About the university
Robert Gordon University (RGU) is a professionally focused university in Aberdeen, north-east Scotland. It is named after Robert Gordon, an Aberdeen merchant whose bequest funded education in the city, and it includes Gray's School of Art, founded in 1885.
RGU is known for engineering linked to the energy industry (oil and gas, drilling, renewables), computing, business, health and architecture. Aberdeen is home to many energy companies, and RGU works with organisations such as BP, Wood Group, Accenture and Wipro on placements and projects.
For Indian students RGU offers one-year master's with January and September starts, an optional placement on many business and computing courses, and a GREAT Scholarship worth £10,000 for Indian citizens. Most master's on this page cost about £18,000 to £21,000 a year.
The main campus is a riverside campus at Garthdee in Aberdeen, and RGU has halls at four sites across the city.
- Roots
- Named after the 18th-century Aberdeen merchant Robert Gordon; Gray's School of Art dates from 1885 and Robert Gordon's Technical College from the early 1900s
- Type
- Public university with a riverside campus at Garthdee, Aberdeen
- Total students
- 18,000 studying on campus and online (university figure)
- Nationalities
- 152 nationalities represented (university figure)
- Intakes
- September and January for most master's
- Alumni
- International graduate community of 80,000
Rankings
QS World University Rankings 2027
1001–1200 in the world
Complete University Guide (UK) 2027
75th of 130 UK universities
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- £21,090
- Duration
- 12 months (September); 17 months (January)
- Intakes
- September; January
- English
- IELTS 6.0 (no component below 5.5)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- £19,630
- Duration
- 12 months (September); 16 months (January)
- Intakes
- September; January
- English
- IELTS 6.0 (no component below 5.5)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- £19,630
- Duration
- 12 months (September); 16 months (January)
- Intakes
- September; January
- English
- IELTS 6.0 (no component below 5.5)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- £19,630
- Duration
- 12 months (September); 16 months (January)
- Intakes
- September; January
- English
- IELTS 6.0 (no component below 5.5)
- Postgraduate
MSc Information Technology with Artificial Intelligence
- Fee / year
- £19,630
- Duration
- 12 months (September); 16 months (January)
- Intakes
- September; January
- English
- IELTS 6.0 (no component below 5.5)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- £18,760
- Duration
- 12 months, or 24 months with a placement
- Intakes
- September; January
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (no component below 5.5)
- Postgraduate
MSc International Business Management
- Fee / year
- £18,760
- Duration
- 12 months, or 24 months with a placement
- Intakes
- September; January
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (no component below 5.5)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- £20,210
- Duration
- 12 months (September); 16 months (January)
- Intakes
- September; January
- English
- IELTS 6.0 (no component below 5.5)
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (GBP) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSc Data Science | 12 months (September); 17 months (January) | £21,090 | ≈ ₹25.7 lakh |
| MSc Artificial Intelligence | 12 months (September); 16 months (January) | £19,630 | ≈ ₹23.9 lakh |
| MSc Advanced Computing | 12 months (September); 16 months (January) | £19,630 | ≈ ₹23.9 lakh |
| MSc Cyber Security | 12 months (September); 16 months (January) | £19,630 | ≈ ₹23.9 lakh |
| MSc Information Technology with Artificial Intelligence | 12 months (September); 16 months (January) | £19,630 | ≈ ₹23.9 lakh |
| MSc Project Management | 12 months, or 24 months with a placement | £18,760 | ≈ ₹22.9 lakh |
| MSc International Business Management | 12 months, or 24 months with a placement | £18,760 | ≈ ₹22.9 lakh |
| MSc Engineering Management | 12 months (September); 16 months (January) | £20,210 | ≈ ₹24.7 lakh |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at Robert Gordon University with similar universities in the UK.
Scholarships
- One-year postgraduate taught
GREAT Scholarship (RGU)
Value: £10,000
Eligibility: Citizens of Egypt, India or Kenya taking a one-year master's at RGU. Successful students act as ambassadors for RGU and the GREAT programme. Deadline 1 June 2027.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Full-time on-campus master's, September 2027
RGU International Merit-based Scholarship for Master's Students
Value: £8,000 off postgraduate fees
Eligibility: Self-funded students from any country with the equivalent of a UK first-class honours degree. Deadline 1 June 2027.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Undergraduate, September 2027
Vice-Chancellor's Undergraduate Scholarship
Value: Full first year's tuition fee
Eligibility: Students from any country starting in September 2027, selected on academic merit, community engagement and extra-curricular activities. Deadline 1 June 2027.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - January 2027 intake
RGU Early Deposit Payment Discount
Value: £500
Eligibility: Self-funded international fee-paying students joining in January 2027 who pay their deposit by 13 November 2026. Added on top of any scholarship.
