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The City

Stone Age canoes unearthed in Glasgow suggest this settlement began as a small Celtic fishing village before the Roman invasion. Through the ages, Glasgow grew into the UK’s busiest trading centre outside London, diversifying from tobacco exports, to sugar imports, to ship building, locomotives then tourism.

Glasgow has changed tack and changed tack again in order to keep its conurbation of 2.3 million residents afloat, which is almost half of the entire population of Scotland. Residents hit hard times during the recession of the early 1900s that saw ill-planned tenement blocks and mass unemployment, but efforts are being made to stem the tide and redevelop the city into a capital choice for conferences and tourism.

City Centre

The city centre is bounded by the M8 motorway to the west and the north, the River Clyde to the south and High Street to the east, where the main shopping area is located alongside two city universities and the train and bus stations. Not much goes on south of the river, with the administrative and cultural centres scattered around the north.

West End

Students have made their mark on the map of Glasgow here, with the spire of gothic Glasgow University towering over the whole of the West End. This part of the city is a collection of bohemian cafes, bars, boutiques along Ashton Lane and green space, namely Ashton Glasgow Botanic Gardens and Kelvingrove Park. International students will find a lot of house shares here.

East End

This area is a cheaper place to live as it contains some of Glasgow’s remaining tenement buildings. It is also home to Glasgow Green, which houses the Winter Gardens, a fountain and museum, as well as Barra Market’s charming stalls and chatty traders at the weekends. Famous landmarks in the area include Glasgow Cathedral and Tron Steeple.

Merchant City

Also to the east is Glasgow’s Merchant City area, which is a hive of theatres and bars that have become popular with the gay community. Plans are underway to develop this area into a cultural quarter, which stems from its great many art galleries, which have sprung up from the cheap rent charged for studio space.

Docklands

One of the most architecturally magnificent buildings on the riverside is the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC), which was built on Queen’s Dock in the 1980s and connected to new business district Pacific Quay by Clyde Arc bridge. There are acres of green space across the water, including Linn Park, Queen’s Park, Bellahouston Park, Rouken Glen Park and Pollok Country Park. Haggs Castle Golf Club is also located here.

The Universities

There are more than 168,000 students in Glasgow - the biggest concentration in Scotland. According to a British Council survey, international students put Scottish universities ahead of their English counterparts, which is perhaps why people from overseas choose to study at one of Glasgow’s three major educational centres.

In terms of stature, the University of Glasgow is the equivalent of England’s Oxbridge. It was founded in 1451 and is one of the four oldest universities of the English-speaking world. It has been described as a research powerhouse as well as one of the wealthiest higher education institutions in the UK, attracting 3,000 international students from more than 100 nations.

The University of Strathclyde was borne out of the dying wish of one of the former professors of the University of Glasgow - that a place of education should be created that is accessible to everyone. Strathclyde was set up in 1796 and welcomes a total of 15,000 students to lectures today from more than 100 countries. It helps source funding for international students and provides English language support, welfare and guidance.

More than 16,000 students attend Glasgow Caledonian University, which was formed out of a former polytechnic and college in the city. It offers career-centred courses, small class sizes, help with English and industry links.

Transport

Glasgow zonecards cover trains, subways, some buses and ferries. However, students who want to make savings may like to stick to a travel card that covers just one mode of transport. First buses are keen to have students on board by providing concessions. Discounted ten-week bus tickets are available across three city zones. To travel to the University of Glasgow, which is outside the city centre, catch the 44. Buchanan bus stop is 500 metres away from Glasgow Caledonian University, with Strathclyde campus also within easy reach. Coaches run from the city centre to long-haul destinations and there are student discounts on fares.

Trains run from Glasgow Queens Street and Glasgow Central stations by the universities in the city centre. Savings can be made for travel further afield by applying for a young person's rail card. Train services stop by the University of Glasgow at Partick Station, which is connected to the underground and bus routes.

The nearest subway station to the University of Glasgow is Hillhead, although Kelvinhall and Kelvinbridge stations may be more amenable for some campus locations. Subway services mainly cover the city centre and stop running at 23:00 local time on weekdays at 18:00 on Sundays. A one-way ticket costs £1. Buses, trains and taxis serve Glasgow Prestwick Airport, which is 22 miles outside the city centre, while Glasgow International Airport is seven miles away, connected by buses that run from Strathclyde and Caledonian, past the University of Glasgow in the West End. Glasgow International flies to 90 destinations worldwide, whereas aeroplanes at Glasgow Prestwick mainly head to Europe.

Food and drink

By signing up for a list card in addition to a university union card, students can get two-for-one offers at many of Glasgow’s restaurants. Bar Bola on Gibson Street near Kelvingrove Park is a top pick for its mix and match menu and easy-going atmosphere. Smokers are welcome on the venue’s outdoor tables, while pop and rock music plays on MTV screens inside. The Drawing Room in Sauchiehall Street nearby offers bonza burger deals at less than £7 for two, beneath the shadow of Glasgow University’s gothic spire. Nicensleazy on the same street offers meals for under £5 and live entertainment.

Indie kids love the two-for-one offers on pizzas and burgers as well as the student card discounts at Bloc on Bath Street in the centre of Glasgow. Traditional Scottish tatties and mince are on the menu as well as traditional Sunday roast dinners. Vegetarians should try the venue next door, The Butterfly and the Pig on Bath Street, for meat-free options, which is renowned for its chintzy, haphazard decor.

