A new GBP half million microscope capable of looking at objects only slightly bigger than an atom has been officially unveiled at the University of Aberdeen. The scanning electron microscope is one of the best in Scotland and works using electrons instead of light.

It can be used to scan everything from rocks and metal to fungi and archaeological artefacts, magnifying them up to a million times.

There are a number of different detectors on the microscope. Several are used for high-resolution imaging at the scale of millimetres to nanometres which can be used, for example, to image the eyes of flies, or grains of sand in sandstone.

Housed in a new facility called the Aberdeen Centre for Electron Microscopy, Analysis and Characterisation (ACEMAC), the microscope is supported by technicians who are highly skilled in both physical science applications, including geosciences, engineering and chemistry, as well as the biosciences and biomedical research.

As a teaching resource, it is possible to transmit live scans remotely to lecture theatres, allowing students a fully interactive experience.

More about this…

Overseas Learning Opportunities

The University of Aberdeen has signed a partnership with the International Institute of Health Sciences in Sri Lanka to improve accessibility to medical education via the Sri Lankan Medical Pathway. Aberdeen has one of the biggest health campuses in Europe and this is where years 1-3 are delivered, with years 4-5 based in Sir Lanka.

Research News

The University of Aberdeen, as a core member of the Supergen ORE Hub, has been awarded GBP 4 million extra funding to progress the UK’s lead in global research and innovation in the offshore renewable energy industry. The collaborative hub was created a year ago to provide interdisciplinary research between all stakeholders, including academics, in the offshore, wave and tidal industries.

Open Days

The University of Aberdeen’s next Open Day is scheduled for 27^th August 2019 and is open for bookings. There will be a full programme of talks and tours of the facilities, which include the Sir Duncan Rice Library, Aberdeen Sports Village, Hillhead Student Village and the beautiful medieval campus.

Flexible Online Learning Department

The University of Aberdeen launched an ‘on demand’ learning platform of flexible short courses. The courses offer students the opportunity to: achieve a postgraduate qualification, study a module or short course, access free short course, or take an Access Course as a step up to university-level study. These courses add to the University of Aberdeen’s international foundation programmes.

Research News

Dr Tara Marshall presented a report to Fisheries Innovation Scotland which highlighted that, although the North Sea is warming, there is still time to adapt to changes in fish growth and stock distribution.

Researchers from Aberdeen and Oxford have recommended that partial knee replacements are as good as total knee replacements, whilst being more cost effective. They could save the NHS GBP 30 million per year. Find out more about what is happening at the University of Aberdeen by visiting the university website.

Open Days

There is a Postgraduate Open Day on 7^th November 2019.

Aberdeen offer an open door policy throughout the year for any prospective students unable to attend an open day. Students can enjoy a tour of the campus, meet academics, see facilities and ask current students about their experience of studying at Aberdeen.

International students can experience the university without having to travel. The University of Aberdeen tours around the world throughout the year and offers virtual open days. Additionally, there are university staff available for students to chat to at any time online.

One of the primary objectives of higher education in Scotland is to provide a high quality student experience. The Centre for Academic Development supports the University in its activities in this area with a wide range of teaching enhancement activities aimed at supporting staff, many of which tie in to the wider national Scottish Enhancement Themes.

The Centre's Educational Development Advisers are involved in a range of activities, including the University's Principles of Learning and Teaching in Higher Education.

The University also achieved...

• 88% for ‘Overall Teaching Satisfaction’ in the National Student Survey (NSS 2017)

• 1^st rank in Scotland for ‘Student Satisfaction’ (NSS 2017)
  • Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology
  • Medicine
  • Music
  • German
  • Scandinavian Studies
  • Philosophy
  • Film and Visual Culture

• 1^st place in the UK
  • Civil Engineering
  • Physical Geography

• 3^rd place in the UK for ‘Teaching Quality’ (NSS 2017)
  • Medicine

• 4^th in the UK Economics for ‘Student Satisfaction’ (NSS 2017)

It is the UK Top 10 for teaching quality ‘Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017’ in

• Anthropology
• Economics
• History of Art
• Medicine

One of the primary objectives of higher education in Scotland is to provide a high quality student experience. The Centre for Academic Development supports the University in its activities in this area with a wide range of teaching enhancement activities aimed at supporting staff, many of which tie in to the wider national Scottish Enhancement Themes.

