Reviewed on Nov 3, 2025(Enrolled 2022)
What Students Say
Likes
- Extremely supportive culture
- Supports career development and prepares students for the job market
- A strong international student pool which helps with cultural exchange
Dislikes
- The administartive processes are slow which can be difficult to navigate at times
- Can be a challenge to find accomodations that fit the budget
- Some of the taught courses were not at par with a masters level
Course Curriculum
10
- My course was very practical with some taught modules since I was in a research-based program. The most positive aspect was the extensive research experience I was able to gather. Although it is difficult to point out a negative, I would say that the course prepared us better for PhD applications and not if one would like to move on to an industry-based role.
- The taught module timings range from 10 am to 5 pm. The taught classes are usually held for 2-3 hrs and the lab sessions are spread over the entire work day.
- Our class included students from two different courses: 78 total but only 26 of us were in the MRes course and the rest were in MSc. Around 25 students were from India.
Admission Experience
-
I applied for the following universities:
- University of Glasgow: Accepted (Confirmed admission)
- University of Edinburgh: Accepted (Rejected offer)
- University college London: Rejected
- Did not get accepted into UCL as it was my first application and I hadn't quite figured out how to optimise my CV and write a compelling personal statement. It took me a while to improve my applications such that I showcased my strengths, which would enable me to excel in the programme I applied for.
- I really liked my course and also the tuition fee was within the range of what I could afford. The University of Glasgow has an excellent life sciences faculty with state-of-the-art infrastructure.
- My admission process is pretty straightforward. I had all the necessary documents ready (enlisted on the programme website), which included my CV, personal statement, degree certificate, transcripts, IELTS score, and two letters of recommendation.
- The eligibility criteria depend upon the specific programme one is applying to but in my case it was the following:
- Bachelor's degree with 55-63% aggregate
- English language requirements (One of the following):
- IELTS score of least 6.5 with no subtests below 6.0
- TOEFL (ibt, mybest or at-home) score of 90 overall with Reading 20, Listening 19, Speaking 19, & Writing 21
- Pearson's PTE Academic score of 59 with a minimum of 59 in all subtests
- Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE) score of 176 overall with no subtest less than 169
- Oxford English Test with an overall score of 7 with no subtest less than 6
- LanguageCert Academic SELT with 70 overall with no subtest less than 60
- Password Skills Plus with 6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.0
- Trinity College Tests with Integrated Skills in English II & III & IV: ISEII Distinction with Distinction in all sub-tests
- Completion of University of Glasgow pre-sessional courses
- Students who have completed their degrees in a majority-English-speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English) or have Undergraduate 2+2 degrees from a majority-English-speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
- The overall experience was quite smooth without any hiccups
- I applied for the September 2022 intake. I started my application in the last week of June and gathered all the documents, including LORs. I finally submitted the completed application on July 1st, 2022, which is very late compared to most applicants. I got my unconditional offer on 5th July 2022. I promptly accepted my offer and paid the 1000 GBP amount. Within the following 3 weeks I received my CAS letter for my Tier 4 (student) visa application.
Faculty
10
- The courses are delivered by the main lecturer but also include 4-5 teaching assistants (PhD students) in each class. The teaching in the theory classes was more student-directed, where we were encouraged to actively engage and discuss the topic.
- The lab courses were well-designed to teach us multiple skills which are relevant for careers in the field. Since I did an independent 6-month project, I gained quite a bit of research experience that helped me in securing my current PhD position.
- The faculty members are very supportive and provide immense help by providing references. They also send in available positions, be it in academia or industry.
- I enjoyed working with Prof. Joanna Wilson, Dr Elaine Huston, and Prof. Tom Van Agtmael.
Campus Life
10
- Gilmorehill campus, Dumfries campus, and Garscube campus.
- Each campus has all the required facilities, such as a library, gym, sports hub, and medical services.
- There are many festivals happening all around the year. The freshers' events are really wonderful.
- There are several clubs and societies one can join but I am not the best person to answer, as I did not join any. I, however, did join as a student ambassador for Unibuddy and they have yearly socials which are quite fun.
Part Time Jobs
- TA, RA, or DA positions are only available for PhD students. The pay range is around 15/hr. The glasgow opportunities website enlists all the on- and off-campus jobs that we can apply to directly. Maximum hours are 20 hrs per week during term time and full-time during holidays and after course completion. The ease of securing a job is subjective and depends on what you're looking for and how qualified you are for the job.
- Students earn minimum wage working part-time. It is quite easy to get these jobs. Vacancies are listed on the University job portal as well as on other platforms such as indeed and LinkedIn. Start job-hunting once you have settled and secured your National Insurance Number. Keep some resumes printed so that when you see vacancy posters in shops, you can go in and hand in your resume.
Placement
8
- I was on a research-based course so most students went on to secure PhD positions (70-75%). The salary range depends on the students' prior experiences. PhD positions pay a minimum of 20k per year (not taxed). Most entry-level jobs pay upwards of 25k/year.
- Unlike in India, where there are on-campus recruitments, here in the UK it is upon students to find jobs and apply to them. The uni does provide training on CV writing and optimising ones' LinkedIn.
Accommodation
Off Campus
8
- I found my accommodation on SpareRoom for 450 pcm inclusive of all bills and was 20 mins from the Uni on the bus. Glasgow was going through an accommodation crisis at that time so it was extremely challenging to find a place that fit my budget. Things have gotten much better now and one can easily find accommodation within 600-700 GBP.
- I rented a room in a flat with another student, as student accommodations were either fully booked or too expensive. It can be relatively easier to get into student accommodation, and also it is nice to get to know other students living there. I would always encourage students to find what suits their personal preferences and budget best.
Exams
- English language tests are required which include IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, etc.
- The test requirements vary largely based on the specific programme.
- Degree certificate, transcript (in English), passport, CV, LOR (1-2 referees), and personal statement are required by almost all programmes.
- I did not have an interview and was admitted based on my supporting documents
Fees
- Tuition: 23000 GBP (Can be paid in whole for the year or in instalments)
- Accommodation is not included and is paid separately. I paid 450 pcm for rent and electricity. I budgeted around 100-150 for food, which includes eating out. I got the yearly bus pass for 400 GBP but they have scrapped it now so you get the 4-week pass for 67 GBP instead.
- I live quite frugally so my expenses were not too high. These expenses vary greatly depending on the student's lifestyle.
Scholarship
- I did not receive any scholarship, as I applied quite late and the scholarship deadlines had already passed but I know that the University offers a range of scholarships for the course. The list of scholarships that the applicant might be eligible for is mentioned on the programme website under the 'Funding opportunities' section. It is very difficult to give a number of awards and the amount, as it varies.
- Most of the people I know had Commonwealth scholarships which covered all their expenses. The University endowment funds also sometimes cover tuition fees, but the exact amount is variable. One does not need to specifically apply for these separately.
