Choose to study in Aberdeen, and you can look forward to living in a city big enough to get the ‘big city’ study experience but remote enough to explore miles of surrounding countryside and a stunning coastline. 

If you choose Student.com as your source for student accommodation in Aberdeen you’ll also get to explore a wide range of student flats. Our intuitive search feature allows you to compare the couple dozen student properties we offer in Aberdeen. The mapping function provides an opportunity for you to locate student housing close to your university. 

You can always contact us to learn more. 

Aberdeen at a glance

Scotland’s third-largest city after Glasgow and Edinburgh is a small cosmopolitan city on Scotland’s beautiful east coast. Affectionately called ‘The Granite City’ or ‘Silver City’ because of its stunning Victorian buildings, Aberdeen is one of Scotland’s premier destinations due to its great balance of historic beauty, culture in abundance with modern living, and superb amenities.

From castles that inspired Dracula and the famous Walt Disney princess castle ordained with signature grey architecture, Aberdeen is home to a beautiful, historic landscape. 

Rich Culture

From festivals and theatre to first-class literature events, museums, galleries and music halls, there’s plenty that demonstrate the rich culture of Aberdeen.

His Majesty’s Theatre is the largest in north-east Scotland and plays host to Aberdeen’s thriving theatre scene staging ballet, drama and opera performances throughout the year.

Once a year Aberdeen turns into a canvas for street artists from around the world. The Nuart festival brings a splash of colour to the ‘Silver City’, offering tours of all the graffiti murals that are hidden away.

Beautiful scenery

The buildings in ‘The Granite City’ might mostly be made up of granite slabs from local quarries, but over a quarter of the city’s landscape is green. On a sunny day, students can swap their university library for one of Aberdeen’s diverse variety of parks and gardens ranging from the city centre Union Terrace Gardens to the spacious Duthie Park. The city’s parks and gardens have won several awards including the Britain in Bloom for a record 10 times. 

With an offshore petroleum industry and strong roots in fishing, textiles, and shipbuilding industries, Aberdeen is home to an international population and a flourishing economy. Paymentsense recently named it as the best place in the UK to launch a start-up business.

But what, aside from rich history, stunning architecture and beautiful landscapes, can students look forward to during their stint in the ‘Silver City’? A lot!

Student life in Aberdeen

When you have spare time away from your studies there are many options to socialise and have fun in Aberdeen.

Aberdeen has been well-received by students for its student friendliness, safety, and overall welcoming atmosphere. These are some of the reasons why it has frequently been ranked as one of the happiest and most liveable cities in the UK. 

PricewaterhouseCoopers recently named it the best city to live in Scotland, and the second-best in the UK. It’s also ranked 64th in the QS Best Student Cities in the World ranking.

Things to do

From four large shopping malls, unique independent stores and designer boutiques to a varied nightlife scene, ranging from trendy bars to quiet old pubs and to free art galleries and museums, there’s a lot to explore in Aberdeen.

Museums and galleries

Start your cultural exploration of Aberdeen’s intriguing history at King’s Museum, which houses 80,000 artefacts detailing the history of the Highlands.

Another historic highlight is the beautifully preserved Tolbooth Prison Museum, a former 17th century jail now converted into an interactive visitor centre of displays, models and exhibits. 

You can also explore the incredible 400-year-old Craigievar Castle, located in the nearby Grampian Mountains.

Followers of contemporary art will be in their element at Gallery Heinzel and Peacock Visual Arts. 

Nightlife

If you’ve exhausted all of Aberdeen’s museums and art galleries or are just looking to have some fun at night, you’ll be spoilt for choice. While it may not be New York or Paris, Aberdeen is also a city that never sleeps. The city’s Purple Flag status (one of only two places in Scotland that have been given the honour) is a clear indication that it offers an entertaining, diverse, safe and enjoyable night out. 

Aberdeen’s nightlife spans every night of the week at popular clubs like Atik, Exodus, Drummonds, Tunnels, Underground and Unit 51. For those up for staying out into the wee hours at a discount, Illicit Still offers 40% off drinks on selected nights of the week, as well as 2 for 1 cocktail. 

Dusk is the place to go for cocktail lovers, while Babylon, the longest serving nightclub in Aberdeen, is perfect for those who like to work up a sweat on the dancefloor. Vogue is a great place to visit for 90’s music, The Athenaeum offers a great mix of live music and DJs, while Cheerz is an LGBT club. 

If clubbing is too much for you, the city is home to a plethora of student-friendly bars and pubs on Belmont Street that offer student discounts. If you prefer somewhere exclusive for students you can head over to the RGU Union or the popular student drinking den The Bobbin, whose sizeable discounts make it a winner for students.

Where to study in Aberdeen 

Aberdeen is the educational centre of north-eastern Scotland. There’s a large student population of over 22,000 from a variety of nationalities.

The two universities - University of Aberdeen (3rd) and The Robert Gordon University (12th), are both ranked inside the top 15 of the best universities in Scotland by the 2020 Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

University of Aberdeen

The UK’s fifth oldest university has a student population of over 14,000. A significant part of that is its large international community that comprises of students from over 120 countries. The University offers undergraduates almost 370 first degree courses and has an excellent reputation for teaching quality and research.

The University of Aberdeen has an impressive graduate employability rate with 96.6% of graduates entering into work or further study within six months.

Five Nobel Prize winners are associated with the university.

Robert Gordon University

Robert Gordon University is a dynamic modern university with a reputation for providing high-quality education at the undergraduate, postgraduate and Ph.D. levels. Due to its focus on postgraduate employment, RGU is consistently placed amongst the top universities in the UK.

Frequently asked questions about student flats in Aberdeen

How do I apply for university accommodation in Aberdeen?

Applying for student accommodation in Aberdeen on Student.com is free and easy. After selecting the property of your choice click ‘View rooms’ to go to the property page and click ‘Enquire’ or ‘Book Now’ on the room type you want.

One of our booking consultants will then call you to inform you of the next steps. When you’re ready to book, a contract will be prepared for you to sign.

What are the different room types you offer?

We offer three different types of student accommodation with the Aberdeen properties we list. 

Booking a Shared Room will give you a shared bedroom with at least one other person, as well as shared living spaces like the bathroom and kitchen.

Booking a Private Room will give you a private bedroom and in some properties a private bathroom as well. Any additional living spaces will be shared with inhabitants of other rooms.

Booking the Entire Place will give you a self-contained studio with your own bedroom, bathroom, and cooking facilities.

Can you arrange a viewing for me?

Yes. Our booking consultants will be happy to arrange a viewing for you. Just give us a call and we’ll get it sorted.

Do I need to pay a deposit?

Yes. A deposit is required to secure your booking with your chosen property. Our booking consultants can give you with more information on this.