Study at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen

Snapshot of Scotland

Scotland is one of the four nations of the United Kingdom, known for its beautiful landscapes, historic cities, and a higher education system with its own distinct character. From the Highlands to bagpipes, ceilidhs, and Scotland's own festivals, students get a cultural experience that's connected to, but distinct from, the rest of the UK.

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Scotland's size means cities are easy to travel between, and its universities host large international communities, including a well-established Nepali student presence.

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Unlike England, Scottish undergraduate honours degrees are typically four years rather than three, giving students an extra year to build broader knowledge, do placements, or change direction early on. It is also generally more affordable than London and the South of England, while still offering world-class teaching, research, and student life.

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Graduates from Scottish universities (as with the rest of the UK) can apply for the Graduate Route visa, allowing international students to stay and work for a period after finishing their degree — a major draw for students planning a career abroad.

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Aberdeen City

Aberdeen is Scotland's third-largest city, located on the northeast coast where the Rivers Dee and Don meet the North Sea. It's often called the "Granite City" because of the silvery granite stone used throughout its historic architecture, which can give the city a distinctive sparkle on a sunny day.

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Key things students should know about Aberdeen:

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Affordability: Aberdeen is ranked top 4 in the UK for affordability by QS Best Student Cities 2025, and named the most affordable place to buy property in the UK by the Nationwide Affordability Index 2025, thanks to comparatively lower living costs than cities like London, Edinburgh, or Manchester.

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Energy capital of Europe: Aberdeen has long been known as Europe's oil and gas capital, and is now positioning itself as a hub for renewable and offshore wind energy, which matters a lot if you're interested in engineering or energy-related careers.

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Coastal and outdoor living: The city sits near the sea, offering a golden beach, museums, an art gallery, and parks and gardens alongside a lively food scene.

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Safe, sociable, and recognised: Aberdeen has retained its Purple Flag status for its evening and night-time economy for 12 consecutive years. It is the only city in Scotland to hold this distinction, reflecting a well-managed and enjoyable social scene.

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Compact and student-friendly: With a population in the low hundreds of thousands, Aberdeen is large enough to offer opportunity and diversity, but small enough to feel manageable and safe for international students living away from home for the first time.

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About RGU

Robert Gordon University traces its roots back to the 18th century, when it was founded by Robert Gordon — a merchant and philanthropist — as an institution to provide education for those who couldn't otherwise access it. Over the centuries it evolved through several forms, eventually becoming a full university in 1992, and today it's known for something quite specific: turning classroom learning into real careers.

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• Location: RGU's main campus is at Garthdee, set beside the River Dee on the edge of Aberdeen.
• Size and diversity: The university educates undergraduate and postgraduate students across 89 courses, with an international community drawn from over 100 countries.
• Employability focus: 97% graduate employability, based on the latest national Graduate Outcomes Survey.
• Student satisfaction: RGU ranks among the top 3 universities in Scotland for student satisfaction (Complete University Guide 2025), and second in Scotland and top 10 in the UK for teaching quality (The Times & Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024).
• Academic structure: The university is organised into schools including the Aberdeen Business School, School of Engineering, School of Pharmacy & Life Sciences, School of Nursing & Midwifery, School of Computing Science & Digital Media, Gray's School of Art, and the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture & Built Environment.

For a student weighing "big name, big city" versus "practical degree, strong job outcomes," RGU is firmly a school built around the second philosophy.

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Popular Courses at RGU

RGU's course strengths line up closely with Aberdeen's own economic identity — energy, health, and industry-linked professional fields. Here's a breakdown of its most popular subject areas and who tends to thrive in them.

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Engineering
Given Aberdeen's position as an energy hub, RGU has distinctive strength in engineering, with deep connections to oil, gas, renewables, and subsea engineering. This is a strong option for students drawn to mechanical, electrical, civil, or energy-sector engineering who want to study in a city where the relevant industry is right outside the classroom door.

