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Scotland’s third-largest city after Glasgow and Edinburgh, Aberdeen is nicknamed ‘The Granite City’ for its frequent use of local gray granite across its buildings. A historical port city, Aberdeen climbs five places this year to rank 71st in the world.
Aberdeen’s frequently been ranked as one of the happiest and most liveable cities in the UK, and, while it’s colder than much of the rest of the UK, it’s also one of Scotland’s sunniest cities.
Aberdeen’s been well-received by its current students, who commented in our survey that “Everything is very student-friendly” and it has a “Friendly atmosphere, very low crime rate, and pleasant weather”. One student noted, “you feel safe wherever you are.”
Regardless of which university you might prefer, there's a lot more to Aberdeen than granite buildings and a historical port. Let's take a look at some specifics.
To find out how each of the above categories is calculated, view the methodology.
Why study in Aberdeen?
Low cost of living
In comparison to other UK cities, such as London and Brighton, Aberdeen has a low cost of living, despite its average performance in the affordability indicator.
Vibrant nightlife
The city is one of the only two places in Scotland that has earned the Purple Flag award, signifying that the city’s nightlife is entertaining, diverse and safe.
Historic landscape
The University of Aberdeen was founded in 1495 and is the third oldest university in Scotland. Aberdeenshire itself contains castles that were used as inspiration for Dracula.
Plenty of culture
With museums, theatre, festivals, and galleries, there’s always plenty to do in Aberdeen.
Cost of studying in Aberdeen
While the city can’t be called cheap to live in compared to other cities around the world, it does have the best score for affordability in the UK, thanks to lower living costs than other British destinations.
For example, the average cost of accommodation (a one-bedroom apartment) in Aberdeen is £607 (approximately US$787 per month compared to Manchester where the average cost is £823 (approximately US$1,067) per month.
Big enough to get the ‘big city’ study experience and have plenty to do, but not so large that it’s overwhelming, Aberdeen offers the ideal spot for mixing vibrant city life with exploring miles of nearby countryside and coastlines.
While Aberdeen’s position in the north-east makes it quite remote, it’s also very well-connected to other cities in the UK, with extensive air and rail links.
Aberdeen is the educational center of northeastern Scotland, and there’s a large population of students (about 22,500) from a variety of nationalities – 132 are represented at Robert Gordon University, which helps to give the city its strong score for student mix in our best cities ranking.
Careers in Aberdeen
There are plenty of opportunities for students and graduates to find work in Aberdeen. The city’s been praised for its flourishing economy, with Paymentsense recently naming Aberdeen as the best place in the UK to launch a business start-up, thanks to its strong roots in industries such as fishing, textiles, and shipbuilding.
Those looking to stay in the UK after university can apply for a post study visa (PSA) which allows you to stay in the UK and look for work related to your degree for up to two years after graduation.
The former Assistant Editor of TopUniversities.com, Sabrina wrote and edited articles to guide students from around the world on a wide range of topics. She has a bachelor's degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from Aberystwyth University and grew up in Staffordshire, UK.
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Study in Aberdeen
Sabrina Collier
Updated Jun 18, 2024Save
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QS Best Student Cities ranking: 71st
Scotland’s third-largest city after Glasgow and Edinburgh, Aberdeen is nicknamed ‘The Granite City’ for its frequent use of local gray granite across its buildings. A historical port city, Aberdeen climbs five places this year to rank 71st in the world.
Aberdeen’s frequently been ranked as one of the happiest and most liveable cities in the UK, and, while it’s colder than much of the rest of the UK, it’s also one of Scotland’s sunniest cities.
Aberdeen’s been well-received by its current students, who commented in our survey that “Everything is very student-friendly” and it has a “Friendly atmosphere, very low crime rate, and pleasant weather”. One student noted, “you feel safe wherever you are.”
Top universities in Aberdeen
More about Aberdeen
Regardless of which university you might prefer, there's a lot more to Aberdeen than granite buildings and a historical port. Let's take a look at some specifics.
Number of universities ranked by QS
2
Highest-ranked institution
University of Aberdeen (ranked =236th)
Population
490,000
Average international fees (at ranked unis)
US$17,500
Desirability rank
60th
Employer Activity rank
=125th
Affordability rank
=75th
Student View rank
63rd
To find out how each of the above categories is calculated, view the methodology.
Why study in Aberdeen?
Low cost of living
In comparison to other UK cities, such as London and Brighton, Aberdeen has a low cost of living, despite its average performance in the affordability indicator.
Vibrant nightlife
The city is one of the only two places in Scotland that has earned the Purple Flag award, signifying that the city’s nightlife is entertaining, diverse and safe.
Historic landscape
The University of Aberdeen was founded in 1495 and is the third oldest university in Scotland. Aberdeenshire itself contains castles that were used as inspiration for Dracula.
Plenty of culture
With museums, theatre, festivals, and galleries, there’s always plenty to do in Aberdeen.
Cost of studying in Aberdeen
While the city can’t be called cheap to live in compared to other cities around the world, it does have the best score for affordability in the UK, thanks to lower living costs than other British destinations.
For example, the average cost of accommodation (a one-bedroom apartment) in Aberdeen is £607 (approximately US$787 per month compared to Manchester where the average cost is £823 (approximately US$1,067) per month.
Testimonials
Life & culture in Aberdeen
Big enough to get the ‘big city’ study experience and have plenty to do, but not so large that it’s overwhelming, Aberdeen offers the ideal spot for mixing vibrant city life with exploring miles of nearby countryside and coastlines.
While Aberdeen’s position in the north-east makes it quite remote, it’s also very well-connected to other cities in the UK, with extensive air and rail links.
Aberdeen is the educational center of northeastern Scotland, and there’s a large population of students (about 22,500) from a variety of nationalities – 132 are represented at Robert Gordon University, which helps to give the city its strong score for student mix in our best cities ranking.
Careers in Aberdeen
There are plenty of opportunities for students and graduates to find work in Aberdeen. The city’s been praised for its flourishing economy, with Paymentsense recently naming Aberdeen as the best place in the UK to launch a business start-up, thanks to its strong roots in industries such as fishing, textiles, and shipbuilding.
Those looking to stay in the UK after university can apply for a post study visa (PSA) which allows you to stay in the UK and look for work related to your degree for up to two years after graduation.
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The former Assistant Editor of TopUniversities.com, Sabrina wrote and edited articles to guide students from around the world on a wide range of topics. She has a bachelor's degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from Aberystwyth University and grew up in Staffordshire, UK.
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