How to Apply

UCAS

Applications for full-time undergraduate degree programmes at Aberdeen - as to other UK universities - are made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). The exceptions are for part-time courses, and non-graduating or visiting students, who apply direct to the University.

You apply online to UCAS and schools and colleges can provide advice and guidance. UCAS will accept applications for 2013 from September 2012. If you wish to contact UCAS from outside the UK, you can write to them at the address provided, or you can visit their website. UCAS expects to receive most applications electronically through Apply. This electronic system contains the most up-to-date course information, is quicker to use, and, as you are using the Internet, you can complete your application anytime.

Your completed application should be submitted (preferably via Apply) to UCAS with the applicant's fee of £22. If you wish to apply for only one course at one institution, a reduced price of £11 applies. For all applicants, there are full instructions to make it as easy as possible for you to fill in your online application, plus help text where appropriate.

You may apply to up to five institutions on the full-price UCAS application. You should list your choices in the order in which they appear in the Handbook. Applicants for Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary Science should list no more than four such courses in their five choices.

Although admission at Aberdeen is to a degree and not to a particular Department or subject, you should still enter your preferred degree programme title and UCAS code in your UCAS application. However, in most cases it is easy to change your degree preference after you have begun your course.

Your school or college will provide you with full assistance on how to use Apply. For information, the contact details for UCAS are:

UCAS
Rosehill
New Barn Lane
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire GL52 3ZA
Tel +44 (0)871-468 0468
UCAS Code: A20, The University of Aberdeen
Short Code: ABRDN
UCAS website

Closing Dates

15 October 2012 for all Dental, Veterinary Science/Medicine applicants and anyone including the universities of Oxford or Cambridge among their choices.

15 January 2013 for all other applicants.

The University of Aberdeen seeks to recruit as many well qualified applicants as possible. At the UCAS closing date, the University has received a high volume of Home (Scottish) and Home (EU) applications in order to reach its Government-set quota for funded places. We therefore cannot accept late applications for these categories. However we are still in a position to offer places to well qualified Home (Rest of UK) and International Fee students. Unfortunately the UCAS vacancy system is unable at this time to reflect our vacancies accurately.

What Happens Next?

You will receive an acknowledgement letter from us. Your application will be considered by one of our Admissions Selectors and a decision will be made as soon as possible*. You will hear from UCAS and also from the University. One of four things can happen:

  • You will be made an unconditional offer if you already have the qualifications to meet our requirements
  • You will be made a conditional offer if you don’t yet have all of the necessary passes that we require
  • You may be invited for interview - this is part of the normal selection process for Medicine, Education and Music only
  • You may, if it is obvious from your application that you cannot meet our requirements, be advised that we could not make an offer at this stage

After you have received your offer from the University, you decide whether you wish to accept it. UCAS send you detailed instructions of when and how to reply. We hope that you will make Aberdeen your firm choice.

*In the case of an application to the MB ChB, an Education programme or to a BMus programme, applicants may be asked to attend an interview. It is unlikely that any offers will be made until the end of March of the year of entry to allow for completion of these interviews.

The Student Recruitment and Admissions Service has more detailed information on how this system works and how to confirm an offer when you receive your exam results.

Students Interested in Medicine

Students applying to study medicine at the University of Aberdeen will find useful information regarding the application process at the School of Medicine and Dentistry's Prospective Students website and in the following leaflets:

Medical applicants (A100) must take the UK CAT Admissions Test.