Students at a Christmas light switch on event

Strategic priority: students

"Focusing on personal and academic growth to cultivate creative, responsible, skilled and resilient graduates"

Our student community is a vibrant international body of some 18,500 undergraduates and postgraduates. We recruit those with potential and are proud to be a leader in widening access to higher education. We know the true measure of success is not the quality of our intake, it is the high quality of our graduates. Our teaching is excellent, and independently recognised as such, with a strong emphasis on experiential learning.

Our number one priority is supporting our students to learn; to build resilience; and to develop life skills, experience and attitudes that will help them make a difference to the communities where they live and work. Fostering a strong academic community and investing in a caring, supportive environment, speaks to each of our values. Our pedagogy gives students the confidence to be ambitious; to embrace success and behave with integrity; and to show respect for one another and the world in which we live. Our learning and teaching strategy encompasses the intellectual, social, health and emotional needs of our students.

What the University will do for students

Over the course of this strategic plan, the University will:

Provide an environment where students from all backgrounds can enjoy their learning, be part of a community with shared values, and realise their ambitions.

Offer a demand-informed curriculum, which embeds personal and professional skills, in a modern digital teaching and learning environment.

Focus on employability, offering work-based learning opportunities, and encouraging students to see ongoing skills development as a route to successful careers.

Encourage students to strive for excellence, enrich their learning and take an active involvement in enhancing all aspects of their lives.

Encourage our global alumni community to have a lifelong relationship with us, providing them with access to our international network and careers services.

Measures of success

By 2030 we will: 

  • Rank top 20 in the UK for student satisfaction.
  • Grow and diversify our student numbers and enhance alumni engagement.
  • Produce graduates with purpose, cultural awareness, and the skills to enter employment or further study.
Students celebrating Holi

The difference is...diversity

As a vibrant, international university, we celebrate diversity – sharing our traditions and cultures, and enriching the lives of our community. 

With more than 140 nationalities on campus, we encourage our students and staff to share their cultures, traditions and experiences. Every year we enjoy the colourful Hindu festival of Holi – a celebration of spring, love, and new life. It is just one of the many cultural events featured in our Be Connected student life programme, which helps our community to meet friends, learn new skills and have fun. 

Niru Neil Dorrian

The difference is...opportunity

Highly valued by employers, a Stirling degree is a passport to a rewarding and successful career.  

Stirling graduates are making a positive contribution and delivering impact across the world. Niru Neil Dorrian – who graduated with a BSc (Hons) Marine Biology – is using the skills, knowledge and experience he gained at Stirling in his role as a Senior Offshore Ecologist with energy company ESB.  

“I always wanted to become a marine mammal biologist and Stirling helped me achieve this. Having a degree in Marine Biology has opened so many doors for me and launched my incredible career where I travel the world. I have taken part in more than fifty marine and coastal projects globally and gained valuable experience working in protected areas and UNESCO marine biosphere reserves.”