King's College
Aberdeen AB24 3FX

Tel 01224 272 090

sras@abdn.ac.uk

www.abdn.ac.uk

Sunday Times ranking 34= (35)

Teaching excellence 57.9%

Student satisfaction 78.3%

Head teacher ranking 38 (24)

Peer ranking 37= (21)

Research quality 56.9%

A/AS-level/Highers points 308/370

A-levels/Highers for entry 18%/65%

Unemployment 6.4%

Firsts and 2:1s 68.2%

Student/staff ratio 14.2:1

Dropout rate 16% (13%)

World ranking 195

Undergraduates 8,985 (1,111)

Postgraduates 1,846 (1,816)

Teaching staff 685

Applications/places 14,919/2,568; 5.8:1 (+0.3%)

Clearing entry 6%

Bursaries No fees for Scottish students

Scholarships 100+: £1,000-£2,500

EU/overseas 11%/7.3%

Mature 21.5%

State school 84%

Lowest social classes 26%

Low-participation areas 13%

Live in 25% (100%) £61-£124

One of the UK’s oldest universities with a history stretching back more than 500 years, Aberdeen is in the throes of redevelopment to create facilities to carry it through the next century. At the heart of the £228m programme is a new library, which will cater for a population now swollen to 13,500 students from the 5,000 that the present Queen Mother library was designed for.

A health sciences building opened last January, which will allow for research to be carried out into disorders including Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis, urological cancers and sports-related injuries. The Matthew Hay Building, a joint project between the university and the NHS, is the latest facility for teaching clinical and anatomical skills to the next generation of doctors. The training centre will feature a ward area and a simulated baby to teach paediatric skills.

Medicine is one of the subjects upon which the university, then King’s College, was founded. It boasted the first chair of medicine in the English-speaking world, dating from 1497. Today, the university offers more than 550 degree combinations and is part of an international academic community with about 120 nationalities represented on campus and more than 150 links with other universities worldwide.

Among courses introduced this year are four options that incorporate a multidisciplinary global challenges programme, looking at international scientific, social and political challenges such as global warming.

Although entry standards are high, Aberdeen is working hard to diversify its intake. Work begins with children still in primary school. There is also a range of credit-bearing courses at locations across northern Scotland.

Aberdeen is Scotland’s third largest city and, despite its northerly location, enjoys good communications with the rest of Scotland and the UK. The prosperity brought by oil does not make this the cheapest place to study, although with nearly 800 places in student accommodation costing just £60.50 a week, the university is working hard to stretch student finances further. The city boasts a lively nightlife with social facilities further boosted by the recent opening of the Hub, a £8m student centre.

The proximity to the coast and the Grampians makes it a mecca for those with a love of the great outdoors. A £23m sports centre, to be built by the university, the city council and Sportscotland will cater for those who like a more controlled environment.

Open days August 26, 2008.

Student view Angela Fraser, students’ association president:

USP More than 500 years of history.

Worst feature Being poor.

Location In old Aberdeen, green with amazing architecture.

Social scene Aberdeen is big enough for you to get lost in but small enough to meet everybody that you want to.

Rated excellent (11) Cellular and molecular biology; earth, environmental sciences and environmental studies; economics; European languages; French studies; geography; medicine; organismal biology; philosophy; sociology; theology and religious studies.

Degree of student satisfaction 78.3%

English-based studies 86.5; Sociology, Social Policy and Anthropology 86.1; European Languages and Area studies 82.7; Medical Science and Pharmacy 82.3; Physical Science 82.2; Law 82.0; Biology and related Sciences 81.3; History and Archeology 80.0; Philosophy, Theology and Religious studies 79.9; Medicine and Dentistry 79.2; Politics 78.9; Finance and Accounting 77.0; Psychology 76.8; Teacher Training 76.3; Physical Geography and Environmental Science 75.7; Economics 74.6; Management 69.2; Civil, Chemical and other Engineering 65.4

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