Aberdeen
139 Reviews by Students #70 out of 422 University locations
Each part of this city makes you love it, you don't only will be able to live in a place having a beach but also mountains. Moreover the city centre is great to go with friends, because you are able to do everything in one place; but what I love the most is being able to walk to every place of this city.
By Maria.D.C. On 20th July 2020
Study in Aberdeen
Aberdeen has the distinction of being the home of one of the oldest universities both in the UK and Europe, the University of Aberdeen, which was established in 1425. The city is also home to Robert Gordon University and the two universities enjoy some friendly rivalry.
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University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen combines ancient traditions with modern teaching and facilities. Teaching is organised across 12 schools which encompasses a broad range of disciplines. With multi-million pound investment students are provided with some of the best facilities in the UK.
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Robert Gordon University
Robert Gordon University commonly known as RGU, prides itself on reputation for producing graduates that are highly sought after by employers. The teaching at the university has been recognised with a gold award by the Teaching Excellence Framework. The university has 11 academic schools based at the Garthdee Campus just outside Aberdeen city centre.
Study in Aberdeen? Review your location
Aberdeen Student Life
About 10% of the town is made up of students so it is really geared towards the two universities. There are plenty of activities and entertainment to keep you busy when you have time away from the books, whilst being set in the beautiful grey granite architecture of Aberdeen.
Cost of Living
Accommodation
Student accommodation costs range from £80 - £224 per week; the average is £134 per week.
Compare the average elsewhere: Glasgow: £169/week, Dundee: £135/week, Edinburgh: £199/week.
(prices are for all purpose-built student accommodation (both private and university-owned) over the last 12 months, as listed on StudentCrowd)
The average price for:
A cheap meal at a restaurant: £13.50
A pint of beer: £3.25
A regular takeout coffee: £2.60
1L of milk: £0.83
A loaf of white bread: £0.91
Prices are about 3% higher than equivalent costs in Glasgow, about 7% higher than Dundee and about 4% lower than Edinburgh.
(Source: Numbeo)
Nights Out
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Pubs
Aberdeen is the home of Brewdog, so you can enjoy the flagship pub and their large selection of craft beers. On the weirder side, there’s a gothic-themed Slains Castle, set inside an old church building. For that and the 7 Deadly Sins inspired cocktail list it’s definitely worth a look.
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Nightclubs
There are plenty of nightclubs in the city to fuel your clubbing fix, most host dedicated student nights too. Some of the firm favourites are Underground, Triplekirks and Exodus or for a fun night of the ’80s and ’90s head to Club Tropicana. For those who like to dress to the nines then NOX is for you.
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Live Music Venues
The city has a thriving live music scene. For smaller venues and something more underground be sure to check out The Tunnels, Blue Lamp and The Lemon Tree.
Public Transport
There is a great bus service in Aberdeen and it is also a good city to get around by bike. To travel further afield Aberdeen has great road and rail service with regular train services to major cities such as Edinburgh, Glasgow and London. Aberdeen also has an international airport, which provides an extensive network of routes across the UK and Europe.
Eating Out
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The Bobbin is a popular pub among students and is just a few minutes walk from the University of Aberdeen. The food is cheap but great quality, they also put on events such as quizzes and parties. It’s the perfect place to go to with mates after a long day of lectures.
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Bonobo Cafe is a quirky vegan cafe, the food is so tasty that you don’t have to be vegan to love it. They offer delicious big portions serving breakfast, lunch and cakes. When the sun does decide to appear make sure you make use of their serene roof terrace.
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Books and Beans. This cafe does what it says on the tin! A book shop that has a cafe that serves good coffee and quality food, it’s great for breakfast, where you can get anything from pancakes to a warming bowl of porridge.
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Shopping
The Union Square, Trinity and Academy Shopping Centres are right at the heart of Aberdeen’s retail zone. Union Street, also known as the Granite Mile, is the main high street area where you’ll find popular shops such as Primark, Apple and Debenhams. Belmont Street you’ll find specialist and independent shops whilst at the top of Union Street is where you can find your high-end shopping - if that’s your bag.
Days Out
If you like castles, you’ll love this. The list covers thirteen of the best castles the region has to offer (although we can’t guarantee all the roofs are still in one piece. Take an umbrella, just in case).
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Whisky
Probably Scotland’s most famous export, so it would be a shame not to find out some more about it. The Glen Garioch Distillery is about half an hour outside the city and will give a tour, as well as a wee dram or two for you to sample.
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Golf
Like most Scottish cities, there’s a bit of a golf fixation going on, with half a dozen large golf courses spread around the outskirts of Aberdeen. Why not try your hand at it?
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The stunning heart of the Highlands. Head here for outdoor adventuring, and perhaps a glimpse of majestic red deer or golden eagles.