The Centre's Educational Development Advisers are involved in a range of activities, including the University's Principles of Learning and Teaching in Higher Education.

The University also achieved...

• 88% for ‘Overall Teaching Satisfaction’ in the National Student Survey (NSS 2017)

• 1^st rank in Scotland for ‘Student Satisfaction’ (NSS 2017)
  • Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology
  • Medicine
  • Music
  • German
  • Scandinavian Studies
  • Philosophy
  • Film and Visual Culture

• 1^st place in the UK
  • Civil Engineering
  • Physical Geography

• 3^rd place in the UK for ‘Teaching Quality’ (NSS 2017)
  • Medicine

• 4^th in the UK Economics for ‘Student Satisfaction’ (NSS 2017)

It is the UK Top 10 for teaching quality ‘Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017’ in

• Anthropology
• Economics
• History of Art
• Medicine

The University of Aberdeen has a history of excellent teaching across a range of disciplines and attracts international academics and staff with impressive portfolios and professional backgrounds.

Research-led, interdisciplinary teaching gives students the vital skills to succeed after university. Many of Aberdeen’s programmes come with professional accreditations and are co-designed by industry advisory boards to meet industry needs, both now and in the future.

The University of Aberdeen’s teaching quality has been recognised with the following achievements and awards:

1. The Scottish University of the Year 2019 (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019)
2. The Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher Education (2018) for world leading health research
3. The Guardian University Guide 2020:
   • 5^th overall in Scotland
   • 1^st in the UK for dentistry
   • 2^nd in the UK for medicine
   • 4^th in the UK for anthropology
   • 7^th in the UK for sociology
   • 9^th in the UK for law
4. The National Student Survey (NSS 2019)
   • 87% for overall teaching satisfaction
   • Library resources are ranked 4^th in the UK
   • Learning resources are ranked 6^th in the UK
   • 100% for student satisfaction in: genetics, history of art, mathematics, sport and exercise sciences.
   • 96% for student satisfaction in zoology, and 94% for satisfaction in dentistry, and pharmacology.
5. It is ranked The Complete University Guide 2020:
   • 4^th overall in Scotland
   • 2^nd in the UK for sports science
   • 3^rd in the UK for linguistics
   • 7^th in the UK for general engineering
   • 8^th in the UK for education
   • 9^th in the UK for civil engineering and law
6. 76% of research has been rated as ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ (REF 2014)
7. Business and management studies are ranked 3^rd in the UK (Times Higher Education / REF 2014).

The University is divided up into schools…

• Divinity, History and Philosophy
• Education
• Language, Literature, Music and Visual Culture
• Law
• Social Science
• Business School
• Biological Sciences
• Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition
• Psychology
• Engineering
• Geosciences
• Natural Computing Sciences

There are several research institutes and centres. Each school has its own themes and groups which sit within the institutes and centres.

Study options

The University offers undergraduate, postgraduate taught and research degrees to PhD level along with online degrees.

The University is divided up into schools…

• Divinity, History and Philosophy
• Education
• Language, Literature, Music and Visual Culture
• Law
• Social Science
• Business School
• Biological Sciences
• Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition
• Psychology
• Engineering
• Geosciences
• Natural Computing Sciences

There are several research institutes and centres. Each school has its own themes and groups which sit within the institutes and centres.

Study options

The University offers undergraduate, postgraduate taught and research degrees to PhD level along with online degrees.

The university is divided up into twelve schools:

• Divinity, history and philosophy
• Education
• Language, literature, music and visual culture
• Law
• Social science
• Business school
• Biological sciences
• Medicine, medical sciences and nutrition
• Psychology
• Engineering
• Geosciences
• Natural computing sciences

There are several research institutes and centres which cut across disciplines.

Each school has its own research themes and groups which sit within the institutes and centres.

Study Options

The university offers undergraduate, postgraduate taught and research degrees to PhD level with a growing online degree and short course offer.

