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.

While the city can’t be called cheap to live in compared to other cities around the world, it does out-perform many other UK cities for affordability, 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.

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.