Our Location

The beautiful historic setting of the Old Aberdeen campus provides a daily reminder of our proud history and heritage. This hidden gem of Scotland, which was recently named among the Top Ten Most Beautiful Historic Universities in the UK by QS Top Universities website, features numerous architectural treasures including King’s College, with its crown tower and chapel.

Other major attractions include the medieval St Machar’s Cathedral, the Brig o’ Balgownie and the 18th century Old Townhouse, which today houses one the University’s numerous museum collections.

King’s College, University of Aberdeen

New King’s, University of Aberdeen

Brig o’ Balgownie, Old Aberdeen

The Old Aberdeen campus is located about a 20 minute walk from the centre of the city of Aberdeen. Aberdeen is Scotland’s third largest city with a population of 220,000. The city is known for its distinctive granite buildings, which were built from local grey granite rock and its long sandy beaches.

The city is also a major international hub for the Energy industry, particularly oil, gas and renewables and was named the UK’s Happiest City in a 2013 survey due to its rich culture, low unemployment and enviable lifestyle.

Union Street, Aberdeen

Granite City Architecture

Weather

Despite its northern location, Aberdeen is milder than you might expect, with an average temperature of 34-44 ºF in Winter and 50-64 ºF in Summer.

Average Temperatures (Celsius) Aberdeen (Dyce Weather Station), Source: yr.no

Average days with percipitation per month, Aberdeen (Dyce Weather Station), Source: yr.no

Things to do

Aberdeen boasts a wealth of cultural attractions, most notably His Majesty’s Theatre, the Music Hall and the Lemon Tree, which host numerous touring theatre companies and musicians.

Other attractions include Aberdeen Art Gallery, the Maritime Museum and the Tolbooth Museum, one of Aberdeen’s oldest buildings and one of the best-preserved 17th century gaols in Scotland.

Footdee, Aberdeen

The small medieval fishing village of Footdee (pronounced Fittie) can be reached within a 15 minute walk from the city centre. This fascinating community of decorated cottages and gardens provides a reminder of the city’s maritime heritage.

Aberdeen Beach

 

Aberdeen Dolphins

Aberdeen Harbour is one of the best places in Europe to go dolphin watching and the RSPB runs the ‘Dolphinwatch’ Project each summer.

The city also boasts a huge collection of clubs catering for every type of music taste and a fantastic range of restaurants where you can enjoy world class local produce including Aberdeen Angus beef and freshly caught seafood.

Aberdeen Music Hall

The Moorings, Aberdeen

The Tunnels, Aberdeen

Bewdog, Aberdeen

Shopping

The monthly Farmers Market also offers the finest local produce while the quarterly Aberdeen International Street Market features around 70 stalls from all over Europe.

And if you’re looking for a taste of home while studying in Aberdeen, you’ll be pleased to hear that there are a number of shops specialising in international foods from Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.

Union Square Shopping Mall

Castles, Castles Everywhere!

Dunnottar Castle

Aberdeenshire is often referred to as Castle Country and with good reason, as it has more castles per acre than anywhere else in Britain. The stunning Dunnottar Castle offers a spectacular coastal setting and is associated with many famous figures in Scottish history including William Wallace, Mary Queen of Scots and King Charles II. Nearby Balmoral Castle is a private residence of the British Royal Family, however visitors can visit the gardens, an audio visual exhibition and the castle’s famous Ballroom.

Fyvie Castle

Craigevar Castle

The shire also provides a range of attractions for outdoor enthusiasts and wildlife lovers alike including climbing, skinning, snowboarding and walking. A favourable shoreline wind and long line of golden beaches means that the north east of Scotland is a major draw for surfers.

The Royal Aberdeen golf course, the sixth oldest golf club in the world, is believed to be among the best stretches of links golf in the world and is is set to host The Scottish Open in 2014.