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 exchange opportunities in North America, Latin America, Asia and Australia.
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 14,500 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 Aquatics Centre is also situated here. It is the premier sports facility in the North East 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.
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 220 sports clubs and societies.
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 Complete University Guide 2024, the university is ranked 3rd in the UK (1st in Scotland) for Theology and Religious Studies, 5th in the UK (2nd in Scotland) for Biomedical Sciences, 6th in the UK (1st in Scotland) for Dance, Drama and Cinematics, and 6th in the UK (2nd in Scotland) for Linguistics.
It is ranked 4th in the UK for overall student satisfaction (National Student Survey 2022).
