The University of Glasgow, founded in 1451, is one of the oldest universities in the English-speaking world and a member of the Russell Group. Its main campus, with its famous Gothic buildings, is in Glasgow’s lively West End. Like most Scottish universities, Glasgow’s honours degrees usually take four years, and you can study other subjects alongside your main one in your first two years.
For most Glasgow courses starting in September 2027, the UCAS deadline is 13 January 2027. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on Glasgow’s own guidance. If you’re applying for a master’s or PhD instead, see the section near the end.
1. Understand Glasgow’s flexible four-year degrees
Most Glasgow degrees take four years. In years one and two you usually study other subjects too, before specialising in your honours years. This gives you time to explore, and some students change their main subject. Remember to budget for four years of fees and living costs.
2. Meet the grade requirements
Glasgow publishes requirements for A levels, the IB and many international qualifications on each degree page. For Economics, recent standard A level offers ranged from AAB to BBB, including A level Mathematics and English or a humanities subject, and the IB standard was 36 points (6, 6, 5 at Higher Level). No previous study of economics is needed. Check your degree page for the 2027 requirements for your country. Glasgow Economics.
3. Know your application options
Most international students apply through UCAS. Glasgow’s degree pages also say that some international students can apply through the Common App, but only to certain areas, so check your degree page. Some subjects, such as medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine, use admissions tests and interviews. If you’re hoping to study medicine or dentistry, note that the UCAS deadline for 2027 entry was 15 October 2026, and you’d also have needed to sit the UCAT, so you’d now be planning for 2028 entry.
4. Write a strong personal statement
The UCAS personal statement asks three questions: why you want to study your chosen course, how your education has prepared you, and what other experiences have prepared you. You have 4,000 characters in total, and each answer must be at least 350 characters. Because Glasgow’s degrees are broad in the early years, you can show curiosity about related subjects as well as your main one. Admissions tutors want evidence of real interest in the subject, so explain what you’ve done and what you learned from it.
5. Show your interest in your subject and beyond
Glasgow values students who make the most of the flexible Scottish degree. Show what you’ve explored outside school: reading, online courses, projects or volunteering. If you’re interested in combining subjects, explain why.
6. Get a strong reference
Your teacher’s reference helps Glasgow understand your achievements in context. It should give your predicted grades and describe your strengths in the subject you’re applying for. Ask early, especially if your school isn’t used to UCAS applications, and give your referee plenty of time before the January deadline.
7. Apply by 13 January 2027
Submit your UCAS application by 6pm UK time on 13 January 2027, the equal consideration deadline for most Glasgow courses starting in September 2027. You don’t get an advantage from applying early, but leave time for your school to add its reference before the deadline.
8. Meet the English requirement
For Economics, Glasgow asks for IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no part below 6.0, from a single test taken within two years and five months of your start date. Glasgow accepts the IELTS One Skill Retake. For TOEFL tests taken from 21 January 2026, it asks for 92 overall. Practise with our free IELTS, TOEFL and PTE practice tests.
9. Budget and apply for scholarships
For 2027–28, Glasgow lists international fees of £28,275 a year for arts and social sciences programmes and £33,708 a year for science, engineering, nursing and related programmes. Check the band for your degree. For help with costs:
- Glasgow’s World Changers Global Excellence Scholarships for 2027 entry give new international undergraduates an annual tuition fee discount of £7,000 a year in the Colleges of Arts and Social Sciences, or £10,000 a year in medical, veterinary, life sciences, science and engineering subjects. They’re renewable each year if you make satisfactory academic progress.
- Glasgow also offers other scholarships for particular backgrounds and countries, so check its scholarships search.
10. Get ready for your Student visa
Most students from outside the UK and Ireland need a Student visa. You can apply once you have a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from Glasgow, which it issues after you’ve accepted your offer and met the conditions. You’ll need to show you have enough money for your fees and living costs. After you graduate, the Graduate Route usually lets you work in the UK, but it’s due to be shortened from two years to 18 months for applications made from 1 January 2027. Check GOV.UK for the current rules.
Applying for a master’s or PhD at Glasgow?
Glasgow offers a large range of one-year master’s degrees and PhD programmes, including programmes at the Adam Smith Business School and in computing science and engineering. You apply directly to the university, not through UCAS. Most programmes ask for a good first degree (often a UK upper second-class degree or the equivalent), a personal statement, references and, for international applicants, an English test. See our 50 sample SOPs, free GRE and GMAT practice tests, and our guide to the best AI master’s degrees in the UK.
Be ambitious, but apply to a balanced list
Glasgow turns down many strong applicants every year, because there are more excellent students than places. Use your five UCAS choices wisely: apply to Glasgow if it’s right for you, and include universities where your chances are good. Read our guides to other Russell Group universities, including Edinburgh, Durham, Queen’s Belfast and Manchester. Our guide to studying in the UK explains how UK universities work, and our free study abroad assessment can help you build a shortlist.
Information was taken from the University of Glasgow’s official degree, English language, fees and scholarship pages, and checked in October 2026. Entry requirements, deadlines, tests, fees and visa rules can change, so always confirm the details on Glasgow’s undergraduate website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with the University of Glasgow.