University of Aberdeen

[Agapi]

Hello! My daughter is set on studying economics at Uni of Aberdeen. We have visited Glasgow and Edinburgh but not Aberdeen. Her first choice was Glasgow but she missed securing her conditional offer by just few points. Aberdeen is her second choice and she is pretty set on Scotland, even if she has a second offer at Uni of Amsterdam (we are EU nationals..). Any thoughts on studying at Uni of Aberdeen...? It is considered a good Uni..? How about living in Aberdeen? Thank you very much for sharing your experience and insights!

Hi Agapi
I have a very high opinion of Aberdeen as a university and didn't mean to suggest otherwise. My reservations are purely that I don't think the city is as appealing or has as much to offer as Glasgow. However as I've said that is probably far more to do with my prejudices.

I hope your dd has a great time at Aberdeen and if I can help at all just ask

readsalot I think the city could do a lot more for itself in terms of art and culture. I'm not from Aberdeen myself but I think it undersells itself.

It's frustrating because I have a young Aberdonian

I'm not from Aberdeen either but did my postgrad here and liked it - this partly influenced our decision to move to Aberdeenshire. However I think in the years we've been here the city has not made sensible decisions regarding development and infrastructure. This has had a negative impact on the city - Union Street is really struggling and is a shadow of it's former self. Public transport and connections to commuter towns are dire and there is little incentive to go to Aberdeen unless you have to.

I agree that in terms of art and culture it is pretty poor which given the diverse nature of the population is surprising and shameful.

I can't judge it from the persepective of a prospective student tho - as I'm well past that stage. My view is that the city has not made the most of itself and has squandered opportunities- it could have been brilliant. I do think it is sad that I was not surprised when dd wanted to go to Glasgow - and not entirely unhappy about her decision.

I really do hope that Agapi's dd has a great time and loves Scotland as much as I do.

I agree with everything you say readsalot.

There are loads of student accomodation in Aberdeen, most of them brand new so no need to stay in the Hillhead residence. Is it Aberdeen university or Robert Gordon university because that will make a difference. Both are miles apart.

I was at Aberdeen forty years ago and loved it! Strangely enough, my flatmate and I ended up in the same area and even same employer for the past few years. Her daughter has just graduated from Aberdeen, after transferring from Edinburgh which she hated. I stayed on to do postgraduate at what was then Robert Gordon's Institute of Technology. I still get homesick for the city, the Doric and, oh, the butteries!