30,846 discussions, 145 guides
Glasgow University
30,846 discussions, 145 guides
Glasgow University
University of Glasgow
Glasgow
G12 8QQ
Tel: +44 (0)1387 702001
1451
Sub City
Despite its limited licence Sub City is an excellent student radio station that broadcasts to the Glasgow student population twice a year on a 30 day FM licence. It is also the official radio station of the T in the Park festival and has numerous awards under its belt. There is also GUST, Glasgow University Student Television.At the 2005 National Student Television Association Awards, GUST picked up the prizes for Best Documentary, and Drama, as well as Highly Commended awards for Video to Music and Music programme.
The Guardian
First, before anyone asks, its not that one. However, it does mirror some of its namesakes left wing tendencies. The quality of the articles is good and covers everything from whats on in Glasgow to current political issues. There is a large team who contribute to it. There is also Glasgow University Magazine (GUM), which is independent and covers such things as fashion and movies.
Nothing worth mentioning at the moment.
William Boyd - Writer
A.J. Cronin - Writer
Charles Kennedy MP - Liberal Democrat Leader
Donald Dewar SMP - Politician (Lab)
James Herriot - Vet
Joseph Lister - Inventor of Antiseptics
John Baird - Inventor of TV
Anne Louise McIlroy - Initiated women in medicine
Adam Smith - Economist
John Smith MP - Late Labour Leader
James Watt - Inventor
This is where Glasgow University becomes confusing. Unlike Oxbridge, for example, which have numerous colleges and numerous unions, Glasgow has no colleges, but five representative bodies! First there is the Student Representative Council (SRC) which all students become members of automatically. It organises student welfare and the clubs and societies, as well as representing the students in an official capacity. Generally, it stays low key. Then there are two service unions, Glasgow University Union (GUU) and Queen Margaret (QM). Students can only be a member of one of these unions and have to choose before the end of Freshers week. The split originally came about because GUU was a men-only union, while QM was the female union. Now, they are both mixed and there is some gentle rivalry. Students can use the facilities of either union on most occasions, but have to be a member of one to do so. GUU is the larger union. There Sports Association deals with everything sporting related rather unsurprisingly and the Postgraduate Research Club does exactly what it says on the tin. No union is a member of the NUS.
GUU has five bars compared to QMs two, and tends to contain a sportier, rowdier type of student. QM students tend to be full of the trendier coffee drinking types, who claim to concentrate more on the quality of their entertainments. The most popular bars are Deep Six at GUU and the cool Jims Bar at QM. QM also has an 1,100 capacity night club called Qudos. Food is available in many of the bars and cafes at a reasonable price.
Before going to one of the Union clubs, students tend to go to Deep Six at GUU or Jims Bar at QM. Jims also gets in frequent live acts, which makes QM a great union if you like live music. The sports crowd tend to congregate in the aptly named Beer Bar, especially after sports afternoons.
Qudos, an 1,100 capacity club at QM, and The Hive (800) at GUU have themed nights three times a week, with anything from dance and house to good old cheese. Cheeze in da Hive is one of the most popular nights.
On the whole it is only for the large events on the social calander that the various unions restrict the invitations to "members only". An example is the largest social event of the year, Daft Friday, a black tie affair held at GUU for GUU members only. It is held on the last Friday of the first term, and despite respetable beginnings, it ends in a drunken carnage.
At the same time, QM has the 12 hours of cheezy pop which is less formal but has a more cluby atmosphere. There are also numerous other social events, many in association with societies, throughout the year.
Glasgow has an excellent range of clubs and socieities (over 150), covering virtually all fields of general and sporting interest. If you fancy looking after some older people then you can buddy a granny with GUSCA -Glasgow University Student Community Action- seriosly though, they are a very worthwhile group that 'aims to give students the chance to undertake volunteering opportunities both on and off campus thus providing a valuable link with the local community'. For a full list of societies (most of which don't involve grannies)it is best to click on the following link:
[/external/?http://www.gla.ac.uk/clubs/ Full List of Clubs]
GUST and Sub City have won several awards between them.
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The percentage of first year students in university accommodation may seem really low, but in reality most students who live outside Glasgow, and who want university accommodation, can get it. Over 45% of undergraduates live within 30 miles of Glasgow, and many of them live at home.
