University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen is a public university founded in 1495 as King's College, which took its present shape when King's united with Marischal College, founded in 1593, in 1860. It is Scotland's third oldest university.
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One record matters more than any ranking when reading a university page: the Home Office register of student sponsors, which is what permits an institution to issue the CAS a student visa requires. University of Aberdeen is on it. The visa itself is set out at UK visas and immigration.
01
What kind of university is University of Aberdeen?
University of Aberdeen is a public university in Aberdeen, founded in 1495 as King's College, taking its present shape in the 1860 union with Marischal College. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and its historic centre is at Old Aberdeen.
The institution's own pages count five Nobel laureates in its history. The modern landmark is the Sir Duncan Rice Library, opened in 2012, which holds 1.3 million print and digital resources.
02
Which subjects stand out at University of Aberdeen?
The subjects University of Aberdeen is known for are law, medicine, dentistry and health sciences, petroleum, energy and mechanical engineering, business and economics and divinity, history and philosophy. Petroleum and energy engineering comes out of the city's North Sea energy industry.
law
Scots and English law programmes
medicine, dentistry and health sciences
under the life sciences and medicine structure
petroleum, energy and mechanical engineering
tied to the North Sea energy sector
business and economics
taught in the Business School
divinity, history and philosophy
in the faculty of arts and social sciences
biological and environmental sciences
including marine and environmental research
Programmes are searched from the university's own course catalogue, where each page carries the entry requirement, the syllabus and the fee in one place.
03
What are the entry requirements at University of Aberdeen?
University of Aberdeen admits undergraduates on A-Levels, the International Baccalaureate or an equivalent qualification; a Turkish high school diploma alone is not accepted for direct entry. Postgraduate admission rests on a bachelor's degree and each programme publishes its own requirement.
On English language ability the admissions pages take IELTS Academic at 6.0 as the baseline for undergraduate programmes; some departments publish a component score requirement or a higher threshold. Other tests approved by the Home Office are accepted where a programme lists them.
Which documents are required?
Degree certificate and transcript
with a certified English translation
Proof of English
IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT or PTE Academic
Personal statement
your own account of why you chose the course
Reference letter
one at undergraduate level, usually two at postgraduate level
Passport
so the identity details match the application
04
How much are tuition fees at University of Aberdeen?
University of Aberdeen publishes the international tuition fee on each programme's own page; there is no single central tariff. The student visa fee and the annual immigration health surcharge are added on top, and the university offers its own scholarships to international students.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Student visa application (from outside the UK) | £558 |
| Immigration health surcharge (per year) | £776 |
| Maintenance to evidence, outside London (monthly) | £1,171 |
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05
What is campus and student life like in Aberdeen?
Aberdeen is a port city on Scotland's north-east coast known for its granite buildings, and the historic centre of the campus is at Old Aberdeen around King's College. Halls sit around that area, and the city centre is a short journey away.
The city's sand beach is a cycle ride from the campus, and the students' association gathers the sports clubs and societies. Aberdeen Airport is twenty minutes from the city centre.
06
How is an application to University of Aberdeen made?
Undergraduate applications to University of Aberdeen go through UCAS with up to five programme choices, and the equal consideration deadline for 2027 entry is 13 January 2027. Postgraduate and doctoral applications are submitted through the university's own online portal.
- Programme choice: the course catalogue gives the department, the requirement and the fee.
- Documents: transcript, diploma, personal statement, references and English language evidence.
- Submission: UCAS for undergraduate study, the university's portal for postgraduate.
- Offer: conditional or unconditional, with the conditions stated.
- CAS: issued once the offer is accepted and the deposit is paid.
The step after the CAS is the student visa itself, and its published conditions are set out at UK visas and immigration.
How does the application timetable run, month by month?
| Period | Step |
|---|---|
| May–September 2026 | Researching courses, sitting the English test and preparing documents |
| September 2026 | UCAS applications open |
| 15 October 2026 | Deadline for medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, Oxford and Cambridge |
| 13 January 2027 | Equal consideration deadline for undergraduate applications |
| February–May 2027 | University decisions and firming up choices |
| June–August 2027 | Meeting conditions, receiving the CAS and applying for the Student visa |
07
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply to University of Aberdeen directly with a Turkish high school diploma?
A Turkish high school diploma is not accepted on its own for direct entry to an undergraduate programme. Applicants complete a foundation year, or hold A-Levels, the International Baccalaureate or an equivalent qualification.
Which English language tests are accepted?
IELTS Academic is accepted and the level required is published on each programme's page, with 6.0 as the undergraduate baseline. Other tests approved by the Home Office are accepted where a programme lists them.
Does University of Aberdeen issue a CAS for a student visa?
Yes. University of Aberdeen appears on the Home Office register of student sponsors, which is what permits it to issue the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies a student visa application requires.
When is the undergraduate application deadline?
The UCAS equal consideration deadline for 2027 entry is 13 January 2027. Applications arriving after that date are considered where places remain on the programme.
Sources
- University of Aberdeen — Admission requirements, the course catalogue and scholarship information are published on the institution's own pages. — 26 August 2026
- UCAS — The equal consideration deadline for 2027 entry is 13 January 2027 and an undergraduate application carries up to five programme choices.
- GOV.UK — The student visa application fee, the annual immigration health surcharge and the maintenance figure an applicant evidences are published by the Home Office. — 26 August 2026
- Discover Uni — Course-level continuation, outcome and student satisfaction data are published by Discover Uni. — 26 August 2026
