The University has an excellent reputation in all of its traditional founding disciplines – medicine, law, divinity and engineering. In particular, research excellence is centered around medicine and medical sciences, environmental and life sciences and arts and social sciences. Four Nobel Prizes have been awarded for work carried out or begun at Aberdeen including the joint credit for the invention of the life-saver insulin. The most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) results allocated 10 departments within the University a high rating of 5, marking them as internationally distinguished. 85 per cent of Aberdeen’s academic staff are therefore working in departments that are recognised as centres of national or international excellence. The French Department achieved the only 5* rating for the subject in the UK.

As you would expect of a university dedicated to excellence in teaching and learning, you will be taught by people at the forefront of research in their particular fields. The University of Aberdeen has been praised by the UK Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) for the quality of relationships between students and staff at all levels. 89 per cent of subjects assessed are rated excellent/highly satisfactory, and 85 per cent of academic staff are research active.

The University thrives as an integral part of the economic, industrial and cultural life of north-east Scotland. Strong relationships with industry, major research centres and other leading international universities help ensure that courses are relevant to the requirements of the modern world and students are taught by lecturers who are leading the field in their area of expertise.