University of Stirling
Scotland's university for sporting excellence, set on a 330-acre lochside campus below the Wallace Monument.
- Students
- 11,725
- International
- 34%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 18.9:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- £20,000
- From · 2027-28
- Founded
- 1967
About Stirling
The University of Stirling was founded by Royal Charter in 1967 as part of the expansion that followed the Robbins Report, with the economist Lord Robbins as its first Chancellor. On 18 September 1967, 164 undergraduates and 31 postgraduates started their courses; today Stirling has more than 17,500 students from 140 countries. Its campus is a 330-acre estate around Airthrey Loch, with the Wallace Monument and the Ochil Hills in view.
Teaching and research are organised into three faculties (Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Health, Sport and Society; Natural Sciences) and the University of Stirling Business School. Scottish degrees usually take four years, and Stirling's flexible structure lets students combine subjects, with direct entry to Year 2 possible for strong Advanced Higher or A-level results. Some courses also start in January.
Stirling is best known for sport and aquaculture. It is Scotland's University for Sporting Excellence, home to national swimming and tennis academies, and its Institute of Aquaculture won a Queen's Anniversary Prize in 2019. It suits students who want a campus university with outdoor space, a strong sporting culture and entry requirements around BBB at A-level.
Why students choose Stirling
Stirling is Scottish University of the Year and UK Sports University of the Year (Daily Mail University Guide 2027).
A £20 million Sports Centre opened in 2020, and the campus hosts the National Swimming Academy and GB National Tennis Academy.
Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland automatically receive the £5,000 Stirling Success Scholarship.
Psychology students train in specialist labs including the only on-site Psychology Kindergarten in the UK.
Admissions
2027 entry
Selectivity
Stirling does not publish an overall offer rate. Typical Year 1 offers for 2027 entry are BBB at A-level (ABB for Law LLB), and widening access students may receive adjusted offers.
Typical entry requirements
| A-levels | Year 1 entry: BBB (Psychology, Computing Science, Business Studies, Film and Media, Marine and Freshwater Biology, Sport and Exercise Science), ABB (Law LLB); Year 2 direct entry: e.g. ABB including Psychology |
|---|---|
| Scottish Highers | AABB (Psychology, Business Studies, Film and Media, Sport and Exercise Science), ABBB (Computing Science, Marine and Freshwater Biology), AAAB (Law LLB) |
| IB Diploma | 28 points for most courses, 32 for Law LLB; 32 points for Year 2 entry to Psychology |
| BTEC (Level 3) | DDM for most courses; DDD for Law LLB |
| English language | IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 80 IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with at least 5.5 in each skill, or PTE Academic 60 (59 in each skill), or TOEFL iBT 80 (R18, W17, L17, S20) for tests taken before 21 January 2026; TOEFL tests from 21 January 2026 need 4 overall with no band below 4. |
Deadlines
- UCAS equal consideration deadline Non-binding Next deadline · In ~3 months13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
Deadline for equal consideration for September 2027 entry.
- UCAS last date before Clearing Non-binding In ~9 months30 June 2027, 18:00 UK time
Applications received after this are entered into Clearing, which opens on 2 July 2027; places depend on availability.
UCAS dates for 2027 entry. January 2028 entry on selected courses is applied for directly to the university, not through UCAS.
How to apply
Apply through UCAS for September entry (UCAS name STIRL, institution code S75). January entry, available on some courses for international and rest-of-UK students, is applied for directly to the university. A personal statement is required.
What admissions looks for
- Grades at the typical offer for your course, such as BBB at A-level or AABB at Higher; widening access applicants may receive adjusted offers.
- Essential subjects where listed, for example one of Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics for Marine and Freshwater Biology and Sport and Exercise Science, taken within the last five years.
- For Year 2 direct entry, higher grades and the relevant subject, such as ABB at A-level including Psychology.
- A personal statement explaining why you want to study the course.
Tips for applying to Stirling
- 1 If you have strong A-levels or Advanced Highers, check whether Year 2 direct entry is offered: it cuts the degree from four years to three.
- 2 Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland who apply for accommodation by 31 August are guaranteed a university-managed room in first year as part of the Stirling Success Scholarship.
- 3 International applicants are automatically considered for the International Undergraduate Scholarship of £2,500 a year, with no separate application.
- 4 If you are an athlete, look at Stirling's sports scholarships, which can be combined with the Stirling Success Scholarship or International Undergraduate Scholarship.
