Founded in 1495, the University of Aberdeen is one of the oldest universities in Scotland and the English-speaking world, ranked 288th in the QS World University Rankings 2027. Undergraduate degrees last four years, as is usual in Scotland, and self-funded international students paid $19,660 (£14,800) a year in arts and social sciences and $24,980 (£18,800) in sciences and engineering for 2026/27 after the automatic £6,000 discount. Applicants with the Russian school certificate first take a foundation at the university's International Study Centre, priced at $25,910–27,240 (£19,500–20,500) for 2026/27, well below most English universities.
Aberdeen is also home to Robert Gordon University, a separate institution. For how Scottish degrees differ from English ones, see our universities in Scotland guide.
| At a glance | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Aberdeen, north-east Scotland |
| Founded | 1495 |
| Rankings | QS 2027: 288; THE 2027: 233; ARWU 2026: 301–400 |
| Students | about 12,000, roughly a third international (THE data) |
| Undergraduate length | 4 years (MA, BSc, BEng); strong A level or IB students can start some degrees in year two |
| After an 11-year school certificate | Undergraduate Foundation Programme at the International Study Centre; certificate average 4.0 |
| Foundation, 2026/27 | $25,910–27,240 (£19,500–20,500) |
| Undergraduate, 2026/27 | $27,640 (£20,800) / $32,950 (£24,800) a year before the discount; dentistry $66,570 (£50,100) |
| Discount | Aberdeen Global Scholarship: $7,970 (£6,000) every year, automatic for self-funded students |
| Master's, 2026/27 (examples) | $30,560–38,260 (£23,000–28,800) per programme |
Who Aberdeen suits
| Strengths | Limitations |
|---|---|
| After the £6,000 discount, fees are lower than at Liverpool, Cardiff or Bath, for example | Degrees take a year longer than in England, so visa and living costs cover four years |
| The £6,000 discount is automatic each year | Confirmed for 2025/26 and 2026/27 entrants; 2027/28 not yet announced |
| Foundation and International Year Two cost less than the ISC programmes at Bath or Cardiff | Northern city far from London with a cool climate |
| Strong energy, petroleum geoscience, engineering and medicine | Medicine and dentistry follow separate rules and carry the highest fees |
| Advanced Entry students get halls on the same terms | Not a Russell Group member |
Aberdeen suits students who want an ancient UK university at a lower price and accept a four-year degree. For a Russell Group option in Scotland, look at Edinburgh; to compare with English prices, see Sheffield. All options are on our study in the UK page.
After high school: foundation and International Year Two
Aberdeen's page for Russia states that applicants from the country must take a foundation year before an undergraduate degree. For Kazakhstan, national-curriculum certificate holders also need a foundation, while A levels, the IB or SAT/AP can qualify for year one. The university's International Study Centre (ISC) runs the preparation.
| ISC programme, 2026/27 | Requirement for Russia | IELTS for UKVI | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Foundation Programme | certificate average 4.0 | 4.5 (writing 4.5, others 4.0) | $25,910–27,240 (£19,500–20,500) |
| International Year Two (progress to year two) | certificate average 4.0 plus a further year of study | 5.5 in all skills | $25,910–27,240 (£19,500–20,500) |
| Pre-Masters | — | 6.0, writing 6.0, others 5.5 | $16,280–17,600 (£12,250–13,250) |
Foundation routes: Business, Economics, Accounting and Real Estate, and Humanities, Law and Social Science at $25,910 (£19,500); Life Sciences at $26,910 (£20,250); Physical Sciences and Engineering at $27,240 (£20,500). Intakes are September, November (with a free enhanced induction) and January, minimum age 17. International Year Two counts as the first year of a degree: with the required grades you progress to year two and finish in three years (LLB degrees offer first-year entry only).
ISC thresholds for Kazakhstan: average 4–5 for the foundation, average 4.5 or an NIS certificate for International Year Two. For Uzbekistan, the foundation needs an average of 3.0 including relevant subjects.
