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Robert Gordon University

UK UK

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THE World Ranking: 801

Overview

Overview

Robert Gordon University (also known as RGU) offers students high-quality courses with a focus on real-world skills and employability. Learners at the university are given all the skills they need to succeed in the world of work, and they learn on a stunning riverside campus featuring modern and well-designed facilities.

 

RGU is based in Aberdeen, Scotland. The university’s Garthdee Campus, in the southwest of the city, features lots of facilities perfect for studying and socialising. Outside the campus, the city of Aberdeen is one of the happiest and most affordable cities in the UK, with a big student population and a wide range of nightlife options. At RGU, there is always something to do, whether it’s a night out in Aberdeen or a night spent at an RGU: Union social event or society meeting.

 

Students enrolled on programmes at RGU can expect good things. Lecturers are experts in their fields, carefully creating courses that will give learners good value for money and excellent skills (skills they can take with them into the professional world). Programmes often feature built-in work experience, giving students a chance to apply their learning as they go.

 

RGU recently invested GBP 120 million into its campus, meaning tutors have access to all the newest and best resources. This helps them to deliver great courses across all departments. Ranked the Scottish University of the Year 2021 by the Times Good University Guide, it’s clear that Robert Gordon University has a lot to offer students.

 

RGU stands out when it comes to graduate employability. Ranked as the top university in Scotland and third in the UK for employability or students in further study, people graduating from RGU have great job prospects and valuable skills they’re ready to use. RGU also has some strong industry connections (so there are lots of chances for students to network and connect) and some great career and employment services (like the Regional Startup Accelerator programme).

 

International students can expect a warm welcome at RGU. With 153 countries represented across 16,000 students, there is a happy and successful global community on campus. All international students are supported by a dedicated Student Immigration Team and a range of international outreach programmes, and most say they feel at home in Scotland in no time.

 

Explore more about RGU:

 

Teaching quality

Entry requirements

Scholarships & funding

University structure

Facilities

Student support

Graduate outcomes

 

Teaching Quality

Students enrolled at Robert Gordon University report a high standard of teaching quality. Ranked in the top three universities in Scotland for student satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2022, learners at RGU enjoy a high-quality teaching culture that’s flexible and innovative across all programmes and courses.

 

RGU is ranked as the second-best Scottish university overall for teaching quality, according to The Times Good University Guide 2022. It also scores number one in the Scottish rankings for several of its programmes, including art, health and physiotherapy.

 

Students at the university benefit from strong links with industry, too. RGU focuses on practical skills and employability, with courses featuring lots of work-related experiences, placement opportunities and chances for professional accreditation. This means that the quality teaching on offer at RGU doesn’t just create academic success, it also gives students the practical skills that employers are looking for.

 

Having invested GBP 120 million into its campus, RGU is happy to be providing students with modern, purpose-built facilities (including laboratories, workshops and sports halls). Any student applying to study at RGU can be confident they will have the equipment they need to succeed, supported by great lecturers.

 

Students at RGU can always expect staff to be knowledgeable experts in their fields. The UK has high academic standards for tutors and lecturers, and there are checks and balances in place to make sure every teacher meets these standards.

 

Entry Requirements

To ensure students can manage their programmes of study, RGU has some entry requirements. General university requirements for international students at RGU include the right level of English understanding and the right level of previous education.

 

For example, applicants with an International Baccalaureate qualification must have a score of at least 26 overall to study an undergraduate programme at RGU. Certain courses may ask for a higher score/certain grade in relevant subjects. There’s country-specific information about grades on the RGU website, so potential students can do all the research they need to before applying.

 

The university entry requirements will be different for postgraduate courses. Applicants will need to have relevant previous university qualifications or a lot of experience connected to the course’s area of study. In the case of an applicant with an existing degree, the student must have achieved a 2:2 or above, with some RGU courses raising this standard to a 2:1. As above, equivalent grades and country-specific details for international students are on RGU’s website.

 

English Score Required

Robert Gordon University is based in Scotland, an English-speaking country. Teaching is delivered in English, assessments are submitted in English, and resources are delivered in English. So, students applying for a place at RGU must prove they can confidently use and understand the language. Plus, English proficiency is essential when applying for a UK student visa.

 

International students from certain countries and international students who have studied in English institutions may not have to demonstrate their proficiency. RGU provides a full list of exceptions on the website’s English Requirements page. If no exceptions apply, the best way to prove English understanding is through a proficiency test.

 

RGU accepts a wide variety of tests, including the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and Cambridge University English language tests.

