🔧Robert Gordon University

Aberdeen, UK

An employability-focused Scottish university with strong ties to Aberdeen's energy industry.

About RGU

Robert Gordon University's Garthdee campus sits on the River Dee on the edge of Aberdeen — Scotland's energy capital, with deep connections to oil, gas, renewables and subsea engineering. RGU consistently emphasises graduate employment outcomes, with genuine strength in engineering (including subsea and offshore pathways), pharmacy, business and management, computing and cybersecurity, architecture, and health sciences. For GCC families with ties to the energy sector, the Aberdeen connection is a distinctive and practical draw, and the city's living costs are significantly lower than London's.

Why students choose it

  • Direct links to Aberdeen's oil, gas, renewables and subsea engineering industries
  • Consistently strong graduate employment outcomes across engineering, pharmacy and business
  • A modern, purpose-built riverside campus at living costs well below London

🎓 Free application support for RGU

Submit a free enquiry and Tutopiya's admissions team will guide you through your application to RGU — personal statement, interview prep and deadlines — at no cost, no obligation. Application fees are typically waived through our university partnerships.

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Typical entry grades

BBB (A Level)  ·  IB 28

Solid tier · indicative for the flagship courses below — always verify per-course requirements directly with the university.

Tuition (international, per year)

£20,000–£28,000/yr

mid tier for UK — figures are typical ranges, not this specific university's published fee.

Language of instruction

English

Campus

campus campus, Aberdeen

🏆 Scholarships to look into

Informational only — scholarship amounts, deadlines and even which schemes are running change often (sometimes per intake), so treat this as a starting point, not a guarantee. Always confirm current details directly with the scholarship provider or RGU's financial aid office.

Beyond government-level awards, most UK universities offer their own merit-based international scholarships — commonly a partial tuition reduction for strong A-Level/IB/IGCSE results, sometimes auto-considered from your application and sometimes requiring a short separate form.

  • Chevening Scholarships: UK government-funded, fully-funded, for one-year Master's study — highly competitive, open to students from eligible countries with leadership potential.
  • Commonwealth Scholarships: For citizens of Commonwealth countries, mainly postgraduate, funded by the UK government.
  • University international merit scholarships: Widely offered across Russell Group and other universities — typically a tuition-fee reduction for high entry grades, often renewable each year of study.

Chevening and Commonwealth are postgraduate-only. For undergraduate applicants, the university-specific merit scholarships are usually the more relevant route.

Want help figuring out which of these you'd actually qualify for? Talk to a free Tutopiya counsellor.

Popular courses

Engineering

⏱️ Typical duration: Often 4 years rather than the country's standard Bachelor's length, especially where the programme includes an integrated Master's (e.g. UK MEng) or an industry placement year

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Typical entry: Requires Mathematics + Physics

Pharmacy

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years (MPharm) where entered straight from school; typically a 4-year postgraduate PharmD after 2+ years of pre-pharmacy study (US)

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Typical entry: Requires Chemistry

Business Management

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years (4 years in Scotland)

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Typical entry: Mathematics helps but usually isn't required recommended

Computing and Cyber Security

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years (4 years in Scotland)

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Typical entry: Requires Mathematics · TMUA / ESAT (top universities)

Architecture

⏱️ Typical duration: Often longer than a standard Bachelor's — commonly a 3-year Bachelor's plus a further 2-year Master's for full professional accreditation

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Typical entry: Portfolio

Durations are typical for UK — always confirm the exact length (including any placement or integrated Master's year) on the course's own page before applying.

Not sure which course fits your grades and interests? Run the full shortlist builder →

How to apply

Main intake(s)
September
Typical deadline
Late January (equal consideration deadline)
Note
Oxford, Cambridge and most Medicine / Dentistry / Veterinary Science courses close earlier — 15 October the year before entry.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0)

Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test.

Read the full Tutopiya guide

A deeper walkthrough of applying to RGU for international IGCSE / A Level / IB students.

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See where RGU ranks on your personal shortlist

Enter your grades and budget in the free UK University Shortlist Builder to see whether RGU is a reach, target or safety for you — alongside every other UK university that matches.

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RGU FAQ

Quick answers about grades, tuition, deadlines and applying to RGU as an international IGCSE / A Level / IB student.

What grades do I need to get into RGU?

As a typical benchmark for international entry, RGU expects around BBB at A Level or 28 points on the IB Diploma. This is indicative for RGU's flagship courses — competitive subjects like Medicine and Law usually sit above this baseline, and the exact requirement varies by course, so always confirm the specific figure on RGU's own admissions page before applying.

How much does RGU cost for international students?

International tuition at RGU typically falls in the £20,000–£28,000/yr range (mid tier for UK). This is a typical range for the university's tuition tier, not RGU's specific published fee for every course — confirm the exact figure for your intended programme directly with the university.

When is the application deadline for RGU?

RGU follows UK's typical intake calendar: September, with applications generally due late january (equal consideration deadline). Oxford, Cambridge and most Medicine / Dentistry / Veterinary Science courses close earlier — 15 October the year before entry. Always verify the exact date on RGU's own admissions page, since deadlines can shift year to year.

What IELTS score do I need for RGU?

UK universities, including RGU, typically ask international applicants for 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0). Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test.

What is RGU known for?

An employability-focused Scottish university with strong ties to Aberdeen's energy industry. Robert Gordon University's Garthdee campus sits on the River Dee on the edge of Aberdeen — Scotland's energy capital, with deep connections to oil, gas, renewables and subsea engineering. RGU consistently emphasises graduate employment outcomes, with genuine strength in engineering (including subsea and offshore pathways), pharmacy, business and management, computing and cybersecurity, architecture, and health sciences. For GCC families with ties to the energy sector, the Aberdeen connection is a distinctive and practical draw, and the city's living costs are significantly lower than London's.

Can I apply to RGU with IGCSE, A Level or IB qualifications?

Yes — RGU accepts applicants from IGCSE-to-A-Level, IGCSE-to-IB-Diploma, and directly from the IB Diploma. Tutopiya's free UK University Shortlist Builder matches your predicted or actual grades against RGU and every other UK university we track, tagging each as reach, target or safety.

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