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USA

WELCOME!

The University of Aberdeen has been welcoming students from North America for nearly five decades. Of approximately 16,000 students currently at Aberdeen around 250 students are from the USA. 

Undergraduate

At Undergraduate level, the Scottish and US systems share a great deal of similarities. This is because the Scottish higher education system has been used as the model for higher education systems throughout the world – the United States being one notable example.

Undergraduate Honours degrees in Scotland are usually four years in duration and are structured to ensure a great deal of flexibility during the first two years of study. Although you must declare your major from the start, you can change it relatively easily as you study any subjects that interest you, and change direction as your interested develop! This is different from the English system of undergraduate education, which is three years in duration, being more specialised from the beginning. The educational culture in Scotland is very much focused on independent learning and this is reflected in the number of contact hours students have with teaching staff. You may find that this is slightly lower than North America, and the expectation is that a significant amount of study will be done outside of the classroom. But don’t panic! Although the learning style is different, as well as the help provided in tutorials, you will also be able to see your tutor outside of these times by booking an appointment. Undergraduate students are invited to read our North American Guide which will give you further details about the study opportunities at University of Aberdeen.

Postgraduate

Postgraduate degrees fall into two categories; taught or research degrees. The majority of taught master’s programmes in the UK are only one year in duration, unlike the two- year equivalent in the US. Research degrees involve the in-depth study of a specific field, normally over a period of two or three years. These degrees are supervised and lead to the awards of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Master of Philosophy (MPhil).

Study Abroad

Visiting (non-graduating) students can study with us for a single semester or a full academic year and there are wide ranges of courses on offer. For more information please visit: www.abdn.ac.uk/international/study-abroad

Transferring

It is possible to transfer to the University of Aberdeen from universities or colleges in the US and it is possible to be awarded transfer credit. All applications are considered on a case-by-case basis and you will still have to submit an application via UCAS. The year you will transfer into will depend on your previous academic cirriculum, and if you are made an offer it will be to enter 1^st, 2^nd or 3^rd year. It is not normally possible to transfer it the final year of a 4-year degree.