Undergraduate introductory text

The University of Aberdeen is a world-leading institution with a 500 year heritage behind us. But, we're also very forward-thinking, and want to ensure that the study experience at Aberdeen is the best you can have anywhere. As a result, we have invested more than £270 million into facilities and resources for our students and have revolutionised our curriculum to modernise the structure, content, delivery and flexibility of Aberdeen degrees to ensure they match the needs of graduates and employers. Our aim is to produce graduates who are more rounded, better informed and more intellectually flexible. Who can be critical thinkers and effective communicators. Who are more committed to personal development and better prepared to be active citizens.

With over 650 first degree programmes on offer, students can mix, match and switch subjects as they discover new interests on route to their tailor-made degree.

The University is continually ranked as one of the top 10 universities in the UK by the National Student Survey and social and sporting facilities are outstanding.

The University has a beautiful central campus where ancient buildings sit side by side with modern facilities. The university library is one of the largest and best-equipped in Scotland, and the very best learning resources are on offer to support studies.

For more information, visit www.abdn.ac.uk/undergraduate

Postgraduate introductory text

The latest UK Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) confirms that Aberdeen is amongst the UK's top research universities. Nearly 90% of our research activity was rated as being of international quality and eleven research areas were ranked among the top 25% in the UK.

We offer over 150 different one year masters programmes, along with a wide range of postgraduate research degrees. Opportunities for part-time and distance learning study are also available and certain taught Masters programmes run both September and January starts.

Our students are taught by internationally distinguished academics, many of whom are at the forefront of their fields. A number of opportunities exist for funded studentships and Master's study. Visit www.abdn.ac.uk/funding

University of Aberdeen postgraduate course search

Directions

By Air: Aberdeen's international airport is served by a number of major carriers, providing an extensive network of routes throughout the UK, direct to Europe and worldwide through major hubs.

By Coach: First-class roads south to Edinburgh, Glasgow, and onwards, carry fast coach services linking Aberdeen with the UK's major cities.

By Train: Rail services connect Aberdeen both north and south.

Visit http://www.abdn.ac.uk/maps/travel.php for help with travel plans!

Key academic Dates

Terms:
Winter: 20-09- 2011 to 16-12- 2011

Spring: 9 -01-2012 to 23-03-2012

Summer: 16-04-2012 to 8-06-2012

Undergraduate Open Days: 31-08-10, 30-08-11

Courses

The University's three colleges: Arts and Social Sciences, Life Sciences and Medicine, and Physical Sciences offer over 650 first degree programmes and 150 taught Masters programmes in the areas of Arts and Divinity, Education, Medicine and Medical Sciences, Social Sciences and Law, and Science and Engineering.
At undergraduate level, MA, BSc, LLB, MB ChB, BEng, MEng and MChems are available. At postgraduate level, 1 year taught and research Masters can be taken as well as 3 year PhDs.

International/Erasmus opportunities

We currently operate exchange programmes with 11 colleges/universities in the USA, 4 universities in Canada, 5 universities in Hong Kong, and 1 university in Japan. These programmes offer opportunities to study in widely different academic and geographical environments. Our exchange partners include some of the most distinguished state universities and private colleges in their respective countries. Students normally participate in the exchange programme in their second year, which means that they apply to the programme during the first semester of their first year. All students are eligible to apply except those in Medicine, Law, Education and Psychology.

The University also has over 250 ERASMUS links with almost 200 universities across Europe. Opportunities available depend on your degree programme but it is possible to study abroad with most subjects. A number of our partner universities teach through English.

For more information, visit: www.abdn.ac.uk/undergraduate/exchanges.php

Faculties/departments

Typical grades - Average offers

For Entry Requirements visit our online prospectuses at www.abdn.ac.uk/prospectus

Fees and costs

Undergraduate fees for 2010/11: Scottish and EU students are free, and for students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland the fee is £1,820 with the exception of Medicine which is £2,895

Undergraduate fees for International students in 2010/11:
- £11,800 Science-based courses including Psychology
- £9,500 Arts-based courses including Law and Divinty
- £23,625 for the last three years of Clinical Medicine

Postgraduate Tuition Fees for UK and EU students are £3,400 per year for the majority of courses

Postgraduate Tuition Fees For International students:

- £9,175 Arts-based courses

- £12,075 Science-based courses

- £9,945 Graduate Business MSc courses

- £12,500 Graduate Business MBA courses

For detailed information, please visit www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

Scholarships/bursaries

There are a wide range of scholarships and bursaries available to students at Aberdeen.

