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Robert Gordon University brand identity

Robert Gordon University

Aberdeen, United Kingdom • Founded 1729 • QS 2027 #1001-1200

Updated Sep 2026 · Source: rgu.ac.uk

Overview

English Name: Robert Gordon University
Local Name: Oilthigh Robert Gordon
Acronyms: RGU
Founded: 1729
Institution Type: University
Control Type: Public
Entity Type: Non-profit
Rankings:
QS World University Rankings 2027 #1001-1200 Times Higher Education 2026 #801-1000 SCImago 2026 #1094
Motto: Omni Nunc Arte Magistra
Robert Gordon University institutional facilities
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Robert Gordon University is based in Aberdeen, Scotland, with its main campus at Garthdee beside the River Dee.

The university takes its name from the eighteenth-century merchant Robert Gordon, whose belief in practical education still shapes its approach to teaching. RGU currently teaches around 18,000 students studying on campus and online, representing over 150 nationalities, and its graduates form an international community of roughly 80,000 people worldwide.

Courses are developed with employer input and cover more than 300 subjects at undergraduate and postgraduate level. The university has invested upwards of £120 million in new buildings, laboratories and collaborative workspaces on its riverside campus.

RGU has also been climbing national league tables, rising from 87th to 75th place in the Complete University Guide 2027.

Location & Contact

Geographic and contact information for Robert Gordon University is listed below.

Address: Garthdee House Garthdee Road
Postal Code: AB10 7QB
Phone: +44 (1224) 262 000
Fax: +44 (1224) 262 147
Social Media:

Academic Details

Robert Gordon University's academic profile in numbers is listed below.

Academic Year: September to June (September-January; February-June)
Recognition: Privy Council
Admission Requirements: Undergraduate: Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) Higher Grade passes (minimum of 3) plus Standard Grade passes, or General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Level passes (minimum of 2) plus Ordinary Level passes, or alternative qualifications. Postgraduate: an honours degree or degree equivalent.
Total Students: 14,840
Female Students: 8,920
Academic Staff Range: 400-499
Campus Setting: Suburban
Memberships & Networks
Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) European University Association (EUA) Universities UK

Academic Structures

The academic units of Robert Gordon University are listed below.

Unit 11 items
  • Aberdeen Business School
  • Gray's School of Art
  • School of Applied Social Studies
  • School of Computing and Digital Media
  • School of Creative and Cultural Business
  • School of Engineering
  • School of Health Sciences
  • School of Nursing and Midwifery
  • School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences
  • Scott Sutherland School of Architecture
  • The Law School

Faculties & Divisions

All faculties operate under Privy Council.

Design and Technology (Faculty) 28 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Architecture
  • Art Management
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Business Computing
  • Computer Engineering
  • Computer Graphics
  • Computer Networks
  • Computer Science
  • Design
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Electronics and Automation
  • Energy Engineering
  • Engineering Drawing and Design
  • Engineering Management
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Graphic Arts
  • Graphic Design
  • Industrial Design
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Painting and Drawing
  • Petroleum and Gas Engineering
  • Photography
  • Printing and Printmaking
  • Robotics
  • Sculpture
  • Surveying and Mapping
  • Textile Design
  • Visual Arts
Health and Social Care (Faculty) 13 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Applied Chemistry
  • Biological and Life Sciences
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Dietetics
  • Midwifery
  • Molecular Biology
  • Nursing
  • Nutrition
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Pharmacy
  • Public Health
  • Social Work
Business (School) 10 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Accountancy
  • Business Administration
  • Communication Studies
  • Fashion Design
  • Finance
  • Information Management
  • Law
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Petroleum and Gas Engineering

Programs Offered

Robert Gordon University's programme list, with search and degree-level grouping.

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

Bachelor's Degree 6 programmes

Honours Degree 61 programmes

Showing 10 of 61.

Master of Business Administration 6 programmes

Master's Degree 79 programmes

Showing 10 of 79.

Doctorate 1 programme

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Philosophy & Ethics

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Professional Doctorate 5 programmes

Postgraduate Certificate 2 programmes

Postgraduate Diploma 1 programme

Scholarships in United Kingdom

Financial-aid options for studying in the United Kingdom, applicable across institutions including Robert Gordon University.

