Stirling FK9 4LA

Tel 01786 467 046

recruitment@stir.ac.uk

www.stir.ac.uk

Sunday Times ranking 37 (42)

Teaching excellence 50%

Student satisfaction n/a Head teacher ranking 88= (102=)

Peer ranking 42 (44)

Research quality 55.6%

A/AS-level/Highers points 312/341

A-levels/Highers for entry 22%/57%

Unemployment 3.8%

Firsts and 2:1s 66.9%

Student/staff ratio 14:1

Dropout rate 8% (12%)

Undergraduates 6,282 (622)

Postgraduates 841 (1,188)

Teaching staff 321

Applications/places 10,221/1,598; 6.4:1 (-0.8%)

Clearing entry 12%

Bursaries No tuition fees for Scottish students

Scholarships n/a

EU/overseas 5.4%/5.3%

Mature 18.7%

State school 92%

Lowest social classes 26%

Low-participation areas 22%

Live in 54% (100%) £58-£82

Top for sport, top for scenery, the first with semesters, Stirling offers one of the finest student experiences in the UK. Its relatively small size (9,000 students, 7,000 of whom are undergraduates) and its idyllic campus location all point to Stirling finishing close to the top of the national student (satisfaction) survey when its students take part for the first time in 2008. High quality teaching should help too.

Stirling earlier this month celebrated its 40th birthday. It escaped the worst architectural excesses of the 1960s and the campus is dominated by the tranquil surroundings of the Airthrey estate and its castle, the university loch and the Ochil Hills.

Students are a sporty lot, which is no surprise given the university has probably the finest sports facilities in Scotland. The National Tennis Centre is here, there’s a 50m pool for students and the National Swimming Academy, a new football academy opens next March, and there’s even a nine-hole golf course. The Scottish national rugby team trains here.

The students are no slouches academically either; more than two-thirds gain a first or 2:1. In addition to the eight subjects rated excellent for the quality of teaching, another 14 have been rated highly satisfactory. Humanities and social sciences are especially strong.

Stirling is innovative when it comes to diversifying its intake and providing flexible study options. It is possible, for instance, to gain a general degree or a named bachelor degree in business studies, English studies, education, history, sociology and social policy through evening classes alone in just four years.

Open days September 26; October 6.

Student view Will Mackenzie, students’ association president:

USP Stirling has the biggest sporting facilities on one campus in Scotland.

Worst feature We lack the Glasgow or Edinburgh live music scene.

Location Most of us will argue that it is the prettiest campus in Europe, if not the world.

Social scene You’re always 30 seconds away from the union seven days a week.

Rated excellent (8) Economics; English; history; politics and international relations; psychology; social policy and administration and social work; sociology; theology and religious studies.

Times recommends

• Student bursary system 'penalises' the poor
• Number of part-time students doubles
• Students prefer studying to socialising, says survey