The Robert Gordon University

Robert Gordon's main building is located slap bang in the centre of Aberdeen, with its Art, Business and Built Environment schools housed on a riverside campus located four miles to the south of the city centre.

 

Background and History

Like many of Scotland's new' universities, Robert Gordon formally gained university status in the early 1990s, but is based on an institution that was founded centuries ago. In this particular case, the university began life in 1750 as Robert Gordon's Hospital. The majority of courses offered by Robert Gordon today are professional and vocational.

Location and Accessibility

Rail: The city-centre campus is roughly half-a-mile from Aberdeen's main railway station. To get from the railway station to the Garthdee campus, it is necessary to take a taxi or a bus.

Bus: The Garthdee campus is accessible by bus from the city centre on bus routes 1, 2 or 9 from Union Street. The journey takes approximately thirty minutes.

Road: The B986 (Denburn Road) runs directly past the city-centre campus. The Garthdee Campus does not have particularly good parking facilities, and it is perhaps better for drivers to leave their cars elsewhere.

Disabled access: The city-centre library has wheelchair access and lifts. The Garthdee Campus library has wheelchair access, but no lift services.

What's on Offer

BA, BEng, BM, BSc, LLB, MSc, MEng, MBA, DBA, DMan, PhD, PGCert, PGDip

Entry Requirements

For Engineering and Law: ABBB at Highers, BCC at A Level, 28 points in the IB. For media, sciences and social sciences: BBCC at Highers, CCC at A Level, 26 points in the IB.

University Accommodation

The university has only a fairly limited number of places available in its self-catered accommodation. Rents in university-owned accommodation range from depending on the level of luxury you desire.

Private Accommodation

Aberdeen has quite a large selection of privately-owned halls of residence and also a large selection of private properties for rent, ranging from one bedroom flats and large flat shares, to house share throughout the city.

Faculties and Departments

Robert Gordon University is divided into three main faculties: the Faculty of Design and Technology, the Faculty of Health and Social Care and Aberdeen Business School.

Academic Strengths and Research Profile

Robert Gordon has a very good track record of research relative to many other former polytechnics. Computer science, information management and business research scored particularly well at the last Research Assessment Exercise.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees vary depending on the course of study chosen and whether you wish t study at undergraduate or postgraduate level. Fees are lower for Scottish students, but are also considerably cheaper for students from the rest of the UK/EU, compared to other universities. Fees for international students are likely to be considerably higher. For further information it is advisable to contact the university directly or visit their website. Financial Support Robert Gordon offers Merit Scholarships, and for some courses private companies working in partnership with the university offer additional financial support.

Academic Facilities

The two campuses each have their own libraries, both of which have long opening hours. After significant investment, especially on the Garthdee Campus, many of the faculties enjoy purpose-built learning facilities, which include a large number of computer rooms.  

Other on-site Amenities

Robert Gordon has a pretty good city-centre student union, which has two bars and a selection of eateries and cafes. The only drawback of the union is that its location is slightly inconvenient for Garthdee-based students who fancy a convenient after-class coffee or pint. Sports facilities are centred around the Garthdee Campus, with Robert Gordon having some of Scotland's best sports facilities, which include a swimming pool and tennis courts.

Medical and Social Care

The university has ties with two different medical practices, one of which is located in the city centre, and the other of which is close to the Garthdee Campus. The Student Advice and Support Service operates in both the main university zones, and provides counselling, disability and careers advice.

 

What's on in the Area

Aberdeen often surprises visitors by being much more cosmopolitan and vibrant than what they had been expecting of a city that is relatively remote from the rest of the UK. But the buzzing university communities of the city and the money from the oil industry have helped to create a city that has enough nightlife and culture to keep even the most demanding of tastes satisfied. A tourist information office is located on Union Street to give visitors to the city some ideas for things to see and do.

 

Moving On

Finding you a job at the end of your studies is exactly what Robert Gordon is all about, as its great graduate employment statistics demonstrate. In addition to offering the standard careers services, many courses offered at Robert Gordon offer industry placements that provide students with the experience they need to thrive in the job market upon graduation.

Robert Gordon University has its very own tartan! The Robert Gordon after which the university is named was something of an enigmatic figure, who made a fortune as a merchant operating in the Baltic region. Honorary graduates of Robert Gordon include Donald Trump, Andrew Motion, Alex Ferguson and Gordon Brown.

Is The Robert Gordon University the place for you?

If you want a degree that's likely to get you a job at the end of it, there are few better universities than Robert Gordon. If you're planning on doing a non-vocational course, Robert Gordon doesn't have a great deal to offer. Consider instead looking across the city to Aberdeen, or further afield to a red-brick university such as Sheffield.