The University of the West of Scotland is a public university established by the University of Paisley merging with Bell College in August 2007. There are currently 16,000 students enrolled, and it is the largest modern university in Scotland, spread over four campuses in Ayr, Dumfries, Hamilton and Paisley.
UWS is ranked among the top 500 universities worldwide by Times Higher Education in their 2019 World University Rankings, and places among the top 150 in their Young University World Rankings.
The University has 3,500 foreign students, and its student population is represented by 140 nationalities.
The courses are developed with industry, industrial and technical partners to ensure that learning meets the demands of the working world. Many programs receive professional recognition or accreditation.
In the Complete University Guide 2020 the university has the 4th highest level of student satisfaction in Scotland.
The graduate results for The UWS indicate that 96 per cent of graduates are in work or further study six months after leaving university.
University of West of Scotland Campus
UWS has 4 campuses in the heart of the west of Scotland in Paisley, Lanarkshire, Dumfries and Ayr and one campus in central London.
Paisley
Paisley is the biggest of the University's four campuses. Located in the middle of Paisley – the largest town in Scotland – the campus is just 10 minutes away by train from Glasgow, one of the most exciting and vibrant cities in Europe. The UWS Paisley Campus with excellent teaching and research facilities covers over 20 acres in the center of town.
Ayr
UWS's £81 million Ayr Campus, located just a 10-minute walk from Ayr town center on the Craigie Estate next to the River Ayr, offers a genuinely creative learning atmosphere for students.
Dumfries
Dumfries is the smallest UWS campus, but it is a rare multi-institutional facility situated within the magnificent Crichton estate – a historic 85-acre parkland estate just two miles from Dumfries city centre.
Hamilton / Lanarkshire
UWS, situated on the outskirts of Hamilton, opened its new £110 m Lanarkshire campus in September 2018. The world-class new campus is one of UK's greenest educational environments with carbon-neutral houses, fully operated renewable energy wind farm, and rainwater harvesting.
London Campus
With panoramic views of the London Docklands, London Campus offers new and creative, versatile work and learning spaces. UWS London campus is a delivery hub for business and health degrees in bachelor, master's and doctorate degrees.
Facilities in Campus
Well-equipped library facilities at all four campuses; Wi-Fi access points in residences and campuses; Microsoft Campus Agreement provides students with access to the latest Microsoft apps for use on personal computers, on or off campus; Screening room, Performance Suite, TV Studios, Radio Studios, Rehearsal Rooms, Radio Station; Career Service; Student Sports Centre; Student Societies.
Location Specialities
The University operates four campuses in the south and south-west of Scotland.
Paisley is seven miles west of Glasgow and as such is conveniently situated for access to some of Scotland's, and the worlds, most beautiful and historic locations like Edinburgh and Stirling.
Paisley is a vibrant town with a diverse music and entertainment scene alongside a large range of shops, museums and attractions combined with excellent transport connections across Scotland and its own international airport.
The Ayr Campus is situated on Scotland's west coast, and Ayr is a renowned seaside resort 37 miles south west of Glasgow. The city is set amid some of the most spectacular scenery in Scotland and looks.
Filled with historic sites, Ayrshire's tourist attractions include unspoiled beaches and rolling hills, castles, a racecourse and numerous golf courses. Ayr provides a remarkable mix of relaxation and liveliness-an ideal atmosphere in which students excel.
Dumfries is situated two miles from the town center It is a secure town well served by public transport with convenient access from the town center to the campus by foot, by car or by rail. With a population of 38,000, Dumfries provides all of a city's services but on a smaller scale.
Restaurants, bars and clubs are numerous, with sports and fitness clubs and cinemas as well as high street and independent shops providing entertainment options. The cost of living is fairly small, too
The UWS Lanarkshire Campus is situated at Hamilton International Technology Park, about two miles from Hamilton and East Kilbride, with over 80 local businesses. Lanarkshire provides plenty to see and do – including a variety of country parks and nature reserves including Strathclyde Park. It is well-served by public transport connections.
Hamilton town center provides plenty of retail options as well as a supermarket, movie theater and a number of bars, nightclubs and restaurants.
Campus London is in the heart of one of the most bustling cities in the world. Canary Wharf is situated to the south west of the campus – with its famous skyline and more than 300 stores, cafés, bars and restaurants. It is also home to one of London's biggest roof gardens, an Everyman Cinema and a vibrant arts and events program throughout the year.
University of West of Scotland Accommodation
The University of the West of Scotland has just under 1,000 accommodations in the Paisley, Ayr and Hamilton campuses, with accommodation on the Dumfries campus run by the University of Glasgow.
All accommodation is self-catered.
University of West of Scotland Ranking
- 108th in the Times University Guide 2020
- 106th in the Guardian University Guide 2020
- The university is ranked second in the United Kingdom for Education in the 2020 Complete University Guide.
University of West of Scotland Teaching Quality
Student Teacher Ratio ( Number of students per staff)
Academic Divisions
- School of Business and Creative Industries
- School of Computing, Engineering & Physical Sciences
- School of Education & Social Sciences
- School of health & life sciences
University of West of Scotland Study Options
Why University of West of Scotland
- Over 100 years of experience in the field of engineering and science education.
- Ranked in the top three universities in Scotland for quality teaching and in the top five for student experience and graduate prospects (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2019).
