Glasgow Caledonian ranked as top modern university in Scotland

Glasgow Caledonian University has cemented its position as the top-performing modern university in Scotland, according to the latest Complete University Guide 2025.

The prestigious ranking places the University 75th out of 130 universities in the UK, marking a climb of four places from the previous year. This ranking reinforces Glasgow Caledonian’s position as the top modern university in Scotland across all key UK league tables. Ranked 40th in the Guardian, 44th in the Daily Mail and 50th in the Times Good University Guide, it is a testament to the institution's commitment to academic excellence and student success.

Several subject areas at the University have also seen an increase in their rankings, with seven subjects listed in the top ten in the UK – complementary medicine; optometry, opthalmics and orthoptics; social work; counselling, psychotherapy and occupational therapy; medical technology and bioengineering (diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy and oncology); physiotherapy; and forensic science.

The Complete University Guide comprises a set of university and subject league tables aimed at guiding prospective students in their higher education decision-making. The main league table draws upon a range of metrics, including student experience, completion rates, and research data from the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF) exercise.

Due to sector-wide data challenges, many of the metrics remain unchanged on last year, but Glasgow Caledonian has improved its overall score in three metrics and performed strongly in graduate prospects, contributing to its impressive ranking, and reflecting our commitment to putting graduate employability at the heart of our student experience.

Professor Steve Decent, Glasgow Caledonian Principal and Vice-Chancellor, expressed delight with the University's performance, stating: “We are delighted by the increase in our ranking in the Complete University Guide. As the leading modern university in Scotland across all of the key UK league tables, this ranking reinforces Glasgow Caledonian’s reputation for excellent education and research that is accessible and impactful.”