University of Aberdeen

The University of Aberdeen is a globally renowned British institution founded in 1495 by William Elphinstone. It was initially established as King’s College and was a training ground for doctors, teachers, and clergy for Scottish communities, lawyers, and administrators to represent the Scottish Crown. Marischal College was created in 1593 by George Keith IV Earl Marischal. The two colleges merged in 1860 to create what is now known as Aberdeen University.

The three campuses of the University include Old Aberdeen and Foresterhill campuses in Scotland, and an international campus in Doha, Qatar. It also has an Alliance with Curtin University in Perth, Australia, and Partnerships in Sri Lanka. 

The University's Old Aberdeen Campus is its beating heart. This campus is dominated by King's College, which is part of the Old Aberdeen. It houses the Schools of Arts, Social Sciences, and Physical Sciences, which are all fitted with world-class systems and facilities. The School of Medicine and Dentistry, as well as the School of Medical Sciences, are situated on the Foresterhill Campus. It is jointly owned by the NHS Grampian and the University itself and it offers high-quality health care, education, and research. 

Aberdeen’s expertise in dentistry, medicine, sports science, theology, divinity and religious studies, anthropology, archaeology and agriculture, zoology, marine biology, plant and soil science, physiology, ecology, and conservation is globally recognized. It is also one of the few universities with doctoral programs in plant and soil science, as well as world-class studies on mammals, birds, fish, and invertebrates.

• The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2019) designated the University of Aberdeen as the Scottish University of the Year, citing outstanding results in teaching and learning efficiency, degree outcomes, and graduate prospects. 
• Experiential learning is offered in the majority of Aberdeen courses to ensure that students gain practical knowledge, skills, and exposure to a range of viewpoints. They are also professionally accredited and taught by top experts, therefore resulting in a high rate of employability.
• About 75% of the research carried out at Aberdeen is rated as world-leading having a profound impact both locally and internationally. It was awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for its world-class health services research in 2018.
• Its campuses are home to thousands of international students and staff, therefore offering a great diversity of people, languages, and cultures.
• Aberdeen is a fascinating city with a diverse range of activities. Aberdeenshire is known for its ancient castles, rivers, and mountains, as well as its miles-long coastline, and it has everything from busy pubs, restaurants, and coffee shops to quiet respites of museums and galleries.

• Career Opportunities: The Career and Employability Service helps students make the best career choices possible. They offer advice and suggestions on career planning as well as encouraging students to use a range of career planning resources to explore their career opportunities while acquiring transferable skills. Students even have access to a variety of options, like vacation work and part-time jobs, volunteering, internships and placements, work-based projects, graduate roles.

Students can get help with their CVs, cover letters, application forms, personal statements, and interviews. Furthermore, those pursuing higher education may be eligible for the study and research opportunities, as well as research funding. In addition, the University offers a technical Careers Program for the remainder of their lives to assist them in seeking jobs.

• Success Rate: Graduate employability is a priority at Aberdeen, with 96.6 %of graduates finding jobs or continuing their education within six months of graduating.

Notable Alumni: The University of Aberdeen has a significant number of graduates employed in a range of sectors all over the world.

Some of these include five Nobel laureates and others like:

• Joanna Gill (Award-winning composer) 
• Adaku Ufere (Multi-award winning Deputy Chief of Party of the West Africa Energy Program in Accra, Ghana)
• Laura Main (Actress known for her role in BBC’s ‘Call the Midwife’)
• Zoey Clark (Professional athlete and World Championship Medallist)
• Rami Okasha (Chief Executive of The Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS))
• Dr. Amy Coatsee (Threatened Species Biologist at Zoos Victoria)
• JJR Macleod (Awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine)
• Reverend Mary Whittaker (Scotland’s First Deaf Minister)
• John Boyd Orr (Scientist, Nobel Prize laureate)

• Student Service: The Student Advice and Support Office addresses personal, academic, and financial problems, disabilities and unique learning challenges, visas and immigration issues, mental health and wellbeing. They also provide students with a personal mentor to assist them with graduate attributes achievement, employability, co-curricular opportunities and feedback, overall study and progress considerations, and accreditation.
• Accommodation: A variety of self-catering and catered options are conveniently situated between the campus and the city centre for students. Although on-campus housing options include Keith House, Wavell House, Elphinstone Road Flats, Hector Boece Court, Grant Court, Fyfe House, South House, North Court, Adam Smith House, New Carnegie Court, and Kings Hall, students can also look for private residences in and around the area.
• Health Services: Together all, is a programme that supports students who are looking for assistance and support. Peer and clinical assistance, as well as self-management resources, are often available for problems such as violence, addiction, anger issues, anxiety, bereavement, bullying, crisis, depression, eating disorders, family issues, general issues, wellbeing, HIV/AIDS, mental health, post-traumatic stress, and relationship issues, self-harm, sleep, social anxiety and stress. The University also offers free access to the Feeling Good App, which teaches students how to control their minds, helping them to be more emotionally resilient.
• Sports Facilities: The most prestigious sports complex in Scotland is the Aberdeen Sports Village and Aquatic Centre. A FIFA-approved football field, an IAAF-approved indoor athletics area, multi-purpose sports rooms, fitness suites, gymnasiums, an outdoor athletics area, a hockey pitch, a well-being centre, sauna and steam room, as well as spaces for a crèche, café, and spectator seating are some of the high-class sports facilities available to the students, staff and the public.
• Library Services: The Sir Duncan Rice Library is one of the UK’s largest libraries proving an excellent learning environment. Specialist subject resources and research spaces are also available at the Foresterhill Campus's Taylor Library for Law and the Medical Library. These libraries have more than 1.3 million books and online tools, as well as study spaces, community work areas, assistive technology booths, and exhibit galleries, as well as tours and seminars to help students improve their study skills.
• Social Clubs: Aberdeen University Students Union (AUSA) has over 150 Societies, Clubs, Boards, and Campaigns to choose from. Departmental, cultural, religious, reform, creative arts, and general interest societies, sports clubs, student media and Raising and Giving (RAG) are among AUSA's societies.