Study in Dundee, international student city guide

Dundee is a city of 150,000 residents located on the eastern coast of Scotland, UK. A historically important city with large-scale industries and manufacturing for businesses such as jute and shipbuilding, Dundee has also developed recently as a world-class destination for international students to pursue degrees at top-ranked universities.

Dundee also attracts international students because of its youthful and immigrant-friendly population, beautiful waterfront views, iconic cultural venues, and easy access to the most scenic areas of Scotland and northern England.

Top universities in Dundee

There are 2 universities in Dundee, and 4 other higher education providers. You will also find 3 other universities in cities close to Dundee.

University of Dundee

A public research university founded in 1881, the University of Dundee is home to nearly 14,000 enrolled students. The University of Dundee will feel especially accessible to international students, because more than 3,500 of its degree-seekers are international students like you.

The University of Dundee has excellent faculty across subject areas, and is especially well-known for its top-quality business and management courses. The University of Dundee also places focus on supporting your academic progress with frequent career opportunities, and offers internships for international students in multiple overseas locations including China, Vietnam and Mexico.

Abertay University

Originally founded as the Dundee Institute of Technology in 1888, Abertay University was granted university status in 1994 and is home to nearly 3,000 students today, with over 600 international students.

In 1997, Abertay University became the first university in the world to offer a degree in computer games. This shows Abertay University’s focus on cutting-edge innovation & research, as well as the high-quality teaching faculty & facilities for international students.

With students from over 50 countries studying at Abertay University, you will always feel comfortable and welcome in your academic environment. The university is especially well-known for its programs in technical subject areas.

Nearby universities

University of St Andrews

Scotland’s oldest university, having been founded over 600 years ago in 1413, the University of St Andrews is one of the world’s most popular institutions. The university is currently home to just under 10,000 enrolled students, and has an extremely high international student population of 5,000 or 50% of its enrolled students.

Situated half an hour away from Dundee in the small town of St Andrews, the University of St Andrews is located on a beautiful 300-acre campus with views of the sea all around. The University of St Andrews provides international students with endless career opportunities and overseas academic exchange programmes designed to improve your career skills and understanding of the world.

University of Stirling

Located in a picture-perfect 330-acre campus an hour away from downtown Dundee, the University of Stirling is rated extremely well by its students for two key elements – career opportunities and international community.

With international students like you from over 120 countries worldwide, and research partnerships with institutes in more than 50 locations overseas, you will benefit from a truly diverse and internationally-connected education at the University of Stirling. The university is home to just under 10,000 enrolled students, of which 2,500 are international students.

Dundee universities world ranking 2025

Below is a list of the top Dundee universities in 2025, according to QS world rankings and Times Higher Education:

List of other colleges & universities in Dundee

Alongside the five top-ranked Dundee universities, the city and its nearby Scottish region also feature many top-ranked institutes with work-study degrees offered in subjects including Engineering, Healthcare, Law & Architecture. Below are some of the top-ranked Dundee institutes for international students:

• Dundee & Angus College
• Scottish School of Contemporary Dance
• Al-Maktoum College of Higher Education
• Victoria & Albert Museum Dundee National Design School Programme

Tuition and living costs in Dundee

Undergraduate and Postgraduate tuition costs for international students can vary significantly, depending on the exact degree pursued and the courses selected within the degree. But you should expect to pay at least 14,500 US Dollars annually for undergraduate degrees, and about 16,000-18,000 US Dollars for postgraduate and PhD programs. Certain courses such as Medical and Law degrees at top-ranked universities may even cost up to 50,000 US Dollars annually for international students.

Thankfully, major living costs such as rental prices are about 25% lower in Dundee for international students than the national average. The University of Dundee estimates that you should budget between 8,500 and 10,000 US Dollars annually for living costs. This figure works out to about 900-1,000 US Dollars monthly for a 39-week academic year, and includes approximately 400-500 US Dollars for shared accommodation, 150 US Dollars for food expenses, 100 US Dollars for utilities, and another 100-150 US dollars for miscellaneous expenses such as entertainment and emergencies.

Life in Dundee for international students

Dundee has recently received large-scale funding from the government to turn the city into a modern cultural centre, boosting tourism as well as attracting high-quality international students like you. This means that you will enjoy a multicultural experience while studying in top-ranked Dundee universities, alongside being able to explore the Scottish countryside during your time away from the classroom.

Below is a list of Dundee’s must-visit cultural, sporting and outdoor attractions for international students:

• V&A Art Museum Dundee
• The McManus Art Gallery & Museum
• Dundee Contemporary Arts
• Broughty Castle Museum
• Camperdown Wildlife Centre
• Dundee Science Centre
• Dundee Museum of Transport
• Craigtoun Country Park
• Claypotts Castle
• Carnoustie Golf Links
• Mills Observatory
• D’Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum
• Crombie Country Park
• Baxter Park
• Dundee Waterfront Gardens

With an exciting mix of important cultural and historical venues, large-scale outdoor spaces for relaxation, world-class sporting facilities and Scottish countryside scenery, you will never run out of ways to take your mind off of academics at your top-ranked Dundee university. Glasgow and Edinburgh, Scotland’s largest cities, are both only an hour and a half away by road. This allows for easy access to direct flights between Scotland and London, as well as major European cities such as Paris & Berlin.

Dundee gives you the benefits of living and studying with a well-connected educational infrastructure like a big city, as well as the focused environment of a small town where you can commit yourself to world-class research and academic growth. A sizable immigrant and international student community guarantees that you will feel at home during your stay in Scotland, and have easy access to key resources such as visa information and career opportunities for international students in Dundee.