University of Aberdeen
Scotland's third-oldest university, founded in 1495, with guaranteed housing and a historic campus in Old Aberdeen.
- Students
- 15,000
- Student–faculty
- 13:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- £24,800
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1495
About Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen was founded in 1495 as King's College, making it Scotland's third-oldest university and the fifth-oldest in the UK. It merged with Marischal College in 1860. Today it has around 15,000 students and 3,500 staff from more than 130 nationalities, with teaching centred on the historic Old Aberdeen campus, listed among the UK's ten most beautiful historic campuses, and the Foresterhill health campus.
Teaching is organised into four faculties, each with three schools: Arts and Humanities; Business, Law and Social Sciences; Medicine, Health and Life Sciences; and Science and Engineering. Its strengths include medicine, engineering (including petroleum engineering), geosciences and soil science, for which it won a Queen's Anniversary Prize in 2021. Five Nobel laureates have been associated with the university, and Gaelic has been taught there since the eighteenth century.
Like other Scottish universities, Aberdeen offers four-year honours degrees. Standard offers for many courses are BBB or BBC at A-level, with Medicine far more competitive. Aberdeen suits students who want an ancient university with a close community, guaranteed housing and strong links to the energy and health sectors.
Initium sapientiae timor domini
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” — university motto
Why students choose Aberdeen
All new students who accept an offer and apply for accommodation by the deadline are guaranteed an offer of University accommodation.
Self-funded international students receive the £6,000 Aberdeen Global Scholarship automatically, bringing many 2026/27 fees down from £24,800 to £18,800.
Aberdeen was 5th in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for student satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2026.
Facilities include the Sir Duncan Rice Library, named one of the most beautiful in the world, and the Olympic-standard Aberdeen Sports Village and Aquatics Centre.
Admissions
2027 entry
Selectivity
Aberdeen does not publish an overall offer rate. Most courses make offers at published standard levels (e.g. BBB–BBC at A-level for engineering and psychology), with lower widening-access offers; Medicine is highly competitive and requires AAA plus the UCAT.
Typical entry requirements
| Scottish Highers | Course-specific for 2027 entry, e.g. BBBB (Psychology, Petroleum Engineering), ABBB (Mechanical Engineering, usually leading to an unconditional offer), AAAAB in one sitting (Medicine); widening-access offers are lower |
|---|---|
| A-levels | Course-specific for 2027 entry, e.g. BBC (Psychology with two maths/science subjects; Petroleum Engineering), BBB (Mechanical Engineering with Mathematics), AAA including Chemistry (Medicine) |
| IB Diploma | e.g. 32 points with 5,5,5 at HL (Psychology, Petroleum Engineering), 34 points with 6,6,6 at HL including Mathematics and Physics (Mechanical Engineering); Medicine needs three HL subjects at 6 including Chemistry and three SL averaging 6 |
| English language | IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 78 Undergraduate standard: IELTS Academic 6.0 overall with 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in listening, reading and speaking; TOEFL iBT 78 (tests before 21 January 2026). Medicine requires IELTS 7.0 overall with 7.0 in speaking. IELTS Online is not accepted. |
Deadlines
- UCAS (Medicine) Non-binding Next deadline · In 9 days15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time
UCAT required.
- UCAS equal consideration deadline Non-binding In ~3 months13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
All other undergraduate courses.
The 15 October 2026 and 13 January 2027 dates are the UCAS deadlines for 2027 entry.
How to apply
Apply through UCAS with a personal statement and reference. Most courses make offers against published standard entry requirements; Medicine also requires the UCAT and assesses non-academic requirements. Scottish Highers applicants who already meet the standard (e.g. ABBB for engineering) usually receive an unconditional offer.
What admissions looks for
- Grades at the published standard, with required subjects such as Mathematics and Physics for engineering or Chemistry for Medicine.
- Continued engagement in school: where there are more applicants than places, Aberdeen may ask for more than the minimum.
- For Medicine, strong academic results in one sitting, the UCAT and the non-academic requirements for a vocational course.
- Widening access circumstances, which can lower the offer (e.g. CCC instead of BBB for engineering).
Tips for applying to Aberdeen
- 1 If you are taking Highers and already have the standard grades (e.g. ABBB for engineering), expect an unconditional offer.
- 2 International applicants who pay their own fees get the £6,000 Aberdeen Global Scholarship automatically, so budget from the discounted figure.
- 3 Apply for accommodation by the deadline after accepting your offer to secure the housing guarantee.