What you pay up front. On confirming a place, the ISC charges a $1,330 (£1,000) security deposit and a non-refundable $350 (£260) administration fee, and before the CAS another $7,970 (£6,000) of tuition: $9,650 (£7,260) in total. Online English courses of 6, 10 or 16 weeks cost $2,790–7,440 (£2,100–5,600). A visa for the foundation requires a SELT such as IELTS for UKVI.
Undergraduate fees and the four-year degree
A Scottish Honours degree usually takes four years, with broader study in the first two years and specialisation in years three and four. Strong A level or IB applicants can apply for Advanced Entry into year two of many MA, BSc and BEng degrees, though not in law, medicine or primary education, by selecting "Point of Entry: Year 2" on UCAS.
| Programmes, 2026/27 | International fee per year | With the Aberdeen Global Scholarship |
|---|---|---|
| Business, economics, accountancy, law, arts and social sciences | $27,640 (£20,800) | $19,660 (£14,800) |
| Computing, engineering, biomedical and natural sciences | $32,950 (£24,800) | $24,980 (£18,800) |
| Dentistry | $66,570 (£50,100) | not eligible |
Example: Economics MA runs four years with A levels at BBC and GCSE Maths and English at C/4. For international students who started on or after 1 August 2023, fees are set for each academic year, so later years may cost more. Apply through UCAS by 13 January 2027, or by 15 October 2026 for medicine and dentistry; see our guide to applying to UK universities.
Four years means four years of costs. At 2026/27 rates with the discount, an economics degree costs $78,660 (£59,200) in tuition alone. International Year Two or Advanced Entry can save a year.
Master's degrees
For Russian applicants, Aberdeen treats an average of 4.3–4.69 out of 5 from a well-ranked institution as comparable to a UK 2:1, and 3.9–4.29 as a 2:2. Kazakhstan uses the same five-point thresholds, or 3.20–3.66 and 2.80–3.19 on a four-point scale.
| Programme, 2026/27 | International fee |
|---|---|
| International Relations MSc | $30,560 (£23,000) |
| Data Science MSc, Accounting and Finance MSc, MBA | $34,880 (£26,250) |
| Integrated Petroleum Geoscience MSc | $38,260 (£28,800) |
The university advises budgeting for annual increases of 5–9%. Graduate Business School and other scholarships are listed in the university's funding database. Applicants below the threshold can take the ISC Pre-Masters at $16,280–17,600. Our UK MBA and master's guide covers the wider process.
Scholarships
- Aberdeen Global Scholarship: $7,970 (£6,000) for every year of the degree for new self-funded, full-time international undergraduates on the Aberdeen campus. No application; it appears on the CAS. Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are on the eligible list. Excluded: medicine, dentistry and the DPLP. Confirmed for 2025/26 and 2026/27 entrants; 2027/28 details are still to be published.
- Postgraduate scholarships: listed in the university's funding database, each with its own terms.
- Chevening: the UK government's master's scholarship. For 2027/28, Russian citizens are eligible only if they live outside Russia; the deadline is 6 October 2026, 11:00 UTC, and later cycles are announced on the Chevening website.
The university decides on awards and renewals. External funding is covered in our UK scholarships guide.
Housing and living costs
Aberdeen's accommodation policy covers new students who apply by the deadline, including Advanced Entry students; the university allocates the rooms. 2026/27 hall prices run from $150 (£111) to $250 (£191) a week on 40–50-week contracts.
| Residence (examples) | Per week |
|---|---|
| Adam Smith House, Fyfe House | $150 (£111) |
| Elphinstone Road Flats, room with washbasin | $180 (£133) |
| Grant Court | $190 (£145) |
| Elphinstone Road Flats, en-suite | $250 (£191) |
The university recommends budgeting £1,171 a month, which is also the visa minimum: $14,000 (£10,539) for nine months, rising to $14,390 (£10,827) for applications from 30 November 2026. International students may work up to 20 hours a week in term time. See our student housing guide, and use only lawful payment routes from Russia (how to pay for studies abroad from Russia).
