-
Study Options
- Study Destinations
- Scholarship
-
Student Square
An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.
Benjamin Franklin - Test Preparation
University of the West of Scotland
Overview
AC Rating
Courses
Campuses
Views
Location : United Kingdom ,London
Overall Rating :
Making a difference
Entering university study can seem like a daunting prospect, however, it offers a wealth of opportunities for personal and academic development, as well as shaping your future career.
Every year at University of the West of Scotland, London Campus, we welcome hundreds of home and international students into our vibrant and diverse academic community.
We do everything we can to help them prepare for life at UWS as well as supporting them during their studies. And we aim to provide our students with an enriching and rewarding experience that they’ll look back on with fond memories.
Preparing you for success
University of the West of Scotland is one of the country’s most innovative modern universities and was recognised as being in the top 600 of universities worldwide by Times Higher Education (THE) in their World University Rankings 2020.
We provide career-relevant, high-quality, inclusive higher education alongside innovative, internationally recognised research. Spread across four campuses in the west of Scotland and our new London Campus, we offer a unique and unparalleled student experience.
Community at UWS
UWS students come from all over the world, and you’ll find a great community feel and real energy on our campuses.
There are lots of opportunities to get involved in extracurricular activities and build friendships for life.
Across all campuses, there are over 3000 international students from countries which represent 1/3 of the globe.
Here for you when you need us
We want to make sure that all of our students get the most out of their university experience.
That’s why we offer a comprehensive range of student services to provide advice, support and guidance when you need it.
Teaching & research excellence
At UWS, we invest in our students’ future. Our graduates go out into the world ready to succeed thanks to our industry-relevant courses, modern facilities and innovative teaching underpinned by professionally relevant research, knowledge exchange and enterprise. We offer a range of career-focused undergraduate, postgraduate and research degree opportunities across our academic schools.
We are committed to producing work-ready graduates. Our vocational degree courses combine input from industry and the professions to help develop your insight and knowledge to prepare you for a career in your chosen field or discipline.
We combine first-class teaching with world-leading and internationally excellent research. We aim to develop research outputs that have a tangible, early and positive impact on society across the globe.
Our research-active teaching staff are dedicated to making a real difference to the world, developing innovative technologies and shaping our society.
Our history
University of the West of Scotland has grown to become one of Scotland’s most innovative, forward-thinking universities.
Our history shows our strong traditions in higher education and the development of our modern footprint that makes us Scotland’s highest ranked young university.
Bringing high-quality Scottish higher education to an even wider audience saw us establish UWS London Campus and our development continues.
- 1848- Paisley School of Design is established.
- 1897- Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, daughter of Queen Victoria, lays the foundation stone for Paisley Technical School – the historic roots of UWS.
- 1900- Paisley Technical School is officially opened to meet the needs of business and industry in the west of Scotland.
- 1993- The College becomes University of Paisley, with campuses in Paisley and Ayr.
- 1999- The University establishes its Dumfries Campus in southwest Scotland.
- 2007- The University grows through merger to become University of the West of Scotland and establishes its fourth Scottish campus, in Lanarkshire.
- 2011- UWS’s new £81 million state-of-the-art Ayr Campus opens.
- 2015- UWS London Campus is launched.
- 2018- UWS’s award-winning £110million Lanarkshire Campus opens.
- 2020- UWS London Campus expands in a stunning new Dockland’s facility.
- Today- Over 20,000 students, representing over 70 countries, across 5 campuses.
Career Services
UWS Careers Team will help to achieve your career goals by providing professional careers education, information, advice and guidance. You can use the resources and services of the UWS Careers Team from first year through to 2 years after graduation.
Here are just a few of the topics you can get support with:
- Career options open to you
- Identifying your skills and strengths
- Job search and applications
- CV checks
- Mock interviews
- Changing or leaving a course
- Finding and applying for further study opportunities
- Using LinkedIn
Placement Services
UWS works in partnership with Student Circus, to offer placement services to students during and after their studies. Student circus is a niche job search platform that enables International Students secure relevant jobs in the UK.
UWS London nurture and produce the very best of international talent which can greatly benefit the UK economy and its employers with its global outlook.
Student Circus can assist international students with:
- Applying for part-time internships.
