University of Stirling

The University of Stirling is a public university founded by Royal charter in 1967. It is a plate glass university located in the Central Belt of Scotland, built within the walled Airthrey Castle estate close to Stirling. Since its foundation, it has expanded to four faculties, a Management School, a Graduate School, and a number of institutes and centres covering a broad range of subjects in the academic areas of arts and humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and health sciences and sport.

It  is a modern, innovative university with a pioneering spirit and a passion for breaking new ground and creating impact in everything they do. The university has 12,000 students and around 20% of them are from overseas, with more than 100 nationalities represented. It offers more than 300 flexible courses designed to develop forward-thinking graduates and help students from around the globe realise their potential in an inspiring and truly international academic setting. The University of Stirling’s educational programs are designed to give students the transferable skills, personal qualities and relevant work experience sought by employers in today’s competitive job market.

Stirling is a place where ability – not background – is valued, that’s why the University is recognised globally for its commitment to providing the best possible student experience, ranking 3rd in the UK for graduate employability, and consistently earning five QS Stars for its teaching, employability, internationalisation, facilities and inclusiveness. Stirling was the first university in the UK to introduce the semester system and is proud of the flexibility of its degrees.

Students have access to a state-of-the-art gym, strength and conditioning suite and dedicated cycling studio. There are outstanding facilities for sport – as you would expect from Scotland's university for sporting excellence – and a vibrant arts centre on campus.

Key statistics

For outdoor lovers, Stirling’s 330-acre estate is the perfect natural playground for hillwalking, and the university has its own lake for canoeing and kayaking.The campus is home to a range of five-star facilities, including newly renovated accommodation, catering outlets, shops, a thriving arts centre and even 18th century castle. The university is home to the National Swimming Academy as well as the Gannochy National Tennis Centre which served as the training ground for Wimbledon champion, Andy Murray.

Notable Alumni

• Iain Banks – author.

• Jack McConnell – former First Minister of Scotland.

• Angela Constance MSP – Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities.

• Grace Dent – reporter, author and television critic.

• Derek Lambie – journalist, former editor Scottish Sunday Express.

• Catriona Matthew – professional golfer and vice-captain for the 2017 Solheim Cup.

• Muffy Calder – former Chief Scientific Adviser to the Scottish Government.

• The Hon Lord Brailsford QC – Judge in Scotland’s Supreme Courts.

• Richie Ramsay – winner of the 2006 United States Men's Amateur Golf Championship.

• Colin Fleming – Commonwealth gold medallist and national coach for Tennis Scotland.

English Language Requirements

• Students need to demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency if English is not their first language.

• Undergraduate- applicants are required to achieve a minimum of 6.0 with no sub-skill below 5.5 or equivalent.

• Pearson PTE:60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill
• TOEFL :78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking, and 17 in writing
• English Waiver: Students who score 70% in English in Year 12 from the following exam boards won't be required to submit IELTS if studied within the last 2 years of our course start date:
• CBSE
• ISC/ICSE
• Metro State Boards (Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal)
• Students who score 80% or above in English (a SELT may be required depending on the state board).

• Postgraduate study requires a minimum of IELTS- 6.0 overall with no band less than 5.5, although some disciplines require a higher level of English language competency.

• Pearson Test : 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill
• TOEFL: 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing
• English Waiver: Students who score 70% in English in Year 12 from the following exam boards won't be required to submit IELTS if studied within the last 5 years of our course start date:
• CBSE
• ISC/ICSE
• Metro State Boards (Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal)
• students who meet the above criteria, but Year 12 scores are between 6 and 10 years old, will also be required to submit an official letter from their University or College, stating that the medium of instruction (MOI) was in English, and the student graduated within 5 years of our course start date.

• If students don't meet entry requirements the university offers academic preparation courses to help, in partnership with INTO.

Accommodation for International Students

• The university gives all new students priority for accommodation.

• All first year students, from any location, will normally be allocated a single study bedroom in a University residence (this may be on or off campus). Applications should be made online via the university portal, and full instructions will be sent from the Admissions Office once your place to study is unconditional firm.

• All accommodation for new undergraduates is offered on a 38/42/45 week let basis for session, meaning that students can continue to occupy their rooms over the Christmas vacation period.

• Taught postgraduate students from outside the UK are guaranteed an offer of university accommodation on condition that students confirm their place by the relevant deadline.

• The University of Stirling offers a number of scholarships for both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across a range of subject areas. In addition to this, a number of external organizations grant awards which may be of interest to Stirling students. 

• Indian students are eligible to apply for a variety of University delivered scholarships; namely, the Stirling School Management Scholarships, MBA Scholarships and the MSc Behavioral Science Scholarship

• Indian applicants may be interested in the Saltire Scholarship scheme, which is open to students coming from Canada, China, the US and India and offers up to 200 awards of £2000.

• You can also apply for the British Government's Chevening Scholarships, and a variety of private agencies and charities for scholarships, bursaries and grants to study in the UK. For more information visit the British Council website or the UK Council for International Student Affairs website.

Some key facts of  University of Stirling

• University of Stirling ranks 1st in Biology Top 10 in the UK.

• University of Stirling ranks 3rd in Business Studies Top 10 in the UK.

• University of Stirling ranks 5th in Computer Science Top 10 in the UK.

• Ecology and Environmental Biology - Top 5 in Scotland.

• Economics - 1st in Scotland, 3rd in the UK

• University of Stirling has 10,300+ undergraduate students