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Aberdeen’s own beach is pretty nice and sandy, and if you want to go further afield you’ll find everything from quiet fishing villages to dramatic clifftops.
Top 10 Aberdeen Accommodation
The Old Fire Station
Friendly reception and great location. Tesco is very conveniently close with great room size and two bedroom apartment...
Farmers Hall Lodge
Loved, love, loved staying at the lodge!! Very well situated in the city, always kept very clean and the staff are always super friendly & helpful - o...
Fraser Studios
The team here has been absolutely welcoming and helpful, especially during the covid-19 lockdown. They are always willing to help with whatever issues...
Powis Place
An excellent facility with excellent staff. Would definitely recommend people to choose this student accommodation for their residence. Powis place ha...
Don Street House
Don Street is great value for money. Great reception staff, Caitlin is always so friendly and happy to answer any queries...
St Peter House
I really enjoyed my stay here and have rebooked for next year too! Staff were always really friendly and happy to let me in my room when I locked myse...
Causeway View
Amazing location, very friendly and helpful staff, especially Paul at reception and Angie who maintains causeway at an amazing standard. Also the WiFi...
Pittodrie Street
I find student roost as a complete and perfect package for any strident looking to have a serene environment and peace of mind throughout his studies ...
Spring Gardens
I had the best experience at Spring Gardens. The best part was how central it is, perfect for nights out!...
Mealmarket Exchange
Lovely staff who will help out wherever possible, a lovely community feel. Feels safe even with its central location. Rooms are a good size and are ea...
Read Aberdeen Reviews
SO expensive and nothing...
SO expensive and nothing to really do read more
I'm in Fraser studios...
I'm in Fraser studios in Aberdeen. The transportation here is very convenient. Downstairs is the Chinese supermarket and bus stop, which can go directly to the city center and airport, and it's also very close to the University read more
Love the nightlife in...
Love the nightlife in Aberdeen! read more
The city is not a walk...
The city is not a walk able city,everything is 2 miles away and u have to walk so far and public transport is expensive, 4 pounds for a bus pass per day read more
Aberdeen is very good...
Aberdeen is very good place to study in. read more
Aberdeen city is generally...
Aberdeen city is generally good for student life I’ve found. I started at 25 so I wasn’t looking for the typical freshers yet I had the time of my life since. I recommend read more
Aberdeen has so much...
Aberdeen has so much to offer for an international student. You'll be amazed to see how friendly the locals are. You'll certainly find home away from home that's how this city is. read more
Pretty city, everything...
Pretty city, everything was closed due to Covid so couldn't see much read more
Aberdeen is a fab wee...
Aberdeen is a fab wee city - mostly everything is so close. I’m just sad there isn’t more small business shops but for a student it’s fab read more
Good cost of living with...
Good cost of living with lots to do read more
aberdeen is a nice place...
aberdeen is a nice place to live, it’s been difficult this year due to covid but i’ve loved living here none the less. read more
Great nights out, lots...
Great nights out, lots of places to eat read more
Buses are expensive but...
Buses are expensive but most things are within walking distance which is fab. Lots of things to do and places to eat/drink around. Very friendly city! read more
Loved living in aberdeen...
Loved living in aberdeen so far read more
Love it here, I’ve made...
Love it here, I’ve made some amazing life king friends read more
It's okay, not the most...
It's okay, not the most exciting place for sure, there's not much to see or do. There's enough shops though and a lot of buses making it really convenient for travel. Travelling with plane is a nightmare from here as very few destinations are available so it's extremely inconvenient for foreign students. read more
While studying in aberdeen,...
While studying in aberdeen, I have enjoyed the social experience and exploring the city. read more
What a nice place to...
What a nice place to live and have fun read more
Cost of living is good....
Cost of living is good. Very close to Aberdeen University read more
Great restaurants and...
Great restaurants and easy travel around city read more
I have lived in Aberdeen...
I have lived in Aberdeen my whole life and i love it read more
I wish there were better...
I wish there were better shopping experiences read more
Not bad but not great...
Not bad but not great is it. Edinburgh is better as well as glasgow read more
Decent pubs/restaurants,...
Decent pubs/restaurants, buses are dreadful, expensive and rarely on time. Most shopping centers are empty or just full of crap. read more
The student accommodations...
The student accommodations are way too expensive read more
I love this city very...
I love this city very much, it is quiet and peaceful read more
I'm here during covid,...
I'm here during covid, but it's more expensive to live here than other university towns I've been to. read more
Easy access to city centre...
Easy access to city centre from most places in the city, good quality student accomodation and plenty of clubs, pubs and resturants. read more
Aberdeen a well stocked...
Aberdeen a well stocked city of lovely parks, places and views that will always make you want to come back to it again and again. read more
Aberdeen is very safe....
