University of Aberdeen facts for kids
Coat of arms of the University of Aberdeen
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| Latin: Universitas Aberdonensis | |
| Motto | Latin: Initium sapientiae timor domini |
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Motto in English
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The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom |
| Type | Public research university Ancient university |
| Established | 1495 |
| Endowment | £58.6 million (2023) |
| Budget | £268.6 million (2022/23) |
| Chancellor | The Queen |
| Rector | Martina Chukwuma-Ezike |
| Principal | George Boyne |
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Academic staff
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1,620 (2021/22) |
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Administrative staff
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1,825 (2021/22) |
| Students | 16,565 (2021/22) |
| Undergraduates | 10,140 (2021/22) |
| Postgraduates | 6,425 (2021/22) |
| Location |
Aberdeen, Scotland
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| Campus | Urban, across two main sites |
| Colours |
Burgundy and white
(university colours) Gold and royal blue (sports colours)
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| Affiliations |
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| Mascot | Angus the Bull |
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The University of Aberdeen is a public research university in Aberdeen, Scotland. It was started in 1495. This makes it one of Scotland's four oldest universities. It is also the fifth-oldest university in the English-speaking world.
The university was created by joining two older colleges in 1860. These were King's College (founded 1495) and Marischal College (founded 1593). The university played a big part in the Scottish Enlightenment in the 1700s. Many famous people have studied here. Five Nobel Prize winners have been connected to the university.
Contents
Discovering the University of Aberdeen's Past
The University of Aberdeen has a long and interesting history. It began with two separate colleges.
How King's College and Marischal College Began
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The first university in Aberdeen was King's College. It was officially started on February 10, 1494. William Elphinstone, the Bishop of Aberdeen, asked Pope Alexander VI for permission. King James IV wanted Scotland to have as many universities as England.
King's College was meant to train doctors, teachers, and clergy. These people would serve communities in northern Scotland. It also trained lawyers and administrators for the Scottish Crown. In 1497, it created the first medical teaching position in the English-speaking world.
After the Scottish Reformation in 1560, King's College changed. In 1593, George Keith started a second university. This was Marischal College, located in the 'New Town'. It was a Protestant alternative to King's College. It was unusual for one city to have two universities. At that time, England only had two universities: Oxford and Cambridge.
The two colleges often argued and competed. Marischal College was in the city's business center. It allowed students to live outside the college. This was different from King's College. Students from both colleges sometimes even had fights in the streets!
Over time, they tried to merge, but it didn't work at first. Both colleges made important contributions to the Scottish Enlightenment.
The Union of Two Colleges in 1860
The two colleges almost fully merged in 1641. King Charles I brought them together as the Caroline University of Aberdeen. This union lasted for twenty years. After a period of civil war, they tried to unite again in 1654. But when King Charles II returned to power, they became separate again.
A group called the Aberdeen Philosophical Society was formed in 1758. Its members were learned professionals. They discussed many ideas that became books. This group was very important for spreading new ideas in Aberdeen.
In 1843, Christ's College was founded to train ministers. It later became part of the University of Aberdeen. In 1859, the university hosted the British Science Association meeting. Prince Albert was the president that year. Professor James Clerk Maxwell gave important talks.
Finally, the two colleges in Aberdeen merged on September 15, 1860. This happened because of the Universities (Scotland) Act 1858. This act also created a new medical school. The university is now Scotland's third oldest and the UK's fifth oldest.
After the merger, King's College was expanded. New classrooms and a library were built. In 1892, all subjects became open to women. By 1898, the first four women had graduated. By the next year, women made up a quarter of the students in the arts faculty.
The University Today
The main part of Marischal College was finished in 1906. King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra officially opened it. There were big celebrations in Aberdeen. Thomas Hardy, a famous writer, praised the university for its "breadth of view & openness of mind."
In the 1900s, the university grew a lot. Many new buildings were added at King's College. Some new buildings matched the old style. Others, built from the 1960s, were in a more modern, "brutalist" style. The Foresterhill campus started training medical students in the 1930s.
Over time, most departments moved from Marischal College to King's College or Foresterhill. Marischal College was mostly empty by the late 1900s. It has now been restored and is used by the Aberdeen City Council.
A new university library, the Sir Duncan Rice Library, opened in 2011. It cost £57 million. Queen Elizabeth II officially opened it in 2012. This library replaced the older Queen Mother Library. It is a tall, modern building with great views of the city. It holds over a quarter of a million old and valuable books.