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.
Care Experienced Package
University funded · Renewable · 8,100 GBP per year · Living Stipend · Covers Living
A non-income-assessed bursary of £8,100 a year for care-experienced Scottish undergraduates, alongside living-cost grants, an accommodation grant, and extra repeat-year allowance.
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 Scholarship
University funded · International students · 10,000 GBP per total · Partial Tuition
A £10,000 award towards one year of full-time postgraduate taught study, funded jointly with the British Council's GREAT scheme, for citizens of Indonesia and Pakistan.
Independent Student Bursary (ISB)
University funded · Renewable · 1,000 GBP per year · Living Stipend · Covers Living
A living-cost bursary of up to £1,000 a year for eligible Scottish undergraduates classed as independent students with household income of £20,999 or less.
RGU Alumni Discount
University funded · International students · Partial Tuition
A 20% discount on tuition fees for former RGU students returning to study an undergraduate or postgraduate course.
RGU International Merit Based Scholarship for Master's Students
University funded · International students · 5,000 GBP per total · Partial Tuition
A £5,000 reduction on postgraduate tuition fees for international students with a first-class honours-equivalent undergraduate degree.
RGU International Student Discount for Master's Students
University funded · International students · 3,000 GBP per total · Partial Tuition
An automatic £3,000 to £4,000 discount on master's tuition fees for self-funded international students; students from Kenya, Indonesia and Nepal receive £4,000, all other eligible countries receive £3,000.
RGU International Student Discount for Research Students
University funded · International students · 3,000 GBP per total · Partial Tuition
A £3,000 discount on doctoral or postgraduate research tuition fees for self-funded international students.
RGU International Student Discount for Undergraduate Students
University funded · International students · Renewable · 2,000 GBP per year · Partial Tuition
A £2,000 annual discount on undergraduate tuition fees for self-funded international students, applied automatically each year of study.
RGU International Student January Scholarship for Master's Students
University funded · International students · 5,000 GBP per total · Partial Tuition
Four merit-based awards of £5,000 off postgraduate taught tuition fees for international students starting the January intake.
RGU SPORT Scholarship
University funded · International students · Renewable
Annual financial and holistic support for student athletes at or close to national standard, contributing towards travel, training, equipment and competition costs.
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.
Vice-Chancellor's Undergraduate Scholarship
University funded · International students · Full Tuition
Covers the full first year's tuition fee for one outstanding international or EU undergraduate applicant, awarded on academic merit.
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.
Young Students' Bursary (YSB)
University funded · Renewable · 2,000 GBP per year · Living Stipend · Covers Living
A tiered, income-assessed bursary of up to £2,000 a year for eligible Scottish undergraduates with household income of £34,000 or less, paid monthly during term-time alongside a SAAS loan.

How to apply to Robert Gordon University

A five-step guide to applying to Robert Gordon University.

  1. 1
    Research programmes at Robert Gordon University

    Begin by reviewing the programmes section above. Robert Gordon University offers 161 programmes grouped by qualification level. Decide on a target tier (bachelor's, master's, or doctoral) before narrowing by subject.

  2. 2
    Review admissions criteria

    Each programme at Robert Gordon 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
    Gather supporting documents

    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
    Lodge your application

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

  5. 5
    Confirm receipt and track progress

    After submitting, confirm receipt with the admissions office and track your application status through the portal. Reach the institution by phone at +44 (1224) 262 000. Set reminders for any interview requests, additional document submissions, or admission decision deadlines.

Frequently Asked Questions about Robert Gordon University

Quick answers to common questions about Robert Gordon University.

When was Robert Gordon University founded?

Robert Gordon University was established in 1729 (approximately 297 years ago).

In which city is Robert Gordon University?

Robert Gordon University is based in Aberdeen, United Kingdom.

Is Robert Gordon University public or private?

Robert Gordon University operates as a public institution.

How many students study at Robert Gordon University?

Robert Gordon University has approximately 14,840 students.

What is Robert Gordon University's ranking?

It ranks QS 2027 #1001-1200.

What degrees does Robert Gordon University offer?

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

How many faculties does Robert Gordon University have?

The institution comprises 11 academic units.

Who recognises Robert Gordon University?

Yes, Robert Gordon University is recognised by Privy Council.

What is Robert Gordon University's official website?

You can find Robert Gordon University online at www.rgu.ac.uk.

Top-Ranked Universities in the United Kingdom

Research output among the United Kingdom's top universities sets the publication-and-citation upper bound. Comparing Robert Gordon University's research output to this benchmark gives a fair institutional read.

Members of European University Association (EUA)

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

Faculties at nearby universities

These universities are located near Robert Gordon University, listed below for students comparing options by location.

Where Else to Study Business & Management

Business & Management is also taught at these universities in the United Kingdom.

Universities Compared with Robert Gordon University

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