Arriving into Glasgow can be exciting but perhaps a bit stressful as you move yourself and your belongings into your accommodation for the academic year ahead. Thankfully Glasgow is well-serviced by a variety of transport options to allow you to pick one that suits you best and that offers the best value for money: allowing air, sea, and land access for the beginning of your studies! 

My journey - ferry transport 

Being from Tyrone in Ireland I was fortunate enough to have air and sea routes available to me - from any of the airports in the North of the island, or the sea routes as ferried over by the likes of P&O or Stenaline. Given that I was moving most of my belongings across to Scotland, I opted for the ferry and drive option - using Direct Ferries to research timetables and price comparisons for the routes available from Belfast/Larne to Cairnryan/Stranraer.  

This was especially helpful as I saved money versus taking excess luggage on air transport, and brought bulkier items across with me such as soft and hard furnishings, with a bonus being I was able save with my student discount on the fare! While ferry options may take slightly longer than air travel, a quick ferry ride from Belfast to Cairnryan, followed by an hour and 45 minute drive to Glasgow ticked all my boxes - a reasonable price, the capacity to bring my own car and to fit all my belongings within! Ferries are a great option for students travelling from Ireland and the Scottish islands.  

Air transport  

Glasgow is fortunate to be served by two airports: Glasgow International Airport being around a 20 minute drive from the West End, where the University of Glasgow is situated, offers a convenient location and a range of carriers including EasyJet, British Airways and KLM Airlines. 

On a smaller scale, UofG is around 40 minutes away from Glasgow Prestwick Airport - a more domestic-oriented airport providing flights from Ryanair and LoganAir - offering another option, similarly accessible by regular public transport services, including airport express buses.  

Alternatively, likely better suited for international students, Edinburgh Airport with its diversity in airlines and destinations, expands transport options for those flying in and out: accessible from Glasgow by frequent trains, airport express services and public city-link services. 

Skyscanner may be your best friend to compare flights with different airlines at different times: and with the different airport options. A top tip, particularly for longer-haul flights, is to be mindful of student discounts: Emirates, Lufthansa and Qatar, amongst others, offer discounts and bigger luggage allowances. Make sure to have a Google to see if this is applicable for your airline and sign up for an account with them to benefit from these offers! 

Land transport  

Glasgow is also accessible via land/road routes: various motorways connect Glasgow and UofG with the rest of Scotland and the UK, enabling those living relatively close to either drive to Glasgow for move-in, or to kindly avail of a lift from a parent, partner or pal. If you’re planning on bringing your own car it would definitely be wise to research your parking opinions early on - finding out whether parking is available near your accommodation, given limits to Glasgow’s parking availability or if you need a permit etc. 

Trains are another great option to consider: connecting up mainland UK, offering regular timetables and a relatively inexpensive price. Another top tip to stretch the student budget that bit further is to scope out your candidacy for discounted travel cards including the 16-25 Railcard or 26-30 Railcard or for international students, the International Student Identity Card may save some pennies.  

If trains aren’t your forte, buses might meet your requirement, either public transport, coaches or city-links: oftentimes being cheaper than trains and again providing transport from across the UK including FlixBus and the National Express. Again it's worth shopping around to grab yourself a bargain, along with your student discount.  

Pros versus cons 

Balancing out convenience, budget and time-constraints will help you identify best the transport most suited to your requirements - along with factoring in the likelihood of saving money via student discounts or promotional offers around the start and end of term-time.  

Another top tip for ensuring the smooth running of your travel bookings is ensuring you have a valid travel insurance policy to cover yourself and your belongings if anything goes awry - an annual policy may be best suited for this purpose - and has been key in ensuring my peace of mind!  

Sum up 

All in all, we are lucky that the University of Glasgow is well-versed with a myriad of travel options, ensuring you get the best value for money or spend the least time travelling! Ensuring you have back-up plans at hand, i.e. other bus timetables saved to your phone in case the first doesn't arrive, are a great idea to prevent yourself from being left in limbo in case you’re inconvenienced by your plans, along with keeping a hold of a charged power bank to stave away dead phone batteries complicating your plans. Saving an off-line version of Glasgow’s map on Google Maps or Apple is another tip to ensure more confident navigation to your accommodation, and saving a pin for ‘Home’ where you are staying - promoting ease of access to your new abode.  

Moving cities, countries or continents for university study can be a touch overwhelming and at times stressful, however being aware of the plentiful options, and researching to evaluate the best route, will likely save you a headache somewhere down the line! Welcome to your new home, Glasgow! UofG welcomes you! 

First published: 15 January 2025

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