The newest building is the Science Teaching Hub, finished in 2021. It has labs for many science subjects.
Exploring the University's Campuses
The university has two main campuses. The main one is King's College in Old Aberdeen. The second is at Foresterhill, for medicine and health sciences.
Current Campuses
King's College Campus
The King's College campus is about 35 hectares. It surrounds the old King's College buildings. Most student facilities are here. It's about 2 miles north of Aberdeen city center. The university does not own all buildings in this area. Some are private homes and shops.
The historic King's College buildings form a square courtyard. The Crown Tower and the chapel are the oldest parts, from around 1500. The Crown Tower has a unique crown-shaped top. This "Crown of Kings" is a symbol of the university. The chapel has beautiful old wooden carvings.
The New Building, now called "New King's", was built in 1913. It matches the old style. The Elphinstone Hall was built in the 1930s. It is now used for graduations and other big events.
Many modern buildings house most departments. Some, like the Fraser Noble Building, have designs that echo the old architecture. Others are in a modern, "brutalist" style. The Cruickshank Botanic Garden is also on campus. It was given to the university in 1899 and is open to the public.
The Powis Gateway is an interesting archway. It has towers with minarets, like buildings from the Middle East. It also shows coats of arms of old landowners.
The Sir Duncan Rice Library was designed by Danish architects. It opened in 2011. This seven-story building has zebra-like stripes of white and clear glass. It is the university's main library. You can see great views of the city from its top floors. It holds over a million books.
The Aberdeen Sports Village is across King Street. It has sports facilities and a swimming center.
Foresterhill Campus
The Foresterhill Campus is about 1.75 km (1.1 miles) east of King's College. It is home to the university's Life Sciences and Medicine facilities. It is next to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and other hospitals. These are all teaching hospitals. This campus includes the School of Medicine, Medical Science and Nutrition. It also has the Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health.
Doha, Qatar Campus
A new campus opened in Doha, Qatar, in May 2017. It is called AFG College with the University of Aberdeen. It offers courses in accounting, finance, and business.
Former Campuses
Marischal College
Marischal College is a beautiful neo-Gothic building. It was rebuilt in 1836–41 and expanded later. The current front was opened by King Edward VII in 1906. It is considered one of the best examples of neo-Gothic architecture in Britain. The Mitchell Tower is named after a generous donor.
Until 1996, Marischal College housed science departments. Now, teaching no longer happens there. The building is mostly leased to Aberdeen City Council. It is their new headquarters. The university still uses parts of the building, like the former Marischal Museum.
Hilton Campus
A small campus at Hilton became part of the university in 2001. It housed the Faculty of Education. After renovations at King's College, the Hilton campus closed in 2005. It was sold and is now a residential area.
How the University is Run
Leadership and Management
Like other old Scottish universities, Aberdeen's rules are set by the Universities (Scotland) Acts of 1858. The university has three main parts:
- The General Council: for senior academics and graduates.
- The University Court: handles money and daily running.
- The Academic Senate (Senatus Academicus): the main academic body.
The university has three main leaders. The chancellor is the head, but it's mostly a ceremonial role. The rector is chosen by students. They represent student interests. The main leader is the principal and vice-chancellor. They manage the university's daily operations.
University Officials
The three most important officials are the chancellor, principal, and rector. Their roles come from the 1858 Universities (Scotland) Act.
The chancellor is the university's formal head. Since 2013, this has been Queen Camilla. She is the first female chancellor. The chancellor gives out degrees to graduates.
The principal and vice-chancellor is Professor George Boyne. He started on August 1, 2018. He leads the academic body and can award degrees when the chancellor is not there.
The rector is chosen by students every three years. The rector leads meetings of the University Court. They also share student opinions with the university's leaders. Martina Chukwuma-Ezike was elected rector in November 2021. Famous past rectors include Winston Churchill and Andrew Carnegie.
The University Court
This group was created during the merger of King's and Marischal in 1870. It helps manage the university's money and resources. It also acts as a place to appeal decisions made by the academic body.
Senatus Academicus
The Academic Senate (Latin: Senatus Academicus) is the university's top academic group. It includes all professors and other senior staff. It also has elected student representatives. This group approves degree programs and gives out all degrees. It also handles student discipline. The university principal leads the Senate.
Schools and Institutes
The university has 12 schools. These schools cover many different subjects. Larger schools are divided into three teaching colleges.
The university also has research centers. Here, experts work together on new research projects.
