Glasgow is a major education centre with four universities within 10 miles (16 km) of the city centre, The University of Glasgow, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow Caledonian University and the University of the West of Scotland.

There are also teacher training colleges, teaching hospitals such as the Glasgow Royal Infirmary, the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Glasgow School of Art, and ten other further education colleges.

Glasgow is home to a student population in excess of 168,000, the largest in Scotland and second largest in the United Kingdom, with the majority of those, living away from home, being found in Shawlands, Dennistoun and the West End of the city. Scotland's sole Gaelic-only medium secondary school, Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu is located in Glasgow. This combined with a strong Gaelic medium primary school presence enables parents to educate their children entirely through the medium of Gaelic.