Official emblem of Abertay University

Abertay University

Dundee, United Kingdom • Founded 1888

Updated Sep 2026 · Source: abertay.ac.uk · How we collect data

Overview

English Name: University of Abertay Dundee
Local Name: Oilthigh Abertay
Acronyms: AU
Founded: 1888
Institution Type: University
Control Type: Public
Entity Type: Non-profit
Rankings:
SCImago 2026 #2187
Abertay University campus from the outside
1 / 4

Abertay University is a public university based in Dundee, on Scotland's east coast, with a compact campus centred on Bell Street.

It is home to around 4,000 students and is organised into two academic faculties, the Faculty of Design, Informatics and Business and the Faculty of Social and Applied Sciences, plus a Graduate School for postgraduate research. The Design, Informatics and Business faculty covers fields such as business, games, cybersecurity and computing, while many degrees across the university build in work placements and industry experience.

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide placed Abertay first in the UK for teaching quality in 2021, and among the UK's top 20 in 2022. Students can access peer mentoring, mental health counselling and academic advice as part of the university's support services, and Abertay is registered as a charity in Scotland.

Location & Contact

Abertay University's physical location and contact details are listed below.

Address: Bell Street
Postal Code: DD1 1HG
Phone: +44 (1382) 308 000
Fax: +44 (1382) 308 877
Social Media:

Academic Details

A snapshot of Abertay University's academic profile — enrolment, staffing, and recognition.

Academic Year: September to June (September-February; February-June)
Recognition: Privy Council
Admission Requirements: General Certificate Secondary Education (GCSE) with 5 passes including English and Maths allied to General Certificate of Education (GCE) with 2 passes at Advanced ('A') level or Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) 5 passes at SQA Standard Grade plus 3 or 4 passes at SQA Higher Grade. International and non-standard qualifications are welcome and considered on an individual basis
Total Students: 4,990
Female Students: 2,240
Academic Staff Range: 100-199
Campus Setting: Urban
Memberships & Networks
Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) European University Association (EUA) MillionPlus Universities UK

Academic Structures

Abertay University's academic structure — schools, colleges, and divisions — is listed below.

Unit 4 items
  • Dundee Business School
  • School of Contemporary Sciences
  • School of Design and Informatics
  • School of Social and Health Sciences

Faculties & Divisions

All faculties operate under Privy Council.

Simbios (Centre) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Environmental Studies
Urban Water Technology (Centre) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Water Management
Arts, Media and Computer Games (School) 2 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Computer Graphics
  • Sound Engineering (Acoustics)
Business (School) 24 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Accountancy
  • Administration
  • Business Administration
  • Business and Commerce
  • Civil Law
  • Commercial Law
  • Communication Studies
  • Constitutional Law
  • Economics
  • Finance
  • Human Resources
  • Industrial Management
  • Institutional Administration
  • International Business
  • International Studies
  • Labour and Industrial Relations
  • Labour Law
  • Law
  • Management
  • Management Systems
  • Marketing
  • Public Administration
  • Public Law
  • Tourism
Science, Engineering and Technology (School) 15 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Biomedicine
  • Civil Engineering
  • Computer Engineering
  • Computer Graphics
  • Computer Networks
  • Computer Science
  • Consumer Studies
  • Environmental Management
  • Food Science
  • Health Sciences
  • Information Sciences
  • Information Technology
  • Software Engineering
  • Systems Analysis
  • Water Science
Social and Health Sciences (School) 40 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Behavioural Sciences
  • Cinema and Television
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Cognitive Sciences
  • Community Health
  • Comparative Sociology
  • Criminology
  • Cultural Studies
  • Curriculum
  • Demography and Population
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Econometrics
  • Economic and Finance Policy
  • Educational and Student Counselling
  • Educational Research
  • Educational Testing and Evaluation
  • Ethics
  • Experimental Psychology
  • Family Studies
  • Film
  • Health Sciences
  • History of Societies
  • Industrial and Production Economics
  • Nursing
  • Oncology
  • Pedagogy
  • Police Studies
  • Psychiatry and Mental Health
  • Psychology
  • Psychometrics
  • Public Health
  • Social and Community Services
  • Social Policy
  • Sociology
  • Sports
  • Sports Management
  • Treatment Techniques
  • Urban Studies
  • Vocational Counselling
  • Women's Studies

Programs Offered

All active programmes at Abertay University are listed by degree level.