Between both city centre universities on West George Street is the Frankenstein Pub where the portions are monstrous as well as the statue in the corner. Home on Albion Street is a favourite among students of Strathclyde University who want to eat basic Scottish dishes. King Tut's Wah Wah Hut on St Vincent Street provides a range of attractions: food, drink and a venue for live music. There’s a basement bar covered in posters of forthcoming gigs and a pre-theatre menu before the big acts. King Tut’s is also a choice venue for vegetarian options.

Specialist supermarkets for South East Asian food include the Chinese Supermarket on Cambridge street, Matthews Food on Garscube Road, Chung Ying on Dobbies Loan and Chans on Farnell Street, which also sells Indian ingredients. KRK Continental Food Store on Woodlands Road stocks Halal meat as well as supermarket Oriental Food on Great Western Road. Mark’s Deli on Sinclair Drive sells Kosher meat.

Things to do

The Lonely Planet travel guide ranked Glasgow as one of the world’s top ten cities to visit in 2009 on a par with Lisbon, Mexico City and Chicago. The city’s urban renaissance has a Cinderella-type charm of an area shaking off its industrial soot to reveal a shiny new gown of cocktail bars, river powerboats and refurbished national football stadium.

Glasgow’s millionaires have left the city legacies that are on display in many museums and galleries, most notably at Pollock Country Park Estate, which shows more than 9,000 works that were owned by Sir William Burrell and his wife. Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum also shows paintings and sculptures from around the world.

The Museum of Religious Art off Castle Street hangs artwork devoted to many of the world’s major faiths, while Provand’s Lordship building next door has been lovingly restored to show visitors what life was like in Glasgow in the Middle Ages and Scotland Street School Museum recreates Victorian classroom.

Glasgow is also home to the National Football Museum which explores country rivalries, Fossil Grove in Victoria Park traces Glasgow’s rocks, trees and plants, and work on a new Riverside museum is set to make the Glasgow’s former ship building and locomotive skills shine. Most of Glasgow’s experimental art galleries are in the Merchant City quarter, including selections of sculpture and paintings at Art Exposure, talent spanning 30 years at Glasgow Print Studio and contemporary art at Street Level Photoworks on Kings Street. Sharmanka Gallery houses unusual mechanical sculptures while Q Gallery and Sorcha Dallas house other exhibitions to watch out for.

Out on the Town

As the biggest city in Scotland, Glasgow hosts several world-famous acts. Off-campus check the listings at the O2 Academy, ABC, SECC, Glasgow concert halls and Barrowland ballroom. Glasgow is home to many of Scotland’s national arts societies including Scottish Opera, the National Theatre of Scotland, the Royal Scottish Orchestra, Scottish Ballet, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the Scottish Youth Theatre.

Glasgow is the capital of club nights with monthly DJs at Inside Out at The Arches on Argyle Street, which doubles as an art gallery. The five rooms that make up The Garage on Sauchiehall Street offer a range of music from indie to pop and the Cathouse plays alternative rock and nu-metal until the wee small hours.

For pantomime and melodrama choose the Citizens Theatre on Gorbals Street and the King’s Theatre on Bath Street for touring acts and big stage solos. Mitchell Theatre is a council-owned venue for conferences, fairs and plays on Granville Street while the Pavilion Theatre on Renfield Street is largely dependent on charitable money. Ramshorn Theatre is part of Strathclyde University, training stars in the making, and the Theatre Royal on Hope Street puts on ballet, opera and Shakespeare. Finally, the Tramway was built to dazzle and engage audiences on Albert Drive.

There are Odeons, a Cineworld, Showcase, UCI and Imax cinema in Glasgow for international students to take their pick of the latest blockbusters. Choose Glasgow Film Theatre for art house, educational clips and special guests. Glasgow Film Festival takes place in the city in February every year.

Day Tripper

Glasgow is an hour’s drive from the coastal city of Edinburgh, which promises a royal tour of a castle and Scottish Crown Jewels, the Palace of Holyroodhouse - the Queen of England’s official residence in Scotland - and the Royal Yacht Britannia, where Her Royal Highness used to go on holiday. Edinburgh has more museums and art galleries visitors can get around in a day, so take some time to tour the area and fit in a round of golf at one of the Edinburgh’s famous courses, such as Muirfield, Dunbar and Gullane.

Although Loch Ness is three hours away by car, international students might want to journey into the wilderness of the Highlands to try to catch a glimpse of the famous ‘monster’ that has become as synonymous with Scotland as haggis and tartan. The scenery around the Loch is perfect for hikes and bikes in good weather, with the Loch Ness Exhibition Centre in Drumnadrochit poised to reveal more about the legend that lies at the bottom of the lake.

How to make your life easier

Buy a travel card for Glasgow transport to make the most out of the city and use student cards wisely for discounts on food, drink and admission. Use library computers for emails to help keep the cost of internet cafes down. Travelling around Scotland would be expensive, as sometimes several buses and trains or coaches are the only way to get to more remote parts, so try short trips first. Glasgow’s diversity should keep international students exploring for months on end.

Finding Student Accommodation in Glasgow

Here is a very quick guide to help you find your ideal student accommodation in Glasgow. First of all you should check out our student residences and our private student accommodation lisitings. Your next port of call should be to contact the university. If you are studying at Glasgow University their website is Student Accommodation - University of Glasgow. Strathclyde University webpage can be found here: Strathclyde Student Accommodation.

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