Glasgow is one of the most exciting places in the UK that you can choose to study in.
Scotland’s second city is full of life, culture, and is rich in history. Not to mention the friendly people!
Here are just a few of the amazing things to do as a student in Glasgow….
Enjoy Live Music
Glasgow’s music scene is legendary, and quite rightly so.
Its lively and varied music scene led to it being recognised as the UNESCO City of Music in 2008.
This city is packed with music venues and there’s always a live gig happening somewhere in the city.
Big artists play at the 13,000 seater OVO Hydro Arena or the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.
What’s more, Glasgow is famously where Oasis were first signed to a record label, after being discovered playing at the iconic King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut.
To this day, this venue is still renowned as one of the best places to go to if you want to keep your ear to the ground for up and coming music artists.
Who knows, you could be one of the first to see a band before they hit the big time!
Soak Up Culture
Scotland has a rich and complex history and is absolutely bursting with its own unique culture, quite distinct from that of their English neighbours.
It makes sense, then, that Glasgow should be chock-a-block with cultural sites to visit. Whether it be art galleries like the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, the Riverside Museum, or Glasgow Cathedral, there’s plenty of sights to see.
Glasgow Cathedral is especially notable for being the oldest cathedral in mainland Scotland and the oldest building in Glasgow, so make sure it’s on your list of things to do as a student in Glasgow!
Looking ahead to more futuristic developments, you can also head to the Glasgow Science Centre in the Clyde Waterfront Regeneration area on the South Bank of the River Clyde. This is one of Scotland’s most popular paid-for visitor attractions, so if you miss it you miss out!
And, of course, it’s impossible not to notice the now-iconic statue of the Duke of Wellington who has long had the dubious honour of being crowned with none other than…a traffic cone!
Get Glasgow Green Time
Glasgow means ‘Dear Green Place’ in Gaelic and it’s easy to see why.
Located in the Clyde Valley, one of the best things about Glasgow is that it is situated close to many beautiful places that are well worth a visit.
Glasgow is well-connected with train services to the capital of Scotland, Edinburgh (which in itself is a gem of a city!)
You can also easily access the gorgeous Highlands of Scotland, which is just a short train journey away.
You’ll be transported to a paradise of majestic mountains and crystalline waters like those of the famous Loch Lomond.
You can even try to spot the ever elusive Loch Ness Monster in the Highlands close to Inverness…make sure you capture her on camera for your Insta feed otherwise no one will believe you!!
If you fancy a day out at the beach, then take a trip to Ayr which is just outside Glasgow.
Or in Glasgow itself you can enjoy many green places – all 3,500 hectares of them (that’s a lot!)
There are over 90 – yes, 90! – public parks and gardens in Glasgow, so you’ll always have a place to unwind after a long day of exam revision.
On sunny days, you could even have a picnic with friends in one of the parks. Alternatively, pay a visit to the Glasgow Botanic Gardens on Byres Road with its airy, historical greenhouse Kibble Palace, where you can see exotic plants from around the world.
After all that excitement, you’ll be glad to get home to cosy student accommodation to put your feet up with a cuppa, pop Netflix on, and treat yourself to some traditional Scottish shortbread biscuits!
Shopping
Like most major UK cities, Glasgow has a lot to offer when it comes to shopping.
Whether it be hunting for high street labels in Glasgow city centre on Buchanan Street, or sampling designer boutiques on Princes Square, there’s something for every taste and price range.
If vintage is more your thing, then get over to Finnieston in the West End, where you’ll get some great, unique bargains.
On the other end of the spectrum, more designer labels can be found in Merchant City, swiftly establishing itself as a spender’s paradise.
Make New Friends
Of course, one of the best things about going to university is the experience of becoming independent and the process of discovering who you are.
A major part of this is making new friends.
Look for student accommodation that places an emphasis on student wellbeing and organise fun events so that you can get to know the people that you’re living with.
As Glasgow is home to the University of Glasgow, the fourth oldest university in the English-speaking world, it has a long history of warmly welcoming new students.
Glasgow’s also the seat of Glasgow Caledonian University, the University of Strathclyde, the Glasgow School of Arts, and the University of West Scotland. With so many students around, you’re sure to make friends quickly!
Student accommodation in Glasgow should be top of your priority list when you’re preparing to study at university, as where you live (and who you live with) will convert a place into a home.