Our Facilities

The School of Health and Life Sciences offers students and businesses access to state-of-the-art learning and research facilities across all our departments. We have a range of unique facilities and expertise for experimental work, testing, analysis and professional training.

Eye Clinic

The Eye Clinic trains Optometrists, Dispensing Opticians and Orthoptists – the only institution in the UK to do so. GCU has the facilities for specialised testing that is otherwise available only in hospitals. During teaching semesters patients are examined by students under the direct supervision of experienced and qualified clinical staff. In addition, the Clinical Optometrist provides a full range of eye examination services throughout the year.

Interprofessional Clinical Simulation Centre

Our state-of-the-art Clinical Simulation Laboratory is used to develop the clinical skills of nurses and ambulance staff. It can also be used to test and develop new medical procedures and assessment techniques. The ward environment includes a nurses’ station and intensive care suite, while audio-visual recorders can monitor proceedings in real time and students can learn by watching recordings of their techniques.

Operating Theatre

GCU opened a state-of-the-art simulated operating theatre to coincide with the launch of a degree course to train Operating Department Practitioners (ODPs). The lab contains a scrub sink, operating table and a range of anaesthetic and surgical equipment, some of which has been donated by medical suppliers. GCU has also taken delivery of an anaesthetic machine and a high-tech mannequin, which can be programmed by the lecturing team to challenge students in a variety of everyday scenarios and assess their
performance in situations where the patient’s condition starts to deteriorate.

Human Performance Laboratories

State-of-the-art human performance laboratories with capability to measure functional performance and activities of living in controlled and free-living conditions, including 3-D motion capture, ultrasound techniques, force and pressure analysis, muscle function and strength, metabolic and physical activity monitoring. Additionally, we have capacity for computer-aided design and manufacture (rapid prototyping) of novel orthotic devices.

Biological and Biomedical Sciences Analysis

Laboratory facilities offering access to the latest technology in DNA sequencing. Capacity for cell and molecular biology to investigate a number of common diseases and toxic responses to drug and other xenobiotics. Additionally, there is capacity to develop zebra-fish models of human disease condition and as screening tools for potential therapeutic agents.

Psychology Labs

GCU offers psychophysiology and development laboratories with digital recording facilities and observation rooms.

Food Sciences Lab

World class expertise in the microbiology, safety, chemistry and structure of food at Glasgow Caledonian University is regularly called on by corporate and public sector organisations. GCU is the only university in the UK to have a United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) accredited laboratory. Specialist equipment includes dedicated instrumentation which allows for the rapid detection and classification of bacteria relevant to food safety. In addition to consultancy and research work, the department provides professional courses in food safety for companies, leading to certification from the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS).

University Facilities

The University’s city centre campus is amongst the most modern in the UK, with over £45 million invested in new facilities such as our health and fitness centre, Arc, and our state-of-the-art library within the Saltire Centre.

Find out more about the university's facilities.