Glasgow Caledonian University

Glasgow Caledonian University, the University for the Common Good, is a vibrant, values- led, multi-cultural, civic University with a global outlook and strong commitment to delivering social innovation and sustainable development in its education and research.

We are ranked fourth in the world and first in the UK for promoting gender equality, in the top 5% globally for social impact, and first in Scotland for health and wellbeing, and reduced poverty. We also rate highly in other key UK and global league tables.

A recent independent report by BIGGAR Economics concluded that GCU contributed £1.7 billion and 14,360 jobs globally in 2020-21. It highlighted that GCU is a valuable asset to the City of Glasgow, not only bringing economic and employment opportunities, but working to address the deep-rooted economic, social and health inequalities in the City.

GCU was the first University to align its research strategy and among the first to align its organisational strategies to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) promoted by the United Nations. Central to our Strategy 2030 is the ambition to be recognised as world leading in social innovation through our research and teaching. Achieving these ambitions will involve building on our flagship research centres, such as our Centre for Climate Justice and our Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health, with a common good suite of taught Masters programmes, including the MSc Social Innovation.

Our research expertise spans our three Schools (the School of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment, the Glasgow School for Business and Society, and our School of Health and Life Sciences) and various Centres. These contribute strongly, with our globally recognised researchers regularly advising governments, industry and international bodies on policy development, and delivering impact.

Our welcoming university community of 1,500 staff and nearly 22,000 students from more than 100 countries enjoy state-of-the-art facilities across each of our campuses in Glasgow, London and our postgraduate college in New York, with transnational partnerships in China, South Africa, Oman, Bangladesh and Mauritius. Our success as a globally connected university is demonstrated by the large number of international students studying at our UK campuses.

We are leaders in widening participation to Higher Education and supporting our students to achieve positive outcomes, as evidenced in exceptional completion rates and the fact that 90% of our students are in employment or further study within fifteen months of graduating (HESA, 2021).

GCU is also Scotland’s leading provider of Graduate Apprenticeships, with a wide range of professionally accredited courses and industry links. Our College Connect Team delivers a dedicated service to help students transition from college to university. GCU’s Caledonian Club, an award-winning outreach initiative, has reached 20,000 local children, families and carers, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, and our Advanced Higher Hub gives important opportunities to senior school pupils across Glasgow to access higher and further education.

Guided by our inspirational Chancellor, Dr Annie Lennox OBE, and guided by our values – integrity, responsibility, creativity and confidence - we transform the lives of the people and communities we serve.