Aberdeen is very safe. The scenery is great, too. Life transportation is very convenient read more
Aberdeen is a really...
Aberdeen is a really nice, beautiful and small city. really livable and comfortable, very safe, and very nice people. read more
The gray city is terribly...
The gray city is terribly cold and it rains every day read more
Aberdeen is a nice city,...
Aberdeen is a nice city, can be a little boring sometimes but that is expected from a city of it's size. read more
Vibrant city with really...
Vibrant city with really good places read more
Brilliant city to study...
Brilliant city to study in! Lots to do and see read more
Always lots to do, easy...
Always lots to do, easy to get around. read more
Friendly city with friendly...
Friendly city with friendly people read more
So far so good is all...
So far so good is all I can say, I hope as things open up again ill be able to give a more complete review but Aberdeen has all the essentials you need and is safe. What was the most surprising is the fact the weather is usually really good- I know it doesn't sound believable because of how far north it is but it has been really good here so far. Never have I thought id go for a swim in the North Sea but that's another thing off my bucket list. read more
Great for social life...
Great for social life and for student experience read more
Aberdeen is a brilliant...
Aberdeen is a brilliant city to live in read more
Expensive cost of living...
Expensive cost of living but pretty with some great attractions for families read more
It is a nice and little...
It is a nice and little city. I like its beach very much read more
Good student city. Have...
Good student city. Have enjoyed living in Aberdeen read more
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Aberdeen may be the dull...
Aberdeen may be the dull granite city but I think it’s great on a night out read more
I live few minutes away...
I live few minutes away from the Beach and it is wonderful. Aberdeen is a lovely city. read more
Aberdeen is a great place...
Aberdeen is a great place to live for a student. There are plenty jobs, cost of living is not high, and there's plenty to do in your free time when you aren't studying. read more
The city is a beautiful...
The city is a beautiful place that offers an amazing student experience read more
Aberdeen is a fun city...
Aberdeen is a fun city to live in, close to loads of nice spots to get to buy train and the nightlife before the pandemic was great. Flats are cheap here as well so makes it even better living here. read more
Eating out is horrible....
Eating out is horrible. The drivers of the buses are hospitality. If the bus announces the location when the bus arrives at the next station, it will be perfect. read more
Public transport is expensive,...
Public transport is expensive, otherwise a great city read more
If you can get private...
If you can get private student accommodation, prices are reasonable. The buses are super expensive and can be unreliable. read more
Aberdeen is a fine city...
Aberdeen is a fine city to live in. Union square is a good shopping centre, there are plenty of supermarkets. Plenty of buses. It's COVID so I have no idea about nights out read more
well quite limited to...
well quite limited to comment as of now is covid. read more
My first impression of...
My first impression of Aberdeen is that it's a nice student city! The sea is close by which gives the possibility to relax; the university campus, however, provides all infrastructure needed for a good study. read more
Uni is always expensive...
Uni is always expensive but never found Aberdeen ridiculously so always food afford to go out and public transport is very good with busses taking you all over. read more
The closest shopping...
The closest shopping centre is a 30min walk away, and Aberdeen is expensive to live in read more
Nice city and convenient...
Nice city and convenient transport read more
I have not been able...
I have not been able to go out much to Covid, so its not the cities fault, just haven't been out. read more
The only reason the experience...
The only reason the experience isn’t that great is due to Covid, otherwise I’m sure this would be higher read more
Expensive city, low selection...
Expensive city, low selection of restaurants/bars/clubs and pretty much all clubs are tiny and overpriced. However, rent is cheap since oil crash read more
Each part of this city...
Each part of this city makes you love it, you don't only will be able to live in a place having a beach but also mountains. Moreover the city centre is great to go with friends, because you are able to do everything in one place; but what I love the most is being able to walk to every place of this city. read more
Don’t have lots of shops,...
Don’t have lots of shops, but you can walk to any destination read more
So much to do and the...
So much to do and the country is beautiful read more
Beautiful city and very...
Beautiful city and very central lovely people read more
Public transport is superb....
Public transport is superb. Always on time. Don't bother thinking about the best night clubs. It doesn't exist here in Aberdeen. The best is usually just "Okay". read more
Overall I have had an...
Overall I have had an absolutely good time in Aberdeen so far and looking forward to more memories read more
Can feel a bit isolated...
Can feel a bit isolated at times. read more
Generally Aberdeen is...
Generally Aberdeen is a great city for students. It has a lot of student accommodation and entertainment options and eating out might be a little bit pricey sometimes, but its totally worth it! read more
Wonderful city with lots...
Wonderful city with lots of activities and industry presence. Cosmopolitan and accommodating. Living here is peaceful and less stress compared to other cities In the UK read more
Quite expensive place...
Quite expensive place but also very small. Quite easy to find shops and buses nearby. read more
Aberdeen is like a large...
