Aberdeen Student Guide
The city of Aberdeen is Scotland’s third most populous city and is home to a student population of over 29,000.
Nightlife
The high volume of students and young people in the city means there is no shortage of options for a night out. Belmont Street and Union Street are the destinations of choice for a lively night out and feature many live music venues, bars and clubs.
Snafu is a small nightclub on Union Street and is popular most days of the week. Wednesdays are particularly popular with students and the drinks are cheap! Snafu has a reputation for pushing the best up-and-coming DJ’s and nurturing local talent, so keep an eye on their website so as not to miss out.
Life Entertainment
There are four main venues in Aberdeen for live performance and concerts. The Music Hall hosts a variety of concerts and performances, from classical concerts to contemporary theatre and comedy. The Lemon Tree is located on West North Street and provides Aberdeen with an excellent alternative entertainment scene. The venue includes ‘The Lounge’, where bands and comedians perform, as well as ‘The Studio’, which is more of an intimate performance space and showcases theatre and dance productions.
Shopping
Shoppers in Aberdeen can take refuge in one of the four main shopping areas in the city. Bon Accord and St Nicholas Centre is a large shopping centre in the heart of the city and is home to over 65 shops. The centre offers a range of high street names as well as smaller boutiques and specialised stores. Union Square is on Guild Street and features a similar selection of high street brands as well as a cinema and restaurants. Union Square often offers discounts for students at many of the shops and restaurants so don’t forget your NUS card!
Where Can I Study in Aberdeen?
Aberdeen is home to two universities: the University of Aberdeen and Robert Gordon University.
Robert Gordon University is the largest of the universities in terms and student population and provides places of study to over 15,000 students every year. The university was granted university status in 1992 and has a reputation for linking its courses with businesses to provide students with easier access to employment after graduation.
Robert Gordon University is divided into two campuses: the Garthdee Campus and the City Centre Campus. The Garthdee has seen a number of investments in recent years and the university plans to move all of the faculties and departments from City Centre Campus to Garthdee within the next ten years. In 2012, The Complete University Guide listed Robert Gordon University as 51st in the national league tables.
The University of Aberdeen is home to over 13,000 students and can be found in the centre of the city. The university is the third oldest university in Scotland and the fifth oldest in the UK. The university is divided into three colleges: College of Arts and Social Sciences, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, and the College of Physical Sciences. The colleges are then separated into a number of schools and institutions.
Kings College is a campus 2 miles from the centre of the city and covers an area of 35 hectares, forming two-thirds of the university’s estate. The university site at Foresthill is home to the university’s medical school and library. Aberdeen University has a strong reputation for academic excellence and performs consistently.
In 2012, The Complete University Guide placed Aberdeen University 46th in the national league tables. The university is particularly noted for its studies in the fields of natural sciences, technology and law.
Should I Study in Aberdeen?
A student’s honest opinion
“If you’re coming from the south of England, I recommend flying here. Taking the car up here takes ages! However, once you get up here, it’s lovely. Aberdeen is on the east coast of Scotland and when it’s not too windy, a walk along the beachfront is really nice.
There’s a nice friendly atmosphere here and Aberdeen caters for everything I want- cinemas, restaurants, cafes, bars, clubs, museums, galleries, parks-you name it, Aberdeen has it!” – Elise, 21