Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) is one of Scotland’s largest universities.

Tracing its origins back to 1875, this modern, innovative and forward-thinking university has a large, self-contained campus in the city centre, with many purpose built facilities making it one of the best learning environments in the UK.

Courses and students

The university has three academic schools:

• Glasgow School for Business and Society
• School of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment
• School of Health and Life Sciences.

Glasgow Caledonian University is the only institution in Scotland to offer courses in Orthoptics, Optometry and Ophthalmic Dispensing Management. The university has its own eye clinic providing clinical training facilities. The clinic is open to the public, and patients are examined by students under the direct supervision of experienced and qualified clinical staff.

The university has 1,500 staff teaching over 22,000 students from over 100 countries.

You could spend part of your undergraduate course abroad through the European Turing Scheme or on exchange with a university in North or South America, Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia or Vietnam.

Facilities and services

The Sir Alex Ferguson Library is home to the university library and student support services hub, based in the Saltire Centre it offers students: 1,800 internet-connected study spaces; 600-seat learning cafe; over 400,000 books; 500 computers; laptop borrowing facility; and free WI-FI.

The Arc Health and Wellbeing facility is a multi-purpose sport and exercise centre which has fitness classes, a well equipped gym, and sports clubs.

The university has a simulated hospital ward, a high-tech broadcasting suite and a fashion factory.

There is on-campus accommodation for 660 students, in self-contained, fully furnished flats.

Ranking

The university is ranked 2nd in the UK for Optometry, Opthalmology and Orthoptics in the Complete University Guide 2022.

In the same guide, the university is ranked 1st in the UK for Tourism, Transport, Travel and Heritage Studies and 2nd for Counselling, Psychotherapy and Occupational Therapy; Information Technology and Systems; and, Physiotherapy.

GCU is ranked 3rd for Social Work in the Guardian University Guide 2022.

Video