Location

The Old Aberdeen campus is located about a 20-minute walk from the center of the city of Aberdeen. Aberdeen is Scotland’s third largest city with a population of 220,000. Aberdeen boasts a wealth of cultural attractions, most notably His Majesty’s Theatre, the Music Hall, and the Lemon Tree. Other highlights include Aberdeen Art Gallery, the Maritime Museum, and the Tolbooth Museum, one of Aberdeen’s oldest buildings and one of the best-preserved 17th century gaols (jails) in Scotland.

Aberdeen is also major international hub for the energy industry, particularly oil, gas, and renewables and was named the UK’s Happiest City in a 2013 survey due to its rich culture, low unemployment, and enviable lifestyle. Despite its northern location, Aberdeen is milder than you might expect, with an average temperature of 34-44 ºF in winter and 50-64 ºF in summer.

The small medieval fishing village of Footdee (pronounced Fittie) can be reached within a 15-minute walk from the city centre. This fascinating community of decorated cottages and gardens provides a reminder of the city’s maritime heritage. Aberdeen Harbour is one of the best places in Europe to go dolphin watching and the RSPB runs the ‘Dolphinwatch’ Project each summer.

The city also boasts a huge collection of bars and restaurants where you can enjoy world-class local produce including Aberdeen Angus beef and freshly caught seafood. Aberdeenshire is often referred to as Castle Country and with good reason, as it has more castles per acre than anywhere else in Britain. The stunning Dunnottar Castle offers a spectacular coastal setting while nearby Balmoral Castle is a private residence of the British Royal Family. The shire also provides a range of attractions for outdoor enthusiasts and wildlife lovers alike including climbing, snowboarding and walking. A favorable shoreline wind and long line of golden beaches means that the north east of Scotland is a major draw for surfers.

Academics

Aberdeen offers relevant courses for a wide variety of academic areas including: Anthropology, Archaeology, Accountancy, Finance, Business, Economics, Celtic & Anglo-Saxon Studies, Computing, Religious Studies, Engineering, English, European Studies, Film & Visual Culture, Gaelic Studies, History, International Relations, Language & Linguistics, Law/Legal Studies, Mathematics, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, Biology, Biomedical Science, Chemistry, Conservation Biology, Environmental Science, Marine Biology, Neuroscience, Physics, Geography, Geology, Zoology, Scottish Studies, Sociology

Academic Requirements:

Aberdeen requires a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Aberdeen’s Academic Term:

  • Fall runs mid-September to late-mid-December.
  • Spring runs mid-January through the end of May and includes an extended  Easter break

Course Selection & Transfer Credit:

Most semester courses are 15 credits, which equates to 3-4 US credit hours. The normal course load is therefore 60 credits per semester, or approximately 15 US credit hours. Study abroad students are graded alongside Aberdeen’s full-time degree-seeking students. Most classes are examined through a combination of continuous assessment, mid-term assignments, and an end-of-semester examination. You can take a look at the course catalog for full course offerings.

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Additional Information

Aberdeen is unusual for a big-city university in having a lot of student accommodation within walking distance of its main teaching site. There is a choice of University-managed halls and privately-owned and managed halls, all situated within easy walking distance of the campus.

Information regarding applying for accommodation will be sent to all students who firmly accept an offer of a place. The University-managed accommodation houses approximately 3,000 students. If you are a new student, they guarantee to find you a place in their portfolio of accommodation, either University-owned or with one of their preferred partners, provided your application reaches them by the deadline.

USM students attending Aberdeen will be charged for 16 credits of in-state tuition, plus academic fees. Student will pay on-campus dorm room fees directly to Aberdeen and will be responsible for their own meals.

If you are a US passport holder studying in the UK for 6 months or less you do not need a student visa. Visas are required for students studying in the UK for the full academic year.