The University of Aberdeen, founded in 1495, is Scotland’s third oldest university and the fifth oldest in the UK.
The university has an excellent reputation for teaching quality and research, and, over the years, has had five Nobel Prize winners. The central campus combines ancient buildings and modern, first-class laboratories, excellent computing facilities and the latest library technology.
Courses and students
Aberdeen offers degree programmes in a wide range of subjects, taught through 12 schools across four faculties:
Many degree programmes at the university offer you the opportunity to spend time abroad. Some degrees have a built-in period of study or work abroad. The university currently has partnerships with universities across Europe, North America, Asia, Australia and Africa.
Many degrees are available on a flexible, part time or distance learning basis, offering adults with family and other commitments the flexibility to study at a slower pace. The Centre for Lifelong Learning provides a range of part time and distance learning courses, many of which offer credits towards other courses.
The university has around 3,600 staff teaching 14,000 students from over 130 nations.
Facilities and services
The Old Aberdeen Campus is the historic heart of the university with state-of-the-art facilities for learning, research and recreation. The schools incorporating the Arts and Social Sciences and Physical Sciences are based here.
The Olympic standard Aberdeen Sports Village and University of Aberdeen Performance Swimming (UoAPS) is also situated here. It is the premier sports facility in the northeast of Scotland, and is open to students, staff and the public, with facilities for athletics, football, swimming, hockey, squash, martial arts and boxing. It has an international-standard diving pool with platforms up to 10 metres.
The state-of-the-art Bloomberg Finance Lab is located at this campus.
It is also home to The Hub (students’ union building), which is a modern three-floor development full of places to eat, drink, shop and socialise, as well as student information and support services at the InfoHub.
The university has over 200 societies and 65 sports clubs.
The Foresterhill Campus provides for the provision of high-quality health services, education and research. It is jointly owned by NHS Grampian and the University of Aberdeen.
Ranking
In the Guardian University Guide 2025 and Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025, the university ranks in the top 15 in the UK and 2nd in Scotland.
Ranked 3rd in the UK for Anthropology and Archaeology in the Guardian University Guide 2025.
Ranked 1st in Scotland for Engineering and 2nd in the UK for Theology and Religious Studies by the Complete University Guide 2025.
In the Times and Sunday Times Good Uni Guide 2025 it is ranked 2nd in the UK for Anatomy and Physiology.
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