Student satisfaction
National Student Survey
Relative position75th percentile
Official source →
University profile
University of the West of Scotland in profile
The University of the West of Scotland is a university with around 15,500 students. Profile, courses, entry and funding at a glance.
15,555
Students
2007
Founded
65
Programmes listed
Published outcomes & experience
Comparable indicators for West of Scotland, calculated from published official datasets. This is not an overall university ranking.
Graduate outcomes
Graduate Outcomes survey
Relative position34th percentile
Official source →Continuation
Students continuing after their first year
Relative position10th percentile
Official source →Provider percentiles are StudySmarter calculations across providers with sufficient comparable coverage. Missing or stale dimensions are omitted, and small differences should not be overinterpreted. No commercial review scores are used.
Subject strengths
West of Scotland ranks in the UK top 10 for 1 subject. UK subject ranks from the Complete University Guide league tables.
#6 Childhood & Youth Studies#21 Paramedic Science
Complete University Guide subject league tables. Only subjects where West of Scotland ranks in the UK top 25 are shown.
About West of Scotland
The University of the West of Scotland (West of Scotland) is a university with around 15,500 students, founded in 2007.
It is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, so its degrees are nationally recognised. It is based in High Street, Paisley, Renfrewshire, PA1 2BE.
Numbers & facts
The key facts about West of Scotland at a glance.
2007
Founded
15,555
Students
Renfrewshire
Location
65
Programmes listed
University
Institution type
✓
Degree-awarding body
Ways to study
How you can study at West of Scotland:
On campus
Full-time
The standard route at West of Scotland, a full timetable of teaching, typically three years for an undergraduate degree (four with a placement or year abroad).
Complete in the standard duration
Full access to campus life & societies
Eligible for the full maintenance loan
Around work
Part-time
Spread the same degree over more years and study alongside work or other commitments. Available on selected courses.
Study around a job or family
Same qualification, longer timeframe
Part-time student finance available
I am a …
Applying from school or college
With A-levels, Scottish Highers or Advanced Highers, a BTEC, T-level, IB or another accepted Level 3 route, you apply to West of Scotland through UCAS, up to five choices in one application, by the late-January equal-consideration deadline. Offers are usually conditional on your predicted grades, confirmed on results day.
Returning to study
If you're 21+ or don't have traditional qualifications, West of Scotland considers an Access to HE Diploma, relevant work experience and contextual factors. Many courses also offer a part-time route, and a foundation year can bridge the gap where entry requirements aren't yet met.
Applying from outside the UK
International applicants apply to West of Scotland through UCAS too, with an English-language qualification (typically IELTS) and international fee status. An International Foundation Year is a common entry route if your qualifications aren't a direct match.
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Programmes at West of Scotland
65 programmes at West of Scotland. Search live or filter by subject, level and study mode:
| Course | Award | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| Community Education | BA (Hons) | Nursing & Health |
| Business | BA (Hons) | Business & Management |
| Cyber Security | BEng (Hons) | Computer Science |
| Chemistry | BSc (Hons) | Physics & Chemistry |
| Aircraft Engineering | BEng (Hons) | Engineering |
| Broadcast Production: TV & Radio | BA (Hons) | Art & Design |
| Business & Finance | BA (Hons) | Accounting & Finance |
| Childhood Studies (2nd Year Entry) | BA (Hons) | General Studies |
| Commercial Music | BA (Hons) | Music & Performing Arts |
| Criminal Justice / Criminal Justice (Policing) | BA (Hons) | Sociology & Social Sciences |
| Education | BA (Hons) | Education & Teaching |
| English Language | BA (Hons) | English & Literature |
| Business & Human Resource Management | BA (Hons) | Business & Management |
| Business & Marketing | BA (Hons) | Business & Management |
| Business and Sustainability | BA (Hons) | Business & Management |
| Creative Practice | BA (Hons) | Art & Design |
| Events & Tourism Management | BA (Hons) | Business & Management |
| Events Management | BA (Hons) | Business & Management |
| Filmmaking & Screen Writing | BA (Hons) | Art & Design |
| Graphic Arts and Moving Image | BA (Hons) | Art & Design |
| Journalism | BA (Hons) | Media & Communications |
| Law | BA (Hons) | Law |
| Performance | BA (Hons) | Music & Performing Arts |
| Social Sciences | BA (Hons) | Sociology & Social Sciences |
| Social Work | BA (Hons) | Nursing & Health |
| Business with Marketing | BA | Business & Management |
| Accounting | BAcc (Hons) | Accounting & Finance |
| Chemical Engineering | BEng (Hons) | Engineering |
| Civil Engineering | BEng (Hons) | Engineering |
| Mechanical Engineering | BEng (Hons) | Engineering |
| Applied Bioscience | BSc (Hons) | General Studies |
| Applied Bioscience & Zoology | BSc (Hons) | Biological Sciences |
| Applied Bioscience with Forensic Investigation | BSc (Hons) | General Studies |
| Applied Environmental Science and Sustainability | BSc (Hons) | Environmental Science |
| Biomedical Science | BSc (Hons) | Medicine & Dentistry |
| Business Technology | BSc (Hons) | Business & Management |
| Chemistry with Education | BSc (Hons) | Physics & Chemistry |
| Collaborative Health and Social Care | BSc (Hons) | Nursing & Health |
| Collaborative Health and Social Care | BSc (Hons) | Nursing & Health |
| Computer Animation Arts | BSc (Hons) | Computer Science |
| Computer Games Development | BSc (Hons) | Computer Science |
| Computer Networking | BSc (Hons) | Computer Science |
| Computing Science | BSc (Hons) | Computer Science |
| Criminal Justice and Forensic Science | BSc (Hons) | Physics & Chemistry |
| Forensic Science | BSc (Hons) | Physics & Chemistry |
| Mathematics | BSc (Hons) | Mathematics |
| Mathematics with Education | BSc (Hons) | Mathematics |
| Music Technology | BSc (Hons) | Music & Performing Arts |
| Nursing Studies (3rd Year Entry) | BSc (Hons) | Nursing & Health |
| Physics | BSc (Hons) | Physics & Chemistry |
| Physics with Education | BSc (Hons) | Physics & Chemistry |
| Physics with nuclear Technology | BSc (Hons) | Physics & Chemistry |
| Psychology | BSc (Hons) | Psychology |
| Sport & Exercise Science | BSc (Hons) | Sport & Exercise Science |
| Sport Coaching | BSc (Hons) | Sport & Exercise Science |
| Sport Development | BSc (Hons) | Sport & Exercise Science |
| Sports Coaching and Development | BSc (Hons) | Sport & Exercise Science |
| Web & Mobile Development | BSc (Hons) | Computer Science |
| Adult Nursing | BSc | Nursing & Health |
| Mental Health Nursing | BSc | Nursing & Health |
| Midwifery | BSc | Nursing & Health |
| Paramedic Science | BSc | Nursing & Health |
| Aircraft Engineering | MEng (Hons) | Engineering |
| Cyber Security | MEng (Hons) | Computer Science |
| Mechanical Engineering | MEng (Hons) | Engineering |
No course found. Browse courses at every UK university.
