The University of Aberdeen is a public research university in Aberdeen, Scotland, founded in 1495 — the fifth-oldest university in the United Kingdom. It is one of Scotland's four ancient universities, and its campus mixes medieval buildings with modern science facilities. For a Pakistani student, Aberdeen is an attractive UK option: a historic university with a strong reputation, lower living costs than London or Edinburgh, and a generous automatic scholarship for international students.
University of Aberdeen: programmes
Aberdeen offers more than 350 undergraduate programmes. The strongest for international students are medicine (the MBChB is a five-year degree), law (LLB), engineering (including petroleum engineering, which reflects Aberdeen's role as the centre of the UK oil and gas industry), computing science, biological sciences, psychology and business. Most Scottish undergraduate degrees take four years (five for medicine and some engineering degrees). Aberdeen's medical school and its law school are the best-known faculties, and the university's energy research — oil, gas and renewables — is world-class. Teaching is in English, and the university has a large international community, with students from more than 130 countries.
University of Aberdeen: fees and costs
| Cost (2026-27, international students) | Figure |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate tuition (most programmes) | £20,800–£27,000 a year; standard band £24,800 |
| Medicine (MBChB) | £50,100 a year |
| Postgraduate taught | £20,800–£31,000 a year |
| Aberdeen Global Scholarship (UG) | £6,000 a year off tuition, automatic |
| Aberdeen Global Scholarship (PG) | Up to £8,000 off tuition, automatic |
| Tuition deposit | £5,000 within 4 weeks of accepting the offer |
The fees are the university's published 2026-27 international rates; the September 2027 intake moves to the 2027-28 rate, typically 3–5% higher. The Aberdeen Global Scholarship is automatically assessed — no separate application — and it is reflected on your CAS, which makes the visa process simpler. Add the UK Student visa fee (£558), the Immigration Health Surcharge (£776 a year) and living costs: Aberdeen is cheaper than Edinburgh or London, and a realistic total budget is about £35,000–£40,000 a year all-in for most programmes.
University of Aberdeen: admission
Undergraduate applications are made through UCAS, and the equal consideration deadline for most courses is 13 January 2027. Postgraduate applications are made directly to the university, with September and January intakes. English requirements are typically IELTS 6.0–6.5 overall, with Duolingo reported as accepted at 120 and above — confirm the exact minimum on the programme page, because it varies by faculty. Aberdeen is ranked 262nd in the QS World University Rankings 2027. Its acceptance rate is reported at about 60–70%, which makes it more accessible than the most competitive UK universities, but medicine and law are considerably more selective.
Frequently asked questions
What is the University of Aberdeen best known for? Medicine, law, engineering and energy research, at a university founded in 1495 — the fifth-oldest in the UK.
How much does the University of Aberdeen cost for international students? Undergraduate tuition is £20,800–£27,000 a year for most programmes (standard band £24,800), with a £6,000 automatic scholarship, and Medicine is £50,100.
Does Aberdeen accept Duolingo? Duolingo is reported as accepted at 120 and above for some programmes — confirm the minimum on your programme's page before you book the test.
When is the Aberdeen application deadline? 13 January 2027 for most undergraduate courses through UCAS; postgraduate applications are made directly to the university.
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Study in the UK 2027 · UK Student Visa & Graduate Route 2027 · UCAS Application Guide 2027 · Cheapest UK Universities 2027
Sources and verification: University of Aberdeen published 2026-27 international fees (UG £20,800–£50,100, standard band £24,800, Medicine £50,100; PG £20,800–£31,000; Global Scholarship UG £6,000/yr, PG up to £8,000, automatic; deposit £5,000). QS World University Rankings 2027 #262. UCAS equal consideration 13 January 2027. UK Student visa £558, IHS £776/yr. IELTS 6.0–6.5 and Duolingo 120+ are reported — confirm on the programme page.