79 programmes on record. Each level below shows a sample. Compare these on the programs page All programs in United Kingdom

Honours Degree 46 programmes

Showing 10 of 46.

Master of Business Administration 1 programme

Master's Degree 16 programmes

Showing 10 of 16.

Doctorate 16 programmes

Applied Games MSc by Research, MPhil, PhD
Digital Media & Game Development

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Business and Management PhD, MPhil, MSc by Research
Business Administration

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Civil, Structural & Geotechnical Engineering PhD, MPhil, MSc by Research
General Engineering

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Computer Arts MA by Research, MPhil, PhD
Liberal Arts

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Computer Games Development & Technology MSc, MPhil, PhD
Digital Media & Game Development

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Computing MSc by Research, MPhil, PhD
Information Systems & Technology

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Game Art and Animation MSc by Research, MPhil, PhD
Digital Media & Game Development

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Game Design MSc by Research, MPhil, PhD
Applied Design

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Game Studies MSc by Research, MPhil, PhD
Digital Media & Game Development

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Immersive Experiences, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality PhD, MPhil, MSc by Research

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Showing 10 of 16.

Scholarships in United Kingdom

Scholarships and grants accessible to students attending Abertay University or other universities in the United Kingdom are below.

Abertay Bursary for Northern Irish, English and Welsh Students
University funded · Renewable · 1,750 GBP per year · Living Stipend · Covers Living
A bursary of up to £1,750 for each year of study, paid directly into your bank account to help with costs such as accommodation, food and books.
Abertay IB30+ Scholarship
University funded · International students · Renewable · 7,000 GBP per year · Partial Tuition
Up to £7,000 a year, for up to four years, deducted from tuition fees, for new international undergraduates who achieve 30 or more points in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.
Abertay International Scholarship
University funded · International students · Renewable · 3,000 GBP per year · Partial Tuition
Up to £3,000 a year, for up to four years, deducted from tuition fees, for new international undergraduate and postgraduate taught students.
Abertay Partner Excellence Scholarship
University funded · International students · Renewable · 5,000 GBP per year · Partial Tuition
Up to £5,000 a year, for a maximum of two years, deducted from tuition fees, for new international students applying with a degree from an Abertay exchange or articulation partner institution.
Abertay Postgraduate Taught rUK Scholarship
University funded · 1,000 GBP per total · Living Stipend · Covers Living
A £1,000 award, paid into your bank account in January, to help with living costs in Dundee, for new taught postgraduate (MSc/MProf) students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Abertay RUK Scholarship: Business
University funded · Renewable · 1,000 GBP per year · Combined · Covers Living
£1,000 for every year you pay tuition fees, plus a fee-free final year if you complete all four years at Abertay in Dundee, for undergraduate Business, Law and Marketing degrees. Starting in Year 1 gives £1,000 in years 1-3 plus a fee waiver in Year 4 (total £3,000 plus the waiver); direct entry to Year 2 gives £1,000 in years 2-4 (£3,000 total); direct entr...
Abertay RUK Scholarship: Games/Computing/Cyber
University funded · Renewable · 1,000 GBP per year · Living Stipend · Covers Living
Up to £4,000 over four years (£1,000 a year), paid into your bank account each January to help with living costs in Dundee, for undergraduate Games, Computing and Cyber Security degrees.
Abertay RUK Scholarship: Science and Social Science
University funded · Renewable · 1,000 GBP per year · Combined · Covers Living
£1,000 for every year you pay tuition fees, plus a fee-free final year if you complete all four years at Abertay in Dundee, for undergraduate Science and Social Science degrees. Starting in Year 1 gives £1,000 in years 1-3 plus a fee waiver in Year 4 (total £3,000 plus the waiver); direct entry to Year 2 gives £1,000 in years 2-4 (£3,000 total); direct entry...
Abertay Türkiye Scholarship
University funded · International students · Renewable · 5,000 GBP per year · Partial Tuition
Up to £5,000 a year, for up to four years, deducted from tuition fees, for new self-funding international undergraduate and postgraduate students who are domiciled in or a national of Türkiye.
Cambridge Trust International Scholarship
Cambridge Trust · Foundation funded · International students · Renewable · Combined · Covers Living
Covers tuition fees at the international rate, an annual maintenance stipend, and support towards the student visa and Immigration Health Surcharge, for postgraduate (and some undergraduate) study at Cambridge; there is no separate application form.
Gates Cambridge Scholarship
Gates Cambridge Trust · Foundation funded · International students · Renewable · Combined
Funds full-time or part-time PhD study, the one-year MLitt, or (with some exceptions) other one-year postgraduate courses at the University of Cambridge; fee and stipend amounts are set through the University's own student-funding process rather than published on the eligibility page.
GREAT Scholarships September 2026
University funded · International students · 10,000 GBP per total · Partial Tuition
A £10,000 award, deducted from tuition fees, for new international taught postgraduate students from Mexico, Kenya or Thailand.
Rhodes Scholarship
Rhodes Trust · Foundation funded · International students · Renewable · 20,400 GBP per year · Combined · Covers Living, Travel
Covers University of Oxford course and college fees, an annual stipend of £20,400 (£1,700 a month, 2025-26 rate), the Oxford application fee, student visa and Immigration Health Surcharge costs, two economy flights to and from the UK, and a settling-in allowance.
Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme
Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust · Foundation funded · International students · Renewable · 18,622 GBP per year · Combined · Covers Living
Covers 100% of course fees and a living-cost grant (at least £18,622 a year through the St Antony's College partnership) for the full period of fee liability, plus participation in a tailored leadership programme.