Complete programme list for West of Scotland; full-time, part-time and delivery variants are grouped (65 programmes, 2026).
Campus & locations
West of Scotland is a campus-based university in Renfrewshire.
Teaching runs on campus: lectures, seminars and labs alongside libraries and study spaces, with a student community of societies, sport and events around them. The day-to-day exchange with tutors and coursemates is a big part of the experience.
On campus
Libraries & study spaces Labs & teaching facilities Students’ union & societies Sport & fitness Support services
Locations
Renfrewshire
Typical campus facilities; the university’s own pages are authoritative.
Students & campus life
Who you’d study alongside at West of Scotland in Renfrewshire. The student body in numbers, from official HESA data.
19,105
Students
enrolled (HESA, 2024/25)
30%
International
students from outside the UK
49%
Mature students
aged 25+ on entry
UK students by ethnicity
White87%
Asian5%
Black5%
Mixed2%
Other1%
Ethnicity of UK-domiciled students (HESA); international students not shown here.
Is West of Scotland right for you?
A particularly good fit if you …
- want a recognised UK degree with student finance eligibility
- like the idea of student life in Renfrewshire
- prefer campus teaching with societies, sport and people around you
Less suitable if …
you need a fully flexible, distance-learning degree alongside a job. Check whether the individual programme offers online or part-time study.
For parents
The questions parents ask most about West of Scotland, answered briefly.
A recognised UK degree
University of the West of Scotland awards its own degrees and is regulated in the UK higher-education framework. Its degrees are nationally recognised and a basis for postgraduate study.
Regulated fees & student finance
Tuition is set under Scotland’s own student-finance system. SAAS pays tuition for eligible Scottish-domiciled students; living-cost support is applied for separately.
A clear, structured route
Fixed term structure, defined assessment rules and academic support give orientation from day one.
Support from day one
Personal tutors, wellbeing and careers services accompany students from enrolment to graduation.
Career prospects
Graduate outcomes are tracked in the national Graduate Outcomes survey. Every course page here shows real earnings and employment data where available.
Structure & campus life
A fixed term rhythm in Renfrewshire with in-person teaching, exchange and campus life gives structure and motivation.
Accreditation & recognition
How to read West of Scotland’s formal standing, the seals and what they mean:
Recognised degree-awarding body
Recognised UK degree-awarding body
University of the West of Scotland awards its own degrees, which are accepted nationally and are the basis for Master’s and doctoral study.
Student finance eligible
Courses at recognised providers may qualify for tuition and maintenance support; eligibility depends on the student, course and home-nation system.
Admissions & entry routes
Apply through UCASUndergraduate applications run through UCAS, up to five course choices in one application.
Check the entry requirementsCheck the course’s accepted route: A-levels, Scottish Highers or Advanced Highers, BTEC, T-level, International Baccalaureate, Access qualifications or an international equivalent.
Mind the deadlinesThe main UCAS equal-consideration deadline is in late January; Clearing runs from July for remaining places.
Offers & resultsUniversities respond with conditional or unconditional offers; places are confirmed on results day.
Fees & funding
West of Scotland is in Scotland. Your funding route depends on where you normally live, not only where you study. Eligible Scottish-domiciled students apply through SAAS. The main routes:
SAAS tuition payment
Paid directly to the university for eligible Scottish-domiciled students. Applied for through SAAS, not Student Finance England.
Living-cost support
A mix of bursary and loan, depending on household income.
Scholarships & bursaries
University-specific awards for grades, subjects or circumstances. Check the university’s funding pages.
Repayment
Only above the Scottish repayment threshold, and written off at the end of the plan term.
Tuition fees vary by course and fee status (Home vs International). Please check the university's own course page.
Frequently asked questions about West of Scotland
Is West of Scotland officially recognised?
Yes. University of the West of Scotland is a recognised UK degree-awarding body; its degrees are nationally recognised.
How big is West of Scotland?
Around 15,555 students, founded in 2007.
What can I study at West of Scotland?
65 programmes are listed on this page, each with entry requirements, outcomes and fees. Use the filter above to find your subject.
How do I apply to West of Scotland?
Undergraduate applications run through UCAS, with up to five course choices in one application. Each course page lists the typical entry requirements.
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