Aberdeen is like a large town than a city read more
The weekly shop can be...
The weekly shop can be done for a reasonable price, and there’s loads of places to go for food etc. Nights out are very very good but it can be super expensive during the weekend. Shopping is pretty good but most students just shop online as shopping trips aren’t really in most people’s budget! Public transport in the city itself is generally good, however, if wanting to travel slightly further afield eg into Aberdeenshire for a day out, thorough planning is required as services become less reliable depending on the provider and area etc. read more
Coming from a small town,...
Coming from a small town, the facilities and various things to do have blown me away. I feel safe here at all times and have never been bored in the 2 years I've been here. If drinking is your thing then you have your pick of many bars and clubs all situated in the city centre. If you are sporty then Aberdeen Sports Village is opposite Aberdeen University and is a world class facility cheap to students. For shopping you have 3 shopping centres within 5 mins walk of each other and many other shops along union street. Or if you're an idiot like me, you can go crab hunting and exploring down the beach at midnight with a torch. read more
hard to get around places...
hard to get around places but that's just my high standards read more
Bus drivers are crazy...
Bus drivers are crazy drivers - they don’t get enough time to get from one stop to next especially when traffic gets factored in. read more
Very average on all accounts....
Very average on all accounts. One of my least favorite things about studying in Aberdeen is the city. Always has a depressing grey feel to it read more
Anyone who knows Aberdeen...
Anyone who knows Aberdeen well knows that it looks depressingly grey and morbid. If you were Count Dracula you might like that kind of aesthetic? read more
nice place to live, bit...
nice place to live, bit cold sometimes read more
Nice city to stay in...
Nice city to stay in & close to everywhere read more
The costs are justified...
The costs are justified by the beautiful place read more
Aberdeen is a nice friendly...
Aberdeen is a nice friendly city, but it doesn't have much going for it. It needs more culture outwidth its universities read more
Public trasportation...
Public trasportation sucks here. It's too expensive and the buses are very outdated read more
this building is located...
this building is located near union street where all the shops, cinemas, restaurants, and activities are read more
Amazing the best ever...
Amazing the best ever love it here read more
Better night out in Glasgow...
Better night out in Glasgow but still have a good night out read more
It's good af, love it...
It's good af, love it here elgins boring read more
Everything is nice and...
Everything is nice and close to each other read more
Beautiful city and great...
Beautiful city and great nights out read more
Enjoyable place but very...
Enjoyable place but very grey and dull. Not much change. read more
First bus has a monopoly...
First bus has a monopoly on the buses and they are, like anywhere else in the UK, awful. It's also kinda pricey to live here as a broke student but otherwise it's a good city. read more
I love living here in...
I love living here in Aberdeen since this is where my grandparents attended University and where my grandmother grew up. I’m very happy that I get to have the same experience as they did when they were here. read more
Good location and everything...
Good location and everything is round about when needed read more
Nice city for students...
Nice city for students with everything accessible read more
Aberdeen is a nice place...
Aberdeen is a nice place to live, lots of shops, restaurants and activities to do read more
Very expensive , nights...
Very expensive , nights out better than expected read more
The people are very welcome...
The people are very welcome and friendly. Food is delicious. read more
Aberdeen is a lovely...
Aberdeen is a lovely city with a great location for getting into the highlands or spending time on the sea. However, it does lack in amenities such as a broad selection of cheap eats--most of the pubs in town have the exact same menu and ethnic options are very similar and not of good quality. Shopping is eh: a repeat of your basic shops all within blocks of one another with City Centre dead after 6:00 pm. Public transport is overpriced, ALWAYS late, and not convenient; there are two companies operating with Stagecoach offering the best fares and forays into the wider parts of Aberdeenshire but First providing more routes around the city itself. I would have liked more restaurants and shopping within walking distance of each neighborhood and, definitely, more entertainment and restaurant options around the University of Aberdeen campus. FYI: if you come to Scotland expecting sunshine and warm weather, you are gravely mistaken; be wary of seagulls. read more
a great bus service to...
a great bus service to and from campus making the relatively short journey into the city centre easier! There are 3 shopping malls and a large high street with plenty of shops. I found that everything I needed was catered for including several large supermarkets close to halls. Accommodation is difficult to find after halls and can be expensive, so searching early is essential! Nights out are great as well, with cheap drinks at Paramount and good atmosphere in most other clubs. read more
Aberdeen is an amazing...
Aberdeen is an amazing city, On a night out, most people are out to have a good time and not cause trouble, one of the best nightclubs is Underground who do great theme nights over the whole year. Korova is a lovely place to eat and drink with half price food on mondays and half price cocktails from tuesday to thursday, great place for pre-drinks read more
Cost of halls is not...
Cost of halls is not worth the money read more