What Is Student Life Like at RGU and in Aberdeen?

Student life at RGU centres on a work-integrated approach that connects studies with industry, research and enterprise from day one, set in Aberdeen — ranked the top city in the UK for affordability in the QS Best Student City Rankings 2027. The university describes studying there as being about "the atmosphere and feeling like you are part of the RGU community," and it runs a dedicated Life at RGU section covering what that involves. If you are weighing up where to study and want to know what day-to-day life actually looks like, the picture below is drawn from what RGU itself publishes.

The RGU community and campus atmosphere

RGU frames student life around belonging rather than just attendance. Its own description of studying there emphasises making the most of your time "however or wherever you study," and points to the atmosphere and sense of community as the defining feature. That matters if you are choosing between institutions on feel as much as on rankings.

The university's work-integrated model is the practical expression of this: students connect their studies with the world around them through education, industry, research and enterprise. In practice, that means placements, industry-linked projects and employer contact are woven into the academic experience rather than bolted on at the end.

What the numbers say about the student experience

RGU publishes several indicators that speak directly to how students are supported and how they fare afterwards:

The student support ranking is the one most relevant to daily life: it reflects how the university handles the practical and personal side of studying, not just teaching quality. The graduate prospects figure is the outcome measure — useful if employability is a deciding factor for you.

Aberdeen as a student city

Aberdeen's first-place ranking for affordability among UK student cities is the headline fact for anyone budgeting. Affordability here covers the general cost of living as a student in the city, which is often the difference between a comfortable and a stretched experience.

Beyond cost, Aberdeen is a Scottish city with the usual student infrastructure — but RGU's own framing of the city is light on specifics, so treat the affordability ranking as the verified claim and check accommodation, transport and amenities directly with the university or the city before committing.

Recognition and awards

RGU's recent recognition includes:

• Higher Educational Institution of the Year — The Herald Higher Education Awards 2026
• Partnership with Schools Award for the Hub Widening Access Model — The Herald Higher Education Awards 2026
• Shortlisted for UK University of the Year, recognising its approach to connecting learning, research and industry
• NCCPE Bronze Watermark for public engagement
• Athena Swan commitment to gender equality
• Ranked 3rd in Scotland by People & Planet for sustainability

These are institutional awards rather than direct measures of student life, but the widening-access and public-engagement recognition indicates a university that invests in supporting students from a range of backgrounds.

Where to find out more

RGU's website organises the relevant information under these sections:

• Life at RGU — student life, community and campus experience
• Study at RGU — enrolment, timetables and getting started
• International Students — information for students coming from outside the UK
• Undergrad Study Options and Postgrad Study Options — course-level entry points

If you are an international student, start with the International Students section alongside Life at RGU, since practical arrangements such as visas and arrival planning sit there rather than in the general student-life pages.

What to check before you decide

The published evidence tells you RGU ranks well for support and graduate prospects, and that Aberdeen is the UK's most affordable student city. It does not tell you what accommodation costs, what societies exist, or what a typical week looks like. Those are the details worth confirming directly — through the Life at RGU pages, open days, or by contacting the university — before you treat the rankings as a complete picture of what studying there will be like.