Dundee’s main campus is two minutes from the centre of the student-friendly city which boasts low rents and a lively social scene. The university is renowned as a centre of research in life sciences, a field of expertise that has earned it a global reputation, and helped to propel Dundee to rank 38= in our research quality index. With more than 200 undergraduate courses, the options extend well beyond life sciences. This ranges from Dundee offering a broad range from creative art (at its highly rated Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design) to accountancy, law and dentistry. Off campus, the university is a founding partner of the striking V&A Dundee museum — a beacon of Scotland’s sunniest city’s waterfront regeneration, and students get free access to the botanic garden overlooking the River Tay.
What is the University of Dundee’s reputation?
Founded in 1881, the university developed alongside the city’s industrial rise. It was started with a donation by members of the Baxter family, who made their money from Dundee’s jute mills.
Academic activities are organised within eight schools, while Dundee's many research institutes are guided by three overarching themes of population health and wealth, climate action and net zero, and equity and inclusion.
The Scottish universities did not take part in the latest Teaching Excellence Framework 2023, but Dundee was rated gold in the previous assessment six years earlier.
Rates of student satisfaction have been patchy in recent years, but our latest analysis of the National Student Survey brings good news. Dundee has climbed to 20= from 63rd for satisfaction with teaching quality and has improved its rank for the student experience to 60= from 104th. The Education Academy was created in 2023 to focus on improving the student experience and employability.
Dundee’s troubled finances have been reported regarding mismanagement and the wider need for a review of how higher education in Scotland is funded. In 2025 the Scottish government pledged £62 million in two bailout payments to secure its future, in response to a £35 million deficit. The money will be provided to Dundee over two academic years. It is under the leadership of Nigel Seaton, the interim principal and vice-chancellor, after the 2024 resignation of the discredited vice-chancellor Iain Gillespie.
What are the University of Dundee’s entry requirements — and my chances of getting in?
Degree course requirements range from AAA at A-level to CC, or AAAAB to CCC Scottish Highers. In 2024, nearly 13 per cent of entrants received a contextual offer, which included a guaranteed interview, reduced grades and a place at the university’s access summer school.
The majority of Dundee students come from Scotland, with English students representing the biggest cohort from the rest of the UK. In 2024 the university attracted more than 16,600 applications and about 2,500 new students were accepted onto courses.
What are the graduate prospects?
Promising graduate careers have long been a strength at Dundee. Wide-ranging services are available to help students get a head start in the jobs market. Dundee is a partner in the Tay Cities biomedical cluster project, which aims to create 280 biomedical jobs by 2033 and generate more than £190 million for the local economy by 2053. The university ranks in the top 20 in our analysis of the Graduate Outcomes survey, with 83 per cent of leavers in highly skilled work or postgraduate study within 15 months.
What is the University of Dundee’s campus like?
Dundee’s self-contained city campus has benefited from about £200 million of redevelopment, adding the £50 million Discovery Centre to its modern facilities. The medical school has its own 20-acre site, while nursing and midwifery students are 35 miles away in Kirkcaldy. Dundee also offers joint biological sciences degrees with the National University of Singapore.
The Dundee International Institute of Central South University, a joint venture in Changsha, in Hunan province in China, began courses in maths, computer science, civil engineering, and mechanical engineering with transportation in 2021.
When can I visit?
dundee.ac.uk
What about student accommodation in the University of Dundee?
All full-time first-years are guaranteed accommodation if they apply by the deadline and Dundee strives to create balanced residences, taking into account factors such as friends, lifestyle options, gender preference and nationality.
Everything you need to know about the University of Dundee’s student life and wellbeing support
There are excellent sports facilities on campus including a swimming pool and recently refurbished 400 sq m fitness and conditioning suite, and at the Riverside sports ground. A thriving music society is among more than 240 such groups for students to choose from.
A peer-to-peer buddying system helps new students to settle in and specialist services for student wellbeing include counselling and mental health nurses. There is also a listening service for students during the night.
What do the students say?
“Studying at Dundee was such a fun and memorable experience, not just academically, but socially. The staff were friendly and welcoming and the lecturers were always kind, helpful and genuinely supportive. I always felt heard as a student… which made me feel really valued. There were loads of fun activities on campus, exciting events and even paid job opportunities through the careers fair. The city is full of green spaces, stunning river views and everything is within walking distance. Plus, the people are so kind, polite and generous. I always felt right at home.”
Sofia, MSc finance graduate
How diverse and inclusive is the University of Dundee?
The university’s summer schools and outreach programmes engage with more than 2,000 potential entrants a year. Dundee is 4th in Scotland for its proportion of disabled students and 4= for recruitment from deprived areas. It is 7th out of the 15 Scottish institutions in our guide for social inclusion overall.
Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at the University of Dundee
Scottish students do not pay tuition fees, and qualify for funding from the Holyrood government. Nevertheless, Dundee offers an uncapped number of awards based on academic merit and/or financial need. The Rest of UK bursary is worth £2,000 in the first year and the global citizenship scholarship for international students pays £5,000 a year towards tuition fees.
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