We don't know why they chose to do this. Dive deeper into the numbers in our July investment data report.
The University of Glasgow invests around £1.2 million into arms companies based on the latest publicly available figures
(check our working).
This summer, the University joined the Defence Universities Alliance (DUA) - a group of instutitions partnering with the Ministry of Defence, who commit to supporting defence research, promoting arms industry careers and suppressing dissent. UofG's existing research partnerships with arms companies are already worth over £60 million according to the Demilitarise Education campaign.
The University could be building ethical research partnerships and hosting ethical careers events. Joining the DUA signals their intent to instead become increasingly intertwined with the unethical arms industry.
This will influence research away from pressing societal needs towards research that supports militarisation and the drive to war.
From this statement by Glasgow University Student Left
Because there has been so little transparency around this move, it's hard to say exactly what membership will look like. The DUA Charter gives us an idea - increased defence research and funneling of students into defence careers, all to fuel a "whole of society" war machine.
It could also curtail our right to protest, casting dissenters as "foreign intereference" and obliging the University to surveil and suppress us, ironically under the guise of "protecting free speech".
Neither students nor staff were consulted on the University's DUA membership. In fact, we have protested for years against our institution's investments in and partnerships with the unethical arms industry.
Arms companies like the ones the University invests in and partners with (including Raytheon, Lockheed Martin and BAE) make their money from conflict and instability around the world. In countries like Palestine, Sudan, and Yemen, their weapons have killed civilians, destroyed hospitals, disrupted education, and caused forced displacement.
The University cannot credibly teach ethics, international relations, or human rights while financially supporting companies that contribute to war and suffering.
From the Yes4Divestment campaign's statement in the SRC Divestment Referendum
In defiance of their staff and students, the University's senior management have repeatedly refused to divest from arms. They are concerned that expressing a negative sentiment towards the UK defence sector will result in less research funding - from arms companies looking for new technology to kill people and destroy lives with.
In a consultation run by the University through a fundamentally flawed survey in October - November 2024, over 80% of both staff and student respondents called for divestment from companies that make more than a tenth of their revenue from the arms industry.
In March 2025, the SRC held a student referendum on arms divestment, which achieved the highest turnout of any recent student vote (19%). Nearly 90% of them voted for the University to divest from these companies.
Despite these overwhelming mandates, senior management have repeatedly chosen to stay invested in arms companies.
Rather than promoting socially useful research and ethical careers, they are happy to collect their blood money dividends, remaining complicit in war crimes and human rights abuses.
We think this is unacceptable, so we're doing something about it. Are you in?
Get Involved
The Divestment Coalition, made up of an interdisciplinary group of clubs and societies, was formed during the SRC's divestment referendum in March 2025.
Over the academic year 2025-26, we stopped an arms recruitment event, supported the fundraising campaigns of Gazan students, began working closer with staff unions and more. In 2026-27, with the advent of the DUA, we'll need your help to take our campaign to the next level.
Students
Image from this video by gustglasgow on Instagram
If your favourite student club or society (SRC / GUSA affiliated or not) isn't already a member of the coalition, tell the board / committee to fill out this form to join!
If you'd like to organise with us as an individual, DM our Instagram to get involved! Make sure to follow us to keep up with what we're doing, and find out about any rallies or other mass mobilisations we hold.
Staff
We stand in solidarity with the University staff facing needless cuts while senior management can find money to invest into arms.
Collaborating with you will be key to our success! We have had staff speak at our rallies and open meetings in the past, and aim to work closer together this year.
Make sure to join your union to get involved with their campaigns! We currently have contact with representatives from UCU and UNISON.
If you'd like to collaborate with us as a supportive member of staff or a representative of a staff group, please get in touch - DM our Instagram or send us an email.