About the University

The University of Aberdeen is Scotland's 3rd oldest and the UK's 5th oldest university, having been founded in 1495 by William Elphinstone, Bishop of Aberdeen and Chancellor of Scotland. King's College was founded by William Elphinstone to educate and train doctors, teachers, and clergy for the people of northern Scotland, as well as attorneys and administrators for the Scottish Crown. Much of the King's College, as well as the Bishop's traditions, are still in place today. George Keith, 4th Earl Marischal, built a second, Post-Reformation university in the heart of Aberdeen's New Town in 1593. In 1860, the current University of Aberdeen was formed by the merger of King's College and Marischal College. The university is proudly affiliated with Aurora, Association of Commonwealth Universities, Universities Scotland, Universities UK, University of the Arctic and EUA. The University of Aberdeen has moved up 20 places in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2022, putting it within the top 200 universities in the world. Aberdeen is rated 158th in the world, 22nd in the United Kingdom, and one of three Scottish institutions within the top 200 universities in the world. The University has climbed up to the top 30 in the United Kingdom for Teaching and Research, as well as 16th in the United Kingdom and 91st internationally for Citations, a measure of research impact. In addition, the university is ranked #205 in the QS World University Rankings 2022. Furthermore, the Guardian League Tables 2022 and The Complete University Guide University League Tables 2022 have ranked University of Aberdeen #38 and #20 in national rankings, respectively. Campus, Courses and InfrastructureThe university has 2 campuses. Their King's College campus in Old Aberdeen is the university's historic core, while their Foresterhill campus houses many of the university's Life Sciences and Medicine facilities. Their Old Aberdeen and Foresterhill campuses are the primary locations for teaching and research. Old Aberdeen is home to the Arts, Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, and the main University library. In Doha, Qatar, the university also has an international campus. Having said that, the university has more than 550 different undergraduate degree programmes and more than 120 postgraduate taught programmes.Accomplishments and AlumniThe Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide selected the University of Aberdeen the Scottish University of the Year for 2019. In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, almost 75% of the University's research was categorised as "world-leading" or "internationally excellent." Divinity and Religious Studies, which is rated equal 25th in the world and 7th in the UK, is the subject with the highest worldwide ranking. It also has a strong reputation for medical research, with several of its topics, such as Accounting & Finance, Civil Engineering, Computing Science, Dentistry, Education, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Law, Medicine, Linguistics, and others, ranking in the top 10 in the UK. Aberdeen University has a large and illustrious alumni network. Many prominent persons studied, taught, and worked at the institution, including George Wishart, Alastair Darling, Gilbert Burnet, Patrick Manson, Frederick Soddy, and John Boyd Orr.Student Diversity and Visiting CompaniesThe University of Aberdeen strives to create a welcome and safe environment. We were formed in 1495 on the principles of openness and dedication to the pursuit of truth in the service of others. That goal remains the same, and we continue to strive for a more inclusive community. The university believes in equality, diversity, and inclusion. The University of Aberdeen has around 15,000 students, including foreign students who are enrolled in undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes.