About the university
The University of the West of Scotland traces its history to 1897, when the Paisley College of Technology was founded. It gained university status in 1992 and took its current name in 2007. Today it has three academic faculties, four campuses across the west of Scotland and one in London.
UWS is known for practical courses in computing, business, engineering, health, nursing and education. Its largest campus is in Paisley, home to around 10,000 students, with business, computing, social sciences, engineering, science and health courses.
For Indian students the attraction is a lower-cost route into a Scottish master's. Many business, IT and project management master's courses cost £16,275 in 2026/27, and computing, AI and health master's courses cost £18,900. Most master's courses start in January or September, and the UWS Global Scholarship can take up to £2,000 off a taught master's.
Paisley is Scotland's largest town and is 10 minutes by train from central Glasgow, so students can live cheaply while being close to a major city.
- Roots
- History dates back to 1897 and the Paisley College of Technology; university status in 1992, renamed University of the West of Scotland in 2007 (THE profile)
- Type
- Public university
- Total students
- About 14,430 (THE World University Rankings 2027 data); around 10,000 at the Paisley campus
- International students
- 34% of students (THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
- Student–staff ratio
- 19.6 to 1 (THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
- Campuses
- Four in the west of Scotland (Paisley, Lanarkshire, Ayr and Dumfries) and one in London
- Intakes
- January and September for most master's courses; some business and IT courses also start in May
Rankings
THE World University Rankings 2027
801–1000 in the world
Complete University Guide (UK) 2027
127th of 130 UK universities
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- £16,275
- Duration
- 1 year full time
- Intakes
- January; May; September (Paisley)
- English
- IELTS 6.0 (no element below 5.5)
- Postgraduate
MSc Information Technology with Data Analytics
- Fee / year
- £16,275
- Duration
- 1 year full time
- Intakes
- January; May; September (Paisley)
- English
- IELTS 6.0 (no element below 5.5)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- £18,900
- Duration
- 1 year full time from September; 1.5 years from January
- Intakes
- January; September (Paisley)
- English
- IELTS 6.0 (no element below 5.5)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- £18,900
- Duration
- 1 year full time from September; 1.5 years from January
- Intakes
- January; September (Paisley)
- English
- IELTS 6.0 (no element below 5.5)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- £18,900
- Duration
- 1 year full time from September; 1.5 years from January (London: 1 year)
- Intakes
- January; September (Lanarkshire); also taught in London
- English
- IELTS 6.0 (no element below 5.5)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- £16,275
- Duration
- 1 year full time
- Intakes
- January; May; September (Paisley); also taught in London
- English
- IELTS 6.0 (no element below 5.5)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- £16,275
- Duration
- 1 year full time
- Intakes
- January; May; September (Paisley)
- English
- IELTS 6.0 (no element below 5.5)
- Postgraduate
MBA Master of Business Administration
- Fee / year
- £16,275
- Duration
- Runs over 3 terms
- Intakes
- September; January; May
- English
- IELTS 6.0 (no element below 5.5)
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (GBP) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSc Information Technology | 1 year full time | £16,275 | ≈ ₹19.9 lakh |
| MSc Information Technology with Data Analytics | 1 year full time | £16,275 | ≈ ₹19.9 lakh |
| MSc Big Data | 1 year full time from September; 1.5 years from January | £18,900 | ≈ ₹23.1 lakh |
| MSc Artificial Intelligence | 1 year full time from September; 1.5 years from January | £18,900 | ≈ ₹23.1 lakh |
| MSc Cyber Security | 1 year full time from September; 1.5 years from January (London: 1 year) | £18,900 | ≈ ₹23.1 lakh |
| MSc Project Management | 1 year full time | £16,275 | ≈ ₹19.9 lakh |
| MSc International Management | 1 year full time | £16,275 | ≈ ₹19.9 lakh |
| MBA Master of Business Administration | Runs over 3 terms | £16,275 | ≈ ₹19.9 lakh |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at University of the West of Scotland with similar universities in the UK.
Scholarships
- Bachelor's and taught master's at the Scottish campuses
UWS Global Scholarship
Value: Up to £2,000 a year for undergraduate study, or up to £2,000 one-off for a taught master's
Eligibility: Self-funding, full fee-paying international students with an unconditional offer who have achieved academic excellence. Deducted automatically before your CAS is issued; not awarded retrospectively.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Full-time master's or research degrees
UWS Postgraduate Tuition Fee Offer
Value: 20% off first-year tuition fees
Eligibility: UWS alumni and final-year UWS undergraduates progressing to full-time postgraduate study. Cannot be combined with other discounts.
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- Most Scottish bachelor's degrees at UWS take four years full time; some courses offer a sandwich placement year.
