Brand Toolkit

The University of Glasgow is a place where the global impact of learning, teaching and research has been at the heart of everything we’ve done for over 550 years.

Since our foundation in 1451, our reputation has been built on the tradition of always looking forward. We have inherited an ethos of anticipating the future needs of the world around us and responding to the benefit of all. This makes Glasgow a university that has always been committed to being at the forefront of change, excellence and innovation.

Today, our heritage lives on with break-through research and world-class teaching that is making a difference to people all over the globe. And we will reorganise and reinvent ourselves to keep this ethos alive and stay world changing for the next 550 years.

The University of Glasgow has helped foster the talents of some of the greatest thinkers, innovators and leaders of all time. Lord Kelvin, Adam Smith, John Logie Baird, James Watt, David Livingstone and Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell are just a handful of the many world-changers who have drawn inspiration from their time here in Glasgow. 

That list of people grows longer every day. That’s because Glasgow is a place where everyone has the opportunity to change the world. Regardless of your background, if you have the talent, drive and enthusiasm to excel, we’re here to inspire and support you. We are a down-to-earth, hard working university with academic, professional and support staff who will go above and beyond to help you make a difference: we’re the people who can help you change the world.

Some of the problems the world faces today are too big to be solved in the lab and we know people can’t tackle them in isolation. That’s why we encourage an interdisciplinary approach, why we have sustainable partnerships with institutions around the world, why we bring teaching and research together and why we have so many links with the public and private sector. 

All these connections and collaborations enable people within the University to make a difference and allow them to take on some of the world’s biggest challenges.

The University and the city of Glasgow are two sides of the same coin. Just as the University is an exciting, vibrant and dynamic place to learn, so too is Glasgow an exciting, vibrant and dynamic place to live.

Glasgow is a major centre for culture in Scotland, and offers fantastic shopping, bustling nightlife and access to Scotland’s beautiful Highlands. It has been enjoying population and job creation growth rates higher than the rest of the country and was also host to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

But just like the University, what makes Glasgow special are the people. It’s a warm, welcoming and genuinely friendly city because the people are. They instantly make you feel at home. And it’s a down-to-earth, to-the-point, no nonsense city because the people are. They work well together and they get things done.

It’s a place where exciting things happen. It’s a place that makes exciting things happen. And now’s a great time to be here.

The University makes the world a better place to live. From ground-breaking research in the fight against cancer, to becoming a University of Sanctuary and twinning with Ukrainian institutions to support those affected by the war in Ukraine. From supporting our students to undertake a study abroad experience, to the links we make with business to stimulate innovation.

These stories of everyday success help showcase the true nature of our research excellence, our outstanding student experience, the difference our graduates make and our global reach and impact.

As the fourth oldest university in the English-speaking world, Glasgow has a unique place in history. Walk through the cloisters and beneath the tower in our stunning campus and you’ll experience that heritage in every step.

But it’s not just about the past. Our campus features modern teaching and research facilities and one-of-a-kind collections in our Library and our museum and art gallery, The Hunterian, which is recognised as a Collection of National Significance to Scotland. The popularity of sport at the University has led to investment in this area and we have big plans for the future of our campus. This blend of history and modernity is what makes Glasgow such an iconic place of learning and research.

Our commitment is to deliver world-class research at the same time as delivering the highest standards of teaching and education. 

Teaching is a priority. And our philosophy of providing academically talented students from around the world with research-informed education from talented academics is one of our core strengths. 

It’s also one of the reasons why our student satisfaction scores are so high.