How to apply to Abertay University

What applying to Abertay University involves, in five steps.

  1. 1
    Browse the programme catalogue

    Begin by reviewing the programmes section above. Abertay University offers 79 programmes grouped by qualification level. Decide on a target tier (bachelor's, master's, or doctoral) before narrowing by subject.

  2. 2
    Check eligibility for your chosen programme

    Each programme at Abertay University has its own entry requirements — academic minimums, language proficiency, supporting documents, and sometimes interviews or portfolios. Check the programme-specific page or contact admissions to confirm eligibility.

  3. 3
    Get your documents ready

    Most applications require certified academic records, identification documents, language test certificates (IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent for English-medium programmes), CV/résumé, and a statement of purpose. Allow extra time for document authentication.

  4. 4
    Apply through UCAS or direct entry

    Undergraduate applicants apply through UCAS (ucas.com) rather than directly to Abertay University. Postgraduate applicants apply directly through Abertay University's own admissions portal at www.abertay.ac.uk.

  5. 5
    Reach out and track your application

    After submitting, confirm receipt with the admissions office and track your application status through the portal. Reach the institution by phone at +44 (1382) 308 000. Set reminders for any interview requests, additional document submissions, or admission decision deadlines.

Frequently Asked Questions about Abertay University

Below are key facts about Abertay University, drawn directly from institutional records.

How old is Abertay University?

The institution opened in 1888 (approximately 138 years ago).

In which city is Abertay University?

Abertay University is based in Dundee, United Kingdom.

What is Abertay University's control type?

Abertay University is a public institution.

How many students study at Abertay University?

Abertay University has approximately 4,990 students.

What degrees does Abertay University offer?

Programmes at Abertay University cover bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.

How is Abertay University organised academically?

Abertay University is organised into 4 academic units across its disciplines.

Who recognises Abertay University?

The institution holds recognition from Privy Council.

What is Abertay University's official website?

You can find Abertay University online at www.abertay.ac.uk.

Top-Ranked Universities in the United Kingdom

A quick benchmark: here are the top-ranked universities in the United Kingdom. Useful for understanding how Abertay University compares against the national reference points in higher education, and what alternatives exist if reach institutions are part of your strategy.

Members of European University Association (EUA)

Abertay University and the universities below are both members of European University Association (EUA).

Faculties at nearby universities

Below are universities in the same area as Abertay University.

Where Else to Study Digital Media & Game Development

These universities in the United Kingdom also offer Digital Media & Game Development programmes, alongside Abertay University.

Universities Compared with Abertay University

The institutions below are of a similar academic scale to Abertay University.

Browse all articles →

Spotted something outdated or missing?

Help us keep this page accurate — it takes about 30 seconds.

Explore More Universities in United Kingdom

Free calculators and converters to plan your study-abroad journey.

Latest Articles

Fresh guides and advice for studying abroad.

View all →

Compare Compare