Overall the university houses more than 4000 students in accommodation, while the rest live out or at home. The largest residences are at Murano Street Student Village (1,150 residents), Queen Margaret Hall (with 420 people), or in one of the 11 student houses. However, by far the best quality halls are in the new complex, Kelvinhaugh Gate, which has 48 high-quality flats with en-suite bedrooms. All the halls, except for Wolfson are within a twenty minute walk, and this one has a shuttle bus.
Externally, it is best to look for housing as early as possible. There are certainly some areas to avoid in Glasgow, most noteably the East End (especially if you are from south of the border), but generally the once notorious tenaments (in which Billie Connolly grew up) are now ideal for students. The HUGE accommodation service will help you, both in person and over the Internet.
The University is situated in one of the better areas of Glasgow; a city which over the years has been dogged with the closure of the steel and ship building industries. Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, Glasgow fell into a depression, and images of dark buildings and poverty still rest in the minds of many. But in recent years Glasgow has flourished and a grand clean up program, has enlivened the beautiful sandstone buildings which had, for so long, been forgotten.
There are still rough areas, like the East End, the 'Barras' and Easterhouse (near H.M. High Security Barlinnie Prison). There is a serious drug and violence problem in these areas and it is best to stay clear.
There is plenty to do in Glasgow, especially if you are interested in art. There are over 30 museums and art galleries, and Glasgow was awarded the 1999 City of Architecture and Design. Sport, or rather football, is also a serious subject in Glasgow with the two of the most famous teams in Scotland within the city limits. Watch out, though, unfortunately there is a minority of small minded supporters, who confuse religion (Celtic (Catholic), Rangers (Protestant)) with sport and enjoy knocking seven bells of shit out of each other, and anyone else who happens to be in the way, whenever they can.
Around the city there is an excellent pub and club scene. Good pubs and clubs include, Waxy O'Connors, O'Neills, Jinty McGuinty's, and King Tut's Wah Wah Hut.
Around the Halls of Residence there is some limited parking for residents only. A permit, costing around £20, is needed for Hillhead.
In the city centre, public car parks are available, but these are expensive and often not worth the hastle.
Both the GUU and QMU have cash machine facilities from the Bank of Scotland. GUU also has a Royal Bank of Scotland cash machine. There are branches of most major banks all over the city. However, it is worth pointing out the Scotland has different banks than England, so it might be best opening a student account after you arrive.
The University is reputed to be spending over £50,000 per year improving disabled access. Lecture theatres have hearing loops and there are facilities for sight impaired students.
There are shops everywhere including general stores, travel shops, 2nd hand bookstores, print shops etc., etc. There is also a laundrette at both unions.
There is a branch of John Smiths in the main university building, and there is a second hand bookstore in the SRC. Apart from that, there are plenty in the centre of town.
Jocks, scared of coming to a city university due to lack of sports facilities, will be quite pleased with Glasgow's range. The only disadvantage is that membership of the Sports and Recreation Service cost money, and a smaller percentage of students join compared to other universities.
Saying that there are squash courts, a swimming pool, a SAUNA (!), multigyms and a sports hall. At the Kelvin Hall sports centre there is among other things an indoor running track and a climbing wall. Garscube Sports Complex is the University's outdoor sport and recreation site located at the scenic Garscube Estate, the faclities here include rugby and cricket pitches, tennis courts and floodlit astros'. A new sports hall will soon be built.
There is not really a need for one, being in a city with a good public transport system. Buses are frequent and cheap, and the local trains stop around the city. A Zonecard (giving 10-weeks unlimited travel on all transport) can be bought for around £300.
On campus there are plenty of squares and courtyards like the ones to the right. They are great during the summer when the Scottish weather can get above freezing!
Glasgow is a city, and as a result there is little in the way of green spaces. However, the city is within easy reach of some of the most beautiful scenery in Scotland. The typical postcard view of Scotland with mountains, lakes and sheep, is within an hours car journey from the city.
Glasgow does not need any more libraries!! There is even one in the union (GUU). In all there are over 50 (including departmental libraries), holding over 1,500,000 books and periodicals, with around 2,300 study places. The main library also mixes the modern with the old at the University of Glasgow. (See right)
Like the library facilities, Glasgow's computer facilities are good, with 2,200 fairly up to date machines. There is also some 24hr access.
Overall the welfare system is not well organised. Since the SRC runs much of the student welfare, and most students spend their time at either GUU or QMU, it really is not in close contact with the students. The University does run a counselling service, a health centre, and has a psychiatrist. Help is also available regarding finacial and academic issues. So if there are any real problems you can always find assistance.
