Study in Aberdeen

Aberdeen sits on Scotland’s northeast coast, where the Rivers Dee and Don meet the North Sea, and is Scotland’s third-largest city. Its buildings are famously built from local granite, giving the city a distinctive silver-grey character, and its economy has moved from fishing and shipbuilding through North Sea oil into a broader focus on energy and research. StudyUKToday works with two real universities here.

What Aberdeen Is Actually Like

Aberdeen earned its nickname “the Granite City” from the grey granite used across its Victorian buildings, most strikingly at Marischal College, one of the largest granite buildings in the world, and in bright light the stone’s mica content genuinely gives parts of the city a faint sparkle. The city has around 45 parks and gardens and has repeatedly won UK “Best City” awards for its greenery, so it’s greener day to day than its industrial reputation might suggest.

Aberdeen’s economy has shifted significantly over the decades, from fishing and shipbuilding through North Sea oil and gas, which earned it the nickname “Oil Capital of Europe,” and increasingly toward renewable energy and subsea engineering research as reserves decline. Getting around is straightforward via Aberdeen’s airport and railway station, both well connected to the rest of Scotland and the UK.

Studying in Aberdeen

Aberdeen is home to two real universities StudyUKToday works with here: the University of Aberdeen, founded in 1495 and one of the oldest universities in the English-speaking world, and Robert Gordon University, a modern institution with strong links to Aberdeen’s energy and business sectors. As with the rest of Scotland, some undergraduate courses run four years rather than three, so confirm course length directly with your chosen university.

Aberdeen’s cost of living is generally more affordable than Edinburgh or Glasgow, though it still varies by area, so check current figures with your university’s accommodation office.

How StudyUKToday Helps

Whichever Aberdeen university and course you’re aiming for, our services stay the same: course selection, university matching, document review, application support, and offer acceptance guidance, working toward the same UK university application.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do students choose Aberdeen?

A genuinely historic university, a distinctive granite-built city, and a strong connection to the energy and engineering sectors, alongside generally lower living costs than Scotland’s larger cities.

Does Scotland’s education system differ from England’s?

Yes, in some respects. Undergraduate degrees often run four years rather than three. Confirm course length and structure directly with your chosen university.

Is Aberdeen affordable for international students?

Generally more affordable than Edinburgh or Glasgow, though costs still vary by area. Check current figures with your university’s accommodation office.

How many universities are there in Aberdeen?

StudyUKToday works with two real universities in Aberdeen, listed in the “Universities in Aberdeen” section on this page: the University of Aberdeen and Robert Gordon University.