University of Glasgow

Overview

The University of Glasgow was founded in 1451, which it describes as making it the fourth oldest university in the UK. Its main Gilmorehill campus is in the West End of Glasgow, Scotland's largest city, and the university covers arts, social sciences, science and engineering, medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine.

Two features stand out for North American students. First, honours degrees normally take four years, with a broader start than in England. Second, many arts and social science degrees are awarded as a Master of Arts (MA) at undergraduate level, a Scottish tradition. An MA in Economics at Glasgow, for example, is a four-year undergraduate honours degree, not a graduate degree.

How and when to apply

The standard route is UCAS. For 2027 entry the UCAS equal consideration deadline is 13 January 2027, and Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine follow the 15 October 2026 deadline. Glasgow's programme pages also list a later deadline for international students; the Economics page, for instance, gives 30 June and says applications are not usually accepted after it. Applying well before then is wise.

International applicants to some subject areas, including Social Sciences, can also use the Common Application. Glasgow recommends UCAS if you are applying to more than one UK university, because UCAS covers all your choices in one form.

Entry requirements for North American students

Glasgow lists entry requirements on each programme page. Check the entry requirements section for your programme, including subject prerequisites for science and engineering, and use the international officers listed for US regions if your school's transcript or grading is unusual.

Applicants with at least two years of degree study in a majority English-speaking country, including English-taught degrees in Canada, may meet the English language requirement that way. Others typically need a test such as IELTS Academic; the Economics page asks for 6.5 overall with no part below 6.0.

Costs, aid and visas

Tuition is listed on the university's international tuition fees page. For US students, Glasgow has a dedicated federal aid support officer, and its FAFSA code is G08383. Scholarships for international students are listed on programme pages; the Economics page, for example, mentions the World Changers Global Excellence Scholarship of £7,000 per year for international students in the College of Social Sciences. Eligibility and amounts change, so read the current terms before counting on any award. Students who need a visa apply for the UK Student visa. See our United Kingdom guide for how Scottish degrees fit within the UK system, and our academic English deck for essay-heavy MA programmes.