Robert Gordon University
An Aberdeen riverside campus offering four-year, employer-linked Scottish degrees from pharmacy to art.
- Students
- 18,000
- Tuition
- £17,080
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1750
- QS World Ranking
- 1001-1200
- 2027 edition
About RGU
Robert Gordon University (RGU) is on a riverside campus in Garthdee, Aberdeen. It is named after the merchant Robert Gordon, whose Hospital opened in 1750, and its own website says his spirit of enterprise still shapes the university. RGU became a university in 1992 and describes its degrees as industry-led, designed in partnership with employers.
RGU says it teaches about 18,000 students on campus and online, from 152 nationalities, with an international graduate community of 80,000 and 120 million pounds invested in buildings and facilities. It has eight academic schools, including Aberdeen Business School, Gray's School of Art, the School of Computing, the School of Law and Social Sciences, the School of Health, the School of Pharmacy and the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment.
Most honours degrees are four years long in the Scottish system. Published entry requirements are moderate: for example Computer Science asks for Highers BBCC or A-levels CCC, Law asks for Highers BBBB or A-levels BCC, and Pharmacy asks for Highers ABBB including Chemistry. RGU suits applicants who want professional courses in pharmacy, nursing, law, computing or built environment, and who are happy to live in Aberdeen.
Omni nunc arte magistra
“Now by all your mastered arts” — university motto
Why students choose RGU
The MPharm Pharmacy course (UCAS B230) is taught with published requirements of Highers ABBB including Chemistry and IELTS 6.5 for international applicants.
Gray's School of Art, part of RGU, has educated artists including Turner Prize-nominated Callum Innes.
Courses are described by RGU as industry-led and designed in partnership with employers.
All RGU students get free RGU SPORT membership, according to the cost-of-living page.
Admissions
2027 entry
Selectivity
RGU does not publish an overall offer rate. Course pages give standard entry requirements and lower minimum requirements for widening-access applicants, for example Computer Science Highers BBCC (minimum CCCC) and Law Highers BBBB (minimum BBC/BCCC).
Typical entry requirements
| Scottish Highers (SQA) | Computer Science BBCC; Law BBBB including English; Adult Nursing BBBC including English; Pharmacy ABBB including Chemistry plus a further science |
|---|---|
| A-levels | Computer Science CCC; Law BCC; Pharmacy BBC including Chemistry; Adult Nursing BCC |
| IB Diploma | Computer Science 26 points including Standard Level English; Law 28 points |
| English language | IELTS 6 Most courses: IELTS 6.0 overall with no component below 5.5. Pharmacy requires IELTS 6.5 overall with no component below 6.0. Some courses may require a higher standard; check the course page. |
Deadlines
- UCAS main deadline Non-binding Next deadline · In ~3 months13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for 2027-entry undergraduate courses, 18:00 UK time. The same dates apply to Scottish universities.
- UCAS final date Non-binding In ~9 months30 June 2027
Applications received by this date (18:00 UK time) are sent to universities; after it they go into Clearing (UCAS). UCAS's final date for 2027 entry is 23 September 2027.
These are UCAS's dates for 2027 entry (ucas.com), which apply to Scottish universities too. The UCAS 15 October 2026 date is not listed because it applies only to Oxford, Cambridge, medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses, none of which RGU offers. The undergraduate course pages did not list a separate RGU deadline.
How to apply
Apply through UCAS for first-year entry (for example G400 Computer Science, M114 Law, B743 Adult Nursing, B230 Pharmacy). International fee-paying students can also apply through the International College Robert Gordon University (ICRGU) for January starts.
What admissions looks for
- Highers, A-levels or equivalent at the level shown on the course page, with required subjects such as Chemistry for Pharmacy.
- English and Maths at National 5 grade C or GCSE grade 5 where not held at a higher level.
- For widening-access applicants, eligibility for the lower minimum entry requirement listed on each course page.
- English language at IELTS 6.0 (no component below 5.5), or higher where the course requires it.
Tips for applying to RGU
- 1 Check whether you qualify as a widening-access applicant, because RGU lists lower minimum requirements for every course.
- 2 If you are applying for Computer Science, note that Year 1 is a common Foundation Year and that Year 2 entry has separate requirements (BBC at A-level).
- 3 International applicants should use the fees on the course page for their start year; the 2027-28 fees were not yet shown in the pages checked.
- 4 Budget for Scotland's four-year degree structure when planning fees and living costs.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in GBP
RGU says all direct-entry, self-funding international students receive a discount on their fees, and it lists scholarships and partnership funding on its scholarships search page. The International Fund gives emergency help to EU and international students who fall into unexpected financial difficulty. Scottish students can use SAAS funding.