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- 60% overall in Year 12 state board examinations (55% for the West Bengal board).
- From July 2026 RGU no longer accepts the Punjab and Haryana state boards.
- Students without an accepted high school qualification can take a pathway programme at the International College at RGU.
Postgraduate
- For courses asking for a 2:2: a second-class bachelor's degree or an overall average of 55% from a recognised institution.
- Universities of Mumbai, Delhi and Calcutta: minimum overall average of 50%.
- CBCS 10-point scale: GPA 6.0; 4-point scale: GPA 2.67.
- Students who do not meet direct entry can take a pre-master's programme at the International College at RGU.
Documents
- Valid passport
- Degree certificate and transcripts (or Class 10 and 12 mark sheets for bachelor's)
- English test score
- Personal statement
- References where the course asks for them
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | Most master's: 6.5 with no component below 5.5 for business courses, or 6.0 with 5.5 in each for computing and engineering courses. Most bachelor's: 6.0 with 5.5 in each. |
| Other tests | RGU accepts equivalent tests; check its English Language Requirements page and the course page before applying. |
| Pre-sessional and pathway courses | The International College at RGU offers routes for students who do not meet the direct-entry English or academic requirement. |
Accommodation and living costs
RGU has self-catering halls at four sites across Aberdeen. Ramsay Development is for postgraduate and mature students. Prices below are 2026/27 rents for 42-week leases starting 11 September 2026; 49-week leases are also available.
| Item | In GBP | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Woolmanhill single standard room (42 weeks)£4,583.46 in total | £109per week | ≈ ₹13,314 |
| Woolmanhill single en-suite room (42 weeks)£6,488.58 in total | £154per week | ≈ ₹18,848 |
| Garthdee Towers partial en-suite room (42 weeks)£5,971.14 in total | £142per week | ≈ ₹17,345 |
| Crathie Student Village or Ramsay Development en-suite (42 weeks)£7,961.52 in total | £190per week | ≈ ₹23,126 |
Campus and location
RGU's main campus is a riverside campus at Garthdee, with modern teaching buildings, specialist laboratories and collaborative study spaces. The university has invested £120 million in buildings and facilities.
- Includes Gray's School of Art and the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment.
- Strong links with Aberdeen's energy sector for placements and projects.
- Optional long placements (40–45 weeks) on some computing master's for high-performing students.
- Self-catering halls at four sites across Aberdeen.
Careers and graduate outcomes
RGU focuses on graduate career prospects, with placements built into many courses and close links to the energy, technology and health sectors. For post-study work options, see our UK guide.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering graduate prospects | Top 5 in the UK (graduate prospects on track) | RGU BEng Mechanical Engineering course page, citing the Complete University Guide 2026 |
Studying in the UK
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in the UK. Our country guide covers them in detail:
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FAQs
How much is a master's at RGU?
For 2026/27, business master's cost £18,760, computing and AI master's £19,630, engineering master's £20,210 and MSc Data Science £21,090. 2027/28 fees had not been published at the time of writing.
Does RGU have a January intake?
Yes. Most master's on this page start in September or January. January starts usually take 16 or 17 months.
Is there a scholarship for Indian students?
Yes. The GREAT Scholarship gives £10,000 to Indian citizens on a one-year master's (deadline 1 June 2027). A merit scholarship of £8,000 is open to first-class graduates.
What percentage do I need in my Indian degree?
For most master's, a second-class degree or an overall 55%. RGU accepts 50% from the universities of Mumbai, Delhi and Calcutta.
Does RGU accept Punjab and Haryana board students for bachelor's?
No. From July 2026 RGU no longer accepts the Punjab and Haryana state boards for undergraduate entry; students can consider the International College route instead.
Sources
- RGU: MSc Data Science (opens in a new tab)
- RGU: MSc Project Management (opens in a new tab)
- RGU: BSc (Hons) Computer Science (opens in a new tab)
- RGU: students from India (opens in a new tab)
- RGU: GREAT Scholarship (opens in a new tab)
- RGU: International Merit-based Scholarship for Master's Students (opens in a new tab)
- RGU: Vice-Chancellor's Undergraduate Scholarship (opens in a new tab)
- RGU: costs of accommodation 2026/27 (opens in a new tab)
- RGU: about (opens in a new tab)
- RGU: BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering (opens in a new tab)
- RGU: art and heritage collections (opens in a new tab)
- Complete University Guide 2027 league table (opens in a new tab)
- Wikipedia: Robert Gordon University (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.rgu.ac.uk (opens in a new tab)
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