Aberdeen · Founded 1495
Ancient UniversityUniversity of Aberdeen
Scotland's third-oldest university, set in the granite city with deep ties to the North Sea energy industry. Aberdeen's medical school dates to 1497, making it one of the oldest in the English-speaking world. The campus sits in Old Aberdeen, a cobbled village within the city, and the surrounding area offers significantly lower living costs than Edinburgh or Glasgow.
Rankings
- Guardian
- Top 2018
- Times
- Top 4023
- Student satisfaction
- 85%
Cost of Living
- Rent (halls)
- £620/mo
- Rent (private)
- £460/mo
- Other costs
- £700/mo
Aberdeen offers the lowest private rents of any Scottish city, making your SAAS bursary stretch further than in Edinburgh or Glasgow.
Known For
Students
14,500
Location
Aberdeen
SAAS code
A20
Entry requirements for Scottish students
Typical Higher offers for 2026 entry. Always check with Aberdeen directly.
Medicine (MBChB)
Chemistry + Biology + one from Maths, Physics
UCAT required
Law (LLB)
English desirable
4-year degree
Engineering (MEng)
Maths + Physics or Engineering Science
5-year integrated Masters
Business Management
No specific Higher subjects required
Computing Science (MEng)
Maths required
5-year integrated; 4-year BSc requires BBBB
English
No specific Higher subjects; National 5 English required
Psychology
Two science or maths subjects required
Biological Sciences
Biology + Chemistry or two science subjects
Entry requirements sourced from University of Aberdeen prospectus, April 2026. Competitive courses may ask for higher grades.
What it actually costs per month
Realistic monthly budget for a student living in Aberdeen, 2026.
The SAAS gap at Aberdeen
- SAAS gives you (max, monthly)
- £950/mo
- Your costs (est.)
- £1,050/mo
Aberdeen's lower rents help, but halls can still leave a shortfall of around £100 per month against SAAS support. Many students close this with part-time work of 6–8 hours per week.
Calculate your exact SAAS packageSAAS tuition — what you’ll actually pay
If you’re a Scotland-domiciled undergraduate, SAAS pays University of Aberdeen’s tuition fee (£1,820/year) directly — you pay nothing. The SAAS code is A20.
Open days 2026
Confirmed 2026 open day dates for Aberdeen. Always book a place directly via the university website.
25 Aug 2026
Campus
3 Oct 2026
Campus
Dates sourced from Aberdeen’s official open days page, checked April 2026. Confirm current details before travelling.
Scholarships & bursaries
Verified funding available to Scottish-domiciled students at Aberdeen. Always check the university website for current eligibility criteria and deadlines.
Great Scot Scholarship
£4,500/yr
Scottish-domiciled students from widening access backgrounds
Apply / find out moreRobertson Trust Scholarship
£4,250/yr
Care-experienced or estranged students; income-assessed
Apply / find out moreWho is Aberdeen best for?
Aberdeen suits students who want a traditional campus experience at a lower cost than Edinburgh or Glasgow. The energy sector connections make it particularly strong for engineering, geoscience, and petroleum-related degrees — graduates in these fields have some of the highest starting salaries in Scotland. The medical school is world-class and significantly less competitive to get into than Edinburgh or Glasgow. It’s a quieter city than the Central Belt, which is either a selling point or a drawback depending on what you want. If your child values a tight-knit university community over big-city nightlife, Aberdeen is an excellent choice.
Student life at a glance
Students’ union
AUSA — one of the oldest in the UK. Active sports clubs, societies, and RAG events. The Butchart Centre is the main social hub.
Social scene
Quieter than Edinburgh or Glasgow. Belmont Street is the main student area. Beach esplanade for summer. Close-knit community feel.
Graduate prospects
Strong oil & gas industry links. Graduate employment rate above Scottish average. Career service rated highly by students.
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Frequently asked questions about Aberdeen
What is University of Aberdeen ranked?
University of Aberdeen is ranked 18 in the Guardian University Guide and 23 in The Times Good University Guide. Student satisfaction (from the National Student Survey) sits at 85%. Rankings shift annually — always check the latest published tables before relying on a specific position.
How much is student rent at University of Aberdeen?
Average monthly rent in Aberdeen for Aberdeen students is approximately £620 in university halls and £460 in private rented accommodation. Other living costs (food, transport, utilities, social) add roughly £700 per month on top. These are indicative averages — actual costs depend on the specific hall or flat. Always check the university's accommodation pages for the latest prices.
What is University of Aberdeen known for?
University of Aberdeen's strongest subject areas include Medicine, Law, Petroleum Engineering, Divinity and Biological Sciences. These are the departments most commonly cited in league tables and by employers. Aberdeen also has strong graduate employment in these areas — check the university's own graduate outcomes data for the most current figures.
What type of university is University of Aberdeen?
University of Aberdeen is one of Scotland's four ancient universities (founded before 1600). The ancients — St Andrews, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh — are among the oldest in the English-speaking world and carry significant brand recognition with employers globally.
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Browse options →Rankings, rent, and living-cost figures checked April 2026.
Rankings source: Guardian University Guide and The Times Good University Guide. Rent figures are indicative averages from council and university accommodation pages. Entry requirements sourced from Aberdeen prospectus 2026 entry. Always confirm current prices and requirements directly with Aberdeen. See our editorial policy for how we source and update this data.