- Emergency support, amount depends on individual circumstances
- International Fund
- 109 to 189 pounds a week
- Student accommodation weekly cost
- Free membership for all RGU students
- RGU SPORT
Academics
Academic calendar: Undergraduate courses start in September; international fee-paying students can apply for a January start through ICRGU.
Pharmacy (MPharm)
UCAS B230; Highers ABBB including Chemistry and IELTS 6.5 for international applicants.
Computer Science (BSc Hons)
UCAS G400; Year 1 is a common Foundation Year and entry is Highers BBCC.
Law (LLB Hons)
UCAS M114; offered alongside Law with Criminology, Law with Management and Law with Artificial Intelligence.
Nursing (Adult)
UCAS B743; RGU also offers multiple-registration nursing routes.
Fine Art and Fashion at Gray's School of Art
Gray's has courses in fine art, fashion and textile design, communication design and photography.
Research
- RGU says its teaching and research reflect expertise across eight academic schools and aim to deliver research solutions for business and industry.
Schools & faculties
- Aberdeen Business School
- Gray's School of Art
- School of Computing
- School of Law and Social Sciences
- School of Health
- School of Pharmacy
- The Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment
RGU's About page makes a general claim about graduate career prospects but names no survey, edition or figure, so it is not repeated here; no employment percentage was found on the pages checked.
Student life
RGU's campus is a riverside site at Garthdee, and all academic schools are based there. Students get free RGU SPORT membership, and RGU describes Aberdeen as a very student-friendly city with special offers aimed at students. Its own cost-of-living page estimates student monthly costs of 1,157 to 1,480 pounds, including accommodation of 109 to 189 pounds a week. RGU's Inclusion Centre supports students with sensory or mobility impairments, chronic conditions, mental health issues and learning differences.
- Free RGU SPORT membership for all students.
- Student accommodation in flats, with weekly costs of 109 to 189 pounds.
- An Inclusion Centre supporting students with sensory, mobility, mental health and learning needs.
- RGU's Art and Heritage Collections are listed on its About page.
Housing. RGU runs student flats; weekly costs are 109 to 189 pounds and a deposit is usually one month's rent, according to its cost-of-living page.
Location
RGU is in Aberdeen, on the north-east coast of Scotland, on a riverside campus at Garthdee. RGU's cost-of-living page notes that Aberdeen is a student-friendly city, that Scottish students may be eligible for free bus travel across Scotland, and that a single bus journey costs 2.25 pounds. Temporary accommodation costs about 50 to 100 pounds a night.
Nearest airport: Aberdeen International Airport (ABZ)
Notable alumni
- HM Hannah MileyOlympic swimmer and Commonwealth Games gold medallist; graduated from RGU
- CI Callum InnesTurner Prize-nominated painter; studied at Gray's School of Art (now part of RGU) 1980 to 1984, then graduated from Edinburgh College of Art in 1985
- DL Douglas LumsdenScottish Conservative politician; BEng at RGU
- AJ Alan JamiesonMarine biologist; BSc in Design for Industry at Gray's School of Art, 1995 to 1999
- GD Gordon DuthieMusician and songwriter; studied for an MSc in International Marketing Management at RGU
- TH Titi HorsfallAuthor; bachelor's in marketing, master's in banking and finance and an MBA in oil and gas management from RGU
- OG Ola GorieJewellery designer; attended Gray's School of Art and left in 1960 as the first graduate of its jewellery department
Frequently asked questions
What are the entry requirements for Robert Gordon University?
They depend on the course: for example Highers BBCC or A-levels CCC for Computer Science, BBBB or BCC for Law, and ABBB including Chemistry for Pharmacy. RGU lists lower minimum requirements for widening-access applicants.
How much are RGU's international tuition fees?
For 2026/27 the published annual fees on the course pages checked range from 17,080 pounds (Adult Nursing) to 20,680 (Pharmacy), with Computer Science at 18,940. 2027/28 fees were not yet shown.
What English score does RGU require?
Most courses require IELTS 6.0 overall with no component below 5.5, and Pharmacy requires 6.5 overall with no component below 6.0.
What is the UCAS deadline for RGU for 2027 entry?
The main UCAS deadline is 13 January 2027 at 18:00 UK time. UCAS sends on applications received by 30 June 2027; later ones go into Clearing. The 15 October 2026 date applies only to Oxford, Cambridge, medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses, which RGU does not offer.
Do Scottish and English students pay different fees at RGU?
Yes. For 2026/27 the course pages list 1,820 pounds a year for Scottish students (funded through SAAS for eligible students) and 9,535 a year for rest of UK and Irish students. 2027/28 fees had not been published when checked.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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