Visa
The university or ISC issues the CAS; the visa fee is $740 (£558) and the health surcharge $1,030 (£776) a year, payable for all four years of a Scottish degree. Funds must be held for 28 consecutive days, and residents of Russia and Kazakhstan need a tuberculosis test at a GOV.UK-listed clinic. The Graduate visa lasts 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027. UK Visas and Immigration decides; see our UK student visa guide and Graduate Route guide.
Common mistakes
- Budgeting for three years. Scottish degrees usually take four.
- Confusing the University of Aberdeen with Robert Gordon University. They are separate universities in the same city.
- Treating the £6,000 discount as settled for 2027. The university has not yet announced it for 2027/28.
- Expecting the discount in medicine or dentistry. Those programmes are excluded.
- Forgetting the £7,260 before the CAS. The ISC asks for this before issuing it.
FAQ
Can I enter the University of Aberdeen straight after Russian high school?
Not into year one: for Russia, Aberdeen requires a foundation. At the International Study Centre that means the Undergraduate Foundation Programme with a certificate average of 4.0 and IELTS for UKVI 4.5, at $25,910–27,240 for 2026/27. A levels or the IB allow direct entry.
How much does the University of Aberdeen cost?
For 2026/27, international students paid $27,640 (£20,800) a year in arts, business and social sciences and $32,950 (£24,800) in sciences and engineering. With the automatic £6,000 discount for self-funded students, that becomes $19,660 and $24,980.
Why does a degree at Aberdeen take four years?
That is how Scottish higher education works: an Honours degree usually takes four years, with broader study at first. Strong A level or IB students can start some degrees in year two, and the ISC International Year Two also leads straight into year two.
What is the Aberdeen Global Scholarship?
It is a £6,000 discount for every year of an undergraduate degree, for new self-funded international students on the Aberdeen campus. No application is needed, and Russia and Kazakhstan are eligible. Medicine and dentistry are excluded; 2027/28 terms are not yet published.
How is the University of Aberdeen different from Robert Gordon University?
Both are in Aberdeen but are separate universities. The University of Aberdeen is the ancient university founded in 1495, with medicine, law and sciences; Robert Gordon University has its own programmes, entry requirements and fees.
How does StudyU help with Aberdeen?
Choosing between a foundation, International Year Two and Advanced Entry, selecting a programme, preparing the application, documents and visa file are provided under an agreement with StudyU. The university and ISC decide on admission, the university decides on discounts, and UK Visas and Immigration decides on the visa.
Sources
- University of Aberdeen: entry requirements for Russia and Kazakhstan
- University of Aberdeen International Study Centre: entry requirements, fees and payments, Undergraduate Foundation Programme
- University of Aberdeen: undergraduate fees 2026/27 (PDF), taught postgraduate fees 2026/27 (PDF)
- University of Aberdeen: Economics MA, Advanced Entry
- Aberdeen Global Scholarship, postgraduate funding
- University of Aberdeen: living costs and work, hall prices 2026/27, accommodation, history
- UCAS: 2027 deadlines
- GOV.UK: Student visa, money, HC 584, IHS, Graduate visa, SELT, TB clinics in Russia
- Chevening: Russia
- QS 2027, THE World University Rankings, ARWU 2026
Dollar figures use ECB reference rates of 30 September 2026 (£1 = $1.3286), rounded to $10. Facts checked on 1 October 2026.
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Next steps
- University of Bath: Admission, 2027/28 Fees and Scholarships
- Cardiff University: Admission in Cardiff and Astana
- Studying in the UK for international applicants
- Universities in Scotland for International Students: List, Fees, Four-Year Degrees and Admissions
- The University of Edinburgh
- The University of Sheffield: Admission for International Students
