Moving overseas to study can seem like a daunting prospect, however, it offers a wealth of opportunities for personal and academic development, as well as shaping your future career.
Every year at the University of the West of Scotland, we welcome hundreds of international students into our vibrant and diverse academic community. We do everything we can to help them prepare for life at UWS as well as supporting them during their studies.
International students who study with us report an enriching and rewarding experience which they look back on with good memories.
I love Scotland and UWS, I have made so many friends here and I am able to take part in social trips to see the beautiful sights of Scotland, including Loch Ness. The teaching at UWS is amazing and both tutors and lecturers are very helpful. If I had one piece of advice for students looking to come to the UK it would be - come to Scotland and study at UWS, it is a wonderful place to learn, with friendly staff and great facilities!Mo Zhou – BA Business Studies student from China
The following sections give more information about why UWS is a great choice for international students.
If you have any questions or would like to talk to someone about your options, please email ask@uws.ac.uk or call us on +44 141 849 4101.
University of the West of Scotland is one of the country’s largest modern universities and is officially recognised as being in the top 600 of universities worldwide by Times Higher Education (THE) in their World University Rankings 2022.
UWS was also ranked in the world’s top 150 universities under 50 years of age in the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2022.
We provide career-relevant, high quality, inclusive higher education alongside innovative, internationally recognised research.
Spread across four campuses in the west of Scotland and our London Campus, we offer a unique and unparalleled student experience.
That’s why nine out of ten of our students would recommend us to a friend.
It’s very different to where I studied in Albania. Not just because of the facilities, but also the lecturers - they do more than just teach. They inspire us to become business leaders of the future, and motivate us to work hard to get there.Sajmir Mikli, MBA student London Campus
UWS offers a range of career-focused undergraduate, postgraduate and research degree opportunities across four academic schools.
We are committed to producing work-ready graduates. Our vocational degree courses combine input from industry and the professions to help develop your insight and knowledge to prepare you for a career in your chosen field or discipline.
I am so happy to be in Scotland! The professors at UWS have huge experience and so their lectures are always so interesting. As well as this UWS gives me access to a lot of modern facilities which can help me with coursework and my education. So far my time here has been perfect and I look forward to spending more time at the University and meeting new friends!Anastasia Khatuntseva – MSc Waste & Clean Technologies student from Russia
We combine first-class teaching with world-leading and internationally excellent research. We aim to develop research outputs that have a tangible, early and positive impact on society across the globe.
Our research-active teaching staff are dedicated to making a real difference to the world, developing innovative technologies and shaping our society.
The Research Excellence Framework 2014 rated UWS research outputs particularly high, with more than half of the submissions being ranked as world-leading (4*) and internationally excellent (3*) research.
Studying at UWS will prepare you for the best international opportunities available.
Our Scottish campuses are located within historic towns that allow easy commuting to Scotland's largest city, Glasgow and Scotland's capital city, Edinburgh. Scotland's arts and cultural scene is second to none. With plenty of museums, art galleries, pubs, clubs and shopping, there are entertainment options for everyone.
Each location has its own individual character, architecture and social-scene. Whether you choose an urban or rural environment, our campuses offer modern accommodation, varied extra-curricular activities and excellent teaching and study facilities.
Our newest campus is situated in the heart of London, one of the world’s most exciting cities. The UWS London Campus offers attractive, modern facilities in close proximity to central London.
Students can take advantage of the endless number of visitor attractions in London including the Tate Modern, the National Gallery and the Victoria and Albert Museum, not to mention world-class restaurants, nightlife and shopping.
UWS students come from all over the world and you’ll find a great community feel and real energy on our campuses. There are lots of opportunities to get involved in extracurricular activities and build friendships for life.
Our legendary Freshers’ Week will help you meet new people as well as get your bearings if you’re new to town. Events are organised by our active students’ association (SAUWS), which also runs a vibrant and diverse calendar of social events for all students during term-time.
SAUWS has a range of student-run societies representing courses, culture, hobbies and interests from Chemical Engineering, Midwifery and Zoological societies, to Christian and Muslim students’ associations, and the ever-popular Beer Appreciation Society.
At UWS, we are passionate about supporting student engagement with sport, whether you are a national or international performer, a club level competitor or a recreational participant.
We are continually investing in indoor and outdoor facilities and equipment to promote new clubs and respond to demand from our students. Our sports union has 20 sports clubs ranging from keep-fit clubs to individual and team sports including athletics, cycling, golf, rugby and snow sports.
Whatever your interest, joining our sports clubs and societies is a great way to meet other students, develop your extra-curricular interests and make new friends.
We want to make sure that all of our students get the most out of their university experience. That’s why we offer a comprehensive range of student services to provide advice, support and guidance when you need it.
Our commitment to our students was recognised with the UWS student services team being named as ‘Student Support Team of the Year’ in the 2017 Herald Higher Education Awards.
Our campus-based student service teams provide:
We also have a dedicated team of International Student Advisers (ISAs) to help students who are moving to the UK to study for the first time. They can help you to prepare for your time at UWS and support you during your studies.
Our ISAs offer tailored guidance, including visa and immigration advice, and can answer questions about finance and your general welfare.
You can contact our ISAs on: internationaladvice@uws.ac.uk.
Applying to study at UWS is a really straightforward process. To make sure you're prepared, we've compiled applications guides for international students at each level of study.
Prior to beginning your application, we recommend that you read the guide relevant to you to make sure that you understand the process.
Find your course of interest from our career-focused undergraduate, postgraduate (taught) and post-experience options.