Eluceo - The University of Stirling

University of Stirling

Overview

The University of Stirling

Nestled in the heart of Scotland, the University of Stirling offers an exceptional overall student experience. The University is situated in a stunning, safe campus where you’ll find everything you need to excel including some of the best recreational and elite sports facilities in the country, and exceptional social and cultural venues.

The University offers flexible degrees actively encouraging you to study across a range of disciplines, providing a breadth of experience that is internationally recognised, and giving you control of your own studies.

Around 20% of the population of the city of Stirling is students, making the University an important part of city life. The city of Stirling was a pivotal seat in Scotland’s turbulent history and is known for its cobbled old town which climbs to the dramatic vista of Stirling Castle. However, nowadays Stirling is a young, cosmopolitan city with fresh, inclusive and unashamedly forward-looking style. The bustling, pedestrianised centre boasts all the familiar high street brands whilst the city’s covered Victorian mall offers speciality shopping and the Thistles Shopping Centre has over ninety stores under one roof. The city also boasts plenty of bars, cafes and restaurants with much activity geared toward students who set the tone.

For a different perspective and within walking distance, the historic town of Bridge of Allan offers a variety of independent shops, with great delis, gift shops, boutiques, bars, restaurants and even a micro-brewery. Stirling has superb links to the nearby cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, both of which are less than an hour away by road or rail and have their own airports, whilst the Highlands are also an easy distance to travel.

Rankings

International

=485

QS World Ranking (2021)

351-400

Times Higher Education (2020)

901-1000

Shanghai Ranking (2020)

National

Complete University Guide (2021)

Guardian League Table (2021)

Vital Stats

78%

Student Satisfaction

Green Credentials (2019)

Research Position

Student Breakdown

35%

Young vs Mature

35%

Male vs Female

Summary

University Environment

The University of Stirling is based on the historic Airthrey Estate, two miles from the centre of Stirling. The University has retained and incorporated the Robert Adam-designed Airthrey Castle into the campus as teaching facilities and offices, having been designed in a low-rise, highly functional, modern style, envisaged to integrate with the contours of the surrounding landscape. It is regularly described as one of the most beautiful campuses in the world, and nestles at the foot of Abbey Craig and the Ochil Hills in 300 acres of grounds centred around the 18th century man-made Aithrey Loch. In 2002, the University and the landscape of the Airthrey Estate was designated by the International Council on Monuments and Sites as one of the top 20 heritage sites of the 20th century within the UK, and in 2012 it was ranked first for campus environment by International Student Barometer.

The majority of teaching and learning is held on the Stirling campus, however there are smaller additional University campuses in Inverness and Stornorway on the Isle of Lewis (the Western Isles Campus). The Western Isles Campus houses the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health and offers undergraduate degree programmes for adult nursing.

Situated in the grounds of Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, the Highland Campus has state-of-the-art teaching and accommodation for Nursing and Midwifery Education and Research.  

History

The University campus stands in the Airthrey Estate, focused on an 18th-century castle which was extended and remodelled in late Victorian times. The castle was used as a maternity hospital between 1939-1968 and was taken over in 1969 to become an integral part of University life.

It was founded by Royal Charter in 1967 with 165 undergraduate and 31 postgraduate students as a result of the Robbins Report which recommended the expansion of universities. By 2007 the University had produced around 45,000 graduates, although the University has a relatively small student population of 11,000.

Further Information

Stirling offers a modular degree programme allowing you greater flexibility and choice, allowing you to adapt and develop your study choices as you go along. In the first couple of years, you take more than one subject — generally three each semester, and there are no restrictions on what subjects and combinations you can take. This means that, if you’ve a clear idea of what you want to study you can focus on this, however you can also keep your options open and nurture your interests.

Stirling offers three- and four-year undergraduate degrees, and depending on your qualifications, you’ve the option of applying to either.

Academics

Schools

School of Applied Social Science
School of Arts & Humanities
School of Education
School of Health Sciences
School of Natural Sciences
School of Sport
University of Stirling Management School

Research

Stirling moved up to 6th place in Scotland and 45th in the UK as a result of the 2014 Research Excellence Framework. Compared to 2008, the volume of research classified as ‘world-leading’ more than doubled, with highlights including Agriculture, Veterinary and Food Science (ranked 4th in the UK), Health Sciences (ranked 1st in Scotland) and Psychology (ranked 3rd in Scotland).

International & Industrial Opportunities

Stirling students have the opportunity to spend up to a year studying in a wide range of countries as part of their degree earning credit towards graduation. This opportunity is open to most Honours degree students. In Europe Stirling has ERASMUS exchange agreements with 50 universities in Europe.

Facilities

Learning Facilities

The Library is housed in the atrium and provides an informal and modern workspace. There are also two smaller libraries in the Inverness campus and Western Isles campus with an inter-site loan system making it possible to borrow from any of the campus libraries.

The University has a large number of computing laboratories, many of which are available 24 hours a day.

All students have access to the University portal, an online gateway to key learning resources such as Succeed (the University’s online learning environment), their individual academic records, email accounts and various online University services.

The University offer well-equipped facilities for multimedia presentations backed by excellent production facilities including audio and TV studios, DVD mastering and duplication, video production and editing for inclusion in data presentations, graphic design and printing.

Four courses, specifically designed to meet the needs of students across all the main academic disciplines are available, and explore and practise many aspects of studying effectively at university, such as time management, note-taking, critical analysis, assignment planning, report writing, academic writing style and convention, avoiding plagiarism, referencing and exam techniques.

Student Learning Services offer a variety of courses, workshops and tutorials to enable students to make the most of their academic studies at university and for students to become independent, successful learners.  

