About Us

• Founded in 1495 by William Elphinstone, Bishop of Aberdeen and Chancellor of Scotland, the University of Aberdeen is the fifth oldest university in the English-speaking world.
• Situated in the historic neighbourhood of Old Aberdeen, one of the best preserved medieval townscapes in all of the UK, the University is today known as a centre of excellence in the Humanities, Law, Energy, Health Sciences and Environmental Studies.
• There are currently 14,000 students attending the University of Aberdeen. International students account for over 30% of the student body, with over 120 countries represented on campus.

Our Campus

• The beautiful setting of our campus provides a daily reminder of our proud history and heritage. The campus is home to historic buildings such as King’s College as well as modern buildings such as our Sir Duncan Rice Library.
• The University has however also invested heavily in new teaching, research and recreational facilities in recent years, including most notably the £35 million Science Teaching, Sir Duncan Rice Library, which was officially opened on 24th September 2012 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, and the Sports Village, which was opened in 2009. Our new Aquatics Centre opened in 2014 and features an Olympic standard Swimming Pool and Diving Pool.
• The university campus is also home to a number of other fascinating curiosities, including the Cruickshank Botanic Garden, the King’s Museum, housed within the 18th century Townhouse and the Zoology Museum.

Our Location

• The Old Aberdeen campus is located about a 20-minute walk from the centre of the city of Aberdeen. Aberdeen is Scotland’s third largest city with a population of 250,000.
• Aberdeen boasts a wealth of cultural attractions, most notably His Majesty’s Theatre, the Music Hall and the Lemon Tree. Other highlights include Aberdeen Art Gallery, the Maritime Museum and the Tolbooth Museum, one of Aberdeen’s oldest buildings and one of the best-preserved 17th-century gaols in Scotland.
• Aberdeen is also major international hub for the Energy industry, particularly oil, gas and renewables and was named the UK’s Happiest City in a 2013 survey due to its rich culture, low unemployment and enviable lifestyle.
• Despite its northern location, Aberdeen is milder than you might expect, with an average temperature of 34-44 ºF in Winter and 50-64 ºF in Summer.
• The small medieval fishing village of Footdee (pronounced Fittie) can be reached within a 15-minute walk from the city centre. This fascinating community of decorated cottages and gardens provides a reminder of the city’s maritime heritage. Aberdeen Harbour is one of the best places in Europe to go dolphin watching and the RSPB runs the ‘Dolphinwatch’ Project each summer.
• The city also boasts a huge collection of bars and restaurants where you can enjoy world-class local produce including Aberdeen Angus beef and freshly caught seafood.
• Aberdeenshire is often referred to as Castle Country and with good reason, as it has more castles per acre than anywhere else in Britain. The stunning Dunnottar Castle offers a spectacular coastal setting while nearby Balmoral Castle is a private residence of the British Royal Family. The shire also provides a range of attractions for outdoor enthusiasts and wildlife lovers alike including climbing, skinning, snowboarding and walking. A favourable shoreline wind and a long line of golden beaches mean that the northeast of Scotland is a major draw for surfers.
• The Royal Aberdeen golf course, the sixth oldest golf club in the world, is believed to be among the best stretches of links golf in the world and hosted The Scottish Open in 2014.