- 4 Medicine applicants from outside the UK should check the extra ACT levy on top of the published international fee.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in GBP
Scottish students can have their £1,820 fee paid by SAAS. Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are automatically considered for Rest of UK scholarships based on academic and/or financial criteria. Self-funded international students receive the £6,000 Aberdeen Global Scholarship, and a Development Trust Sports Bursary supports up to 20 athletes a year.
- £6,000 per year off tuition
- Aberdeen Global Scholarship (self-funded international)
- £1,820 per year
- Scottish tuition fee (paid by SAAS for eligible students)
Academics
Medicine (MBChB)
Five-year systems-based programme with a Medical Humanities module; AAA including Chemistry or AAAAB at Highers, plus the UCAT.
Petroleum Engineering (BEng)
Taught in Aberdeen's School of Engineering; BBC at A-level with Mathematics and Chemistry, or 32 IB points.
Mechanical Engineering (BEng)
BBB at A-level with Mathematics, or ABBB at Highers for a usual unconditional offer.
Geology (BSc)
Taught in the School of Geosciences, part of the Faculty of Science and Engineering.
Psychology
BBC at A-level with two maths or science subjects, or BBBB at Highers.
Gaelic Studies
Taught at Aberdeen since the eighteenth century and available in many joint degrees.
Research
- Aberdeen won Queen's Anniversary Prizes in 2017 (Health Services Research Unit) and 2021 (research and teaching in soil science).
- Five Nobel laureates have been associated with the university, including John Macleod for the discovery of insulin (1923) and John Boyd Orr for his work against world hunger (1949).
- The university has campuses in Qatar, China and India, alongside partnerships worldwide.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Arts and Humanities
- Faculty of Business, Law and Social Sciences
- Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
- Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Business School
- School of Law
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition
- School of Engineering
- School of Geosciences
- School of Natural and Computing Sciences
- School of Psychology
- School of Biological Sciences
Student life
Most students study at the Old Aberdeen campus, home to King's College Chapel, while medical students spend much of their time at Foresterhill. New students who apply by the deadline are guaranteed University accommodation in or near King's Campus, Hillhead Student Village or the city centre, including alcohol-free and quiet blocks. Sport is based at the Olympic-standard Aberdeen Sports Village and Aquatics Centre, and the Sir Duncan Rice Library has been named one of the most beautiful libraries in the world.
- Guaranteed University accommodation for new students who apply on time, including alcohol-free and quiet blocks.
- Aberdeen Sports Village and Aquatics Centre (Olympic standard).
- Sir Duncan Rice Library, named one of the most beautiful libraries in the world (CEOWORLD, 2016).
- A community of more than 130 nationalities.
Housing. All new students who accept an offer and apply for accommodation by the deadline are guaranteed an offer of University accommodation.
Location
Aberdeen is a city on the north-east coast of Scotland. The university's main King's College campus is in Old Aberdeen, listed among the UK's ten most beautiful historic campuses, and its Foresterhill campus, next to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, houses the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition. Student housing is spread between King's Campus, Hillhead Student Village and the city centre, so most students live within easy reach of teaching.
Nearest airport: Aberdeen International Airport (ABZ)
Notable alumni
- AD Alistair DarlingChancellor of the Exchequer
- TJ Tessa JowellSecretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and Minister for the Olympics
- PM Patrick MansonFounder of the field of tropical medicine and the London School of Tropical Medicine
- TR Thomas ReidPhilosopher, founder of the Scottish School of Common Sense
- JG James GregoryMathematician and designer of the Gregorian reflecting telescope
- ST Sir Thomas SutherlandBanker and founder of HSBC
- WT William ThorntonArchitect of the United States Capitol
Frequently asked questions
What grades do you need for the University of Aberdeen?
For 2027 entry, many courses ask for BBC or BBB at A-level (for example Psychology and Mechanical Engineering) or BBBB–ABBB at Highers. Medicine asks for AAA including Chemistry, or AAAAB at Higher, plus the UCAT.
How much does Aberdeen cost for international students?
For 2026/27, many courses cost £24,800 a year, reduced to £18,800 for self-funded students by the £6,000 Aberdeen Global Scholarship. Medicine costs £50,100 including the NHS levy.
How much do students from England pay at Aberdeen?
Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland paid £9,790 a year for 2026/27 entry, rising with the government fee cap. Scottish students pay £1,820, usually covered by SAAS.
Is accommodation guaranteed at Aberdeen?
Yes. All new students who accept an offer and apply for accommodation by the deadline are guaranteed an offer.
What IELTS score does Aberdeen require?
The undergraduate standard is IELTS Academic 6.0 overall with 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in the other components. Medicine requires 7.0 overall with 7.0 in speaking.
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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