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Pharmacy and Health Sciences
RGU's School of Pharmacy & Life Sciences and School of Health Sciences are consistently among its standout performers. Physiotherapy at RGU is ranked inside the UK's top five subjects and holds the number one placing in Scotland. RGU's School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedic Practice is one of its most highly regarded departments, with strong links to NHS Grampian.

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Business and Management
The Aberdeen Business School offers professionally accredited degrees, including specialised options like an MBA in Oil and Gas Management and an MBA in Sustainability and Energy Transitions — a genuinely distinctive offering for students who want to pair a business qualification with energy-sector relevance.

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Architecture and the Built Environment
BSc Architectural Technology is one of the most popular undergraduate programmes among international students. The Scott Sutherland School of Architecture ranks #17 in the UK for Architecture (Complete University Guide 2026).

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Computing, Digital Media, and Cybersecurity
For students interested in tech careers, RGU's computing programmes are well connected to industry, with options ranging from computer science to network management and cybersecurity.

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Art and Design
Gray's School of Art is one of the oldest parts of the university (dating to 1885) and remains a strong choice for students pursuing creative degrees.

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Who tends to do well at RGU?

Students who want a clear, practical pathway from degree to career, rather than a purely academic or research-heavy experience, are RGU's natural fit. This particularly suits students interested in engineering and energy, healthcare professions, or business degrees with a professional accreditation attached, and anyone who values a smaller, close-knit, employability-focused university over a large research-intensive one.

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Cost & Scholarships

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Tuition fees for international students vary by course but are generally around:

• Undergraduate: £15,500 – £17,000
• Postgraduate Taught: £16,000 – £19,000
• MBA and Specialist Programmes: £19,500 – £21,500

Combined with Aberdeen’s lower living costs, RGU is one of the most cost-effective study options in Scotland.

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RGU offers a genuinely useful range of scholarships for international students, including several specifically relevant to Nepali applicants. Note that scholarship values, deadlines, and intake years change regularly, so students should always confirm current details before applying.

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• RGU International Student Discount (Master's students): A fee waiver of up to GBP 4,000, available to international, self-funded, full-time on-campus Master's students. Students from Kenya, Indonesia, and Nepal specifically receive the higher GBP 4,000 waiver, while other countries receive GBP 3,000. This is one of the most directly relevant scholarships for Nepali students.
• RGU International Merit-Based Scholarship (Master's students): A GBP 5,000 fee waiver for students with the equivalent of a first-class honours undergraduate degree, applying for a postgraduate course starting in September. A limited number of awards (five) are available each cycle.
• RGU International Student January Scholarship (Master's students): A GBP 5,000 fee waiver for international students starting a postgraduate programme in the January intake, open to a list of eligible countries that includes Nepal.
• RGU Vice-Chancellor's Undergraduate Scholarship: A full first-year tuition fee waiver (100%) for high-achieving international and EU undergraduate students entering year one or two of a course, awarded on academic merit.
• RGU Early Deposit Payment Discount: An additional GBP 500 discount for self-funding international students who pay their tuition deposit ahead of the relevant deadline.
• RGU International Student Discount (Research/Doctorate students): A GBP 3,000 discount for postgraduate research students paying international fees.

A general rule with RGU's scholarships is that most are auto-considered or automatically applied once a student meets the eligibility conditions and holds a confirmed offer, and only the higher of any overlapping awards is usually applied. This means students don't typically need to submit a separate detailed scholarship essay, but they do need to meet deadlines and confirm eligibility carefully.

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Is RGU Right for You?

RGU is an excellent fit if you:

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• Want the strongest possible employment outcomes from your Scottish degree
• Want industry-focused, practical learning
• Are pursuing Engineering, Computing, Business, Nursing, Architecture, or Pharmacy
• Have a clear career direction and want your degree built around industry practice
• Are budget-conscious and want high-quality education in an affordable city
• Value small class sizes, accessible lecturers, and a personal student experience over a large research-university environment

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For Nepali students thinking strategically about return on investment, it stands out as one of the most practical and effective choices in Scotland.

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Interested in Robert Gordon University? Speak to our counsellors today to find out if it’s the right fit for you.

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