🏅 QS World Rank #80
University of Glasgow — Full Profile & Ranking 2026
One of Scotland’s four ancient universities, birthplace of ultrasound scanning — QS World Rankings 2027 #80
The University of Glasgow is a public research university in Scotland, founded in 1451. In the QS World University Rankings 2027 (published June 2026) it is 80th in the world. This guide covers programmes, admission, 2026/27 fees, the World Changers Global Excellence Scholarship, advice for applicants from Pakistan and common questions.
the University of Glasgow Overview
The University of Glasgow was founded in 1451 and is one of Scotland’s four ancient universities, with St Andrews, Aberdeen and Edinburgh. Its main campus at Gilmorehill, in Glasgow’s West End, is known for its Gothic Revival main building.
It is linked to Adam Smith, who studied and later taught there, and to Lord Kelvin, a long-serving professor. The Glasgow obstetrician Ian Donald and colleagues pioneered the use of ultrasound scanning in medicine in the 1950s. Most Scottish undergraduate degrees take four years.
the University of Glasgow Rankings — QS World University Rankings 2027
The University of Glasgow is 80th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) in June 2026.
This is a QS-specific result, not one universal ranking. Times Higher Education, U.S. News and ARWU use different methods and can order universities differently.
Source: QS TopUniversities (QS World University Rankings 2027, 18 June 2026).
Key Strengths & Programs
The University of Glasgow is known for:
- Medicine, nursing and veterinary medicine
- Engineering and computing (James Watt School of Engineering)
- Social sciences, law and business (Adam Smith Business School)
- Life sciences and physics
- Humanities, including history and literature
- A historic campus in a lively city
This page does not quote subject ranks. Check the current QS subject tables for exact positions.
Explore Related Guides & Rankings
Admission Requirements
International undergraduates usually apply through UCAS. Confirm all details on the official pages.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Application route | Undergraduates apply through UCAS. Postgraduates apply directly to the university |
| Entry grades | Set by programme, for example AAB / 36 IB for many programmes and higher for others, according to the scholarship page. Check your course page |
| English | IELTS, TOEFL or another accepted test. Our IELTS preparation guides can help |
| Medicine and Dentistry | Highly competitive. Check the course page for admissions tests and entry steps |
| Degree length | Scottish honours degrees usually take four years |
| Visa | Student visa required for most international students |
the University of Glasgow Acceptance Rate
The University of Glasgow does not publish one acceptance rate for international applicants. Selectivity varies by programme, and this page does not quote a percentage.
Practical Application Checklist
- Choose your programme and read its entry and language requirements
- Check the application deadline for your intake
- Book an English (or other required) language test
- Prepare transcripts, identification and any required documents
- Apply and accept your offer
- Meet the visa or residence-permit conditions for your destination
- Plan funding for tuition and living costs
- Verify every date, fee and requirement on the University of Glasgow’s official website before submitting
Tuition & Costs
Glasgow lists these expected annual tuition fees for international undergraduates for 2026/27:
- Classroom-based (Arts and Social Sciences): £27,720
- Laboratory-based (Science, Engineering, Nursing and some life-science programmes): £33,210
- Clinical (MBChB medicine and related): £62,730
- Dental Surgery (BDS): £58,500
- Veterinary Medicine and Surgery: £37,350
Glasgow says these are expected rates, so check your course at the time of admission.
Source: Glasgow international undergraduate fees. Fees, dates and rules change each year.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
- World Changers Global Excellence Scholarship (2027 entry): a tuition discount of £10,000 a year for the Colleges of Science and Engineering and of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, or £7,000 a year for the Colleges of Arts and of Social Sciences. It is renewable subject to progress, and is awarded automatically to eligible applicants with an offer who meet the grade requirements. Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine are excluded from this grade set.
- Limits: it cannot normally be combined with other Glasgow scholarships or discounts.
- Other funding: see our guide to fully funded scholarships for 2027.
Source: Glasgow World Changers Global Excellence Scholarship. Terms change each year.
the University of Glasgow for Pakistani Students
Pakistani applicants follow the standard international process:
- Results: check the course entry page for your qualification (A Levels, IB or equivalent)
- English: prepare IELTS or TOEFL. Our IELTS preparation guides can help.
- Scholarship: the World Changers page lists eligible countries. Check whether Pakistan is included for your intake
- Visa: a UK student visa is required
Campus & Student Life
- The Gilmorehill campus in the West End is known for the main building with its tower
- The Hunterian museum is on campus
- Glasgow is a major Scottish city with a large student population
- Costs in Glasgow are often lower than in London, but still need budgeting
Research & Career Opportunities
- The university is research-intensive, with strong medicine and engineering
- Glasgow and Scotland have strengths in health, finance, engineering and creative industries
- Graduates also work across the wider UK and abroad
- The university does not guarantee employment, salary or visa outcomes
Notable Alumni
- Adam Smith, author of The Wealth of Nations, studied at Glasgow and later held the chair of moral philosophy
- Lord Kelvin held the chair of natural philosophy at Glasgow for decades
- James Watt worked as an instrument maker at the university. He was not a Glasgow graduate
Contact & Location
University of Glasgow
University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom
Official website: gla.ac.uk
Frequently Asked Questions
The University of Glasgow is ranked 80th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026.
It was founded in 1451 and is one of Scotland’s four ancient universities.
Yes, the University of Glasgow is a member of the Russell Group.
It is best known for medicine, engineering, social sciences and its historic campus.
Glasgow lists expected annual fees of £27,720 for classroom-based, £33,210 for laboratory-based and £62,730 for clinical programmes.
It is a renewable tuition discount of £10,000 or £7,000 a year, depending on college, for eligible international applicants entering in 2027.
No. James Watt worked as an instrument maker at the university but was not a Glasgow graduate.
Ian Donald and colleagues at Glasgow pioneered medical ultrasound scanning in the 1950s.
Yes. Pakistani applicants apply as international students and should check scholarship country eligibility.
Check the University of Glasgow’s official pages at gla.ac.uk. Fees, deadlines and rules can change.
Compare the University of Glasgow With Other Top Universities
Disclaimer: This page is based on the QS World University Rankings 2027, the University of Glasgow’s official pages, and other publicly available sources, last checked in October 2026. Fees, rankings, deadlines, and admission rules change, and no admission, funding, visa, or employment outcome is guaranteed. Always verify current details directly with the university before applying.