Old Aberdeen, with its cobbled High Street and the crown tower of King's College, is where the University of Aberdeen International Study Centre teaches. Study Group runs it with the university. Students take a foundation year or a pre-master's and progress to Aberdeen degrees in business, engineering, law or science. Scottish undergraduate degrees last four years, so the foundation route can mean five years in total.
Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom
Official website: aberdeen-isc.ac.uk
Pathway centre run with Study Group
University of Aberdeen
King's College, Old Aberdeen
£17,000 – £22,000
International students, pathway programmes, per year
£10,000 – £13,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on aberdeen-isc.ac.uk before you apply.
International Foundation Year (Business and Law)
FoundationDuration
9 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 5.0, TOEFL: 55
International Foundation Year (Engineering and Science)
FoundationDuration
9 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 5.0, TOEFL: 55
Pre-Master's Programme (Business and Finance)
Pre-MastersDuration
6 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 5.5, TOEFL: 60
Pre-Master's Programme (Engineering)
Pre-MastersDuration
6 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 5.5, TOEFL: 60
Teaching on the historic King's College campus in Old Aberdeen.
Routes into engineering, including energy-related master's degrees.
A small, quiet city with low living costs.
Students who meet progression grades continue onto a University of Aberdeen degree.
Aberdeen's engineering graduates often join energy firms in the North Sea sector.
Graduates can stay in the UK for two years on the Graduate visa.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Old Aberdeen feels like a village inside the city, with the university's granite buildings, St Machar's Cathedral and Seaton Park beside the River Don.
The city centre and a long sandy beach are a short bus ride away. Winters are dark and windy, but rent is cheaper than Edinburgh or Glasgow.
CAS from University of Aberdeen
Proof of funds for fees and living costs
English test at B2 level or above
TB test certificate, if required
Immigration Health Surcharge payment
Valid passport with blank pages
The centre takes applications through the year. Apply three to four months before you plan to start to allow for the CAS and visa.
The foundation and pre-master's start in September and January. Check your target degree's start date before choosing a January intake.
The Student route visa. Your CAS comes from University of Aberdeen after you meet your offer conditions and pay the deposit; the online application needs proof of funds, your English result and the health surcharge.
Business, engineering and science foundations are the most common, and the engineering pre-master's is popular with graduates heading for energy-related master's. Foundation entry needs completed secondary school and IELTS about 5.0.
Study Group offers some scholarships on pathway fees. The University of Aberdeen also has international scholarships for the degree that follows, so check its funding pages.
