The focal point of higher education in Scotland’s North East, Aberdeen is home to two historic universities that buzz with all the creative energy and ambition one should from expect from a student city. Whilst the Robert Gordon University started out life as an 18th century educational institution, it is actually the much younger of Aberdeen’s universities gaining full university status as late as 1992. Nevertheless, it is one of the best modern universities in the whole of the United Kingdom according to the Guardian and the Times university guides, and is situated in a vibrant, charming city.
Are you a prospective student? Well then here is all you need to know.
Entry Standards
Entry standards will vary depending on the course you elect to study at RGU but typical requirements are BCC at A Level or BBBB for Scottish Highers. There are certain courses that demand particular A Levels or GCSES (or equivalent) although full details can be found by downloading the university’s prospectus.
Come the summer, if you find you have narrowly missed out on the require grades then call the admissions department at RGU as there is a chance they will be prepared to accept you onto the course with slightly lower grades.
Academic, Research and Teaching
RGU’s strengths lie in its vocational teaching and each course is made up of a well balanced mix of academic study and practical experience. There is plenty of opportunity to participate in work placements or projects aligned with real businesses. Moreover, each course is designed in close consultation with relevant professional bodies and many carry accreditations.
RGU also prides itself on a commitment to research of high value and high impact, with a particular focus in areas including oil and gas, big data, culture and remote healthcare. Architecture, engineering, the environmental sciences, nursing and midwifery are also areas of high value research. Over the past two to three years the university has been noted for its excellent research in dentistry, pharmacy and general engineering.
The teaching standard across the university is high, with overall student satisfaction standing at 87%.
Student Facilities
The fact that RGU is a relatively young university means that many of its facilities are new and several are state of the art. The Green Screen Suite is just one example of such a facility, housing high-tech television and radio studios. There is also a Clinical Skills Centre that rates amongst the best in the country and the Library Tower, which opened in 2013, is equipped with over 250 workstations, full WiFi capability and a number of quiet spaces to work and study.
Sport
At the centre of the RGU campus lies RGU: SPORT, a multi-functional sports centre home to a nine-badminton sports hall, a state of the art fitness, strength and conditioning suite, a six lane 25m swimming pool and a 11m high climbing wall.
Moreover, there is an international diving pool, a 400m track, a full indoor sized football pitches, hockey, tennis and squash courts as well as exercise studios and a gym located in Aberdeen’s Sports Village. The centre is open all year round and is home to dozens of student sports societies.
Accommodation
The university itself provides a number of halls of residence, where utilities, access to cooking facilities, cleaning and internet access are provided as part of the rent although these are typically only available to first year students. Alternatively, a search for ‘student accommodation Aberdeen University’ will put you in touch with private halls in Aberdeen or a number of private landlords.
Your first year at university is a great opportunity to meet and live with an entire new group of people. Living in halls of residence, whether they are university owned or private is certainly the best way to go about doing this!
Nightlife
Students and the general public flock to Aberdeen from across Scotland’s North East for its eclectic range of nightclubs, bars, clubs and restaurants. Being the largest city in the North East, it attracts a number of well-known DJs, artists and bands from across the country. There’s also a vibrant LGBT scene, which centres on Cheerz, the city’s leading gay nightclub.
