Abertay University

Abertay is right at the heart of Dundee, combining all the advantages of a close-knit campus with the buzz of city centre life. All of our buildings are within a quarter of a mile of each other, as are shops, bars, clubs, cinemas and theatres, and we are just a few minutes' walk from the bus and train stations.

Living in Dundee

Dùn Dèagh (Scottish Gaelic) pronounced ‘Dundee’ is the fourth largest and sunniest city in Scotland after Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. Dundee grew as a city through the local jute, marmalade (jam) and journalism industries, which are commonly referred to as the three Js.

Dundee sits in a spectacular setting, overlooking the River Tay estuary on Scotland’s east coast. Once a heavily industrial - and famously seafaring - town, it has transformed itself in recent years into a lively, friendly, safe and affordable city, which is the regional centre for one of the most unspoilt and affluent parts of the UK.

Dundee is promoted as the City of Discovery, in honour of Dundee's history of scientific activities and of the RRS Discovery, Robert Falcon Scott's Antarctic exploration vessel, which was built in Dundee and is now berthed in the city harbour.

As in the rest of Scotland manufacturing industries are being gradually replaced by a mixed economy, although 13.5% of the workforce still work in the manufacturing sector, higher than the Scottish and UK average, and more than double that of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen. The main new growth sectors have been software development and biotechnology along with retail. The city has a small financial, banking and insurance sector, employing 11% of the workforce.

The biomedical and biotechnology sectors, including start-up biomedical companies arising from university research, employ just under 1,000 people directly and nearly 2,000 indirectly. Information technology and software for computer games have been important industries in the city for more than 20 years. Rockstar North, developer of Lemmings and the Grand Theft Auto series was founded in Dundee as DMA Design by David Jones, an undergraduate of Abertay University. Dundee is responsible for 10% of Britain’s digital entertainment industry, with an annual turnover of £100 million.

The campus itself is an eclectic mixture of everything from the Edwardian Old College to our outstanding and award-winning Bernard King Library. The heart of the University lies in Bell Street, with most teaching and learning facilities, offices, research centres and the Library all within just a few yards of each other.  Best of all, our 21st-century Student Centre is also here, and whether you’re going to lectures, meeting with staff, studying in the library, attending tutorials and seminars, or just having a coffee with friends, you’ll always feel like a part of our bustling community.

The University is conveniently located on a city centre campus, with all of its buildings within a quarter of a mile of each other. Shops, recreational facilities and the main bus and train stations are but a short walk away.