I choose Glasgow as it offers a great academic programme and is ranked as one of the best universities in the world.  I was anxious at first, coming here from abroad, but I have to say that people in Glasgow are very welcoming and friendly, more than anywhere in the world.

The Economics programme is quite prestigious, ranked among the top 20 in the country. Lecturers and tutors in all courses are very well prepared and always deliver above expectations.  The vast opportunities available through the University’s study abroad exchange programme can help students to improve their language skills and employability prospects.  

The Careers Service is extremely helpful for students needing advice on internships, jobs or CVs.  They offer a wide range of services to help students to progress professionally by organising job fairs, seminars and presentations.

Glasgow University is quite unique in having two competing student unions.  The Queen Margaret Union and Glasgow University Union strive to bring what is best to the students.  Thanks to them, you will never be bored; there are a range of activities from clubbing, celebrating holidays, debating, drinking games to sports competitions (and many more).  As a member of my high school debating club, I was happy to find out about Glasgow University’s Dialectic Society.  It is one of the best in the world having won several national and world championships.  Students’ interests are very well catered for here - there are numerous clubs and societies.  If you cannot find a club to join, you can easily start one and make history.

I live in Student Apartments, a University-owned hall.  The residence was built in the 19th century and has very spacious rooms. The main benefit of living here is that it is really close to the University - just five minutes’ walk from the library and the main building. Thus, I get to get sleep longer than most of my fellow students.

I would definitely recommend other international students to come to Glasgow.  The city is very friendly and vibrant; there is always something fun to do in a safe, welcoming environment.  You can find a great mix of students here and you can make friends from all over the world.  If you are feeling homesick, you can easily find another student from your home country and just have a chat to cheer up.

In the West End, you can find the well-known Kelvingrove museum, Botanic Gardens and Ashton Lane.  The campus is easily accessible by public transport. The University is also close to the city centre where the best shops, cafés and restaurants wait for you.   Glasgow, as a major city in Scotland, is easily accessible by train, bus or plane. Accessibility makes travelling easy and being a student makes it cheap.  In the last few months, I have visited Edinburgh and Loch Lomond.  It was great to discover and get a feeling of Scotland beyond Glasgow.  If you are interested in travelling more extensively, I recommend joining the International Society as they organise trips all around the UK for very good prices.

I chose to come to Glasgow because of its location and reputation. The best thing about the city is that it’s not too big or too small. There are loads of things to see and do - shops, restaurants, concerts, beautiful architecture - without the feeling of being in an overcrowded city. Obviously the University campus is beautiful and being in the heart of the West End means that, unlike a lot of university campuses, you’re not isolated from what’s going on. There are always great concerts, events, and nights out going on in the West End and city centre and being in a city means we have access to a lot more. Scotland is a beautiful and interesting country and travelling to places surrounding Glasgow is convenient and whether you’re organising it yourself or going on one of the many trips organised by the International Society, it is definitely a worthwhile experience.

The flexibility of the course choices we have was greatly appealing, especially being able to take three different courses during first year before having to specialise. The best part is that you can take courses in other Schools, so even if you know what your degree is going to be, you have the flexibility to take courses in outside areas that interest you. The library is a great place to study and do research. The study areas make it a great place to go whether you’re studying alone or doing group work. .

The student unions promote a great sense of community throughout the University and there’s always something going on at night and on the weekends. A year’s membership for the gym is really affordable and it has a wide range of facilities and lots of classes going on through out the week which are great fun to attend with friends. There are clubs and societies for every interest. Freshers’ week really makes things very accessible and allows you to try things you may have never considered. .

During my first year, I stayed in University halls. Living there is a great way to meet people during your first year and get a taste of what it’s like to live on your own. I stayed in the Student Apartments, which are in a very convenient location for getting to class and going out at night.

What surprised me is how diverse the student body is at Glasgow. You will meet loads of people from all over the world, probably even some from your home country.