Sporting Facilities

The University of Stirling has some of the best facilities of any UK university. The Gannochy National Tennis Centre has six indoor courts, two outdoor all-weather floodlit courts and two outdoor clay courts. The National Swimming Academy houses a 50-metre, six-lane pool and land conditioning room. The MP Jackson Fitness Centre has an extensive range of cardiovascular and resistance equipment and two extensive free weights areas containing nine lifting platforms.

Students also have access to an eight-court sports hall and three squash courts; an air-conditioned dance and fitness studio; a 400m all-weather running track; two artificial pitches and seven grass pitches; a loch at the centre of the campus great for canoeing and fishing; and a nine-hole, par-three golf course, putting green, driving ranges, pavilion and video analysis suite.

For students competing at national level or above, Stirling operates an International Sports Scholarship Programme in football (men and women), golf, swimming, tennis and triathlon. This includes financial help and top-level coaching, and enables you to extend your degree to allow for times when it’s crucial to concentrate on a competition.

Students' Union

Students’ Union

The Atrium is the social hub of the University with the Students’ Union offering a place where you can relax during the day and party into the small hours in the bar or nightclub. The Atrium also contains the University’s shopping precinct with a variety of retailers including a bank, pharmacy, supermarket and bookshop, in addition to a wide selection of food outlets.

Stirling’s Students’ Union runs numerous venues including: Studio, open from early morning to late at night and offers food, drink, live sport, weekly karaoke and pub quizzes; the outside decking offering stunning views; the coffee shop, Underground, for day-time lunches and snacks; and Venue, the Union’s brand new multi-purpose space which hosts events throughout the year, offers food and drink during the day, and houses a space for student clubs and societies to meet.

The University boasts over 3,000 members in over 100 sports and societies, covering a wide range of activities. Clubs welcome new members throughout the year with their main recruitment during Freshers Week, whilst ‘Give It a Go’ sessions offer you the chance to try before you buy.

Students’ Union runs a portfolio of support services designed with students in mind. They can help with everything from academic help and support to accommodation, and can help you deal with any personal or academic issue you may be facing. All services are run by a dedicated team, offering confidential academic and non-academic support and advice.

If you are interested in media Air3 broadcasts student-made programmes, features, plays, news and views, Brig has been shortlisted for NUS/Guardian Student Newspaper of the Year and AirTV provides experience in film and TV production, advertising, acting and scriptwriting.

Student Support

Religion & Spirituality

The Chaplaincy offers confidential spiritual and pastoral care, as well as organising programmes of worship, discussion and social events, which includes supporting local charities. Worship within the University is primarily Christian, however there are provisions for other religious traditions, such as Islam and Judaism. The Chaplaincy puts new students in touch with the nearest representatives from their own religious group and provides a prayer room for Muslim students.

Health & Wellbeing

The Counselling and Wellbeing team provide a safe and confidential environment where you can talk with a professionally accredited counsellor. You’ve the opportunity to talk in private about anything that might affect your ability to study effectively with the aim of helping you understand things more clearly so you can make decisions about what you want to do.

The University is committed to offering a service which is welcoming and supportive of the needs of all students and removing disabling barriers to empower students to participate fully in university life.

The Disability Service webpages have extensive information about facilities and services at the University and about what you can do before you arrive. The Service can provide advice or make arrangements in: study related assessment of needs; assistive technology and training in the use of this technology; exams and class tests; provision of alternative formats; liaising with Academic Schools and other support departments; and the provision of support workers, including personal learning assistants.

Career Service

Stirling is ranked 7th in the UK for graduate employability (HESA, 2015) and their Careers Development Centre encourages students to make the most of their time of the service at university. The Centre can help you with: careers education, by offering face-to-face meetings with a wide range of employers, a programme of career workshops, and employer and opportunity provider presentations; careers guidance, through a one-to-one interviews with a Career Development Adviser, guidance and advice on job searching, applications and interviews, and practice interviews; and careers information, via the fully resourced careers information room, comprehensive website and online toolkits that support your career development, career directories and magazines, online vacancy and events service advertising work during semester, vacation and after graduation, and careers fairs.

The University’s JobShop is a dedicated resource for Stirling students advertising the full range of employment and volunteering opportunities.

Accommodation

Self-catered

£84
-
£179

Self-catered (per week) (2020/2021)

Stirling has a range of accommodation options, both on- and off-campus, to suit a variety of needs and budgets having had a multi-million pound transformation completed in September 2015. Their accommodation includes halls of residences, shared flats, townhouses, studio apartments and chalets. Most of the accommodation is located on campus, whilst there is also a selection of accommodation options situated in nearby Bridge of Allan and in the city of Stirling, all in easy reach of the University by foot, bike or bus.

All the accommodation is equipped with: shared self-catered kitchen facilities; accommodation Liaison Students who live alongside you and are available 24/7 to provide advice and guidance; bed linen, duvet and pillows; network access; and central laundry facilities. All our accommodation is self-catered whilst there is a range of catering outlets on campus to choose from offering a wide variety of snacks and meals.

For sessions 2014/15 the accommodation costs ranged from £72-£131 per week.

International

Fees

International (2020/2021)

£13,100

Classroom-based

£15,600

Lab-based

English Language Requirements

If English is not your first language you are required to take a separate English Language test to demonstrate your capabilities. Specific English Language requirements for each course are listed on relevant course pages of the website.  

International Support

The University offers practical and useful information on their website, while there’s also the opportunity to gain support from different University services, such as the Chaplaincy, counselling or money advice service. The Students’ Union also offer clubs and societies for you to join and help you get settled in and make friends, such as the International Society. There’s a dedicated International Students Officer at the University who is elected each year to be the voice of international students.