11 Notable alumni of University of the West of Scotland
Updated: June 03, 2026 EliteDegrees
University of the West of Scotland is ranked #1,481 in the world and #98 in United Kingdom by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 11 notable alumni from University of the West of Scotland sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff. Many individuals affiliated with University of the West of Scotland won Nobel Prizes for Peace, in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.
1. Ruairí McKiernan
1977-. (aged 49)
author
Ruairí McKiernan is an Irish author, social entrepreneur and campaigner on youth, community, health, and social justice issues. In 2012, he was appointed to the Irish Council of State by President Michael D. Higgins. He has been named by Ashoka as one of the top 10 people leading social change in Ireland. McKiernan is the author of the bestselling memoir...
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2. Adam Ingram
1951-. (aged 75)
economist
businessperson
politician
Adam Hamilton Ingram is a Scottish politician who was a Scottish National Party (SNP) Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) from 1999 to 2016. He was first a MSP for the South of Scotland region from 1999 to 2011, then the MSP for the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley constituency from 2011 to 2016.
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3. Willie Rennie
1967-. (aged 59)
politician
William Cowan Rennie is a Scottish politician who served as the Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats from 2011 to 2021. He has served as the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for North East Fife since 2016, and previously as a list MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife (from 2011 to 2016) and as Member of Parliament (MP) for...
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4. Kirsty Gilmour
1993-. (aged 33)
badminton player
Olympic competitor
Kirsty Gilmour is a Scottish badminton player who represents both Scotland and Great Britain.
5. Callum Hawkins
1992-. (aged 34)
marathon runner
Callum Robert Hawkins is a Scottish distance runner, who competed in the marathon at the 2016 Summer Olympics. He is the Scottish record holder in the marathon and the British all-time number six at that distance. Hawkins is also the all-time Great Britain number two (and European all-time number six) in the half marathon. He is the Great Scottish Run...
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6. Corri Wilson
1965-. (aged 61)
politician
Corraine Wilson is a Scottish politician and former civil servant, serving as Director of Operations for the Alba Party since February 2025.
7. Hanzala Malik
1956-2023 (aged 67)
politician
council member
Hanzala Shaheed Malik was a Scottish Labour Party politician. He was a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Glasgow region from 2011 until 2016.
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8. John McFall, Baron McFall of Alcluith
1944-. (aged 82)
trade unionist
politician
John Francis McFall, Baron McFall of Alcluith, PC, is a Scottish politician and life peer who served as Lord Speaker, the presiding officer of the House of Lords, from 2021 to 2026. He was a member of Parliament for the Labour and Co-operative Party from 1987 to 2010, first for Dumbarton and then from 2005 for West Dunbartonshire. He also...
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9. Erin Cuthbert
1998-. (aged 28)
association football player
Erin Jacqueline Cuthbert is a Scottish professional footballer who plays for Chelsea in the Women's Super League and is a member of the Scotland national team. She studied at University of the West of Scotland, combining graduation from the Open University with being a professional football player.
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10. Shamshad Akhtar
1954-2025 (aged 71)
banker
economist
Shamshad Akhtar was a Pakistani development economist, United Nations diplomat, banker and politician who served as the caretaker finance minister of Pakistan from 2023 to 2024 as well as from 5 June 2018 to 18 August 2018.
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11. Gavin Hastings
1962-. (aged 64)
American football player
rugby union player
Andrew Gavin Hastings, OBE is a Scottish former rugby union player. A fullback, he is widely regarded to be one of the best ever Scottish rugby players and was one of the outstanding players of his generation, winning 61 caps for Scotland, 20 of which as captain. He played for Watsonians, London Scottish, Cambridge University, Scotland and the British Lions....
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