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University of the West of Scotland

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TSR Wiki > University > Choosing a University > University Guides > University of the West of Scotland


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The University of the West of Scotland is one of the new universities in Scotland. The university has three campuses, in Paisley, Ayr and Dumfries, and offers a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate study options. The name changed from the University of Paisley in December 2007 following it's merger with Bell College.

The university has over 1,000 staff, and 11,500 students at present.

Facilities

History

Founded in 1897 to offer vocational courses, Paisley began offering degree studies in the early 1900s and matured to University status in 1992.

1897 founded as Paisley Technical School.

1904 renamed Paisley Technical College and School of Art.

1904 degree qualifications offered through University of London.

1950 becomes a Scottish Central Institution in recognition of continuing contribution to education, industry and training.

1963 major expansion of campus buildings in Paisley.

1966 Council for National Academic Awards (CNAA) degrees and Honours degrees offered.

1990 Credit Accumulation and Transfer (CATS) programmes introduced. Widening access into education and creating flexible study pathways to meet student needs.

1992 Paisley gains University title and authority to award its own degrees.

1993 merger with teacher education college creates the Craigie Campus in Ayr (University Campus, Ayr).

1994 Distance learning modes of study introduced - students in Hong Kong studying Paisley courses. Paisley courses offered in Dumfries and Galloway in conjunction with Dumfries and Galloway College.

1996 University wins contract to offer nursing and midwifery programmes in Argyll & Clyde and Ayrshire & Arran Health Board areas. New Department of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare created.

1997 the University's Centenary Year. Ayrshire Management Centre opens on University Campus, Ayr offering management and training resources for local and national companies.

1998 new £6.8m Library and Learning Resource Centre opens on Paisley Campus.

1998 Paisley enters partnership with University of Glasgow creating Crichton University Campus in Dumfries.

2003 new £5 million Students' Union opens at Paisley Campus.

2007 merger with Bell collage and name change to the University of the West of Scotland (UWE).


Libraries

There are separate libraries on each of the campuses.

The AYR has a library which a has a library which has a wide variety of books, journals, videos, CDs and also study DVDs. Theres also a number of computers which students can use.

The Dumfries campus has an inquiry service where librarians can help you find the books that you need. You will also have access to the internet, email and an onlin library catalogues. This library also has the usual supply of journals and books.

The Hamilton campus is a large library with 80,000 books and over 1,000 journals. There is also access available to the internet which allows student to look at online journals.

The paisley campus library has had a large amount of money invested in it. The £6.8 million funds for the library was funded by the Robertson Trust. There are over 200,000 periodicals , a reading areas and a collection of computers with the internet.


 
 
General Information
Visit our discussion forum.
Established: 1897
Location: Paisley, Renfrewshire Scotland, UK
Address: University of the West of Scotland Paisley Campus Paisley PA1 2BE
Telephone: +441418483000
Website: www.uws.ac.uk
SU/Guild website: www.sauws.org.uk
UCAS Code: P20
Type:

 
 
Statistics
Total students: 18,000+
Undergrad: 13,040
Postgrad: 1,635
Part-time: 5,621
International: 6%
Mature: 78%
Male:female 40:60
Staff: 1300
Typical offers:
Applicants per place:

IT and Computing

All students at the UWS have access to the internet for free on campus. The university also has an agreement with microsoft which allows students to have microsoft products on their personal computers from the university.

On the Ayr campus there is an "iMac Laboratory", there are also two studios where students can edit videos and use animation programs. There are also digital recording studios and productions lab.

The Dumfries campus has open access to computer facilities as well as a number of IT teaching labs.

The Hamilton campus has recently spent a lot of money upgrading their 7 computer rooms so they now have a high standard of computers. There is also Wifi access all over the campus.

The Paisley Campus, this campus has the most to offer with regards to IT facilities. There are Wifi facilities around the campus, a playstation development laboratory, a recording studio, virtual reality laboratory, and animation and 3D modelling facilities.

Sports

There are facilities on all campuses to play sports. However on the Hamilton campus there is a leisure center which has been upgraded recently. To include a state of the art sports hall and fitness studio. There are also a number of instructors who can help with the workouts. The Paisley campus has the Robertson Trust Sports Centre, there is an indoor sports hall, a gym, 5-a-side football pitches as well as facilities to play football and rugby.

There are facilities to play a wide number of sports at the university of the west of Scotland.

  • Aerobics
  • Aikido
  • Badminton
  • Basketball
  • Fitness suite
  • Football
  • Hockey
  • Jogging route
  • Muiy Thai
  • Netball
  • Outdoor floodlit 5-a-side football
  • Rugby
  • Short tennis
  • Table tennis
  • Tae-kwon-do
  • Training area
  • Volleyball

Welfare

There is support available to all students of the University of the West of Scotland. There is a huge variety of support available including advice on studying abroad, a pastoral care system, financial advice and advice for international students. There is also specific help and advice available to those students who have disabilities.

The student support services on each campus can be reached on the following numbers.

  • Paisley Campus +44 (0)141 848 3803
  • Ayr Campus +44 (0)1292 886267
  • Dumfries Campus +44 (0)1387 702066
  • Hamilton Campus +44 (0)1698 894448

Healthcare

Shops

Each of the campuses has a student union shop where you can by supplies for your studies, basic food supplies and university hoodies etc. There are supermarkets and other shopping facilities close to campus so you shouldn't find if too hard to find anything that you would need.