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Symbols of the University
The university has special symbols. These include its coat of arms, motto, and tartan.
Coat of Arms
The university's coat of arms shows symbols from its founders and locations.
- Top left: The arms of Old Aberdeen.
- Top right: The arms of George Keith.
- Bottom left: The arms of Bishop William Elphinstone.
- Bottom right: A simpler version of the three castles for the city of Aberdeen.
Motto
The university's motto is Initium Sapientiae Timor Domini. This is Latin for "The beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord". It comes from the Bible. You can see the motto on the archway near New King's at the King's College campus. It is also on graduation certificates.
Tartan
A university tartan was created in 1992. This was for the university's 500th anniversary in 1995. The tartan uses colors from the university's coat of arms.
Academic Dress
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Students at the University of Aberdeen have worn special clothes for centuries. In the past, undergraduates wore scarlet gowns and a square cap. But this tradition faded by the mid-1900s.
Today, academic dress is worn for special events. These include graduation ceremonies and formal processions. For most degrees, students wear a long black gown. They also wear a hood lined with silk in a color that shows their subject. A black square cap is also worn. For PhD degrees, a scarlet robe is worn with a special black cap.
University Life and Studies
Academic Year
The academic year at Aberdeen has two parts. These are the First Half-Session and the Second-Half Session. They start in September and end in May. Exams are in November and in April/May. Graduation ceremonies are in November or at the end of June.
Rankings and Reputation
| National rankings | |
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| Complete (2021) | 40 |
| Guardian (2021) | 12 |
| Times / Sunday Times (2021) | 19 |
| Global rankings | |
| ARWU (2020) | 201–300 |
| CWTS Leiden (2020) | 128 |
| QS (2021) |
236= |
| THE (2021) | 158 |
Aberdeen is often ranked among the top 200 universities globally. It is also in the top 20 universities in the UK. In 2019, it was named the Scottish University of the Year. Over 75% of its research is considered 'world leading'.
Its Divinity and Religious Studies subject is ranked very highly. Many subjects are in the UK's top 10. These include Accounting & Finance, Civil Engineering, Computing Science, Dentistry, Education, Law, and Medicine.
Admissions
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| Domicile and Ethnicity | Total | ||
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| British White | 60% |
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| British Ethnic Minorities | 12% |
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| International EU | 9% |
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| International Non-EU | 19% |
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| Undergraduate Widening Participation Indicators | |||
| Female | 59% |
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| Private School | 16% |
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| Low Participation Areas | 8% |
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Aberdeen is ranked highly for the average grades students need to get in. The university works to help students from all backgrounds attend. This includes programs like Children's University and Access Aberdeen.
Lecture Series
The Gifford Lectures started at the university in 1887. Famous thinkers have given talks here. The university also hosts the Andrew Carnegie Lecture Series. The Elphinstone Institute has its own monthly lecture series. These talks are often about local or Scottish topics.
Libraries and Museums
The university library has a very large collection. It holds over a million books. It also has a quarter of a million old and valuable books and manuscripts. The original library at King's College was built in 1870.
The Sir Duncan Rice Library opened in 2011. It was designed by Danish architects. This building has won many awards for its design. It is the university's main library.
The university also has other libraries. These include the Taylor Law Library and the Medical Library at Foresterhill. Christ's College has its own Divinity library.
The university has several museums and galleries. They are free to visit. The collections are very important and recognized nationally. They have over 300,000 items. These cover human culture, medicine, health, and natural history. The Zoology Museum has displays from tiny creatures to large whales.
Student Life
As of 2022, the university had 16,565 students. About 46% were men and 54% were women. Students came from 120 different countries. The university offers over 550 undergraduate degrees. It also has more than 120 postgraduate programs.
Students' Association
The students are represented by the Aberdeen University Students' Association (AUSA). The elected Rector of the University of Aberdeen also represents students.
AUSA works from a university building called The Students Union Building. This building used to be The Hub. It helps students and provides event and study spaces. The Hub is a dining and social center. It was created by renovating the old Central Refectory.
The Butchart Student Centre opened in 2009. It is the main office for the Students' Association. It has many facilities for student societies. "BookEnds" is a second-hand book store run by students. Its profits go to charity.
Student Clubs and Groups
There are over a hundred clubs and societies. They are officially linked with the students' association. The Aberdeen University Sports Union manages sports at the university. All students can join these clubs.
