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.

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 Defence., Dr John Reid MP
• Scottish Socialist Party leader Tommy Sheridan
• Pro golfer Gordon Sherry
• Radio presenter Fiona Ritchie