The IGO facilitates all aspects of the University's international affairs and provides support services for international students. Here, the IGO answers the questions most frequently asked.
- What is the climate like?
- Will I be able to buy my own kind of food?
- Will I receive any help to 'settle in'?
- What if I become ill?
- What about religious facilities?
What is the climate like?
Scotland's climate is very similar to that of the rest of the UK. It has a much warmer winter than countries in a similar latitude because the shallow seas that surround it are warmed by the waters of the Gulf Stream current that drifts across the Atlantic Ocean from the tropical Caribbean Sea.
The summer (June to the end of August) may be warm, but rarely very hot. The average maximum daily temperature in summer is 15° to 20°C. In the winter months (November to March) snow and frost may occur, with temperatures below zero centigrade at times. The months of April, May and September, though less warm, often provide pleasantly mild and settled spells of weather.
Rain, however, can be frequent throughout the year, and the weather can change rapidly over a period of a few hours. The average rainfall is about 1,100 millimetres (40 inches) a year.
Will I be able to buy my own kind of food?
Yes, that will not be a problem. Because of the presence of resident ethnic communities in Glasgow (eg Chinese, Indian and Pakistani), you will find special butchers, and shops that sell all kinds of fresh vegetables and ingredients. There are also restaurants specialising in food from many countries.
Will I receive any help to 'settle in'?
As an international student you will have access to an excellent network of support services covering all aspects of your life at University.
Jim Wilson is full-time Senior International Student Adviser, and Melanie Fariss is full-time International Student Adviser, both based in the IGO. They can send you pre-arrival information to help you plan for your studies here.
To assist you with your arrival Glasgow's Universities organise an international students welcome programme. Teams of student volunteers meet new arrivals at the airport, the train and coach stations, to give you a warm welcome and help you find your way to your accommodation. Full details of this comprehensive meeting service are issued to all our new students before they leave home.
Once you are here, Jim and Melanie organise an orientation programme to help you settle into life in Glasgow and provide ongoing support throughout the academic session. They will give you expert professional advice on any problems that may crop up, whether these concern visas, finances, academic or personal matters.
What if I become ill?
The University's Student Health Service has clinics twice a day and specialist advice is readily available in all fields of medicine. All students must register with a local doctor, and you will be eligible for benefits of the National Health Service, which means consultations with a doctor and hospital treatment will not cost you anything.
What about religious facilities?
The University has a Chaplaincy Centre which is used by members of the University community from various religious traditions. There are, of course, many religious centres in Glasgow, including Christian, Islamic, Sikh, Hindu, Jewish and Buddhist. You will be given full details of these on your arrival.
