The granite city’s university has a justifiably solid reputation thanks to its ancient lineage (dating to the 15th century) and its academic clout, bolstered by its association with five Nobel laureates. Its northerly latitude makes for long summer days that stretch beyond 11pm, and in winter there’s a good chance of seeing the northern lights.
Undergraduates say they are content with their student lives: the university ranks 25= for student experience and 44=for teaching quality, according to our analysis of the latest National Student Survey.
What is the University of Aberdeen’s reputation?
Beginning with 36 staff and a cohort of students that studied the arts, divinity and law, today the university has 12 teaching schools and offers almost 400 degrees. All are structured to maximise flexibility: undergraduates have the opportunity to switch and mix subjects as their interests broaden.
Some of the university's best results in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) were in the fields of theology and religious studies, Earth systems and environmental sciences, and public health. However, Aberdeen slipped 20 places to 63= in our research quality ranking.
Longstanding links with Aberdeen’s offshore oil and gas industries include a partnership with the National Decommissioning Centre in Newburgh, a research facility with engineering laboratories and hangar space for designing and developing oil and gas decommissioning technology.
Further afield, AFG College is the first campus to open in Qatar in partnership with a UK institution.
What degree courses have been discontinued and what new courses are available?
Discontinued from 2026: MEng courses in civil and mechanical engineering with subsea technology, and mechanical engineering with biomechanics.
New for 2025 are degrees in sport and exercise science, and physics with astrophysics; new from 2026 is an LLB in international law and comparative law, and a MEng in electrical and electronic engineering with robotics.
What are the University of Aberdeen’s entry requirements — and my chances of getting in?
The study of medicine demands Aberdeen’s highest entry requirements of AAA at A-level or AAAAB in Scottish Highers. Other degrees ask for BBB to BBC at A-level. The university’s contextual offer scheme may reduce this for eligible applicants under a broad range of widening participation criteria, including those from deprived areas or who have served in the armed forces, those who were eligible for free school meals, have had caring responsibilities or are estranged from their families.
About 12 per cent of entrants in 2024 gained their places through clearing.
What are the graduate prospects?
Leaping 19 places into the top 30 of our analysis of the Graduate Outcomes survey, Aberdeen ranks 28 for graduate prospects, with 82.2 per cent of leavers in highly skilled jobs or further study within 15 months of completing their studies. The university connects students with industry partners through internships, work placements and in graduate jobs.
What is the University of Aberdeen’s campus like?
The Old Aberdeen campus houses the imposing King’s buildings as well as modern facilities such as the Sir Duncan Rice Library and the £35 million Science Teaching Hub. Opened in 2022, it has digitised teaching spaces alongside flexible laboratory areas for cross-disciplinary projects. Life sciences and medical students share Europe’s largest health campus, at Foresterhill, run by the university and NHS Grampian. The medical school’s Polwarth auditorium and social spaces have benefitted from recent upgrades. Aberdeen has also opened a new Centre for Zoology and Osteoarchaeology in the Zoology Building.
The Hillhead Student Village includes a social area with decking and there is also an outdoor gym and a community garden with plants from the Cruickshank Botanic Garden — an 11-acre oasis of greenery on the King’s College campus.
When can I visit?
abdn.ac.uk
Everything you need to know about the University of Aberdeen’s student life and wellbeing support
The university has the oldest shinty club in the world, established in 1861, and students play the Scottish game – similar to field hockey — at Balgownie. There are more than 100 societies and 50 clubs, many based at the Aberdeen Sports Village which features Olympic-standard sports and exercise facilities. There is a boathouse on the River Dee, and a climbing bothy in Royal Deeside.
The King’s College Chapel provides a 16th-century backdrop of chamber concerts and houses a rare three-manual organ that attracts performers from around the world.
Activities in the great outdoors abound: the region has 150 miles of coastline and the university is within striking distance of the Cairngorms National Park and the Glenshee Ski Centre.
Students have access to a free counselling service, along with support from the student advice and support office. There is study-related support for prospective and existing students who have sensory or physical impairments.
What do the students say?
“The hands-on experience in clinical placements I’ve had has prepared me for my first year as a doctor, but I've also been cold-water swimming in the North Sea and explored castles."
Nina Hallwood, medicine student
What about student accommodation at the University of Aberdeen?
All first-years are guaranteed a room if they apply by the deadline. Accommodation costs start at a budget-friendly £103 a week and do not exceed £178 a week.
How diverse and inclusive is the University of Aberdeen?
Aberdeen is third among Scottish universities for the proportion of black and ethnic minority students it recruits (17.3 per cent) but its achievement gap between such groups and their white counterparts is seventh in Scotland overall.
Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at the University of Aberdeen
Opportunities from means-tested access payments to merit-based awards are offered according to whether applicants are from Scotland, the rest of the UK, or abroad.
Free university accommodation for the first year of study is extended to students from the most deprived Scottish postcodes.
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