For more information on undergraduate scholarships visit: www.abdn.ac.uk/undergraduate/scholarships.php

For more information on postgraduate scholarships visit: www.abdn.ac.uk/postgraduate/funding.php

For more information on international scholarships visit: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/international/scholarships.php

Library and Study Facilities

The University has outstanding libraries, archives and museums. Visit www.abdn.ac.uk/library and www.abdn.ac.uk/historic for further information about the services we provide in support of learning, teaching and research.

With over one million volumes, the University Library is one of the largest and best equipped in Scotland, with 1,500 study spaces available. Also on the Old Aberdeen campus, the Taylor Library and European Documentation Centre cover law with official UK and EU publications; Special Libraries and Archives are housed in King's College. The Medical Library on the Foresterhill Campus is for students of Medicine and Medical Sciences.

In 2011, the University's new £57 million flagship library will open and become the intellectual and cultural heart of the University boasting the latest e-technology and exhibition and event space. To find out more about this world-class facility, visit www.abdn.ac.uk/newlibrary

IT

We support a variety of Web and computer-based resources, complementing your studies and allowing you to manage and review coursework at your pace and in your own time. Our students enjoy free, fast, wireless internet access in all Halls of Residence and most administrative and academic buildings across the campus. Resources include:

- Free wireless internet access - in University halls and across campus
- Secure and backed-up home filespace - 2GB on which to store your files
- E-mail account for life - web based e-mail and calendaring service with 10GB of mail storage, hosted by Microsoft Outlook Live
- Student Portal - a secure Web-based portal through which you can view and check your personal details, course enrolments, timetable, accommodation fees, library loans and exam results
- Over 1,500 high spec computers - distributed over classrooms, libraries and clusters on campus and in Halls of Residence
- Wide range of software and high quality laser printing
- Classroom Internet access - faster than domestic broadband
- Assistive technology - a range of specialist software on all classroom PCs, and six individual occupancy Assistive Technology Booths
- 24-hour access to many classrooms

For more information, visit our Web pages at www.abdn.ac.uk/dit/student

Sporting

Aberdeen is one of the most successful universities in Scottish and British levels of university sporting competition. The University aims to be the centre of excellence for sport in north-east Scotland, with the opening of a new, premier, Olympic standard £28 million sports development, Aberdeen Sports Village, in Summer 2009.

Facilities in the Sports Village include: Full size indoor football pitch; indoor athletics area (135m running straight with throwing and jumping areas); large sports hall; 4 squash courts (2 glass-backed); large fitness suite and performance gymnasium; 2 studios; 400 metre outdoor athletics track and stadium; floodlit water based hockey pitch; performance and Well-being Centre (with physiotherapy clinic). Visit: www.aberdeensportsvillage.com

Other facilities include tennis courts, playing fields, two rugby pitches, swimming pool, artificial cricket wicket and boathouse.

Amenities

Social and sporting facilities are outstanding. The University has first-class sporting facilities on-campus, and over 150 societies to join. The University has also opened a fantastic student centre, The Hub, which houses recreational facilities as well as drop-in centres on the campus.

Students describe the city as having an unrivalled social scene, which caters for all tastes in arts, culture, sport and entertainment. At night Aberdeen really lights up with a thriving nightlife, yet minutes from the city centre is the stunning coast and countryside of one of the most beautiful parts of Scotland.

The campus itself boasts bars, banks and shops, but it's also only a 10 minute walk to the bustling city centre.

