As one of the UK and Scotland's top universities for student satisfaction (THE's positivity measure, NSS 2023) our applied learning, strong industry links, state-of-the-art facilities and demand driven courses will ensure you have a fantastic experience at university, while gaining the knowledge and skills required for a successful career.
Learning and Teaching
All of our courses will provide you with practical, hands-on learning and teaching experiences.
- 2nd in Scotland and top 10 in the UK for student satisfaction (THE's positivity measure, NSS 2023)
- 3rd in Scotland and top 10 in the UK for satisfaction with teaching (Guardian University Guide 2024)
- 2nd in Scotland and top 10 in the UK for teaching excellence (Daily Mail University Guide 2024)
- 2nd in Scotland for student support (Daily Mail University Guide 2024)
- 2nd in Scotland* for learning opportunities and assessment and feedback (National Student Survey 2023)
- 2nd in Scotland and top 10 in the UK for teaching quality (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024)
- 3rd in Scotland and top 20 in the UK for student experience (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024)
- Top 3 in Scotland and top 10 in the UK for student satisfaction (Complete University Guide 2024)
- Our Aberdeen Business School was named the Business School of the Year 2020 for their work-based learning, teaching and the innovative approaches of staff (Times Higher Education 2020 Awards)
Employability
Whether you are looking for a job during your studies or after you’ve graduated, or you want to switch or advance your career, we will ensure you are ready to succeed in the world of work.
- 1st in Scotland and 3rd in the UK (excluding small, specialist institutions) for employability and/or further study (HESA Graduate Outcomes 2022)
- 1st in Scotland and 2nd in the UK in the Graduate Employment Rate measure (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022)
- 2nd in Scotland for graduate outcomes: on track (Complete University Guide 2024)
Industry Connections
We continually engage and build upon our industry links to ensure our courses are demand driven, of the highest quality and tailored to meet the current and future needs of employers. Many of our courses will offer you the opportunity to undertake a period of work experience or placement, collaborate with businesses on live projects and attend industry guest lectures and masterclasses, providing you the chance to make connections and network with potential future employers.
- 1st in Scotland and in the top 10 in the UK for good industry connections and high-quality facilities (The Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey 2018)
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
With huge advancements in technology, we will equip you to be much more resilient and adaptable to disruptive changes in the industry. Innovation and entrepreneurship are threaded throughout everything we do, where we will provide you with the transferable skills, enterprising knowledge, attitudes and behaviours to adapt to changes throughout your career.
- Our launch of the RGU Startup Accelerator contributed to our recognition by the Herald Higher Education awards for outstanding business engagement
- Our collaboration with Scotmas Group Ltd to develop a new and innovative method of producing disinfectants without harmful by-products for use in hospitals, water supplies and food production applications, won innovation of the Year at the Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards 2021
Campus
We’ve invested £120 million in the development of our campus including modern, purpose-built facilities, industry standard equipment and dedicated study spaces. You will benefit from these exceptional facilities by undertaking industry-level projects and study in an environment that encourages independence and innovation.
See for yourself and come along to one of our events, take a virtual tour or check us out on Instagram.
Aberdeen City and Shire
Aberdeen is a cosmopolitan, creative and connected place – with people from across the world working and studying here. There is something for everyone, and with over 16,000 students, you will be part of a lively, vibrant, student friendly city with great culture, shops, restaurants, live music, bars and nightlife. Aberdeenshire has a stunning coastline with vast, spectacular sandy beaches and picturesque fishing villages, and with 300 castles, stately homes and ruins dotting its landscape, it is unsurprisingly known as ‘Scotland’s Castle Country’.
