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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 four campuses: Paisley, Ayr, Dumfries, and Hamilton and offers a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate study options. The university's name changed from the University of Paisley in December 2007 following it's merger with Bell College.
The university has 1,600 staff and over 19,500 students at present.
Facilities
Paisley Campus has a union with four floors where the drink is cheap and the company is good! There is also a Sports Centre - albeit a few miles away from the main campus - it's a good bargain. To use the gym it is only £1 a time! The uni also has an abundance of good cafes and places to chat with friends.
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 (UWS).
Libraries
There are separate libraries on each of the campuses:
The Ayr campus has a library with a wide variety of books, journals, videos, CDs and also study DVDs. There's 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 online 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, reading/silent study areas, a designated area for group work/study and computers with internet access. There is also a Learning Cafe on the first floor with a Starbucks.
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| Established:
| 1897
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| Location:
| Paisley, Renfrewshire Scotland, UK
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Address:
| University of the West of Scotland Paisley Campus Paisley PA1 2BE
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| Telephone:
| +441418483000
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| Website:
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| SU/Guild website:
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| UCAS Code:
| P20
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| Type:
| ||
| | ||
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| Total students:
| 19,500
| |
| Undergrad:
| 90%
| |
| Postgrad:
| 10%
| |
| Part-time:
| 44%
| |
| International:
| 7%
| |
| Mature:
| 46%
| |
| Male:female
| 40:60
| |
| Staff:
| 1,600
| |
| 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 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 centre 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.
- Paisley: The union provide a cafa during the day called Java, its pretty much the cheapest place to eat in paisley.
Banks
- Paisley : Has many banks on the high street, the union now has its own cash point at the enterance
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 centre 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.
- 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
- Paisley: The union are always looking for staff, events bar and pr.
Religious facilities
UWS Discussions
| Latest relevant discussions | Last post/replies |
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| UWS 2013 applicants |  14 Hours Ago Replies: 21 |
| Diana | 1 Day Ago Replies: 5 |
| anyone studying in the university of the scotland (hamilton campus) this year? |  1 Day Ago Replies: 1 |
| UWS (Paisley) |  1 Week Ago Replies: 18 |
| dumfries | 1 Week Ago Replies: 0 |
| Accommodation Help | 1 Week Ago Replies: 0 |
| Go to University of the West of Scotland forum Post new thread | |
Social
Paisley: Most social activities are organised by the union, check their website for more info.
Bars, Pubs and clubs
Paisley: There is a lot of pubs in paisley, from the typical old man style pub to the more young style pub. Recommended pubs are Paddys, Bull inn and Old Swan. There are also a few clubs in town, there are only 2 that are worth chatting about, there furys for the 18 - 22 ish (and all the unders) and venas for the over 25s, Furys is cheap and sticky and venas is very expensive. The union is generally seen as the best place to go in paisley for a good night out and friday is the only place to be
Events
Paisley: See sauws.org.uk/paisley for all the union 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
Academic Schools
Teaching in the University of the West of Scotland is structured into eight different academic schools as follows:
Business
The Business School offers both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at all four campuses (for postgraduate though it is mainly Paisley and Hamilton). Degrees include Accounting, Business, Event Management, Human Resource Management, Law, and Marketing. Most degrees can be studied in either full-time or part-time and there are both study abroad and work placements options available as part of some degrees.
Computing
The Computing School has many undergraduate degrees available ranging from Computing, Computer Games Development to Web Development. Some degrees are offered at all four campuses while others are only offered at one campus. The school offers three postgraduate degrees all of which are only taught at the Paisley campus.
Creative & Cultural Industries
The school has grown to offer some of these degree courses:
- Broadcast Production
- Commercial Sound Production
- Film-making & Screen Writing
- Journalism
Each course tends to be taught at only one campus.
Education
Based at the Ayr Campus, the School of Education has a BEd course in Primary Education, and one newer course in Childhood Studies offered at Ayr, Dumfries and Hamilton. In addition, the school offers two postgraduate PGDE courses in primary and secondary teaching as well as other four other post-grad/experience qualifications (mainly through distance learning).
Engineering
Some of the degrees the School of Engineering offers:
- Aircraft Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Mechatronics
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.
Science
One of the biggest schools, if offers a range of degrees including:
- Applied Bioscience
- Biomedical Science/Applied Biomedical Science
- Chemistry
- Environmental Health
- Forensic Science
- Physics
- Sport & Exercise Science
- Veterinary Nursing
Social Sciences
This school offers studies in a variety of areas:
- Criminal Justice
- Politics
- Psychology (BA)
- Social Policy
- 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?
