John Alexander McAulay was born in 1887 in Paisley, Scotland. He started at the University of Glasgow in 1907 studying mathematics and history in his first year. In 1908-1909 he studied logic, natural philosophy, and education and then studied intermediate honours mathematics, natural philosophy (section B), and physics lab in 1909-1910. In his final year (1910-1911) he studied advanced honours mathematics, natural philosophy (section A and C) and physical lab. There is no records of him graduating from the University.
From the guide to the Papers of the John Alexander McAulay, 1887-, arts student, University of Glasgow, Scotland, 1908-1909, (Glasgow University Archive Services)