- Aberdeen is the happiest city in the UK to live and work in thanks to a number of factors including our low crime rate, a high quality of life and an average monthly salary greater than the UK average (Shawbrook Bank 2021)
- Aberdeen is 1st in the UK for affordability thanks to our lower living costs (QS Best Student Cities 2023)
- Aberdeen has retained its Purple Flag status for the city’s evening and night-time economy for the 10th year in a row and is the only city in Scotland to achieve this. Areas awarded the Purple Flag standard are recognised for providing a vibrant and diverse mix of dining, entertainment and culture, while promoting the safety and wellbeing of visitors and local residents
- 1st in Scotland and 4th in UK for most affordable rent prices of a coastal university (UniHomes 2021)
- Aberdeenshire has been named as the best holiday destination in the world for 2023 (Good Housekeeping Magazine 2022)
- Aberdeen has been awarded nine Green Flag Awards by environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful in recognition of its quality open spaces
- Aberdeen is top 5 in the UK for desirability (QS Best Student Cities 2024)
- Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire have been named as the best places to live in Great Britain (HomeViews 2023)
- Aberdeen has won a medal in either Britain in Bloom or Beautiful Scotland every year since 2008 and has been award-winning in the competitions since 1964
Subject Rankings
We teach over 300 courses, covering a wide range of subjects. Find out more about our highly ranked courses:
Accounting and Finance
- 1st in Scotland for satisfaction with teaching in Accounting and Finance (Guardian University Guide 2024)
- 1st in Scotland for student satisfaction in Accounting and Finance (Complete University Guide 2024)
- 1st in Scotland and top 5 in the UK for teaching quality in Accounting and Finance (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024)
- 1st in Scotland and top 5 in the UK for student experience in Accounting and Finance (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024)
- 2nd in Scotland* for overall student satisfaction in Accounting (National Student Survey 2023)
Architecture, Construction and Surveying
- 1st in Scotland* for overall student satisfaction in Architecture, Building and Planning (National Student Survey 2023)
- 2nd in the UK for satisfaction with teaching in Construction, Surveying and Planning (Guardian University Guide 2024)
- 1st in Scotland and top 5 in the UK for teaching quality in Architecture (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024)
- 1st in Scotland for student satisfaction in Architecture (Complete University Guide 2024)
- 1st in Scotland for student satisfaction in Building (Complete University Guide 2024)
- 1st in the UK for teaching quality in Building (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024)
- 3rd in Scotland and top 10 in the UK overall for Building (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024)
- 1st in Scotland for career prospects in Construction, Surveying and Planning (Guardian University Guide 2024)
Art and Design
- 1st in Scotland and 3rd in the UK for student satisfaction in Art and Design (Complete University Guide 2024)
- 1st in Scotland* for overall student satisfaction in Art (National Student Survey 2023)
- 1st in Scotland and top 3 in the UK for teaching quality in Art and Design (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024)
- 1st in the UK for satisfaction with teaching in Fine Art (Guardian University Guide 2024)
- 1st in the UK for satisfaction with assessment in Fine Art (Guardian University Guide 2024)
- 2nd in Scotland* for overall student satisfaction in Design Studies (National Student Survey 2023)
- 2nd in the UK for satisfaction with teaching in Product Design (Guardian University Guide 2024)
- 1st in the UK for satisfaction with assessment in Product Design (Guardian University Guide 2024)
Business and Management
- 1st in Scotland* for overall student satisfaction in Business and Management (National Student Survey 2023)
- 2nd in Scotland for satisfaction with teaching in Business & Management (Guardian University Guide 2024)
- 2nd in Scotland for student satisfaction in Business and Management Studies (Complete University Guide 2024)
- Top 10 in the UK for teaching quality in Business, Management and Marketing (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024)
Communication, Media and Marketing
- 2nd in Scotland for career prospects in Media (Guardian University Guide 2024)
- 2nd in Scotland* for overall student satisfaction in Journalism (National Student Survey 2023)
- Top 3 in Scotland* for overall satisfaction in Media Studies (National Student Survey 2023)
COMPUTING
- Top 3 in Scotland* for overall student satisfaction in Computing (National Student Survey 2023)
