Founded in 1796 as the Andersonian Institute, it is Glasgow's second-oldest university, with the university receiving its royal charter in 1964 as the UK's first technological university. It takes its name from the historic Kingdom of Strathclyde.

A series of four Mastermind programmes were filmed at the Barony Hall in the early 1990s.

In 1964 the former 'Beresford Hotel' was converted at a cost of £430,000 to serve as student residence for University of Strathclyde. Named after John Logie Baird, Scottish inventor of television, it was opened by his widow, Mrs Margaret C. Baird, on 25th October 1965. Radio Rentals Ltd, which had acquired the Baird Company name in 1960 and whose manufacturing subsidiary was known as Baird Television, donated a modern Baird Televisor receiver to the residents of Baird Hall and Baird memorabilia which were then displayed in the foyer: one containing a replica of the original Baird Televisor, rigged up as a working model, and the other containing a selection of papers and notebooks . The first woman was admitted to live there in 1979. The University sold the building in 2002.

Despite his many and varied contributions to mankind, Henry Faulds is a name that remains relatively obscure. Born in North Ayrshire in 1843, Henry Faulds studied medicine at University of Strathclyde’s antecedent Anderson’s Institution before taking up a position as a medical missionary with the Church of Scotland.

Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet FRSE (15 August 1771 – 21 September 1832) was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright, poet and historian. Many of his works remain classics of both English-language literature and of Scottish literature. Famous titles include Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, Old Mortality, The Lady of the Lake, Waverley, The Heart of Midlothian and The Bride of Lammermoor. Although primarily remembered for his extensive literary works and his political engagement, Scott was an advocate, judge and legal administrator by profession, and throughout his career combined his writing and editing work with his daily occupation as Clerk of Session and Sheriff-Depute of Selkirkshire. Scott stayed at Ross Priory at least three times, where he is reputed to have written parts of 'Rob Roy' and 'The Lady of the Lake'; the 'Scott Room', on the first floor, is named after this distinguished literary guest.

Martin Doherty and Iain Cook have been friends for 10 years now, ever since Cook complimented Doherty’s Paul Harvey t-shirt one day at the University of Strathclyde, where they were both studying music. Lauren Mayberry achieved an undergraduate law degree at the University of Strathclyde, and earned a masters degree in Journalism in 2010.

A Mortsafe, or Mort Safe, was an iron coffin or framework which protected a grave to prevent the body from being dug up and taken away for medical research. The Mortsafes in Ramshorn Church graveyard were installed to protect grave-robbers plundering corpses for the then nearby University of Glasgow medical department.

Callanish, a sculpture and landscaping project under construction at the University of Strathclyde in 1974. In the background are the Wolfson Centre, student residences, and Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Sculptor Gerald Laing was commissioned by the University to produce a public steel sculpture as part of a landscaping project aimed at restoring some greenery to the Townhead area. Situated at the highest natural point on campus, Callanish is based on the standing stones at Callanish in the Western Isles. Sixteen free-standing steel abstract pillars on a concrete base are spread over an area occupying half an acre. The sculpture is often referred to as "Steelhenge", by mistaken association with Stonehenge, a term which obscures its Celtic origins. The sculpture, now on a grassy base, remains a focal point for the University, and it is a popular meeting place for students. Surrounded by buildings, however, it is not easily seen from outside and this diminishes its impact.

TSS Scotia was a twin screw steamer passenger vessel operated by the London and North Western Railway from 1902 to 1923. She was built by William Denny and Brothers of Dumbarton for the London and North Western Railway in 1902. The Scotia was requisitioned by the Admiralty as an armed boarding steamer in 1914, and was renamed TSS Menevia in 1920 after being bombed and damaged at Calais. In 1928, she was sold to the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company and scrapped later that year by Thos W Ward.