Many programmes are offered on a part-time basis and can be fitted around work and life.

There are online programmes which offer flexible learning by modular learning or qualification to allow students to fit their learning into their life and pay for the degree as they go.

To study a degree at the University of Aberdeen, it is essential that students can speak, understand, read, and write English fluently. These skills will allow them to understand lectures, produce high standards of written work, and perform well in examinations.

For applicants who require a Tier 4 visa, language proficiency is assessed by IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, or Cambridge Advanced/Cambridge Proficiency scores. The University also accepts Trinity ISE – Trinity Integrated Skills in English.

An English language test is not required if students are from one of the following countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States of America.

Quick links:

• Undergraduate entry requirements
• Postgraduate entry requirements

To study a degree at the University of Aberdeen, it is essential that students can speak, understand, read, and write English fluently. These skills will allow them to understand lectures, produce high standards of written work, and perform well in examinations.

For applicants who require a Tier 4 visa, language proficiency is assessed by IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, or Cambridge Advanced/Cambridge Proficiency scores. The University also accepts Trinity ISE – Trinity Integrated Skills in English.

An English language test is not required if students are from one of the following countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States of America.

Quick links:

• Undergraduate entry requirements
• Postgraduate entry requirements

To encourage a wide range of students to apply, Aberdeen consider a wide range of entry criteria such as ‘contextualised information’. To help students to apply for university level studies. For students without traditional entry requirements, there are other routes to study for a degree programme, including:

• advanced entry from college
• access courses
• articulation route
• International Foundation Programmes

For international students, entry requirements are found on the programme page, or by looking up their country of origin in the international section to find country specific qualifications. For further support, students should contact the university’s international team. Aberdeen offer English language support and courses before arrival and student volunteers support English language practice.

• Undergraduate entry requirements
• Postgraduate entry requirements

The University offers a wide range of scholarships at all levels to encourage talent to thrive, including…

International Undergraduate Scholarship

This scholarship is worth one year’s tuition fee and is open to all international undergraduate students studying for 4 years or more at the University of Aberdeen (excludes Medicine).

Aberdeen International Masters Scholarship

This scholarship is a GBP2,000 tuition fee discount and is open to self-funding students who are nationals of Vietnam, China, and African countries, and are classed as international for tuition fee purposes.

China Scholarship Council (CSC) Scholarship

The CSC Scholarship is a scholarship programme for Chinese PhD students, who will take a full PhD at the University of Aberdeen. The CSC Scholarship is open to students and researchers in any discipline.

More about funding opportunities…

The University offers a wide range of scholarships at all levels to encourage talent to thrive, including…

International Undergraduate Scholarship

This scholarship is worth one year’s tuition fee and is open to all international undergraduate students studying for 4 years or more at the University of Aberdeen (excludes Medicine).

Aberdeen International Masters Scholarship

This scholarship is a GBP2,000 tuition fee discount and is open to self-funding students who are nationals of Vietnam, China, and African countries, and are classed as international for tuition fee purposes.

China Scholarship Council (CSC) Scholarship

The CSC Scholarship is a scholarship programme for Chinese PhD students, who will take a full PhD at the University of Aberdeen. The CSC Scholarship is open to students and researchers in any discipline.

More about funding opportunities…

Undergraduate

There are a broad range of scholarships and funding opportunities available at all levels for students studying at the University of Aberdeen.

Students have the chance to receive an undergraduate entrance scholarship, as well as a Gateway 2 Medicine Scholarship. These awards support talented Scottish and EU students who do not have the requisite funding or financial backing. Additional scholarships which can be applied for are:

• The Saltire Energy Sports Science Scholarship
• Derek Ogston
• Margaret Carlaw Music Scholarship

The university also offers programme or country specific scholarships which students can search for through the funding database.

Postgraduate

International students have the opportunity to apply for the Aberdeen International Masters Scholarship. Open to students from China, Malaysia, Vietnam and African countries, this scholarship offers a discount on tuition fees.

The university of Aberdeen also offers an Alumni Discount Scheme. The award offers a 20 per cent reduction off postgraduate taught programmes for all students with a degree from the university.