- Top 3 in Scotland for student satisfaction in Computer Science (Complete University Guide 2024)
- Top 3 in Scotland for satisfaction with assessment in Computer Science and Information Systems (Guardian University Guide 2024)
ENGINEERING
- Top 3 in Scotland for student satisfaction in Mechanical Engineering (Complete University Guide 2024)
- Top 3 in Scotland for satisfaction with teaching in Mechanical Engineering (Guardian University Guide 2024)
- 2nd in Scotland and top 20 in the UK for teaching quality in Mechanical Engineering (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024)
Events, Tourism and Hospitality
- 2nd in the UK for teaching quality in Hospitality, Leisure, Recreation and Tourism (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024)
- 1st in Scotland and top 5 in the UK for student experience in Hospitality, Leisure, Recreation and Tourism (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024)
- 1st in Scotland for satisfaction with teaching in Hospitality, Event Management and Tourism (Guardian University Guide 2024)
- 1st in Scotland* for overall student satisfaction in Tourism, Transport and Travel (National Student Survey 2023)
- 1st in Scotland for student satisfaction in Tourism, Travel, Transport and Heritage Studies (Complete University Guide 2024)
Health and Sport Sciences
- 1st in the UK overall for Physiotherapy (Guardian University Guide 2024)
- 1st in the UK for career prospects in Physiotherapy (Guardian University Guide 2024)
- 1st in the UK for student satisfaction in Physiotherapy (Complete University Guide 2024)
- 1st in the UK for teaching quality in Physiotherapy (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024)
- 2nd in Scotland* for overall student satisfaction in Sport and Exercise Sciences (National Student Survey 2023)
- 2nd in Scotland for graduate prospects: outcomes in Counselling, Psychotherapy and Occupational Therapy (Complete University Guide 2024)
- Top 3 in Scotland for graduate prospects in Medical Technology and Bioengineering: outcomes (Complete University Guide 2024)
- Top 10 in the UK overall for Radiography (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024)
Law
- 1st in Scotland for satisfaction with teaching in Law (Guardian University Guide 2024)
Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedic Practice
- 1st in Scotland for graduate prospects in Nursing: on track (Complete University Guide 2024)
- 1st in Scotland* for Children's Nursing (National Student Survey 2023)
- 2nd in the UK for career prospects in Midwifery (Guardian University Guide 2024)
- 1st in Scotland for career prospects in Health Professions (Guardian University Guide 2024)
- 2nd in Scotland* for overall student satisfaction in Midwifery (National Student Survey 2023)
Pharmacy and Life Sciences
- 1st in Scotland for overall student satisfaction in Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy (National Student Survey 2023)
- 1st in Scotland for teaching quality in Archaeology and Forensic Science (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024)
- Top 10 in the UK overall for Forensic Science (Guardian University Guide 2024)
- 1st in Scotland for career prospects in Pharmacy and Pharmacology (Guardian University Guide 2024)
- 1st in the UK for graduate prospects in Biological Science (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024)
- 1st in Scotland for career prospects in Biomedical Sciences (Guardian University Guide 2024)
- 1st in Scotland and the UK* for graduate prospects: on outcomes in Forensic Science (Complete University Guide 2024, *excludes small and specialist institutions)
- 1st in Scotland and 2nd in the UK* for graduate prospects: on outcomes in Food Science (Complete University Guide 2024, *excludes small and specialist institutions)
Social Studies
- 1st in Scotland* for overall student satisfaction in Social Sciences (National Student Survey 2023)
- 2nd in the UK for teaching quality in Social Work (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024)
- Top 10 in the UK for satisfaction with teaching in Social Work (Guardian University Guide 2024)
- 1st in Scotland for student satisfaction in Social Work (Complete University Guide 2024)
- 1st in Scotland for career prospects in Social Work (Guardian University Guide 2024)
- 1st in Scotland for satisfaction with assessment in Social Work (Guardian University Guide 2024)
- 2nd in Scotland* for overall student satisfaction in Social Work (National Student Survey 2023)
- 1st in Scotland and top 10 in the UK for student experience in Sociology (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024)
*Excludes colleges, small, specialist and private providers.
Key Statistics
- 18,000 students from 152 countries
- 11,000 undergraduate students
- 7,000 postgraduate students