'Welcome to Glasgow, a lively, vibrant city with a big heart.'
There has never been a better time to study in Glasgow. Not only does this architecturally rich city continue to win accolades, the eyes of the world will be soon on it for sporting reasons: in December 2012 it will host the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup, while in 2014 it plays host to one of the biggest multi-event competitions: the Commonwealth Games.
But it’s not all about sport. The city - the UK’s third largest with a population of over 600,000 - has a proud reputation for creativity and innovation that attracts thousands of international students each year.
A rich cultural history
Glasgow’s fame as an artistic hub in the twentieth century largely rests on the work of architect, designer and artist Charles Rennie Mackintosh - one of the leading British representatives of the Art Nouveu movement - who died in 1928. Mackintosh's work encompassed textiles, furniture and metalwork, as well as architecture, and his design legacy is still visible in the famous Willow Tearooms on Sauchiehall Street and the Glasgow School of Art building.
The ever-changing face of Glasgow’s architecture indicates just how adaptable and versatile the evolving city is. New buildings, such as the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, known locally as the ‘Armadillo’ and the Riverside Museum, designed by Zaha Hadid, reflect how the city bridges the traditional and the modern. Kelvingrove Art Gallery, Glasgow's most visited attraction, is home to some of the UK’s and Europe’s most treasured collections, and stages temporary exhibitions showcasing a range of pre-twentieth and modern art.
Glasgow is equally renowned for its emphasis on live music and concerts. A UNESCO City of Music, there are many music venues - catering for most classical and modern genres - from the Royal Concert Hall to the ever popular King Tut's Wah Wah Hut.
Comedy is also a big aspect of the city's cultural scene, with many comedy clubs hosting international comedians as well as the yearly Glasgow Comedy Festival.
Merchant City
In the 18th and 19th centuries the east of the city grew into a prosperous commerical and residential district on the back of the Industrial Revolution. In recent years the area has been transformed, with many of the buildings restored and converted into luxury apartments and boutique shops. The area is also a major driver of the creative economy courtesy of its workshops, production spaces and studios. The 2012 Merchant City Festival welcomed more than 95,000 people to over 300 events in 75 venues.
Glasgow retains a leading role in UK business and commerce, with many large financial services companies having a head office or base in the city.
Student life
Glasgow’s link with education dates back to 1451, when the University of Glasgow, the fourth oldest in the English-speaking world, was founded. Over the centuries other colleges, schools and universities have founded. The University of Strathclyde, Glasgow Caledonian University and the University of the West of Scotland or all in or have campuses near to the city, and Glasgow School of Art and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland are located in its centre. Many independent schools, further education colleges and English language teaching centres are also situated in Glasgow or nearby.
Outside of the lecture theatre or seminar room, most students find time to enjoy the city's vibrant and multi-cultural social scene. Its restaurants have a growing reputation, with most world cuisines represented, and its pubs and bars are lively venues for meeting friends.
Shopping fans and fashionistas will also love the ‘Style Mile’ - the city’s retail haven, running from the Victorian Argyll Arcade (which specialises in unique jewellery), passing through the modern St Enoch Centre and ending in Sauchiehall Street.
Away from the city
If getting out of the city with friends at the weekend to enjoy the outdoors is your thing, Glasgow is ideally situated. The beautiful countryside of the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park, the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park and Loch Lomond are the Trossachs are popular areas for walkers, cyclists and climbers, while other Scottish cities such as Edinburgh and Stirling are only a short train journey away.