The oldest student group is the Aberdeen University Debater. It was founded in 1848. The first successful university newspaper was Alma Mater, started in 1883. It was replaced by The Gaudie, which started in 1934. The Gaudie is one of the oldest student newspapers in Scotland.
The Aberdeen Student Show is a musical comedy show. It has been staged every year since 1921. It raises money for charity.
University Accommodation
The university manages student housing. There are two main areas for housing. One is on the King's College campus. The other is the Hillhead Student Village, about a mile north. You can walk there through Seaton Park.
Campus housing in Old Aberdeen includes King's Hall and Elphinstone Road Halls. The university guarantees a room for first-year students.
Halls of residence include:
- Adam Smith House
- Elphinstone Road Flats
- Fyfe House
- Grant Court
- Hector Boece Court
- Keith House
- Kings Hall
- New Carnegie Court
- North Court
- South House
- Wavell House
The first modern halls, Crombie halls, opened in 1960. The Elphinstone Road halls were finished in 1992.
Sports Clubs and the Sports Union
The Aberdeen University Sports Union was started in 1889. It has over fifty sports clubs. There are large playing fields behind King's College. The Aberdeen Sports Village is a partnership with the city council. It opened in 2009 and has an aquatics center.
The Aberdeen University Football Club was formed in 1872. The Aberdeen University Rugby Football Club was founded in 1871. Both have a long history.
The annual boat race is between Aberdeen University Boat Club and Robert Gordon University Boat Club. It has been held since 1995.
Music
The university has many music groups. Some are led by staff, others by students. They include a Big Band, Chapel Choir, and Symphony Orchestra.
Student Media
Students run several media groups. These include The Gaudie (the student newspaper), Granite City TV, and Aberdeen Student Radio (ASR).
University Traditions
Sponsio Academica
The Sponsio Academica is an oath. Students used to take it when joining the four old Scottish universities. At Aberdeen, students now agree to it online. It was originally in Latin.
Since 1888, medical students have taken a special version of this oath. They promise to use their skills for good and to be loyal to the university.
Founders' Day
Founders' Day is usually in February. On this day, the university celebrates its history. It especially honors William Elphinstone and other people who helped start the university. There is a procession and a service in King's College Chapel. A candle is lit to thank the founders.
Installing the Rector
The rector is an old role from 1495. The rector represents the students. A tradition says the new rector must ride through Old Aberdeen on a bull. Students carry the bull on their shoulders. The ceremony includes a colorful procession.
After the ceremony, the new rector is carried to the St Machar Bar. Tradition says they buy drinks for their student supporters.
Bajan
"Bajan" is an old word for first-year university students. It means 'yellow beak'. Female first-year students were called "bajanellas". Second-year students were called 'Semis'. They sometimes played jokes on the bajans.
These terms were based on the four years of the degree:
- B: first year (bajan)
- S: second year (semi)
- T: third year (tertian)
- M: fourth year (magistrand)
Notable People from the University
Many famous people have studied or worked at the University of Aberdeen.
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George Wishart, early Protestant reformer
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Thomas Reid, founder of the Scottish School of Common Sense.
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Alastair Darling, former Chancellor of the Exchequer.
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Tessa Jowell, former Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.
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Gilbert Burnet, adviser to William III.
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Patrick Manson, founder of tropical medicine.
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Alexander Bain, philosopher and psychologist.
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Robert Brown, botanist.
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John Arbuthnot, scientist and author.
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Sir James Mackintosh, philosopher and politician.
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James Burnett, Lord Monboddo, early anthropologist.
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James Gregory, mathematician.
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James Blair, founder of The College of William and Mary.
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William Thornton, architect of the United States Capitol.
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James Gibbs, architect.
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Iain Glen, actor.
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James Macpherson, writer.
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Sir Thomas Sutherland, founder of HSBC.
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Robert Davidson, inventor of the electric locomotive.
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- Nobel Prizes (alumni and faculty)
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Frederick Soddy, Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
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John Macleod, Nobel Prize in Medicine
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George Paget Thomson, Nobel Prize in Physics
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John Boyd Orr, Nobel Peace Prize
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Richard Laurence Millington Synge, Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Images for kids
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Institute of Medical Sciences, Aberdeen
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Chemistry Department
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Cruickshank Building
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Edward Wright Building
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Fraser Noble Building
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Geography Department
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History Department
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Faculty of Education
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Zoology Building
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The Rowett Institute
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King's Pavilion
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A mosaic of the University of Aberdeen coat of arms on the floor of King's College