- 95 per cent of undergraduate students and 96.6 per cent of postgraduate students in work or further study within 6 months of graduation.
- 90% of the total student satisfaction with the UWS (International Student Barometer / Student Barometer iGraduate Survey, 2017).
How to Reach? Or Travel
- Paisley campus is located 7 miles west of Glasgow City, with excellent bus and train connections. It's just over an hour away from the capital city of Scotland, Edinburgh.
- Ayr campus is a 40-minute train journey from Paisley and Glasgow.
- Dumfries campus has bus services that go to the campus, with a 15 minute journey to the center of Dumfries. The nearest railway station is Dumfries, approximately a 45-minute walk or a 20-minute cycle drive away.
- Lanarkshire campus is located in Hamilton International Technology Park, is served by a number of buses, offers bicycle parking and is a 25-minute drive from Glasgow.
- The London campus is only 15 minutes' walk from Tower Bridge in the centre of London.
University of the West of Scotland Scholarships
The University offers wide range of scholarships to international students at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, such as:
- UWS Global Scholarships: A total of 120 scholarships worth £1,500 each are awarded to PG students securing 69% and above in Diploma/Bachelor’s.
- The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme: It is a joint scholarship scheme offered by DfID and the University of West Scotland to students from Commonwealth nations. The scholarship covers the tuition fee, monthly expenses, return flight tickets, thesis grant, study travel grant and warm clothing allowance.
- Scotland’s Saltire Scholarships: Scholarship worth£8,000 is offered to PG Master’s students attending 1-year full time programmes in the subject areas of: Science, Technology, Creative industries, Healthcare & Medical Sciences, Renewable & Clean Energy.
- Postgraduate Fee Offer: TheUWS undergraduate students wishing to continue Master’s studies with UWS are offered rebate of 10% on the tuition fee.
Additionally, the international students may seek childcare allowances and funding via other channels like trust funds and scholarships.
Famous Aluminis
- Darryl Broadfoot – partner at creative agency, Frame.
- Willie Rennie – leader of Scottish Liberal Democrats.
- Shamshad Akhtar – executive secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.
- Gavin Hastings OBE – former Scotland rugby union player.
- Ali Hunter – assistant editor of political programmes, BBC Scotland.
- Irene Barkby MBE – director of nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals, NHS Lanarkshire.
- Lesley Dalzie – chief financial officer at Axle Group Holdings.
- Angela Boyle – former vice president at Scottish Development International.
- Heather Smith – managing director, LV.
- Kevin Clancy – former senior director of strategic sourcing, Microsoft Corporation.
University of West of Scotland English Language Requirements:
IELTS:
- Undergraduate (BA, BAcc, BEng, BSc) – IELTS 6.0 with no skill below 5.5.
- Postgraduate Taught (MA, MSc) – IELTS 6.0 with no skill below 5.5.
- Postgraduate Research (MRes, MPhil, PhD, DBA, DProf) – IELTS 6.5 with no skill below 6.0.
TOEFL:
- UG & PG – 78 overall and a minimum of 17 in all components.
PTE:
- UG – 54 overall and a minimum of 51 in all components.
- PG – 61 overall and a minimum of 51 in all components.
The Requirements may Defer for some Programs.
For more Details on Entry Requirements, Click HERE.
Waiver:
IELTS Score Exceptions (DBA, Certificate of Higher Education, PhD, etc.)
- For Research degrees (MRes, MPhil, PhD, DBA, DProf), applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows: overall score of 6.5, no sub-test less than 6.0.
- For Health, Nursing & Midwifery courses that lead to professional registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows: overall score of 7.0,no sub-test less than 7.0.
- For Certificate of Higher Education courses, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows: overall score of 5.0, no sub-test less than 4.5
English Proficiency Test
| English Test | Minimum Scores Required |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.0 (UG) 6.0 (PG taught) 6.5 (PG research) |
| TOEFL IBT | 78 |
| CAE/CPE | 176 |
| Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English | SE II with Pass |
| PTE Academic | 54 |
Visa Process for International Students
The international students who wish to study at the University of the West of Scotland for more than six months must apply for a tier-4 (general) student visa.
The following documents will be required during the visa process:
- Passport
- Letter of financial support
- Academic qualifications as stated on CAS
- English language requirements
- Tuberculosis certificate
- ATAS certificate
- Marriage certificate or birth certificate (if applicable)
A stepwise procedure for a visa application is given below:
- Check the maintenance requirements – These include the cost of living. The applicant must provide proof of financial ability and get it checked before the visa application.
- Complete the visa application form – After you are ready with the maintenance requirements, it’s time to start filling up the visa application form. Be careful while filling up the form as it will influence your visa interview questions. The application fee is 348 GBP.
- Prepare the required documents – An applicant must gather his documents carefully. Even if one of the documents is absent, it will lead directly to the refusal of your visa. Do not forget to keep a copy of the submitted documents for yourself.
- Ensure the correct document format – The documents to be submitted must be in the right format. Each detail is considered when it comes to granting of a visa, and a missing detail or an inappropriate format may lead to dismissal of the document, ultimately leading to the rejection of the visa.
- Prepare for the credibility interview – After all the procedures, finally, it is time for the final and crucial stage of the visa application process. The interview is an opportunity for an applicant to put forth his necessities and opinions. Remember, answers during the interview must be precise and to the point.
