Founded in 1495, the University of Aberdeen is the 3rd oldest university in Scotland, and we pride ourselves on being an ancient university with modern impact. We now teach a variety of disciplines to students from all over the world, from our 500-year-old classics like Law and Theology, to a variety of Medical, Science, Engineering, and Humanity based subjects, and many more!
We foster a strong student community made up of individuals from all backgrounds and of all interests. We are proud of our consistently high student satisfaction rating, and our many student societies aim to help you feel at home during your time in Aberdeen. Our graduates are able to take advantage of many opportunities in business, industry and education, and many have gone on to make world changing discoveries, such as medical innovations like the treatment of diabetes and the invention of the MRI scanner.
With hundreds of programmes to study taught by world-leading academics in a city that sits both by the sea and the edge of the Highlands, we hope you will want to make Aberdeen a part of your future.
Our University:
- Ranked 12th in the UK in the Guardian University Guide 2024
- Ranked 19th in the UK in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024
- Ranked 192nd globally by the Times Higher Education Ranking 2023
- Ranked 2nd across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for student satisfaction by the National Student Survey 2023
- Hosting 14,000 students from 130 countries
- 5th oldest University in the English-speaking world
Aberdeen City:
- A thriving nightlife with a host of student friendly pubs and bars
- An art gallery, multiple museums, several cinema locations, and a new Exhibition Centre bringing more music acts to Aberdeen
- Energy capital of Europe, and committed to the transition to renewables
- Great links by train to the rest of the UK and an international airport
- A northerly UK city with close links to the Highlands and Islands
Student Life in Aberdeen
Aberdeen is a welcoming city with a strong student community, with a host of student union societies that provide something for everyone. Our accommodation provides a great student living experience and there are always events being run by the University and our societies. Our student village is close to campus and our campus is close to the town centre’s shops, museums, cinemas, and nightlife, meaning that everything in the city is within easy reach.
Nature is also easily accessible in the city, with our beach being a popular spot for wild swimmers and the lovely Seaton Park by the River Don right next to campus.
We also have a host of sport and outdoor activity societies that are also supported by our student union, as well as a world class Sports Village facility right across the road from our campus!
Travel Information
Aberdeen is well connected to the rest of the UK, with direct train links to London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness, and more cities and towns throughout the UK. The city is a manageable size, meaning that the campus and student village are in walking distance or a short bus ride from the bus and train stations in the city centre. The inner city is easily accessed from our Kings College and Foresterhill campuses either by foot, bike, or the many bus services which run through the day and night to our student village at Hillhead.
Also connected by bus is our international airport, which provides easy access to students coming from within the UK or other countries who can connect from London and arrive directly to Aberdeen. This also makes it easy to go on holiday abroad during your years studying with us!
As well as the southern UK and inner-city connections, Aberdeen is superbly placed for access to the north of Scotland and natural beauty of the Highlands and Islands. Ferries run directly from our harbour to Orkney and Shetland, giving you direct access to some of the most beautiful islands in Scotland. Buses connect to places all around Aberdeenshire, which has plenty of hiking spots and the highest concentration of both castles and stone circles in the UK. You also have access to mountain towns by both train and bus, such as Braemar and Aviemore which support mountaineering and other outdoor sport opportunities in the Cairngorms.
Representation Groups
We here in Aberdeen are proud of our diverse community of students and strive to ensure that everyone has a voice and feels at home. Our Student Forums and many societies provide a space to meet people based on shared interests and are here to welcome you to our university.
The Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Students’ Forum is a representative body working to counter prejudice and encourage critical thinking about race among the student body and University at large.
The International Students’ Forum ensures that all international students have their voices heard, and we are very proud at the University of Aberdeen to promote international collaboration.
The LGBTQ+ Students Forum provides a safe space and runs a host of events for the LGBTQ+ community in Aberdeen, such as the Gaylidh, and is involved in Grampian Pride.
You can have a look on our Student Association page for regional societies such as the African and Caribbean Society or Nordic Society, as well as many others! These communities are here to welcome you and help with the adjustment to university life.
Visit our Students' Union website.
Latest News
Accommodation in Aberdeen for 2024
We know that securing the right accommodation is a major consideration for students starting at university, and we at Aberdeen are here to help you through the process. We’ve provided some information below about what we have on offer and the steps involved in booking!
Once you firmly accept your offer from the University, you will receive an email which will include your student ID number, with details of how to reserve a room (if you hold an unconditional offer) or note interest in staying at Hillhead (if you hold a conditional offer).
For full details on the accommodation options we have on offer, please look here. We guarantee accommodation for all new students and that new first years will also be living with other first years. You can have a look at some of the other benefits to our accommodation options here.
We also have some virtual tours of our Hillhead Student Village which you may find helpful!
For more information about life on campus and the sports and study facilities we have on offer, you can have a look at the Student Life section of our website.
If you are interested in renting privately, AUSA, our student association, have more advice here.
If you have any questions that these links don’t answer, then please get in contact! You can either message us here on The Student Room, email [email protected], or call us 01224 272090.
Keep up to date with all the latest news and information from the University of Aberdeen by visiting our website!
Contact Details
Phone number: +44 01224 272090
Mailing address:
University of Aberdeen
King's College
Aberdeen
AB24 3FX
Email: [email protected]
Chat with us on our online prospectus pages