Facts about the University

University of Aberdeen  
University of Aberdeen
  • Founded in 1495, Scotland’s third oldest university and the fifth oldest in the UK
  • Capital expenditure 1999-2009 totalled £229 million, with a further £148 million to be invested in infrastructure to 2019. 
  • Annual turnover in excess of £220 million per annum 
  • Five Nobel Laureates are associated with the University of Aberdeen
  • Student community representing 120 nationalities 
  • 16,500 students:  45% men 55% women, and 12% mature undergraduates
  • New curriculum introduced in 2010, including developing 'graduate attributes'  
  • High quality teaching - with over 89% subjects rated Excellent / Highly Satisfactory  
  • Over 600 first degree programmes and more than 140 taught Masters programmes 
  • Study abroad opportunities worldwide 
  • Teaching organised in three colleges:  College of Life Sciences & Medicine, College of Physical Sciences, and College of Arts and Social Sciences  
  • Over 3,000 staff - of whom 1,400 are academic 
  • Strong track record in commercialising research – with over 400 patents pending and 21 spin-off companies
  • Wireless access across the whole campus, and strategy to continually improve student accommodation and facilities  
  • Libraries with over a million volumes, priceless historic material, and seven museum collections recognised as nationally important 
  • Over 150 sports clubs and societies, an Olympic-standard Aberdeen Sports Village and an Aquatic Centre to open spring 2014