Undergraduate Study
in this section
Student Support
We aim to make sure from the start that you have access to any support you might need - academic, personal, medical, financial - from people who are easy to contact and who can give you friendly and expert guidance.
Student Support Services
You'll find the University a caring community, with a wide range of services designed to help you negotiate student life. Our Student Support Services consists of the Student Advice & Support Office, the Counselling Service and the University Chaplaincy; all are based in and around the King's College campus. Their aim is to help you achieve a successful and fulfilling experience at the University of Aberdeen.
The Student Advice & Support Office
Staff in this office provide advice and information on three broad areas - disabilities, international student matters and general advice and support.
The University Disability Advisers offer support and guidance and are a first point of contact for disabled students. The University welcomes disabled students, and it is our policy to consider applications from all students on the same grounds. Courses leading to professional qualifications (e.g. for Teaching, Medicine, Law) may require additional considerations but the University will always be proactive in making adjustments to remove or reduce any barriers as far as it is possible to do so. You are welcome to contact the Disability Advisers to discuss your application. You may also choose to visit the University, to meet academic and support staff and to discover the facilities and support structures which are available.
Our International Student Advisers can provide information on many aspects of international student life at Aberdeen and in the UK, and are professionally trained to provide specialist advice on visa and immigration matters. British immigration legislation is complex. Our immigration advice and services are regulated by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner.
The Student Support Advisers offer confidential, independent and non-judgemental advice on matters ranging from personal problems and academic issues to University procedures and financial matters such as student funding.
The University can provide financial assistance to matriculated UK students, primarily from the government’s Discretionary Fund, aimed at students who meet unexpected and/or exceptional financial difficulties (but not meet the cost of tuition fees or general maintenance) and Childcare Fund to contribute towards the costs of formal childcare arrangements.
Counselling Service
The University Counselling Service is a free, confidential and professional service for students and staff who have personal, social, emotional or educational concerns.
Chaplaincy
The University Chaplaincy team is available to the whole community for people of all faiths and none. The Chaplaincy Centre will also provide you with details of denominational chaplains, chaplains for other faiths, and meeting and prayer facilities.
Looking After Your Health
Full NHS medical services are available to students. The Old Aberdeen Medical Practice is located close to the King’s College campus, and caters for the general population of the surrounding area, including the student population of the University of Aberdeen. Another medical practice close to the campus in the Old Machar practice.
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary is the city's main hospital. It is a teaching hospital with the full range of medical and surgical specialities, which can be accessed through a medical practice when appropriate.
Nursery
The campus-based Rocking Horse Nursery provides childcare for pre-school age children of students and staff. There are forty seven full-time places available, and the nursery has three “departments” which cater for 0-2, 2-3 and 3-5 year olds respectively.
Prepare for Success
Prepare for Success an interactive pre-arrival learning tool for international students who are getting ready to come to the UK to study. The learning resources about different aspects of academic life in the UK help you find out what British academic life is like and what kind of academic skills you will need for effective study. As well as preparing you for what to expect during your studies, the activities provide scope for language improvement*. There is also an interactive FAQs page where you can find simple answers to questions about study in the UK.
If you are an international student planning to come and study in further or higher education in the UK, you can use these learning activities to prepare yourself for academic life and improve your English language skills. Use the learning resources in any order you like by clicking on a title or go to the 'study pathways' page if you would like to search by skill or topic. You can watch the demo to see how to use an activity.
* Prepare for Success is intended primarily for international students whose first language is not English. It is aimed at students with an IELTS level between 5.0 and 7.5 or equivalent.
