Overview

Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) is an award-winning institution based in both London and Glasgow. It offers an innovative and creative education, contributing to society in a positive manner and striving to go beyond the traditional role of universities.

　　GCU's for the Common Good commitment is at the forefront of its strategy, delivered by students and staff across a range of courses in various academic schools and departments. GCU also provides academic excellence with students encouraged to be creative and address real-world global challenges to transform lives.

　　Placed in the top 100 universities in the UK in the 2020 Times Higher Education rankings, GCU provides world-leading and internationally-recognised research, teaching and innovation.

　　Amongst its wide range of courses, GCU is known as a leader in nursing and midwifery, as well as having expertise in renewables, energy and construction. The university is also known as a high-quality provider in areas such as management, business, law and social science education.

　　The university's Stunning city-centre campuses house more than 20,000 students and 1,500 staff, with the diverse population being made up of more than 100 nationalities. The friendly campus features modern facilities and an excellent learning environment, including a study centre and academic library named after founding donor, Sir Alex Ferguson. Numerous opportunities including internships and studying abroad are offered to students, helping create well-rounded students leading to 95 per cent of graduates finding work or further study within six months (HESA, 2018).

　　GCU is known to drive innovative social and economic impact, with studies finding it generates nearly GBP 1 billion worth of benefit each year.

　　

What's new

Rankings climb

GCU has climbed 16 places in the 2020 Guardian University Guide, being ranked 80th in the UK. The move up the rankings represents recognition of the development and improvements being made at the institution.

　　Furthermore, courses in podiatry and social work both placed within the top ten in the country.

　　Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Pamela Gillies CBE FRSE said, ''We are delighted that our university has risen in this prestigious guide, particularly in recognition of teaching satisfaction and graduate employment."

　　''This is an excellent result, especially when combined with our improved position in the Complete University Guide and our placement in the top 50 in the World in the Times Higher Education Social Impact Ranking."

　　''I always stress that our commitment as the university for the common good is about much more than league tables. However, this result demonstrates that we can deliver academic excellence, as well as wider social benefit, and is testament to the outstanding efforts of our staff, students and university community to build, improve and ensure GCU makes a real difference to the communities we serve.''

　　

Praise from First Minister

GCU's Centre for Climate Justice has been hailed as world-leading by Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon MSP.

　　She remarked at a climate conference, ''I think the Centre for Climate Justice is world leading. It is putting front and centre the issue of justice and how we tackle climate change, and it is doing it from here in Glasgow.''

　　Sturgeon added, ''I think that is hugely important for the whole country, not just the university, so I want to pay tribute to everybody who works in and for the centre and has put this conference together because they are performing an important role for the entirety of the planet.''

　　

Covid-19 updates

GCU is committed to ensuring that students are kept up to date with all developments and measures in place to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

　　

Teaching quality

Glasgow Caledonian University is known for providing top-class teaching quality with highly regarded faculty. The teaching staff are led by social activist and philanthropist, Dr Annie Lennox OBE, who is Chancellor of the University, whilst Nobel Peace Prize winner Professor Muhammad Yunus holds the role of Chancellor Emeritus.

　　On a day to day basis, students are supported by teaching staff who bring a mixture of academic and practical expertise with relevant experience in their fields from around the globe.

　　GCU strives to explore and utilise new, innovative learning methods and has aimed to do this in a number of ways. For instance, the School of Health and Life Sciences has adopted the use of virtual learning with a 3D world for certain projects and uses a virtual hospital to help its students.

　　

Department structure

Glasgow Caledonian University is divided into four separate schools, each housing more specific and specialised departments within them. These academic schools offer a range of course programmes to different levels and provide high-quality teaching, research opportunities and consultancy services. The four schools are:

　　

The School of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment

One of the UK's leading building and surveying schools, also carrying out extensive research in partnership with industry, commerce and other academic institutions in the UK and overseas.

　　

The Glasgow School for Business and Society

Integrates the areas of business, law and social sciences, ensuring students are well-placed to meet business and society needs. Offers an international outlook with commitment to development of global partnerships.

　　

The School of Health and Life Sciences

Provides a commitment to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research and knowledge transfer across various disciplines of health, nursing and social care, biological and biomedical sciences, psychology and vision sciences.

　　

GCU London

Located in an ultra-modern environment in the heart of London, the professional postgraduate university campus offers high quality teaching and global industry partnerships.

　　

Entry requirements

Students for whom English is not a first language are required to prove their English language proficiency in order to gain admission to GCU.

　　For those not meeting minimum requirements, the university offers a range of academic and English language pathway programmes for university courses, with fully accredited study.

　　Successful completion of one of these courses can lead to admission to a full GCU undergraduate or postgraduate course. Otherwise, applicants must prove proficiency by achieving one of the following:

　　Academic IELTS Average Score of 6, with at least 5.5 in each section. TOEFL Internet based test overall score of 78 with minimum scores of reading at 18, listening at 17, speaking at 20 and writing at 17. Pearson PTE Academic overall score of 54 with no less than 51 in any element. Cambridge Advanced English (CAE) with a minimum Grade C. Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) - Pass at Level III. The Duolingo English test will also be accepted* with a minimum mark of 115.*Most courses in the School of Health and Life Sciences can accept Duolingo. The alternative options above cannot be accepted for courses that lead to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) OR membership with a regulatory body OR for any courses that have a placement. Please contact the relevant programme team for any required clarification.

　　

Scholarships & funding

Generous scholarship packages are offered at Glasgow Caledonian University, with a long-standing belief that top-class education should be accessible to all. It gives out GBP 2 million in awards each year to help students fund their studies.

　　A wide range of these are designed to help international students, whether studying at undergraduate or postgraduate level. Some of the scholarships and financial aid on offer includes:

　　

International Loyalty Discount

Generous GBP 5,000 discount from course tuition fees for returning international students.

　　

US Common Good Scholarships

Graduate study discounts for those from the U.S. on selected postgraduate programmes.

　　There are also a range of course-specific scholarships, benefiting those studying STEM subjects, international fashion, engineering or other degrees.

　　

New GCU Scholarships

Postgraduate students

International and EU students who study a full-time course with Glasgow Caledonian University are eligible for up to £4,000 off their tuition fees.

　　

Undergraduate students

International students who study a full-time course with Glasgow Caledonian University are eligible for up to £4,000 off their course tuition fees.

　　

Facilities

GCU is known to provide one of the best learning environments in the UK. Located in the heart of the bustling city of Glasgow, it provides outstanding learning facilities in a convenient and desirable location for students.

　　The recognisable Sir Alex Ferguson library is the campus hub, housing the university library which features academic study materials and literature as well as independent and group study spaces, special collections and the university archives.

　　GCU also includes a large, modern refectory and several cafes serving different types of food at various times of the day at affordable prices in a friendly environment. Sofas, study desks and computer work stations are part of the environment in which students can work and relax.

　　Accommodation is available to students on campus in Caledonian Court, whilst a high-quality gym provides fitness and recreational facilities on site. There is also a specialist Vision Centre and physiotherapy clinic, providing students in those disciplines with particularly impressive facilities to learn and hone their skills while servicing the student and local community.