I chose Glasgow because the University is beautiful and combines modern buildings with great old buildings and makes me feel comfortable.  I love Glasgow because it is a fun city with lots of opportunities for students to go out, have fun and be a student.  There are lots of nice places close to Glasgow.  I have been to Loch Lomond and Loch Ness. My friends at home are jealous that I live so close to the famous Loch Ness. It is really nice to be able to go to the Highlands even if just for a day. I have also been to Ayr which has a nice beach.

Students and staff at the University are very open and friendly.  I am very happy with my degree so far.  I have received good advice from my Adviser of Studies and knowing that I can always drop a subject after a year helped me know that my degree choice is the right one.  The lecturers are competent and I have participated in an international summer school exchange with the Chinese University of Hong Kong and have found it to be one of the best experiences of my life so far.

Glasgow is an international city and the University offers so many services for international students that I have never worried about my wellbeing here. I know I can always visit the international student services or the SRC if I need help.  The gym is a great offer for students and I was impressed that it has a pool!  Also, the many societies and the two student unions made it really attractive for me to come here.  I have joined the hockey team and love it. I also joined the Trading and Investment Club and the Business Club. Those are great to network and have fun after classes.

The campus is simply beautiful, especially the main building.  I like seeing the tourist buses pass, show the University as a sight worth seeing. I have seen other campuses which were too modern or dirty and unfriendly in contrast to Glasgow’s green and pretty campus.   The library is a great place to study (especially when you sit on level 10 and watch the sun set).  It motivates me a lot when I see how many others study hard.

I stayed in the Queen Margaret Halls last year and I found it to be very convenient because I made friends instantly and easily and the bus service from and to campus really made life easier.

The city of Glasgow has so much to offer, as does the University.  The campus is its own mini city with a friendly, community-like atmosphere.  Those involved with the University from the lecturers, students to maintenance staff are approachable and helpful.  The unique atmosphere at Glasgow owes itself to the people who work and attend this University.  No matter what part of the world you come from, Glasgow can easily become your new and happy home.  It’s easy to be comfortable and ‘fit-in’ in Glasgow because there is no one way to ‘fit-in’… 

Glasgow is very willing to accommodate all degree options and allow for maximum flexibility until you are required to make your final decision about your degree title for third year.  I found this immensely helpful and put Glasgow above most other universities.

The sports facilities are impeccable and for a ridiculously low price!  Could not be better!  I’m interested in several sports clubs which also offer social events making it an easy and fun way to get to know people.

The West End offers an array of restaurants and coffee shops, perfect for breaks between lectures.  The atmosphere is very different from the city centre.  The West End feels much more like a small town campus than a big city.  You are able to experience the best of both worlds, as the city centre is only minutes away on the nearby subway.  Glasgow is a central hub of activity offering brilliant transport connections, it’s easy to get practically anywhere!

I chose Glasgow because it is one of the top 100 universities in the world and located in a big city with many opportunities to interact with people coming from all over the world.  From the first day, I fell in love with the city because there is always something to do; you can never get bored in Glasgow. And the people in Glasgow must be the friendliest people I have ever met – I never expected to make so many friends at university!

I enjoy the fact that there is a lot of flexibility in choosing courses, especially in Honours years because that allows me to study in-depth an area I am really interested in.  I also like the fact that the lecturers and tutors are there to support you in so many ways in your study - all you need to do is just go and ask. 

The campus is very well organised, with all the facilities close together.  I am really impressed by the number and quality of facilities available to students.  The library has been my best friend in all those long nights before essay deadlines or exams.  Everything you want and need in order to study is in there – 2.5 million books, journals, computers, printers, comfortable seats, food, and, of course, the friendly librarians you can go to when in doubt about course materials.  And it’s open every day until 2 am.  When I started making plans about my future, the Careers Service was very useful: I got my CV checked, attended the internship fair every year and workshops and talks, which have really helped me to understand what employers want and how I can improve my skills to get the job I want.

