University of Stirling - Definition and Overview

Looking out over Airthrey Loch on the main campus of The University of Stirling

The University of Stirling is a campus university created in 1967 and is based in a custom-built campus situated on a greenfield site in the outskirts of Stirling, Scotland. The campus (which is around 3 miles (5km) from the centre of Stirling, but is much closer to the town of Bridge of Allan) was formerly the estate of the 18th-century Airthrey Castle (which the university retains as a conference centre). It is regularly described as one of the most beautiful campuses in the world, and nestles at the foot of the Ochil Hills in a 300 acre (1.2 km²) estate centred around the man-made Airthrey Loch. The loch serves as a venue for boating and fishing activities, and portions are sequestered for academic research into marine life and aquaculture.

As well as the main campus in Stirling, the University also has campuses in Inverness and Stornoway which specialise in Nursing and Midwifery.

The University caters for nearly 9000 students (around a third of whom live on-campus), and is also home to the MacRobert Arts Centre and the Scottish Institute of Sport.

Noted Alumni

• Author Iain Banks
• Michael Connarty UK MP (Falkirk East)
• First Minister of the Scottish Parliament Jack McConnell
• The UK's Secretary of State for Health, Dr John Reid
• Scottish Socialist Party leader Tommy Sheridan
• Pro golfer Gordon Sherry

External Links

• University of Stirling website (http://www.external.stir.ac.uk/)