Postgraduate Research

There are several pre- defined funded PHD Scholarships and projects to apply for throughout the academic year. These can be funded by industry professionals, charities, and government and academic research organisations. All self-funded PhD students are welcome to search for support on the funding database.

The University campuses are located at Kings College, and Foresterhill Aberdeen, Qatar and online.

Students are supported by Infohub, IT, libraries, Student Association Clubs and Societies, The Food Hub, International Centre, and more.

Some more facilities…

• Students have access to email, IT support and Wi-Fi (Wireless) on site
• There are classroom PCs in specific rooms across campus
• All programmes have their own unique facilities explained on programme pages
• The international centre is for anyone interested in global perspectives and networking
• The Language Centre offers a broad range of audio, video, computer and satellite television facilities, along with an extensive range of materials which cover up to 50 different languages.
• There is a range of accommodation options to suit everybody, located in or close to the Old Aberdeen Campus, the Hillhead Student Village and the City Centre.

Students can enjoy sport at whatever level they want to at the Sports Village, which offers:

• Health and Fitness to individuals and groups
• Aquatics – swimming and pool sports
• Certification in fitness training, first aid and other areas
• Group Exercise including Zumba, Athletics, Aerobics, Dance and more
• The Sports Union offering competitive sports and events
• Clubs and Societies offering outdoor ski, scuba, sailing, mountaineering and lots more

The University campuses are located at Kings College, and Foresterhill Aberdeen, Qatar and online.

Students are supported by Infohub, IT, libraries, Student Association Clubs and Societies, The Food Hub, International Centre, and more.

Some more facilities…

• Students have access to email, IT support and Wi-Fi (Wireless) on site
• There are classroom PCs in specific rooms across campus
• All programmes have their own unique facilities explained on programme pages
• The international centre is for anyone interested in global perspectives and networking
• The Language Centre offers a broad range of audio, video, computer and satellite television facilities, along with an extensive range of materials which cover up to 50 different languages.
• There is a range of accommodation options to suit everybody, located in or close to the Old Aberdeen Campus, the Hillhead Student Village and the City Centre.

Students can enjoy sport at whatever level they want to at the Sports Village, which offers:

• Health and Fitness to individuals and groups
• Aquatics – swimming and pool sports
• Certification in fitness training, first aid and other areas
• Group Exercise including Zumba, Athletics, Aerobics, Dance and more
• The Sports Union offering competitive sports and events
• Clubs and Societies offering outdoor ski, scuba, sailing, mountaineering and lots more

Libraries

Aberdeen is home to the award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library, the Taylor Library for Law, and the Medical Library. The libraries offer:

• Access to over 1.3 million books and online sources
• 1500 individual study spaces
• Specialist advice, assistive technologies, galleries and events

Museums and Special Collections

Aberdeen holds 600 years’ worth of rare books and special collections and is home to several museums. Students can enjoy access to:

• The Gallery
• Zoology Museum
• Kings’ Museum
• Virtual Museum
• Exhibitions Archive
• Cruickshank Botanic Garden

Sports

Students can enjoy sport at whatever level they want to take part, at the Sports Village which offers:

• Health and fitness activities for individuals and groups
• Aquatics – swimming and pool sports
• Certification in fitness training, first aid and other courses
• Group exercise including popular Zumba, athletics, aerobics, and dance classes

The Sports Union offers competitive sports and events and there are a huge range of sports clubs and societies for outdoor sports including skiing, scuba diving, sailing and mountaineering.

Students’ Union

The Students’ Union located on campus offers several services which include:

• Infohub support and advice facilities
• Student Finance support hub
• Food outlets
• Aberdeen University Students Association (AUSA)

Accommodation

The University of Aberdeen offers students a range of accommodation, located close to Kings Campus, Hillhead Student Village and the City Centre.

Other Facilities

Students will also have access to email, IT support and Wi-Fi on site. There are classroom PCs in specific rooms across campus, and all programmes have their own unique facilities, details of which can be found on programme pages.

Students are supported by Infohub, IT services, campus libraries, Aberdeen University Student Association clubs and societies, The Food Hub, International Centre, and specialist facilities.