university changed its structure. The old "faculties" were replaced by four larger "Colleges." This was done to help different study areas work together more easily.

University Rankings and Reputation

University of Glasgow's national league table performance over the past ten years

Cloisters between quadrangles

The University of Glasgow is a member of the Russell Group. This group includes top research universities in the UK. It was also a founding member of Universitas 21, a global group of universities. Glasgow has 15 Regius Professorships, which is more than any other UK university.

In world rankings, Glasgow has moved up. For example, in the QS World University Rankings, it was 59th in 2011 and 51st in 2013. Recruiters from major UK companies rank Glasgow in the top 20 in the UK for how well its graduates find jobs. It is 3rd in Scotland for this.

In a 2008 study of university research, almost 70% of Glasgow's research was in the top two categories. Eighteen subjects were in the top ten in the UK. Fourteen subjects were the best in Scotland.

Becoming a Student

The university has many students. In the 2016–17 school year, about 71% of students were from the UK, 11% from the EU, and 18% from other countries. More women study at Glasgow than men (59% female, 41% male).

To get into the university, students need good grades in their exams. For most courses, if Scottish students get very high grades in their Scottish Highers, they are guaranteed a place.

Climate Change Actions

The University of Glasgow was the first university in Europe to stop investing in fossil fuel companies. This happened in October 2014. A student group called the Glasgow University Climate Action Society led the campaign. Over 1,300 students were involved.

Student Life

Glasgow University has many groups for students. It does not have one single student association like some other universities. Instead, there are several groups that help students.

The university has two separate student unions: the Glasgow University Union (GUU) and the Queen Margaret Union (QMU). Students can choose to join either one, or both. These unions are places for students to socialize, eat, and relax. They also have rooms for meetings.

The unions are separate because the university used to be only for male students. The GUU was for men, and the QMU was for women from a women's college that joined the university. They stayed separate because they have different vibes. The GUU is known for sports and debates. The QMU is a music venue that has hosted famous bands like Nirvana.

The GUU has won the John Smith Memorial Mace debating championship many times. It has also won the World Universities Debating Championships five times, more than any other university.

Students' Representative Council

The Glasgow University Students' Representative Council (SRC) is the official student body. It speaks for students to the university and to the government. It also helps with student health and well-being. All students are automatically members of the SRC, but they can choose not to be.

The SRC organizes special weeks like Media Week and Welfare Week. It also helps fund about 130 student clubs and societies.

Sports Association

The Glasgow University Sports Association (GUSA) manages sports at the university. There are many sports clubs, including Squash, Basketball, Football, and Rowing. These clubs often compete against other universities. Students who join a sports club must also join GUSA. The university also offers non-competitive sports classes for all gym members.

Mature Students' Association

Students aged 21 or older are called "mature students." They have their own group called the Mature Students' Association (MSA). The MSA provides places for mature students to relax and study. It also organizes social events and support for them.

Student Media

Students at the university have their own media groups. These include a newspaper called the Glasgow University Guardian, a magazine called Glasgow University Magazine, Glasgow University Student Television, and Subcity Radio. The Queen Margaret Union also publishes a magazine called qmunicate.

Mountaineering Club

The Glasgow University Mountaineering Club is for students and staff who love the outdoors. It started officially in 1941. Members often go climbing in places like the Arrochar Alps.

Notable Alumni and Staff

Many important people have taught or studied at the University of Glasgow. These include seven Nobel Prize winners and three Prime Ministers.

Famous names include:

Physicist Lord Kelvin
'Father of economics' Adam Smith
Engineer James Watt
Chemist Joseph Black
Surgeon Joseph Lister
Missionary David Livingstone
Writers James Boswell and A. J. Cronin

In 1933, Albert Einstein gave a lecture at the university and received an honorary degree. Jocelyn Bell Burnell, who discovered radio pulsars, also studied here.

More recently, the university has been linked to the "Glasgow Group" of poets. Many politicians have also studied here, including former First Ministers Donald Dewar and Nicola Sturgeon, and current First Minister Humza Yousaf. Other notable alumni include actor Gerard Butler, musician Emeli Sandé, and TV presenter Neil Oliver.

Images for kids

World Changing Alumni Award

The university gives out the World-Changing Alumni Award. This award celebrates alumni who have graduated in the last 15 years. It recognizes those who have made a big difference in their community, arts, sciences, or business.

The award started in 2001 as part of the university's 550th-anniversary celebrations. It is given once a year.

Some past winners include:

2021: Fiona McPhail
2020: Selina Hales
2019: Eunice Ntobedzi
2018: Amal Azzudin
2015: Mhairi Black MP
2012: Katherine Grainger MBE CBE
2011: Emeli Sandé