 

To give an example, the minimum overall IELTS band score accepted by RGU for undergraduate students is 6, with no individual band scores below 5.5. For postgraduate students, the minimum overall IELTS band score is 6.5, with no individual band scores below 5.5. Certain courses may ask for a higher standard than the general admission standard, so applicants should look at the entry requirements for the courses they’re interested in carefully before they apply.

 

Admission

Students hoping to study an undergraduate programme at RGU can apply through UCAS. This is an online service for UK university admissions, and through UCAS, applicants can apply for admission to multiple universities at once. This is a typical option for applicants in the EU but is also open to other international students.

 

UCAS applicants should provide personal details, educational history, employment history, a personal statement, and details for a referee. After paying a small fee (GBP 22.50 for one choice, GBP 27 for multiple choices), the application is sent to the universities selected, and the student admission process begins.

 

Undergraduate applicants only seeking admission to RGU can also apply directly on the RGU website, and all postgraduate applicants should also apply in this way. They will need to provide certificates, academic transcripts, proof of English proficiency, a copy of their passport, a personal statement and, if applicable, proof of sponsorship.

 

RGU carefully looks over each application it receives, directly and through UCAS. If undergraduate applicants are successful, they will receive an offer letter by email and can continue with the admission process, accepting the offer and officially enrolling at the university.

 

Scholarships & Funding

Students at RGU are expected to source funding to pay for various fees, including tuition fees. Exact tuition fees can vary depending on a few factors. Students arriving at RGU from within the EU, for example, can expect to pay lower fees than other international students.

 

At a minimum, an undergraduate from the EU can expect to pay GBP 5,150 a year, while other international students on the same programme will have annual fees of GBP 14,420. For postgraduate students, the minimum fees for full-time study are GBP 6,180 for EU students and GBP 14,130 for other international students. Payments can be made in regular instalments, so students aren’t overwhelmed by expenses at one time.

 

Certain courses have higher fees if they require additional resources or the use of laboratories and specialist facilities. Applicants must make sure they are able to cover the costs of the specific programme they want to enrol on before they all.

 

To help students, RGU provides a variety of scholarships and grants. All self-funding international students are automatically offered a discount on their fees. Undergraduate learners can expect a GBP 3,000 discount for one year of studies, while students applying for a postgraduate programme are entitled to a GBP 2,000 reduction. RGU also offers some emergency funds to students experiencing hardship.

 

Every person applying to RGU is advised to look at all the university scholarships on offer and find out if they will be eligible. Some of the scholarships are very generous, fully funding tuition or offering students large cash prizes.

 

Students can also seek assistance through the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS). The SAAS may provide loans to cover tuition fees and living expenses (students from the EU will often be eligible for this support, but it is less likely for other international students).

 

University Structure

RGU is based in Aberdeen, Scotland. All programmes and facilities are located on the Garthdee Campus, a beautiful riverside site surrounded by nature (which students are free to explore between lectures). Buildings are modern and well-designed, so students and staff can learn and grow comfortably across the 23 hectares.

 

There are over 160 courses on offer at RGU, 88 undergraduate and 80 postgraduate. RGU also offers lots of short courses targeted at working professionals. Tuition covers a wide range of subjects, and all these subjects are instructed by expert lecturers and split into 11 different academic schools:

 

  • The Aberdeen Business School
  • The Gray’s School of Art
  • The School of Applied Social Studies
  • The School of Computing
  • The School of Creative and Cultural Business
  • The School of Engineering
  • The School of Health Sciences
  • The School of Nursing, Midwifery, and Paramedic Practice
  • The School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences
  • The Law School
  • The Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment

 

Several of these schools have dedicated buildings on campus, connecting student peers and allowing for classrooms to match specific course requirements. Other schools are based in the Sir Ian Wood Building. This building is the largest on campus. Overall, every faculty at RGU has access to all the resources it needs on-site, and potential students hoping to study at the university are very likely to find a programme suited to their interests and career goals.

 

Facilities

Students at RGU have access to excellent academic facilities. Programmes are delivered in a variety of spaces, from workshops to labs to lecture theatres. The buildings are modern. Each course has resources on site and access to purpose-built rooms. After a recent GBP 120 million investment into RGU’s Garthdee Campus, students can be more confident than ever that they are using some of the best facilities in the UK.

 

In the Campus’s largest building (the Sir Ian Wood Building), there’s a large library spread over four floors. In this library, a student activity centre filled with study sessions (individual and group) and useful resources, students can find all the books and journals they need 24/7. They can also access support from expert librarians.