- Applying for part-time jobs.
- Applying for a job and consequently for the Graduate Route Visa after completion of studies.
What are we setting out to achieve?
Fair Chance
Creating an ecosystem & a culture of fair chance to compete on basis of skills and not colour of passports.
Balanced Decisions
Helping students make informed decisions regarding their immigration rights, guide/help students.
Save Time
Make international students a compelling force in the recruitment space.
Dedicated Services
Be the one stop provider for all international student services in the UK.
Student Union
The Student Union works to represent students’ voice so that it can help the University make decisions which improve student’s experience. We also offer a number of services to assist students during their time at UWS:
Societies and Volunteering
You can join any society or create your own to reflect your own interests. This is a great way to make friends. We also provide volunteering opportunities – to allow you to gain experience, or to give something back to the community.
Welfare Support
Studying and juggling all other aspects of your life can be difficult and the Union offers an independent advice service to help you explore your options when things don’t go as planned. We also have events to improve your wellbeing – look out for the thera-pets near exam time!
Representation
Our volunteer student reps help us to represent your voice to the University. Each class will have at least one student rep and your lecturer will talk to you about this in your classes. If you’re interested in becoming a rep – talk to your Lecturer.
Social Events
We do provide events and entertainment – even at a distance. Check out our webpage for what’s on during Freshers! You can check out more information about these services at our website.
Personal Tutoring
During the Welcome and Induction Week, all students will be allocated a Personal Tutor. This is usually a lecturer from your course who can offer you support and guidance
with your studies. Your Personal Tutor will set up a meeting in the early part of your first term, and thereafter you should meet at least once per term and maintain regular communication.
It is important that you fully engage with your Personal Tutor, even when things are going well, as they can help you to make good decisions and to get the most out of your time at UWS. They can also assist if you have a problem with any aspect of your studies. If you do have any issues, you should contact your Personal Tutor as soon as possible rather than wait until your next scheduled meeting.
The Hub
The Hub helps with any questions during your student journey at UWS. You can access The Hub from any of our Campuses, from home and also through an online portal. Our friendly Hub team can assist you with enrolment, student cards, password resets, council tax enquiries and payments for tuition and accommodation fees. You can also access information and appointment booking for the support services available to you, including:
- Academic Skills Development
- Careers Guidance
- Counselling and Wellbeing
- Disability Support (including Assistive Technology)
- Funding and Advice
- International Student Support
- Multi Faith Chaplaincy
- Library and IT support
Academic Skills Support
Our team of Academic Skills Advisers provide advice, guidance and resources to help develop and enhance individual academic and practical skills for success at university and beyond. This support covers a range of topics, including:
- Time Management
- Note-taking and effective learning
- Grammar and punctuation
- Reading skills
- Critical thinking
- Revision and preparing for exams
- Giving presentations
- Referencing and avoiding plagiarism
- Interpreting feedback
- Reflective thinking
- Writing essays, reports and dissertations
- Your Personal Development Plan (PDP)
- Using software to support your studies
Counselling and Wellbeing
Silvercloud
SilverCloud is the University’s digital therapy service, it is free, confidential and available to all UWS students. This web resource is composed of a library of courses and resources which are all based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (an evidence-based psychological treatment). The University provides this resource to all students free of charge, so if you prefer a self-help route this could be the ideal tool for you. You can learn about the nature and function of stress, develop your assertiveness skills, learn to manage anxiety and much more.
International Students
Coming to the UK as an international student is an exciting experience. However, we understand that there are also many new challenges and our International Student Advisers are here to help you with many aspects of living and studying away from home. Here are some ways we can help you:
- Student immigration & Tier 4 visas
- Travel advice
- Financial questions
- Relative visits
- Working in the UK
- General welfare support
- Settling into the UK
- Host UK short home visits with British families
Courses
Admission
Undergraduate entry requirements
How to apply
UK Standard academic entry requirements
While each course has its own specific entry requirements listed on all course pages, there are also standard minimum academic requirements for admission onto any undergraduate degree course.
Applicants are expected to hold the following qualifications or equivalent as a minimum.
