International Exchange & Study Abroad

International Exchange & Study Abroad

Founded in 1495, the University of Aberdeen is the fifth oldest university in the English-speaking world. Situated in the stunning historic neighbourhood of Old Aberdeen, the University is today known as a centre of excellence in the Humanities, Law, Energy, Health Sciences and Environmental Studies.

Undergraduate students enrolled at a recognised international college or university can spend a semester or year at the University of Aberdeen. With over 70 undergraduate majors on offer across the University, you will find a great choice of classes to take at Aberdeen and will be able to tailor your selection to suit your individual requirements.

The University has welcomed visiting students for over four decades and has a dedicated team to assist you through the entire process, from the initial application.

The University of Aberdeen is fully semesterised, which means you can study at Aberdeen for the fall semester (September-December), spring semester (January-May) or a full academic year.

Courses

Most of our undergraduate courses are available to visiting study abroad students. As a large research-intensive university with over 600 degree programmes, students easily find courses that match their academic interests and fulfil requirements of their home university.

Particular strengths are the University’s undergraduate courses in medical sciences and engineering. Study abroad and exchange students may also conduct research in history and/or chemistry while at Aberdeen.

Current courses can be found on our course catalogue. Additionally, the course guides/syllabi for our undergraduate courses in the School of Medical Sciences, Medicine and Nutrition can be found here.

Most semester courses are 15 credits, which equates to 3-4 US credit hours, depending on your home university. The normal course load is 60 credits per semester, or approximately 15 US credit hours. Study Abroad students are examined alongside our full time degree-seeking students. Most classes are examined through a combination of continuous assessment, mid-term assignments and an end of semester examination.

 

Costs

Tuition and Costs 2022/23

Semester: £9,900
Full year: £19,800

EU National Students: Our tuition fee for a single semester is £5,900.

Students from universities which have an exchange agreement with the University of Aberdeen will not be charged tuition fees.

Tuition and Costs 2023/24

Semester: £10,400
Full year: £20,800

EU National Students: Our tuition fee for a single semester is £7,900.

Students from universities which have an exchange agreement with the University of Aberdeen will not be charged tuition fees.

Living Costs

UK Visas and Immigration indicate that students spending the academic year should have £1023 for each month that they will spend in the United Kingdom. Although no official advice is given for students only spending one semester, we suggest that semester students also budget £1023 per month for living expenses. A further breakdown of costs can be found here.

Student Housing

University accommodation is provided to study abroad and exchange students as long as they apply by the stated deadline. Students will be emailed information on how to apply and the deadline for applications once they are accepted in to the programme.

Most study abroad and exchange students opt to live in Hillhead Student Village, which is mainly self-catered accommodation (ie no meal plan) . Adam Smith House has catered options, but students should be aware that these are not as extensive as North American meal plans. Therefore, we recommend that students opt for self-catered accommodation. You can find a short leaflet with more information on housing for the 2022-2023 academic year here.

Accommodation normally consists of single study bedrooms with common areas which are shared with roommates.

The McNeil Scholarship (Drexel University Students)

Students from Drexel University who wish to spend the academic year on exchange at the University of Aberdeen are eligible for the McNeil Scholarship. Please contact Drexel's Education Abroad office for further details.

The BUTEX Scholarship (North American Students)

BUTEX (British Transatlantic Exchange Association) offers scholarships worth £500 to undergraduate students at US or Canadian institutions studying short term programmes in the UK. Please refer to the BUTEX website for further details or email butex_enquiries@msn.com

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Programme

The Gilman International Scholarship Program offers scholarships for U.S. students studying abroad. This program is aimed at students of limited financial means and includes awards of up to $5,000.

 

Apply

Entry Requirements

To study at Aberdeen as a visiting study abroad or exchange student, the University requires:

  • A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or equivalent (on a 4.0 scale) or better
  • An academic letter of reference from your home institution
  • An official academic transcript
  • Evidence of English language proficiency for non-native English speakers

How to Apply

Please take a look at our course catalogue to see if we offer courses to suit your studies.

Complete the online study abroad and international exchange application form. If you are a student from a partner university, you will be provided with a link to the online application form after your home university nominates you for an exchange. If your home university does not have an agreement with the University of Aberdeen, please email goabroad.incoming@abdn.ac.uk and you will be provided with the link.

The deadlines for receipt of completed applications are as follows:

  • First Semester: (September - December) 1 July
  • Second Semester: (January - May) 15 October
  • Academic Year: (September - May) 1 July
    It is recommended that students spending the academic year apply in advance of 1 July to allow sufficient time to apply for a Student Visa after acceptance
Term Dates

Academic Calendar

The University of Aberdeen's Academic Calendar, including term dates and exclusions, can be found here.

Contact Us

Go Abroad Team

University of Aberdeen
University Office (Room 16)
Regent Walk
Aberdeen, AB24 3FX

T: +44 (0)1224 272026
E: goabroad.incoming@abdn.ac.uk

Information Sheet

2022/2023

View our handy 2022/2023 Information Sheet with all our most pertinent facts and figures here.

2023/2024

View our handy 2023/2024 Information Sheet with all our most pertinent facts and figures here.