Glasgow Caledonian: A Proud Tradition of Access, Equality and Inclusion

November 2025 marked 150 years since the founding of Glasgow School of Cookery, with February 2026 commemorating the day its doors first opened to students. From those early beginnings, educating young working-class women to improve family life, Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) has grown into Scotland’s largest and leading modern university.

Today, GCU is recognised for academic and research excellence, continually adapting to meet the needs of the communities we serve. We have risen through university rankings, named UK Modern University of the Year 2026 and UK University of the Year for Graduate Jobs 2026 (Daily Mail University Rankings). Building on the success of our London campus, we are preparing for a new strategy and ambitious campus masterplan.

Our mission remains unchanged: For the Common Good. We are proud to uphold our founding values of equality, access and inclusion - welcoming students from all backgrounds and circumstances to improve lives and strengthen communities.

The Need

GCU leads Scotland in widening access, with 22.8% of Scottish full-time, first-degree entrants from the country’s most disadvantaged backgrounds (SFC, 2024). Many students join us from care-experienced or estranged backgrounds, often LGBTQ+, and some have faced homelessness or carry family responsibilities. These challenges make higher education seem out of reach.

While government support exists, it is limited and often pushes students further into debt. Over 70% of students have considered dropping out due to financial pressures (Save the Student, 2023). The cost-of-living crisis has intensified this struggle, with basic living costs exceeding £1,000 per month. Demand for emergency financial support has surged, yet GCU can currently award only 1 in 5 scholarships, and applications rose by 12% in 2025/26.

Scholarships and hardship funding are lifelines - especially for those without family support or access to SAAS funding. Our 150th Campaign seeks to close this gap, easing financial pressures and creating opportunities for students to thrive.

The 150th Campaign

To celebrate our proud tradition, we aim to raise 150 new scholarships and launch an enhanced package combining financial and career support. Each Anniversary Scholar will receive:

- An annual bursary

- Graduation cost support

- Guaranteed access to our award-winning MINT Programme, including mentorship, internship bursary, networking opportunities, and a transformative travel award in year 3 or 4.

This unique programme embodies access, equality and inclusion—helping students from low-income families and diverse backgrounds succeed academically and personally. It will boost confidence, improve mental health, and open doors to life-changing experiences.

Each named scholarship costs £8,250, covering four years of bursary support, graduation costs, and funds for internships and travel.

Together, we can ensure that talented students - regardless of circumstance - have the opportunity to flourish.