I’m also impressed by the gym facilities (such as the swimming pool, clubs and drop-in classes) which are provided to students at a very low cost.  I like the variety of entertaining events offered by the two student unions – the concerts, stand-up comedy shows, pub quizzes and many others.  With a wide range of clubs, there is something to suit every taste: from trading and investment (GUTIC) to film-making (Cut!).

In first year, I stayed at Cairncross House and it was an amazing experience.  Being away from home for the first time, I soon came to see Cairncross as my second home. The great thing is that I made so many friends and met so many people from all over the world that it was impossible to feel lonely.  I had lots of fun - we organised themed nights (such as international room crawls) and went out for drinks regularly.

I think Glasgow is the place to be for international students. I felt welcome from the moment I set foot in Glasgow Airport and then all the way through university.  Due to the international student services, moving away from home was so much easier – feeling that you are appropriately supported and understood, and that there is someone to talk to about the difficulties you might face, makes moving away from home a smooth and not-so-difficult process.  In first year, I joined the International Society and it was really great meeting other people who were in the same situation as me – alone, for the first time, in a foreign country.  Then at the end of first year I decided to join the Student Network as a student e-mentor, which gave me the opportunity to share some of my experiences with prospective Glasgow University students.

One of the best things about being in the West End is that you have access to shops, pubs, clubs, coffee shops and pretty much everything you can think of.  The city centre is just a 25-minute walk away from the University (or 3 subway stations).  Also great in the West End is Ashton Lane - the main attraction of this area.  It’s not difficult to figure out why!  I was amazed at the number of pubs and restaurants in such a small space and by the fact that there is even a cinema. 

Because Glasgow is such a big city, you can travel anywhere from here, by bus/train/plane etc.  I visited Loch Lomond last year and I was truly impressed by the scenery.  Another place I visit now and then is Edinburgh and, every time, I discover new things about the city.  Glasgow has two international airports, making it easily accessible especially if you’re an international student.

I love the city and the University and I would recommend Glasgow to anyone – it is an experience like no other, the only way I can think of to describe it is “pure dead brilliant”.

The campus is beautiful and I was lucky enough to have some of my first and second year classes in one of the gothic-revival quadrangles.  It is large and yet small enough to easily navigate your way around.  It has more listed buildings than any other campus in Scotland and this definitely shows.  The city of Glasgow is wonderful for students with an excellent music scene of various scales and genres, lovely green spaces like Kelvingrove Park and a great night life.  The people are also very friendly and exhibit what’s known as the Glasgow ‘patter’.

The flexibility of the Scottish four-year system has been very important for me. Although I entered University with a sure direction of study, I then quickly found new subjects which intrigued me further and easily changed my course to follow these.  I am very glad of this decision, which would not have been possible in a more constricted three-year course.

The library has a never ending array of books and material and I don’t think I’ve ever been refused access to an online journal because it’s not subscribed to by Glasgow.  It also provides thousands of computer terminals, study rooms and a stylish new café area as well as keyboards for music practice.

Gym membership is cheaper than any other university I know of by a long way.

Possessing two student unions provides Glasgow with a particular rivalry as well as choice between two very different student bodies.  The Hares and Hounds running club provides an excellent opportunity to run with other students and meet new friends. There are more clubs and societies than you could possibly dream of.

I lived in Murano Street Student Village and it was the place to be.  With so many students, there was rarely a week without a party and the friends I made there, both in my flat and others, are some of my closest friends today.  Privately-rented flats in the area around the University are very nice.

Glasgow is small enough to quickly escape, and it is easy to take an afternoon up to the beautiful Loch Lomond or across to Edinburgh.

The international reputation of the University and the way that the campus is closeted in the leafy West End of the city were big attractions when deciding where to apply for University. The people of Glasgow are famed for their hospitality and friendliness and, wherever you go in the city, the people are always up for some form of banter.

The flexibility of choosing an additional couple of classes first year made my transition from High School to University so much easier. The flexibility afforded by choosing other subjects means you are not instantly pressurised into choosing a degree programme that may not be right for you.  For instance, I always had an interest in politics and decided to study that in first year, and then in second year I chose to study statistics instead.  The best aspects of my study are the help that my lecturers and tutors provide.  Every academic staff member has office hours so, if you need help, you can always get it.

