University of Aberdeen

The University of Aberdeen is one of Scotland's four ancient universities. It was founded in 1495 as King's College and took its present form in 1860, when King's College merged with Marischal College. It has more than 15,000 students and 3,500 staff, and it serves as a major centre of higher education and research for the north of Scotland.

The university's historic main campus is in Old Aberdeen, centred on the King's College Chapel and the modern Sir Duncan Rice Library, while the Foresterhill campus, beside Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, hosts medicine, dentistry and life sciences. Aberdeen offers a broad range of subjects across the arts, humanities, social sciences, sciences, engineering and medicine, and follows the flexible four-year Scottish undergraduate degree structure. It is known for research in medicine and health, soil and environmental sciences, energy and engineering, and divinity, and it received a Queen's Anniversary Prize in 2021 for its work in soil science. Five Nobel laureates are associated with the university, and it maintains a strong international outlook through partnerships and campuses overseas.

Information for International Students

The University of Aberdeen has a community representing more than 130 nationalities. International applicants receive guidance on the Student visa, Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) and travel to Aberdeen, and the university provides orientation support on arrival. Eligible graduates may apply for the UK Graduate Route.

The typical English language requirement is IELTS 6.0 overall, with 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in other components, for most undergraduate degrees, and IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in writing for most postgraduate taught programmes. Some subjects, including medicine, business, law and education, set higher levels. The university's Language Centre offers pre-sessional English on campus and online, together with in-sessional academic English support.

Pathway programmes are delivered by the University of Aberdeen International Study Centre, run in partnership with Study Group and located on the main campus. It offers an Undergraduate Foundation Programme leading to degree entry, an International Year Two route for selected subjects, and a Pre-Masters Programme in business and law or science and engineering. All new students who apply for university accommodation by the deadline are guaranteed an offer of a room.