To find out about Aberdeen the city, check out our Lonely Planet Guide at http://www.abdn.ac.uk/documents/lonely-planet-guide.pdf

Medical Services

Full NHS medical services are available to students. The Old Aberdeen Medical Practice, a comprehensive NHS health practice, has many years of experience in providing advice and treatment to students. The Practice is independent of the University but located close to King's College campus in a purpose-built Health centre. The Old Machar Practice, also close to the King's College campus, has many students on its patient list.

Welfare Services

Our student support services rank with the best in the UK. Support comes in the form of a Student Advice and Support Office, Counselling Service, Disability Advisers, International Student Advisers, Money Advice Centre, and a Centre for Learning and Teaching. In addition, our Students' Association operates a Nightline service, and every student is allocated their own personal Adviser of Studies to help with any academic concerns. For more information, visit: www.abdn.ac.uk/undergraduate/support.php

Student Union

The Aberdeen University Students' Association (AUSA) is the organisation that represents and serves your interests, and works to make your time in Aberdeen as happy and enjoyable as possible. AUSA runs over 100 societies covering Departmental, Cultural, Faith, Create Change, Creative Arts and General Interest Societies as well as more than 50 Sports Clubs.

In addition there is the Aberdeen Students' Association Charities Campaign and a student newspaper, Gaudie, and student radio.
For more information visit www.ausa.org.uk

Careers Service

The University of Aberdeen Careers Service (www.abdn.ac.uk/careers) offers: Careers Resources, Guidance Interviews, Psychometric testing, Duty Officer Sessions, IT Resources and Vacancy Information, as well as a dedicated Work Experience Placement Service.

97% of our graduates enter into work, or further study, within 6 months of graduating which is testament to the strong links Aberdeen has with business and industry - top companies headhunt our graduates.

Financial Aid

Please visit www.abdn.ac.uk/undergraduate/finance.php

Main Halls/accommodation for 1st years

The Halls of Residence are a mixture of individual rooms within houses or flats, available on a catered and self catered basis. All University halls of residence have full wireless internet access.

Crombie-Johnston Halls, at the heart of the campus, accommodates approximately 400 first-year students in single study-bedrooms with facilities for disabled.

Elphinstone Road flats are also on campus. They consist of 119 single study bedrooms, organised into flats for 3-7 residents with shared kitchen/facilities. This residence is usually reserved for postgraduate/mature students.

Hillhead Halls, 15 minute walk from campus, is the student village on the bank of the River Don. Hillhead has 529 en-suite self-catering rooms and 1154 standard self-catering rooms with facilities for disabled students. Facilities include a shop, launderettes, floodlit all-weather tennis courts and a football pitch.

Similar to Elphinstone Road flats, South House is particular has a designated postgraduate block.
University of Aberdeen accommodation

Availability

Information regarding applying for accommodation will be sent to all students who firmly accept an offer of a place. The University-managed accommodation houses approximately 2,100 students and all single, new students are guaranteed a place, as long as they apply by the stated deadline. If you are a late applicant, we will try to find a place for you, though we cannot guarantee that you will be allocated University accommodation. Married students, and those with families, should contact the Student Accommodation Office as soon as possible as they may be able to assist in locating appropriate accommodation in the city. For more information, please visit www.abdn.ac.uk/accommodation

Costs

Costs range from £65-£149 depending on type and duration of contract. Current costs of all options can be viewed at: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/accommodation/choosing_accommodation/how_much_will_it_cost.php

Facilities

The facilities available to our students are comprehensive. The new Sports Village provide world class sporting facilities on our doorstep. Aberdeen has a large student population and as such the city offers a wide array of attractions and offers a lively nightlife. Campus and halls are served by a convenient bus service.
For more detailed information on facilities available in individual halls please visit http://www.abdn.ac.uk/accommodation/housekeeping/a-z_of_things_to_know.php

Recognised off campus accommodation

Aberdeen University Students Association have an online database of all private accommodation currently on their books. The AUSA website is updated daily visit www.ausa.org.uk for the latest availability.

Other providers also include Ardmuir (www.ardmuir.co.uk), Unite (www.unite-students.com), Hunter Court and Cooper Court (www.hunter-construction.co.uk).