Hands down, the student facilities at Glasgow are simply world class – there are two gyms located at Garscube and in the Stevenson Building, which have amazing facilities.  Two different student unions that, depending on whether you want a social drink with your mates or a heavy night out with lads, can cater to your needs.  Lastly, the library at Glasgow is one of the best I have come across - the café provides welcome respite from the hours of studying during exam time.  There are a plethora of clubs and societies to join when you get to University. All through High School I played football so when I got to University I wanted to try something different.  In first year, I fenced; in second year, I played lacrosse so I can definitely say I tried activities I would not have done had I not come to University.  

One of the best student services is Club 21, provided by the Careers Service.  The importance of this service cannot be overstated as it provides internships with major international companies during the summer holidays.  Last summer, I was fortunate enough to intern with H.M. Government in the Department for Work and Pensions where I met Scottish Government officials.  The Club 21 experience was very special as I now know I will stand out from the crowd and have an excellent addition to my CV.

Also I have a keen interest in Economics so I got involved with the Adam Smith Economics Society, and I now sit on the board.  Sitting on the board of a society gives another dimension to your CV and also gives you a lot of experience – I would recommend this to any student who is here or is coming to University.

I stayed in Murano Street University Halls for my first year, and it was here that I made the friends that I have kept through University.  The benefit of staying in University residences cannot be overstated as I am still living with the guys that I lived with in first year, and I will keep the friends that I made in Murano Street for the rest of my life.

If you are coming from abroad, Glasgow is a great place for international students due to the International Society so you will never feel left out.  Also the University has an international cosmopolitan feel to it so, in essence, it becomes a second home.

The campus at Glasgow is fantastic as all the Schools and buildings are so close to each other.  Walking between lectures is great as you always bump into friends that do different courses.  However, if classes are too stressful and you need a pick me up, Byres Road is just a stone’s throw away with lots of coffee shops and restaurants to improve team morale so you can go back to the library and study some more.

As Glasgow is located so centrally, with great public transport connections, it is easy to travel to anywhere.  During my first year, I was in St. Andrews for an Economics conference that I was sent to by the University and it was so easy to get to due to the train connections.  Travelling to Edinburgh only takes 50 minutes on a train so it is very easy to go across to Edinburgh on the train for the day and be back in Glasgow in time for dinner.

Darren Smith earned a placement at the State Government of Victoria, Australia through the Saltire Foundation, a charitable organisation that allows Scottish students to work with executives from high profile companies around the world.

The opportunity to spend the summer working for a major multinational company is a chance I could not refuse. In light of the current graduate job market where supply far outstrips demand it is becoming even more important to differentiate myself from my peers and I thought the Saltire programme would enable me to do this. The chance to gain international business experience to illustrate the theories that I was taught in a lecture theatre is a chance I could not refuse either.

The application process for this internship was very tough – it was one of the toughest applications I have ever done, but the rewards are definitely worth it.

My internship is in Melbourne, Australia and I am working for the Victorian State Government in the Department of Business and Innovation specifically working as part of the International Investment Team.

The biggest challenge for me was the prospect of working on a business critical project and making sure that I achieve a tangible outcome at the end of it. As I’m working for the State Government of Victoria there is pressure to succeed and achieve a salient result for the Government, but also to make sure that I am a good ambassador for Scotland and the University of Glasgow.

During my eight week Saltire internship I looked at decision-making hierarchies in technology companies and how technology companies make decisions from their global headquarters to their regional headquarters to country specific headquarters. I was also involved in writing ministerial briefs for the minister and drafting other government documents.

Spending eight weeks living in a new country and experiencing the working culture of Melbourne and learning more about Asia-Pacific and how they conduct business in this part of the world was a great aspect of the programme. I got the chance to learn from and network within the senior business community – my Saltire Foundation internship was demanding and challenging, but the experience and business lessons gleaned from it are invaluable.