- International applicants need qualifications equivalent to those listed on each course page; the university uses UK ENIC to judge equivalence.
- Applications for undergraduate and postgraduate courses open in August each year and run until the course start date.
Postgraduate
- Most master's courses need an undergraduate degree comparable to a UK honours degree; some name a minimum, such as a 2:2 for MSc Biotechnology.
- Some courses need a related subject, for example computing for MSc Cyber Security or engineering for MSc Sustainable Technology and Energy.
- January starts for some computing courses take 1.5 years full time instead of one year.
Documents
- Valid passport
- Degree certificate and transcripts
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets
- English test score, or Class 12 English marks if you use that route
- Personal statement
- ATAS certificate for some science and technology master's courses
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 overall with no element below 5.5 for most bachelor's and taught master's degrees. Some accredited courses ask for more, such as 7.0 for MSc Advanced Biomedical Science. |
| PTE Academic (test centre) | 59 with no element below 59 for courses needing IELTS 6.0; 66 with no element below 66 for courses needing IELTS 6.5 |
| TOEFL iBT | 4.5 in each element (reading, listening, writing and speaking) for taught degrees |
| Class 12 English | 70% or higher in English in Class XII, in place of IELTS, if the certificate is no older than 8 years. Not accepted from the Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh boards. |
| Pre-sessional English | Online pre-sessional courses of 5 weeks (from IELTS 5.5) or 8 weeks (from IELTS 5.0) |
Accommodation and living costs
UWS has its own residences in Paisley: a modern en suite residence with flats of four to six students, 24-hour security and a social space, and flats in a 19th-century town-centre building. Prices below are for 2026/27 on a 38-week term.
| Item | In GBP | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Paisley en suite flat room38-week term, 2026/27 | £122per week | ≈ ₹14,884 |
| Single room in a two-bedroom town-centre flat38-week term, 2026/27 | £98per week | ≈ ₹11,956 |
| Double room in a two-bedroom town-centre flat38-week term, 2026/27 | £115per week | ≈ ₹14,030 |
| One-bedroom apartment38-week term, 2026/27 | £166per week | ≈ ₹20,252 |
| Money you must show for the Student visaOutside London, for up to 9 months, as shown on GOV.UK in October 2026 | £1,171per month | ≈ ₹1.4 lakh |
Campus and location
The Paisley campus is in the centre of Scotland's largest town, about 10 minutes by train from central Glasgow. UWS also teaches at Lanarkshire, Ayr, Dumfries and London.
- Paisley campus: around 10,000 students, a new £13.2 million student residence and a £5 million Students' Union.
- Computer labs across the Paisley campus with free internet access for students.
- Lanarkshire campus hosts several health, science and cyber security courses.
- London campus offers selected business, finance and IT master's courses with May intakes.
Careers and graduate outcomes
UWS courses focus on practical, career-ready skills, and some degrees include placements. After graduating you can apply for the UK Graduate visa: 18 months for bachelor's and master's graduates who apply from 1 January 2027.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate visa length for applications from 1 January 2027 | 18 months (bachelor's and master's) | GOV.UK |
Studying in the UK
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in the UK. Our country guide covers them in detail:
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FAQs
How much is a master's at UWS?
For 2026/27, many business, IT and project management master's courses cost £16,275 in total for international students, and computing, AI and health courses cost £18,900. The 2027/28 fees were not yet published in October 2026.
Can I use my Class 12 English marks instead of IELTS?
Yes, if you scored 70% or more in English in Class XII and the certificate is no older than 8 years. Students from the Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh boards need IELTS or another test.
When can I start?
Most master's courses start in January or September, and several business and IT courses also start in May. Some computing courses take 1.5 years if you start in January.
Is there a scholarship for Indian students?
The UWS Global Scholarship gives up to £2,000 off a taught master's for self-funding international students with an unconditional offer and strong grades. It is applied automatically before your CAS.
How far is Paisley from Glasgow?
About 10 minutes by train from central Glasgow.
Sources
- UWS: MSc Big Data (opens in a new tab)
- UWS: MSc Information Technology (opens in a new tab)
- UWS: English language requirements (opens in a new tab)
- UWS: Global Scholarship (opens in a new tab)
- UWS: Postgraduate Tuition Fee Offer (opens in a new tab)
- UWS: Paisley campus accommodation (opens in a new tab)
- UWS: Paisley campus (opens in a new tab)
- UWS: about UWS (opens in a new tab)
- THE World University Rankings 2027: University of the West of Scotland (opens in a new tab)
- Complete University Guide 2027 league table (opens in a new tab)
- GOV.UK: Student visa – money you need (opens in a new tab)
- GOV.UK: Graduate visa (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.uws.ac.uk (opens in a new tab)
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