 

When class is over for the day, the RGU: Union building is a popular student life centre. People can go to events hosted by the union or join societies and clubs managed through the union that match their interests.

 

Other campus facilities include student recreation centres for staying active, like the Georgina Scott Sutherland Centre, and a range of food and drink options. Everything an RGU student could need during their studies is available to them on the well-equipped Garthdee Campus.

 

Accommodation

RGU offers student accommodation across four buildings. Some options are across the city of Aberdeen, and others are on the Garthdee Campus. Students have individual ensuite bedrooms in communal flats in these university accommodation options, sharing a kitchen and a living room with their flatmates. Flats are fully furnished and can be rented for as little as GBP 98 a week, making them an affordable option.

 

For students who want to live outside of RGU’s official accommodation and find their own housing, there are also lots of options. Several private companies have their own accommodation available, including Mezzino, Unite Students and Student Roost. These sites will have lots of the same benefits as the university-owned halls, as well as added features like cinema rooms and on-site gyms.

 

Many students will find a student house, especially in their second and third years of study, and there are plenty of properties to rent in Aberdeen. Property quality can vary when renting privately, so it’s important for students to visit their potential future homes before signing any agreements. 

 

Student Support

Learners at RGU benefit from a lot of student support. Student services on offer cover all parts of life at university, so any person studying at RGU can feel confident that they will be supported in every area (from the academic to the emotional).

 

Academically, RGU offers study skills classes to all learners and comprehensive student support services for people with disabilities and learning difficulties, including one-on-one help from a student guide. There’s a Student Help Point on campus for students to turn to when they don’t know where to start, and there’s also an online RGU portal where students can ask their academic questions.

 

In terms of emotional, physical and personal support, students will 100 per cent be able to find the right student support programme for them. They can, for example, access mental health counselling services or speak with the RGU: Union about navigating student life if they’re struggling. On the topic of navigating student life, there’s even a dedicated Student Immigration Team at RGU for international students, available to answer questions and offer guidance.

 

Graduate Outcomes

Students at RGU enjoy some of the best job prospects and career options in the UK. According to the 2022 QS Graduate Employability Rankings, RGU has the highest graduate employment rate in all of Scotland and the second-highest graduate employment rate in all of the UK.

 

Plus, RGU is based in beautiful Aberdeen, the city with the second-highest average salary in the UK. There are lots of well-paid opportunities waiting for RGU students when they graduate, and employers rate RGU graduates highly.

 

The reason RGU graduates do so well is that the university proudly prepares students in advance for the working world. Every student enrolled is given practical skills that employers in their field are looking for. Every student has access to cutting-edge equipment and facilities that match the standard of equipment and facilities in the industry.

 

Every student can use RGU’s career services and employment events to network, develop and increase their employability. Examples of employment services include one-to-one or group appointments with a career guide, CV and interview skills workshops, online resources and FAQs and an online portal sharing relevant job listings.

 

A course at RGU is a course with built-in work placements and chances to get real, practical experience. Many courses at the university also offer industry accreditation as part of their instruction, so graduates are immediately ready to enter the world of work when they finish their time at RGU.

 

RGU is committed to helping students, whatever stage they’re at and whatever path they choose to take. Current students, prospective students and recent alumni can benefit from the university’s career services, in person and online. Students who want to start their own innovative businesses in North-East Scotland can benefit from RGU’s Regional Startup Accelerator Programme, a source of expert mentoring, free office space and funding.

 

Ranked first in Scotland and in the top 10 UK universities for industry connections, RGU has a great reputation for producing skilled, talented and hard-working graduates. Any student at RGU will benefit from full career support, no matter what path they are on.

 

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Key facts and figures at Robert Gordon University

Rankings

Hotcourses Diversity Index (What is this?)

DIVERSITY INDEX
Source: HESA

116 International student nationalities at this university

FEEL AT HOME INDEX
Source: HESA

1.69% International students from USA

Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024
Source: THE

801

OVERALL SCORE

32.7%

TEACHING

17.5%

INTERNATIONAL OUTLOOK

87.1%

INDUSTRY INCOME

36%

RESEARCH

13.2%

CITATIONS

53.4%
QS World University Rankings 2025
Source: QS

901

Student life in numbers

COSTS PER YEAR
LIVING COSTS

£3,850

CAMPUS ACCOMMODATION

£5,588

AVERAGE TUITION FEE PER YEAR

UNDERGRADUATE

£17,130

POSTGRADUATE

£15,580

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