Restaurants

  • Ayr: The Ayr campus has a bar/diner which is run by the student union.
  • Dumfries: The Dumfries campus has a coffee bar which is open from 9am-3pm Monday to Friday. It has a number of sandwiches and other types of food as well as hot drinks. If you want something to eat or drink outside this time period there are vending machines around campus. In 2005 Frescos sandwich bar provides freshly made sandwiches and baguettes along with various snacks, soft drinks and coffees. Frescos also has limited seating areas in the building.
  • Hamilton: The Hamilton campus has a refectory, coffee shop and a restaurant. There are also vending machines which allow you to purchase food out of hours.

Banks

Transport

  • Ayr: This is a town located on the west coast of scotland. It is 40 minutes on a train or by car from the center of Glasgow. You reach the town of Ayr by the A77/M77 northbound. There are also regular ferries to Northern Ireland from nearby Troon.
  • Dumfries: This campus is linked to central Scotland by the M74 northbound and to the north of England by the M74 southbound. There are regular public buses and trains including a bus service whch runs between the town center and the university campus.
  • Hamilton: The Hamilton campus is located 11 miles south of Glasgow. There are good transport links both between Hamilton and Glasgow and the local area with England.
  • Paisley: This campus is only 7 miles west of Glasgow and an hour away from Edinburgh. It is served by excellent bus and train services. There is also Glasgow international airport on the outskirts of the town.

Careers service

Each campus has a careers service which helps students with issues such as their CV and graduate employment.

  • Ayr: The careers service in Ayr is located in room J101, and is open Monday-Friday 9-5.
  • Dumfries: The careers service is open Monday to Friday 8:45am-12:30pm and 1:30pm-4:45pm
  • Hamilton: The careers service is open Monday to Friday 8:30am-4:30pm.
  • Paisley: The Careers centre is open Monday to Friday 8:45am-4:45pm in room J219

Part-time jobs

Religious facilities

Social

Bars, Pubs and clubs

Events

Clubs and societies

The clubs which are available at the University of the West of Scotland are:

  • S.T.A.R Group: Paisley LGBT
  • SNP
  • LABOUR CLUB
  • Paisley Christian Union
  • Rock Sociecty
  • The Hobbits
  • Paisley University Muslim Students' Association
  • Pokemon Party Crew
  • Amnesty International
  • Lego Society
  • Paisley Uni football
  • Poker society
  • Ayr campus LGBT

Accommodation

Accommodation policy

  • On the Ayr campus accommodation is offered to all first year students who live more than an hour away from campus.
  • On the Hamilton campus accommodation is guaranteed to all first year students as well as many second and third years.

Facilities

Residences

There is a limited amount of accommodation provided at the university of the West of Scotland.

  • The Ayr campus has space to accommodate 103 students
  • The Hamilton campus has purpose built flats which accommodate 156 people.
  • On the Paisley campus there is a large accommodation complex called Thornly Park which is located 2 miles from campus. It can accommodate 236 students
  • The Dumfries campus doesn't have any accommodation

Private sector

The Dumfries campus DOES have accomidation but its very limited

Student union

Prices

Environment

Architecture

Local area

  • Ayr: This is based in a town of 50,000 and is set in amazing scenery with views out to the Firth of Clyde. There are many historical sites and beautiful beaches. This is on top of having everything you would need from a town of its size shops, clubs and bars.
  • Dumfries: This campus is again based in beautiful scenery and has everything you would need from a town. It has the added benefit of being based near one of the largest forests in the UK.
  • Hamilton: This like the others has all the facilities that you would find in the other towns mentioned but with the added benefit if large numbers of sporting facilities such as a horse riding and ten-pin bowling.
  • Paisley: This is a large town in Scotland and is particularly famous for its Paisley pattern. There are cafes, bars and you can also golf, cycle and ice skate.

Teaching quality

Schools

Teaching in the University of the West of Scotland is structured into seven different schools as follows:

Business School

The Business School at Paisley offers degrees at both the Ayr and Paisley campuses. Degrees include Accounting, Business, Management, Law and Tourism. Degrees are available both full and part-time.

Computing

The Computing School, located solely at Paisley Campus, has many degrees available including Computing Science, Computer Games, Information Technology and Multimedia.

Education

Based at University Campus Ayr, the School of Education has a BEd course in Primary Education, and two postgraduate PGDE courses in primary and secondary teaching.

In addition, the school offers a relatively new course in Childhood Studies.

Engineering and Science

One of the largest schools of the university, the Engineering and Science school offers courses in several areas:

  • Biological Sciences
  • Centre for Environmental and Waste Management
  • Chemistry & Chemical Engineering
  • Design & Engineering
  • Mathematics & Statistics
  • Physics
  • Sport Studies

School of Media, Language and Music

Based at University Campus, Ayr, this school offers a variety of degrees. Starting simply offering Media Studies, the school has grown to now offer eight degree courses:

  • Cinema
  • Commercial Music
  • Digital Art
  • Languages
  • Media
  • Music Technology
  • Performance
  • Screen Practice

Health, Nursing and Midwifery

The school offers courses in Adult and Mental Health Nursing and Midwifery to students wishing to become a nurse or midwife, and offers a variety of courses for nurses, midwifes and health workers already in the industry.

Social Sciences

This school offers studies in a variety of areas:

  • Economics
  • Politics
  • Psychology
  • Social Policy
  • Social Sciences with Options
  • Social Work
  • Sociology

Applying to UWS

Thinking of applying to UWS? Why not read some Personal Statements which were used for applying here?

Other West of Scotland Articles

Why not read these other UWS Articles?

Links

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