Costs & financial aid
2027-28 · figures in GBP
Scottish students can have their tuition paid by SAAS. Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland, the Isle of Man and Channel Islands receive the £5,000 Stirling Success Scholarship (£2,500 in Year 1, £2,000 in the honours year and a £500 sports and dining package). International undergraduates automatically receive £2,500 a year off fees (£10,000 over four years), and Stirling administers US Federal Education Loans.
- £5,000 package, automatic
- Stirling Success Scholarship (rest of UK and Ireland)
- £2,500 a year (£10,000 over four years), automatic
- International Undergraduate Scholarship
- Over 2,800 rooms, bills included
- Campus accommodation
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (autumn and spring); September and January intakes on some courses
Sport and Exercise Science (BSc)
Endorsed by the Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences; 80% of Stirling's sport and exercise research was rated world-leading or internationally excellent in REF 2021.
Psychology (BA/BSc)
Accredited by the British Psychological Society, with an on-site Psychology Kindergarten, a Lifespan Lab and a final-year placement option.
Marine and Freshwater Biology (BSc)
Taught with the Institute of Aquaculture, a Queen's Anniversary Prize winner with tropical, freshwater and marine facilities.
Film and Media (BA)
BBB entry, and can be combined with subjects such as Journalism Studies, Politics, Psychology or Marketing.
Law (LLB)
Scots law degree with options including commercial, family, international and sports law; ABB at A-level.
Computing Science (BSc)
Shares a common core with Software Engineering and Business Computing in the first three semesters, making it easy to switch.
Research
- The Institute of Aquaculture, whose first labs opened in 1991, won a Queen's Anniversary Prize in 2019.
- The University of Stirling Innovation Park, opened in 1986, hosts research and development businesses.
- 80% of Stirling's research in Sport and Exercise Sciences was rated world-leading or internationally excellent in REF 2021.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
- Faculty of Health, Sport and Society
- Faculty of Natural Sciences
- University of Stirling Business School
Student life
Stirling is a genuine campus university: over 2,800 student rooms sit on or near the lochside estate, close to the library, Students' Union, cinema, supermarket, health centre and Sports Centre. Sport shapes campus culture, from the 50-metre pool and athletics track to elite athletes training alongside recreational players, and Stirling swimmers won three medals at the Paris Olympics. Campus Central, opened in 2021, is the social and support hub, and the campus even has its own cinema.
- £20 million Sports Centre with a 50-metre pool, athletics track and pitches.
- National Swimming Academy and GB National Tennis Academy based on campus.
- Over 2,800 student rooms, with heating, electricity, WiFi and insurance included in rent.
- Campus Central, a £23 million hub of cafes, shops and student services.
Housing. New undergraduates get priority for university accommodation, and students from the rest of the UK and Ireland are guaranteed a first-year room if they apply by 31 August.
Location
Stirling is a small historic city in central Scotland, between Glasgow and Edinburgh. The campus lies on the Airthrey estate just outside the city, surrounded by woodland and hills, with Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument nearby, so students get countryside on the doorstep and two major cities within reach.
Nearest airport: Edinburgh Airport (EDI); Glasgow Airport (GLA) is also within reach
Notable alumni
- IB Iain BanksNovelist (The Wasp Factory, the Culture series); studied English, philosophy and psychology
- JK Jackie KayPoet and novelist (Trumpet, Red Dust Road); studied English
- JM Jack McConnellFirst Minister of Scotland 2001-2007; studied at Stirling and was Students' Association president
- JR John ReidFormer UK Home Secretary; BA in history and PhD in economic history
- GD Grace DentRestaurant critic and broadcaster; studied English Literature
- CM Catriona MatthewProfessional golfer and 2009 Women's British Open champion; studied accountancy
- AB Alison BrittainChair of the Premier League and former CEO of Whitbread; business studies degree
Frequently asked questions
What grades do you need for the University of Stirling?
Most Year 1 courses ask for BBB at A-level, AABB or ABBB at Higher, or 28 IB points. Law LLB asks for ABB, AAAB at Higher or 32 IB points.
How long is a degree at Stirling?
Honours degrees usually take four years in Scotland, but some courses offer direct entry to Year 2 with higher grades, making the degree three years.
How much does Stirling cost for students from England?
Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland pay £10,050 a year for 2027/28 and automatically receive the £5,000 Stirling Success Scholarship.
How much are Stirling's international fees?
For 2027/28, £20,000 a year for most arts, business and social science degrees and £23,700 for lab-based degrees. The International Undergraduate Scholarship takes £2,500 a year off automatically.
What is the application deadline for Stirling?
Apply through UCAS by 13 January 2027 for September 2027 entry. January entry on some courses is applied for directly to the university.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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