Overview
Students who choose to attend Aberdeen will become a part of a diverse and thriving
community that includes five
Nobel Laureates and over 12,000 students from all over the world. The University of Aberdeen has a gorgeous campus
with first-rate facilities. On the main campus, you may find both historic structures and state-of-the-art labs,
computer centers, and libraries equipped with the newest technological advancements. Over 150 sports groups and
societies are available for students to join, and the campus’s social and sporting amenities are top-notch.
About half of the students at the University of Aberdeen specialize in medical, science, or engineering, however the arts and social sciences are also very popular. Aberdeen’s distant location attracts students from all over the world, creating a cosmopolitan setting with students of Scottish and English descent, together with those of 120 other nationalities, making for an intriguing multi-cultural milieu. Aberdeen, home to the University of Aberdeen, was recently ranked as Scotland’s safest University City by the Complete University Guide and offers its graduates some of the top beginning incomes in the country.
History
On 10 February 1494, William Elphinstone, Bishop of Aberdeen, Chancellor of Scotland, and a
graduate of the University
of Glasgow, drafted a proposal on behalf of King James IV to Pope Alexander VI, resulting in a papal bull that
established King’s College, the first university in Aberdeen. James seems to have wanted to provide Scotland the same
number of universities that England did at the time, and for those universities to have the same perks as the
illustrious institutions in Paris and Bologna.
Built in imitation of the University of Paris and designed primarily as a law school, the
institution quickly rose to
prominence as one of the most prestigious educational institutions in all of Scotland, thanks in large part to
Elphinstone and his friend Hector Boece, who was named as the university’s first principal in the year 1500. It was
established to educate civil servants for the Scottish Crown, including attorneys and government officials, as well as
medical professionals, educators, and clergy to serve the people of northern Scotland.
It was a university with a staff of 36 people, including students, and it was enclosed by
walls. The college created the
first medical chair in the Anglophone world in 1497. Particularly at King’s College, the university grew substantially
in the twentieth century. Throughout the 20th century, new buildings were developed on the site around King’s
College.
New King’s lecture rooms and Elphinstone Hall are two examples of such structures that were
originally created to
resemble their historic counterparts. However, beginning in the 1960s, a number of these were replaced by
brutalist-style buildings. In the meanwhile, in the 1930s, medical students were first trained at the Foresterhill
site
adjacent to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
After years of fundraising, in the fall of 2011 a brand new university library (the Sir
Duncan Rice Library) opened on
the King’s College campus to replace the ageing Queen Mother Library. It was formally opened by the Queen in September
2012. Today’s students spend the vast majority of their time in state-of-the-art buildings that boast cutting-edge
classroom, library, and dining hall infrastructure. It’s important to note that King’s College is still making use of
its older facilities as classrooms and offices for various departments.
Location
Aberdeen, where the University of Aberdeen can be found, is a city with a long and storied
history in many fields.
Aberdeen, with a population of about 220,000, is a lovely and friendly metropolis. Aberdeen is sizable enough to be
comparable to other “major cities,” yet small enough to be readily explored on foot.
There is a large choice of museums, galleries, and recreational and sporting facilities all within easy walking distance of student housing in Aberdeen, so the city has something for everyone’s interests in the arts, culture, leisure, and entertainment. Students, in particular, will appreciate the city’s vibrant nightlife. The city of Aberdeen is served by an airport with connections throughout the UK and Europe, while the city’s train station provides direct service to both Edinburgh and London.
Students Statistics
Ranking Achievements
Faculties
Fees & Scholarships
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Postgraduate
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Facilities & Services
Accommodation
University of Aberdeen accommodation services-
First-year undergraduates at the University of Aberdeen are assured a place to
live. The university has recently spent £20 million on brand new dorms, and all residents have free access to wifi
internet.
Depending on your preferences and finances, you can choose between catered and
self-catered housing, and the Student Accommodation Office can help you find private homes in the city using its newly
updated online database designed specifically for students.
Final Words
Aberdeen is a top-tier school with a reputation for excellence in both arts and sciences. Located in the heart of Scotland, it offers one of the best education experiences in all of Europe. When choosing where to study abroad, there is no wrong choice when you look at Aberdeen’s curriculum, facilities, and surrounding city.