University of the West of Scotland

Overview

The University of the West of Scotland (UWS) has a rich institutional history, with roots dating back to the 19th century. 

Today, it’s a modern uni with five campuses – four in the heart of west-central Scotland and one in London. The sites in Scotland are in Ayr, Dumfries, Lanarkshire and Paisley, all towns with unique characters, architecture and social scenes. The London campus is set in the Docklands area, with easy access to the city centre and other main attractions and destinations.

The uni provides a collective feel, despite being spread over several sites, and there are plenty of social spaces to enjoy, as well as a Sports Union with 20 clubs and free membership to the UWS gym and other facilities.

The uni also takes the wellbeing of its students seriously and provides counselling through in-person, phone and email sessions. The counselling and wellbeing team hosts free workshops and students also have access to free CBT modules through SilverCloud online.

All of the Scottish campuses are within easy reach of Glasgow and Edinburgh, meaning you’ll be able to get to exciting, vibrant cities without hassle. You’ll also have easy access to the beautiful countryside and coast of western Scotland.

Glasgow and Edinburgh train stations give good transport links to the rest of the UK, while Glasgow International Airport is only a 15-minute bus ride from the Paisley campus.

You can choose from several undergraduate degrees at UWS, across subject areas like business, computing, engineering, health and social sciences. Most students choose to study full-time on one of the uni’s five campuses, but some courses can also be done part-time or online.

Typically, full-time undergraduate degrees at UWS take four years to study, as Scottish degree programmes are usually designed to give students a broader, more flexible education over a longer period of time. Some courses include placement years, study abroad options or an integrated master’s year. These courses usually take five or six years to complete.

Most degrees include optional modules, as well as core modules, meaning you can study the degree topics you’re most interested in.

UWS aims to give students a transformational experience that leads to capable graduates who have the skills and experience that graduate employers want to see.

UWS accepts several qualifications from applicants, including Scottish Highers, Advanced Highers, A-levels and the Welsh Baccalaureate. Some degrees will ask that you’ve studied certain subjects already and some will ask you to go to an interview before being offered a place.

You can find each subject’s specific entry requirements online on the uni’s course search pages, but we’ve given you an idea of the kind of grades you’ll need to study certain subjects here too.

To get onto a degree in business, accounting or finance, for instance, you’ll likely be asked for Scottish Highers ranging from ABBB–BBBC, or A-levels of BBC–BCC. For computing & IT courses, you’ll need Scottish Highers ranging from AABB–ABBB, or A-levels ranging from BBB–BBC, and for health & medicine degrees, the entry requirements will be Scottish Highers of AABB–BBBC or A-levels of BBB–BCC.

It should be noted that entry requirements can change so you should always confirm these with the university before applying.

There’s a choice of uni accommodation on all of UWS’s campuses. You’ll find self-catered options in Ayr and Paisley in shared flats and studios, while students on the London campus usually find their own accommodation, either through a private let or a privately managed residence.

Wherever you’re based, in uni accommodation you’ll find everything you need to settle into your new home, including shared kitchen facilities, on-site laundry services and free WiFi. There’s also a Residence Life team that’s available 24/7, meaning you can get help and support whenever you need it. The ResLife programme hosts activities and events every month, further contributing to the friendly environment.

Rent prices for self-catered accommodations range from around £98 to £166 per week and rates include all your bills, as well as contents insurance. There are three different lengths of contract, depending on your type of study. The traditional academic year contract runs for 38 weeks and is available for students on any course.

As a student at UWS, you’ll be able to use the Careers Team, which is dedicated to helping you achieve your career goals by providing professional careers education, help and advice.

You’ll be automatically registered with the UWS Careers & Academic Skills Website where you’ll be able to access various resources to help develop your skills and career. There’s also a website for UWS graduates, that’s dedicated to career guidance.

While at uni, you’ll be able to book one-to-one appointments with professional careers advisers to speak about career-related topics like choosing a career path, writing your CV and preparing for job interviews.

There are also careers events run throughout the academic year, including workshops, webinars and employer presentations. These are a great way of learning more about different industries and improving your employability skills. Careers Fairs are also held, which will allow you to start growing your professional network by meeting different employers.

UWS is also committed to including work-related placement opportunities in its degree programmes, and volunteering placements are available from both the Careers Service and the Students’ Union.

UWS has a package of extra funding available to help certain students pay to go to uni. This extra funding comes in the form of scholarships and bursaries and is for students who meet certain criteria. It can go towards helping to pay for living and study costs and doesn’t need to be paid back.

For Scottish undergraduate students, there’s the WEST Scholarship Programme, which is worth £1,250 per year, up to a maximum of £5,000 over four years. Applicants can come from any subject, as long as they’re studying full-time.

For students from the rest of the UK & the Republic of Ireland, there’s a variety of funding options. For example, the UWS Undergraduate Honours Year Scholarship is worth one full year of tuition fees, whereas the UWS Undergraduate Merit Bursary is worth £1,000 each year of study for those students who achieve at least BBB at A-level (or equivalent qualification).

There are also sports scholarships available for student athletes who have the potential to be at the top of their sport, performing at a regional, national or international level.

You can find out about all the scholarships and bursaries available, as well as their eligibility criteria, by visiting the uni’s online funding pages.