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Abertay University
Abertay University is a dynamic, modern university with a strong focus on producing work-ready graduates, offering transformational opportunities for our students, supporting widening access pathways to higher education (HE) and conducting research and knowledge exchange (RKE) focused on real-world impact.
Based in Dundee, Scotland, Abertay gained university status in 1994 but has roots going back to the former Dundee Technical Institute founded in 1888. All of our undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes are designed for the modern world and have a focus on employability, with the majority of degrees including work placements or professional projects set by businesses.
We are a small, friendly University with around 480 staff and 4,000 students on campus and we view our size as a strength that makes for a close-knit community. Since 2017 we have held a Race Equality Charter Bronze Award for our ongoing commitment and active steps to improving race equality for our staff and students. We are also Athena Swan Bronze Award holders, recognising the University’s achievements in respect of gender equality.
Our degree programmes include business, law, science, engineering, technology, art, games, social and health sciences, and we facilitate cross-disciplinary learning and engagement to prepare students for real-life work environments.
On a global level, the University is best known as one of the world’s leading institutions for video games design, having launched the first ever degree in the discipline in 1997 and contributing to the city of Dundee becoming an international hub for the games industry. The prestigious Princeton Review ranks Abertay as the top international school for video games design and the university is a recognised as a national centre for excellence in both video games and cybersecurity.
Currently Abertay is ranked in the UK top 10 for teaching satisfaction (NSS 2023), in the UK top 10 for student experience (Daily Mail Guide 2024) and Scotland’s top modern university for overall satisfaction (NSS 2023). Abertay is also the UK’s top 3 modern universities for research intensity (Complete University Guide 2024) and in REF 2021 submitted 80% of all eligible academic staff, recording the biggest Scottish climb (23%) in research judged to be world-leading or internationally excellent (60% of all research submitted).
Abertay is in a period of growth and diversification, with our Abertay Online distance learning offer providing a growing portfolio of postgraduate degrees taught fully online. Our Transnational Education (TNE) partnerships are also growing as we seek to expand our reach, diversify our income, and internationalise our curriculum and student experience.
Abertay Strategic Plan 2020-2025
For over 25 years Abertay has been a leader in Scotland in enabling access to university and successfully preparing students for the world of work.
Rooted in our community, we offer opportunities through our teaching, research and knowledge exchange activities to support students, staff and graduates to excel in their chosen paths and to have a positive impact on the world. We do this in our own way, content to be different if it means we can serve our students, staff, partners, and society better.
We are proud of what we do and the contribution the Abertay community makes to the success of Dundee, Scotland and the wider world.
As we look towards the next 25 years, our focus remains on offering opportunities, making a difference in people’s lives and doing this in our distinctive Abertay way.
Our Purpose
- To offer transformational opportunities to everyone who has the ability to benefit from Abertay’s approach to university education.
- To inspire and enable our students, staff and graduates achieve their full potential and to have a positive impact on the world around us.
- To prepare students for the world of work and a life of learning.
In 2025 Abertay will be known for:
- Offering an excellent student experience and giving our students the skills to succeed and to thrive in a changing world of work.
- The impact of our research and knowledge exchange on business and society more widely.
- Our innovative use of digital technology across all our activities.
- Supporting our staff to develop as individuals and have satisfying careers.
- Being a leader in Scotland in enabling access to university for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
For more information on Abertay’s current Strategic Plan and our Supporting Strategies, please visit: www.abertay.ac.uk/about/the-university/strategic-plan/