Literacy & Numeracy
All applicants are expected to demonstrate good levels of literacy and numeracy, holding passes in English and Mathematics at the following levels:
- Scottish National 5 (grades A, B or C)
- Scottish Standard Grade (grades 1, 2 or 3)
- Scottish Intermediate 2 (grades A, B or C)
- GCSE (A, B or C)
- Irish Leaving Certificate Ordinary level (grade C2 or higher)
Scottish qualifications
- Passes in at least five subjects including at least three Scottish Highers (grade C or higher).
Other qualifications
We are happy to consider other alternative combinations of qualifications and experience, including:
- International Baccalaureate Diploma
- Scottish Baccalaureate / Professional Baccalaureate / Welsh Baccalaureate (Advanced Diploma)
In addition to the qualifications listed above, UWS will consider a range of factors when assessing your application.
English, Welsh and Northern Irish qualifications
- Passes in at least five subjects including at least two passes at GCE Advanced Level (grade C or higher)
- Irish Leaving Certificate with passes in at least three subjects at Higher level (grade H4/C or highers
Advanced entry
For some courses advanced entry (entry into year 2 or 3) is possible.
Candidates with a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers / AS level and A levels (or equivalent qualifications) are encouraged to consider advanced entry into year 2.
Candidates who have achieved a Higher National Certificate (HNC) or a Higher National Diploma (HND) (from bodies such as SQA and BTEC etc.) are encouraged to consider advanced entry into year 2 or 3 respectively.
The academic requirements for individual courses accepting advanced entry will be listed on the course page.
EU & International (non-EU) academic entry requirements
We welcome applications from EU and international (non-EU) students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
Academic requirements:
International applicants will need an equivalent qualification to those advertised on each degree in order to apply to UWS. Equivalences can be found using the UK National Recognition Information Centre.
If you are an applicant from an EU country and would like to apply outside the Erasmus Programme agreement, please contact ask@uws.ac.uk for information about the relevant qualifications required.
If you are an international applicant from a non-EU country, please download our Non-EU Entry Requirements document to view country-specific entry requirement information.
Additional information about partnerships and UWS representatives in your country can be found in our country information section.
English Language Requirements
All international applicants are required to meet minimum English language standards, with the exception of:
- Native speakers of English
- Erasmus students (unless advised otherwise)
- non-Erasmus students from EU partner institutions (your institution must provide confirmation of your English language ability in the absence of a formal qualification)
Find out more about English language requirements.
Other qualifications
We are happy to consider other alternative combinations of qualifications and experience, including:
- International Baccalaureate Diploma
Postgraduate entry requirements
How to apply
UK standard academic entry requirements
Most postgraduate degree courses will require you to hold an undergraduate degree from a UK institution.
While each course has its own specific entry requirements listed on all course pages, there may also be additional academic requirements for admission onto some postgraduate degree courses.
Literacy & numeracy
For certain subjects (e.g. PGDE Education), in addition to holding a degree qualification, applicants are expected to demonstrate good levels of literacy and numeracy. High school passes in English or Mathematics may be required.
EU & International (non-EU) academic entry requirements
While each course has its own specific entry requirements listed on all course pages, there are also standard minimum academic requirements for admission onto any undergraduate degree course.
Applicants are expected to hold the following qualifications or equivalent as a minimum.
We welcome applications from EU and international (non-EU) students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
Academic requirements:
International applicants will need an equivalent qualification to those advertised on each degree in order to apply to UWS. Equivalences can be found using the UK National Recognition Information Centre.
If you are an applicant from an EU country and would like to apply outside the Erasmus Programme agreement, please contact ask@uws.ac.uk for information about the relevant qualifications required.
If you are an international applicant from a non-EU country, please download our Non-EU Entry Requirements document (below) to view country-specific entry requirement information.
English language requirements:
All international applicants are required to meet minimum English language standards, with the exception of:
- Native speakers of English
- Erasmus students (unless advised otherwise)
- non-Erasmus students from EU partner institutions (your institution must provide confirmation of your English language ability in the absence of a formal qualification)
English language entry requirements
How to Apply
Minimum English language standards
It’s essential that you are able to read, speak and understand the English language to get the most out of your time at UWS.
