Named after the Aberdeen-born merchant trader and philanthropist, Robert Gordon University (RGU) has a 275-year history of education in the granite city. Awarded university status in 1992, its career focus has led to a distinguished record in graduate recruitment, even as the offshore and gas industry powerhouse ran out of steam. Much as the city itself has shifted its focus to opportunities in platform decommissioning and renewable energy, so too has the university adapted: RGU has the world’s first decommissioning simulator, and its National Subsea Centre, opened in 2023, is working in the North Sea and worldwide to develop smart digital and engineering technologies to enable a faster and more sustainable transition to a net zero energy basin. The course offering at RGU is generous and includes computing, art and design, business and law, creative industries, health professions, and architecture and the built environment. Work experience is embedded across the curriculum. To balance all the hard work, students have access to the gym, swimming pool and exercise classes free of charge. And to help with the cost of living crisis, the university hosts weekly breakfast and supper clubs.

What is Robert Gordon University’s reputation? 

Formerly our leading modern institution for graduate employment, placing in the top 20 for graduate prospects during some of the peak years of North Sea oil and gas production, the university ranks 61st overall this year. That is helped by a top-40 position in our graduate prospects measure. Entry standards are high — new students have an average of 156 Ucas tariff points — but its student-to-staff ratio of 19.2:1 (114=), pulls it down the table. RGU’s best results in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) were in computer science and engineering — they were not enough, though, to prevent a nine-place fall in the research quality rating. 

Its position is buoyed by positive feedback from satisfied students in the National Student Survey (NSS): our analysis puts RGU 14th in the UK for teaching quality and 36= for the broad experience. Recent investments have included adding space for student union activities and creating a “digital lab” with 200 laptops that can be borrowed free of charge. 

What degree courses have been discontinued and what new courses are available?

Three degrees are closing in 2024 and 2025: computing (application software development); cyber security and network management, and digital media. New from September 2024 are applied psychology; applied sociology, criminology; web and mobile design; games design, and renewable energy engineering. Options launching in September 2025 (subject to validation) are business analytics; data science with AI or with business management; film and media; interior design; light and sound production, and photography.

What are Robert Gordon University’s entry requirements – and my chances of getting in?

At the lowest end courses ask for CC at A-level; at the highest AAB. For Scottish Highers it’s BCC and ABBB. One in ten offers is contextual. A little more than 2,000 undergraduates were accepted in 2023 — the smallest intake for a decade — and about 12 per cent of entrants joined through clearing.

What are the graduate prospects?

More than four in five (81.6 per cent) graduates were working in highly skilled jobs or enrolled in postgraduate study 15 months after earning their degree. RGU has risen nine places in our graduate prospects index to rank 32nd.

What is Robert Gordon University’s campus like?

At the Garthdee campus on the banks of the River Dee, where all teaching is based, the landmark green-glass library tower symbolises the university’s ambitions after £120 million of investment. A digital laboratory space with capacity for 200 students has opened above the library, for teaching or independent study and with laptops to borrow. There is a drilling simulator that replicates real-life settings, allowing you to walk on to an oil rig, while at the Energy Transition Institute students have access to drilling and advanced rig training using 3D graphics and a control cabin complete with drillers’ chairs.

Everything you need to know about Robert Gordon University’s student life and wellbeing support

The granite city may seem a long way to go for students from other parts of the UK, but train and air links are excellent and Aberdeen regularly features in lists of cities that offer a good quality of life. Wellbeing walks, a song contest, an art competition and a campus garden are fresh innovations at RGU that are focused on lifting student spirits. Mentors and a counselling and wellbeing service are on hand, with free appointments and training for students to act as peer support volunteers.

All students are entitled to free RGU Sport membership, with three gyms, a swimming pool, badminton courts, bouldering and climbing facilities, and a sports hall available. There are more than 40 societies, an active student media outlet and a bar on campus that opens for high days and holidays, but has plans to be operative year-round from September 2025. A wide variety of outdoor activities on sea and land are made possible by RGU’s location on the northeast coast of Scotland. 

What do the students say? 

“Set along the banks of the River Dee, RGU is a close-knit community. Academic, personal and social development is prioritised, from the classroom to extracurricular activities. Student-led sports clubs and societies are a vital part of life.”
Phoebe Moncur, student president for sport and physical activity, and graduate of applied sport and exercise science

What about student accommodation at Robert Gordon University?

All first-years can be accommodated, although the university stops short of a guarantee and rooms offered may not be in the first choice of location.

How diverse and inclusive is Robert Gordon University?

Placing 10th out of the 15 universities in our Scottish social inclusion index, RGU draws the lowest proportion of students from deprived areas (6.2 per cent) but attracts the fourth-highest proportion of students aged over 21 (39.8 per cent).

Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at Robert Gordon University

A small number of access scholarships are offered to students who meet widening participation criteria. There are some scholarships available for entrants who come to RGU from elsewhere in the UK, and for the larger numbers who come from abroad, to help to cover tuition, which is free to Scots.