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Curated and written by
Jaymi Sivewright
AFS City Guide Content Creator
Studying at City of Glasgow College
The complete student guide to Glasgow
8 min read·Last updated: 10 April 2026
“For culture and history; Glasgow Necropolis, Glasgow Cathedral, the GOMA and the Riverside Museum. For parks, Glasgow Green and Pollock Park. For bars, Bowlarama, Golf Fang, The Box + and NQ64. For nightclubs, Cathouse, Buff Club, Sub Club and Polo.”
Why study in Glasgow
Friendly
Glasgow is consistently mentioned as a friendly place to visit and live in, in 2006 it was given the title of ‘World City of Friendship’ and was also named as the ‘friendliest city in the world’ in 2022 by Time Out Worldwide. The hospitality of locals and the lively social scene are the biggest reasons for Glasgow receiving such a positive reputation. The city even has its own slogan ‘People Make Glasgow’ which highlights the accepting spirit of the area where you can be yourself.
Affordable
Compared to other cities, Glasgow is said to be much more affordable. Hap Lettings says that Glasgow is 20% cheaper than London and 10% cheaper than the rest of the UK. This statement includes Glasgow to be cheaper for cost of rent as well as the general cost of living. This means that students get to experience life in a vibrant city (as well as the employment opportunities of city life) and they don’t have to sacrifice living in comfort to do so!
Plenty of culture
Being the UNESCO City of Music, you can join in one live music listening sessions, visit music bars showcasing hidden talent, check out small music shops or gain plenty of inspiration for your own songwriting in Glasgow (like many other students do.) Alongside music, there are also plenty of museums (including Kelvingrove, the People’s Palace, and The Burrell Collection), art galleries, science centres and city walls filled with murals. Many of these experiences are also free for visitors to explore.
Job opportunities
For many students, finding part-time work while you study is crucial in order to be able to support yourself. Glasgow is said to be a great place to find such opportunities, with plenty of cafes, museums and shops accepting students for part-time work. There are also high employment rates after graduation (Glasgow Caledonian has the highest rate of graduates in full-time employment in Scotland, 95% of University of Glasgow students find employment 6-15 months after graduating, and 92-93% at University of Strathclyde.)
Key facts about Glasgow
Student life in Glasgow
Life in the city: Student highlights
Cost of living in Glasgow
Wondering how much it costs to live in Glasgow as a student? We’ve broken down typical monthly expenses and compared them to the national average, so you can plan your budget with confidence.
| Expense | Glasgow average | National average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (monthly) | £1196 | £907.91 | £288.0932% more |
| Utilities (monthly) | £123 | £111.91 | £11.0910% more |
| Bus pass (monthly) | £65 | £62.64 | £2.364% more |
| Groceries | £15.15 | £15.26 | £0.111% less |
| Gym pass (monthly) | £34.51 | £35.63 | £1.123% less |
| Takeaway coffee | £3.66 | £3.62 | £0.041% more |
Rent (monthly)
- Glasgow average
- £1196
- National average
- £907.91
- Difference
- £288.0932% more
Utilities (monthly)
- Glasgow average
- £123
- National average
- £111.91
- Difference
- £11.0910% more
Bus pass (monthly)
- Glasgow average
- £65
- National average
- £62.64
- Difference
- £2.364% more
Groceries
- Glasgow average
- £15.15
- National average
- £15.26
- Difference
- £0.111% less
Gym pass (monthly)
- Glasgow average
- £34.51
- National average
- £35.63
- Difference
- £1.123% less
Takeaway coffee
- Glasgow average
- £3.66
- National average
- £3.62
- Difference
- £0.041% more
“Some of my favourite places include the green spaces at Glasgow Green and Kelvingrove Park. I also love visiting Glasgow Cathedral, the City Centre for shopping, and West End.”
Universities in Glasgow
Glasgow Caledonian University
Glasgow Caledonian University was formed in 1933 by the merger of The Queen’s College and Glasgow Polytechnic.
Read guide →
University of Glasgow
Founded in 1451, the University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland’s four ancient universities.
Read guide →
University of Strathclyde
The University of Strathclyde was the Times Higher Education UK university of the year in 2019 and is based in one of the UK's most vibrant student cities.
Read guide →
University of West Scotland
The University of West Scotland is primarly based over four sites in scotland with a further location in central London.
Read guide →Getting around Glasgow
Efficient transport systems in and around Glasgow will ensure that you always have a way home or to lectures!
Buses
First Glasgow is the main bus operator and they offer student discounts for weekly or seasonal tickets, use of the Young Scots card also boosts this.
One pro tip: make sure to have the correct amount for a purchase if using cash as they dont give change! You can find ticket costs and the bus network map here.
One pro tip: make sure to have the correct amount for a purchase if using cash as they dont give change! You can find ticket costs and the bus network map here.
Cycling
OVO Bikes are available for rent and return from various marked stations throughout the city – their site says there are over 1000 bikes at 150 locations across Glasgow. You can also get Voi bikes, University of Glasgow’s partnership with the company allows students to get a discount alongside their first ride for free with the use of the app.
If students bring their own bikes, University of Glasgow requires the bikes to be registered and stored safely in bike shelters (which are available on campus.)
If students bring their own bikes, University of Glasgow requires the bikes to be registered and stored safely in bike shelters (which are available on campus.)
Walking
Some areas are spread apart like museums or the West End area, but the majority of things in the centre are a walkable distance. The ground is pretty flat and areas like Buchanan Street are pedestrian-friendly.
Metrolink
The ‘clockwork orange’ is the name for the simple circular route that the Glaswegian subway takes. It connects the City Centre and West End in about ten minutes.
Trains
There are two main stations in Glasgow – Central and Queen Street. Central caters to many destinations, including services to London Euston daily.
Taxis/car
As one of the transport services available 24 hours, Glasgow Taxis are pricier (but can work out to be a decent price if you share with friends) but reliable, especially when you’re getting home late on a night out.
Life after uni
Glasgow has good prospects for student graduates due to it being the largest city economy in Scotland. This means there are plenty of local job opportunities for Glasgow students to get involved with once they have completed their studies (or during!)
Key industries
Many sources report that health and social care workers (as well as childcare workers) are in demand, technology roles are also very crucial (similar to many other modern cities), as well as logistics and sales workers being highly sought after. Employment rates
Both main universities in Glasgow have excellent rates of employment for their graduates. At the University of Glasgow, about 94.8% of graduates are in employment or further study within 15 months. At Glasgow Caledonian University, around 92% are in emplo Key industries
Glasgow’s industry sectors are extensive; public sector careers, finance (regional level), and creative/media industries. As well as a few opportunities in high-paying finance and large corporate graduate schemes.
Accommodation for every student
halls
27 properties
Avg. £207/week
houses
0 properties
Avg. £0/week
flats
88 properties
Avg. £231/week
studios
207 properties
Avg. £280/week
Latest properties in Glasgow
JS
Curated and written by
Jaymi Sivewright
AFS City Guide Content Creator
Studying at City of Glasgow College
Jaymi started her ongoing Fashion Business HND course in 2024 at the City of Glasgow College. During her time as a student content creator for AFS, Jaymi used her love of the student experience in Glasgow and wrote a helpful City Guide so that prospective students could get the same enjoyment of the student experience here.
