Known as the "silver city" due to the appearance of its grey granite buildings, Aberdeen is one of Scotland's oldest cities. Aberdeen University, in fact, was among the first universities to be built in the UK. Only four universities are older. Traditional industries such as textiles and ship building have given way to off-shore oil drilling and service industries. Today, Aberdeen has a population of just over 250,000. A fifth of that population is students, giving the city a vibrant nightlife and cultural scene.
Aberdeen has a long stretch of coastline with pristine sandy beaches. While the North Sea is a little cold for swimming, this stretch of coastline is perfect for long weekend walks with new friends and loved ones. Aberdeen's harbor mouth is one of the best spots in the UK for dolphin spotting and, if you keep an eye to the sky, you can occasionally spot the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) shimmering in green splendor.
Aberdeen has more than enough urban activity to keep you satisfied as a student, if nature isn't your thing. The city center is a masterpiece of Gothic design and has all the chain and boutique shops you would expect in a modern city. George Street, King Street and Union Street form the main thoroughfares of the city and are packed with restaurants, cafes, clubs and bars. Neither the University of Aberdeen nor Robert Gordon University are campus universities, meaning students spread out throughout the city's bars and clubs come the weekend. All types of music are catered for. Aberdeen is also home to a contemporary art museum, 10-screen cinema and permanent funfair. The city hosts the largest Youth Arts festival in the world and international bands and stand-ups regularly play at local venues. The Lonely Planet guide to student life in Aberdeen provides lists all of the popular student hang-out spots.
Studying in Aberdeen is considerably cheaper than studying elsewhere in the UK. Accommodation near the city center can be up to half the price of equivalent accommodation in London. Hillhead Halls, on the banks of the River Don and part of the University of Aberdeen, is one of the main student villages in the city. Both universities in Aberdeen provide all of the sporting clubs and cultural societies expected from top universities: everything from martial arts to theater, film societies to student political parties. Adventure sports are particularly popular with students in Aberdeen. Snowboarding, surfing and rock climbing are among the outdoor pursuits offered.
Aberdeen is very far north in the UK. Despite improved transport links and cheap air fares it is not easy getting to other cities in the UK, particularly those far south, such as London. Because of its latitude, Aberdeen gets very cold in the winter. Strong Siberian winds whip through the city and it gets more than its fair share of rain each year. That said, it is nothing that a warm sweater and a brolly won't fix. And international air fares are cheaper than to other parts of the UK because of Aberdeen's burgeoning oil industry.