All international applicants are required to meet minimum English language standards, with the exception of:
- Native speakers of English
- Erasmus students (unless advised otherwise)
- non-Erasmus students from EU partner institutions (your institution must provide confirmation of your English language ability in the absence of a formal qualification)
English language requirements for academic entry
If you do not fall into any of the categories above you will need to provide proof of your English language ability through the International English Language Test System (IELTS) or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
IELTS
- Undergraduate (BA, BAcc, BEng, BSc) – IELTS 6.0 with no skill below 5.5
- Postgraduate Taught (MA, MSc) – IELTS 6.0 with no skill below 5.5
- Postgraduate Research (MRes, MPhil, PhD, DBA, DProf)– IELTS 6.5 with no skill below 6.0
These are minimum requirements and some courses may require a higher standard for admission. Individual course entry requirements are detailed on each course page.
IELTS certificates should be dated within two years at the time of applying to study at UWS.
TOEFL IBT
TOEFL IBT*: 78; no sub-test less than:
- Reading: 17;
- Listening: 17;
- Speaking: 17;
- Writing: 17
*Please note that TOEFL is still acceptable for admission to this programme for both home/EU and international students.
For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use TOEFL to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level courses. We therefore still accept TOEFL tests taken in the last two years for admission to this programme.
Common English language equivalents
for most courses
All stated English tests are acceptable for admission for both home/EU and international students for this programme:
- CAE (Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English): 176 overall; no sub-test less than 169
- CPE (Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English): 176 overall; no sub-test less than 169
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English: ISEII with the minimum of a Pass in all sub-tests
- PTE Pearson Academic English: An overall score of 54 with no element below 51 (for programmes that require IELTS 6.0 with no element below 5.5). An overall score 61 with no element below 51 (for programmes that require IELTS 6.5 with no element below 6.0)
West African Senior School Certificate of Education (WASSCE)
West African Senior School Certificate of Education (WASSCE) including acceptance of WAEC Scratchcard*
- C6 or above in English
*UWS will accept a WAEC scratchcard confirming that an applicant has achieved C6 or above as evidence of meeting English language requirement from Nigeria if the student graduated within the last 5 years. After 5 years applicants would be required to provide the WAEC Certificate.
IELTS Score Exceptions (DBA, Certificate of Higher Education, PhD, etc.)
For our research degrees (MRes, MPhil, PhD, DBA, DProf), applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
- overall score of 6.5
- no sub-test less than 6.0
For Health, Nursing & Midwifery courses that lead to professional registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
- overall score of 7.0
- no sub-test less than 7.0
For our Certificate of Higher Education courses, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
- overall score of 5.0
- no sub-test less than 4.5
English language requirements for a UK VISA
If you live outside the EU/EEA, you will need to obtain a visa in order to live and study in the UK. If English is not your first language you will need to meet minimum standards of English set out by UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) as part of the visa application process.
Full details of the English language test requirements set by UKVI are available on the UK Government website.
Pre-sessional English language courses
We understand that you might need to improve your English language skills to meet visa or application requirements. Our Pre-sessional English Language courses help you meet the IELTS standard for study at UWS.
Accommodation
While we do not have UWS-managed student accommodation in London, there are many private rental options for students seeking accommodation. Private accommodation is let out and managed by private landlords or state agents, which can be confusing, especially amongst international students trying to book it from abroad.
There are purpose-built student accommodation options; private room rentals inside a shared house or flat; private flats or studios; or host family accommodation if you are looking for a more enriching cultural exchange.
Accredited Agents
Before registering with letting agents, who will be able to assist in finding properties who meet your criteria, it’s important to check if the letting agent is registered with one of the UK’s leading accreditation schemes below:
- NAL Safe Agent
- ARLA Propertymark
- NAEA Propertymark
Accommodation Websites
There are a lot of options online, you can search for properties independently in one of the websites below.
- Unite Students
- Sanctuary Students
- O2O London
- Zoopla
- Rightmove
- SpareRoom
- OntheMarket
Host Family Accommodation
Host family accommodation is not used only for students coming to the UK to study English, but for anyone who would like to learn more about English culture and have excellent cultural exchange in an authentic environment.
Scholarships
Currently there are no scholarships available.
Read More About United Kingdom
