University of Aberdeen

About University of Aberdeen

The third oldest university in Scotland and the fifth oldest university in the UK, the University of Aberdeen welcomes a community of over 14,000 students from over 130 countries. It is a top 20 UK university in the Guardian University Guide 2026, and ranks 3rd for student satisfaction across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in the National Student Survey 2025.

Aberdeen has been recognised as a premier research-led institution for its contributions in addressing real-world challenges, with five Nobel Laureates and has a vast community of alumni across the globe. The university has received the prestigious Queen’s Anniversary Prize - the highest honour in UK further and higher education - on two occasions. It was at Aberdeen that colour photography was developed, and research into developing the world’s first MRI scanner was carried out.

The Old Aberdeen and Foresterhill Medical campuses are the major centres of learning and research. Students can choose from a vast range of programmes available across 12 schools. The university focuses on the professional development of every student, and its programmes are designed based on industry needs. Graduates are welcome to access the full range of appointments available through the careers and employability service for as long as they need them.

Aberdeen is a city rich in culture and history, surrounded by beautiful countryside and coastlines, and has been named one of the safest university cities in the UK. The city has recently been awarded Purple Flag status - a prestigious UK award for city centre safety and vibrancy - for the 12th year in a row, and remains the only city in Scotland to hold Purple Flag status.

There are a wide range of scholarships available for those studying at the University of Aberdeen, designed to help students support themselves during their time at university.

Graduate outcomes

Aberdeen offers a careers and employability service to provide students and graduates with the advice and information they need to support their career planning. Students can explore careers fairs, internships and placements, find graduate opportunities, and gain and develop valuable skills through student societies, sports clubs committee memberships, volunteering, and ambassador roles. They can explore enterprise and start a business, volunteer or apply for work placements.

Aberdeen’s alumni go on to make an impact in a huge range of sectors across the world.

Students can find out more on the ‘From Aberdeen to…’ web pages.

By studying at the University of Aberdeen, students will be able to take advantage of the active alumni association. The alumni association holds reunions, overseas talks and has mentors and ambassadors internationally. Many alumni support the university with placements, lectures, mentoring and other support of students beyond graduation.

What’s new

Science Teaching Hub

The University of Aberdeen’s state-of-the-art Science Teaching Hub opened its doors in early 2022. The building has been designed around the provision of specialist teaching, training and learning for students across several disciplines such as chemistry, medical sciences, biological sciences and geosciences. Students learn in laboratory spaces equipped with digital screens on every workbench.

Open Days and Visits

The University of Aberdeen holds on-campus undergraduate open days in August and October every year and offers campus visits to students throughout the year. Students can enjoy a tour of the campus, meet academics, explore the facilities and speak with current students about their experience of studying at Aberdeen.

Postgraduate Virtual Open Days are held three times a year and allow prospective students to speak live with academics about life at Aberdeen, chat with current students, find out about support networks and take virtual tours of the campuses. More information about Aberdeen’s open days and virtual events, including how to register, is available here.