Abertay University (U of A)

About

Abertay University has been ranked the top modern university in Scotland in the Guardian University Guide 2026. Emphasizing employability, innovation, entrepreneurship and industry partnerships, Abertay is a modern university committed to equipping students for a bright future and successful career.

Objectives

Abertay University's main objectives, as outlined in their 2020-25 strategic plan, are threefold: to offer transformational opportunities to those who can benefit from their university education, to inspire and empower students, staff, and graduates to reach their full potential and positively impact the world, and to prepare students for work and lifelong learning.

Main Academic Divisions (Faculties)

• Faculty of Social and Applied Sciences
• Dundee Business School
• Cybersecurity and Computing
• Department of Games and Arts
• Civil Engineering

Reasons to Study at Abertay University

1. Abertay gets you work-ready

   Abertay degrees are vocational, which means the skills and knowledge you learn are created in partnership with industry. Whatever you choose to do afterwards, you will graduate work-ready and able to seize employment opportunities from the very start. 

2. Abertay is small and friendly

   It may be small, but they like it that way. It gives them room to get to know you as a student and provide you with the kind of personal and academic support you won't find in a larger university. Abertay is much more than your average university.

Fees

Admission

Undergraduate Admission Requirement

• Most of the school's undergraduate courses require English at IELTS 6.0 (with no component less than 5.5) or a university-accepted equivalent.
• Applicants must meet country-specific qualifications, which can vary widely. It is essential to check the specific requirements for your country on the courses page undergraduate courses before applying.

Supporting Documents

• Personal statement: Provide a personal statement explaining why you are applying for your chosen course. More details on what we expect can be found on the school's how to apply page.
• Up-to-date transcript: Include a current transcript listing the subjects you are studying at high school, along with your achieved and predicted grades. If your school offers a profile, please attach it as well.
• External Test Scores (if applicable): If you have taken any external tests such as the SAT, ACT, AP exams, or SAT subject tests, please include your scores. Unofficial score reports are acceptable at the time of application or if additional information is requested.
• Reference or evaluative report: Submit an evaluation of your character, academic ability, and potential for success at university level from a teacher or high school counsellor. You may do this in one of two ways:

1. Attach a referee’s letter, written on school stationery, which is dated and signed.
2. Alternatively, provide the name and contact details of the person who will supply your reference and use the referee report form (PDF). This form must clearly indicate your name and can be attached to your application, sent separately, or the school can email the referee directly if preferred.

Please note: Do not send any additional materials unless specifically requested. Should the University require further information, you will be contacted via email.

Postgraduate Admission Requirments

• Most of the school's taught postgraduate courses require English at IELTS 6.0 (with no component less than 5.5) or a university-accepted equivalent.
• Applicants must meet country-specific qualifications, which can vary widely. It is essential to check the specific requirements for your country on the entry requirement page https://www.abertay.ac.uk/study-apply/how-to-apply/entry-requirements-by-country before applying.

How To Apply For Admission

FOR UNDERGRADUATE:

•  UCAS is the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. You use this online process to apply to all UK universities. Both UK and international students use UCAS.

FOR POSTGRADUATE:

• Applications for postgraduate taught courses are made direct to the University for all applicants. Simply choose the degree you want to study from the school's course list and click the Apply Now button at the top of the page.

Admission Contacts

Email: [email protected],[email protected]
Phone : +44(0)1382 308080

Gallery

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  Graduation Ceremony

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  Campus Sports

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  Library

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  laboratory

Campus Tour

Facilities

• Gym: The Abertay gym gives you everything you need to meet your fitness goals-everything for new and experienced gym users, they also offer a range of classes as well as high-quality exercise equipment. Friendly staff are on hand to take you through gym inductions and discuss your training needs. There are full shower and changing facilities which can be used between lectures and tutorials. Students, staff and non-staff members can join the university gym.
• Library: Located next to the teaching buildings in the city centre campus, the Bernard King Library offers a variety of flexible, modern spaces to accommodate all learning styles. As well as access to thousands of printed books, the library provides a significant bank of electronic resources, including eBooks, online journals and specialist databases. High quality wifi is available throughout the library. There’s also a good mix of open access PCs, together with areas to work if you want to bring your own device or borrow a laptop from one of the self-service lockers. 
• Muslim Prayer Room: The Muslim Prayer Room is maintained by the Abertay Islamic Society. There are two prayer rooms – one for brothers and one for sisters and they can be found in the Baxter Building in rooms 3057 and 3059.
• Laboratory: Abertay's laboratory consists of an Analytical & biological science laboratory, Molecular and microbiology laboratory and a Forensic Science facility.
• CAFETERIA: Annie's Café is a great place to eat, study, relax or meet people for a drink or some food. It is open everyone including the general public.

Accreditations

• International University Sports Confederation of Athletics (IUSCA)
• British Computer Society (BCS)
• Chartered Management Institute (CMI)

Vice Chancellor

Academic Staff

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  Professor Nia White

  Dean of Research and the Graduate School Professor Nia White is the Dean of Research and the pan-University Graduate School. She was previously Head of the School of Science, Engineering & Technology at Abertay University. As Dean of Res... read more

  earch, her role within the University is to lead and support the development of focused collaborative research and interdisciplinary innovation for impact beyond academia (yielding economic, social and cultural benefits).
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  Dr Wallace McNeish

  Senior Lecturer, Department of Sociological and Psychological Sciences Before coming to Abertay, he taught a variety of Sociology and Politics courses at the University of Glasgow, University of Stirling and Glasgow Caledonian University. He also worked as a contract res... read more

  earcher on a number of funded sociology projects at the University of Glasgow.

  He was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2009 and served as Sociology Division Leader between 2011 and 2015 when he gave up the position because it ceased to be rotational and became permanent.

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  Dr Rob Dewar

  Senior Lecturer, Department of Cybersecurity and Computing Dr Robert Dewar is a Senior Lecturer in Cybersecurity Policy in the Department of Cybersecurity and Computing. His specialist areas are cyber security policy, strategy and legal frameworks; the Europe... read more

  an Union and cyber security regulations including GDPR; historical institutionalism and the geostrategic contexts of cyber security and cyber defence. Before joining Abertay University, Dr Dewar was a Senior Researcher in Cyber Defence at ETH Zurich, Head of Cyber Security at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy and a lecturer and tutor at the universities of Glasgow, Stirling and Dundee. 
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  Dr John Babraj

  Senior Lecturer, Department of Health, Sport and Wellbeing

  Dr Babraj is a Lecturer in Exercise Physiology. Before joining Abertay in 2010, He was a Lecturer in Exercise Metabolism at Heriot Watt University. 

Notable Alumni

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  Joe FitzPatrick Politician
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  Alison Morrison-Shetlar Academic administrator and Marine molecular biologist.
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  David Jones Video game developer
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  Nadia El-Nakla Politician

History

In 1887 the educational community of Dundee started courses “in those branches of learning necessary or useful for working mechanics or other craftsmen” at a building on the university campus in Smalls Wynd. The success of these courses led to the establishment of the Dundee Technica Institute just one year later in 1888. This Insititute is what is now known today as Abertay University.