Where it ranks in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, what it’s really like to study there, and what halls and living costs look like.
Abertay is a small university in the middle of Dundee, on Scotland's east coast. Its compact campus sits right in the city centre, so lectures, the library, shops and the waterfront are all within walking distance. With about 4,000 to 5,000 students, it's easy to get to know people and your lecturers.
It's best known for computer games and cybersecurity, but also teaches subjects like psychology, sport, nursing and business. Abertay doesn't own its own halls: most first years live in private partner residences, such as Parker House, a five-minute walk from campus, with preferential rates for Abertay students.
Known for
Abertay University is 103rd out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 41, below the UK median of 48.5. Our rankings are built around the student experience, combining employability, freshers experience, happiness, nightlife, sustainability, inclusion, innovation and societies. That means big research names don’t automatically top the table. See how we score universities.
Marker shows the UK median across all ranked universities.
| Rank | University | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 101 | Imperial College London | 41.2 |
| 102 | University of Bradford | 41.1 |
| 103 | Abertay University | 41 |
| 104 | Solent University | 41 |
| 105 | Staffordshire University | 41 |
Each award ranks all 124 universities on one part of student life. Click through for the full table.
33rd of 124 · Nightlife Score 57
39th of 124 · Affordability Score 59.6
47th of 124 · Freshers Score 58.4
55th of 122 · Careers Score 32.4
60th of 124 · Wellbeing Score 51.6
61st of 124 · Value Score 46.5
62nd of 124 · Social Score 50
63rd of 124 · Employability Score 30.7
83rd of 124 · Safety Score 35.4
90th of 124 · Innovation Score 48.5
99th of 123 · Happiness Score 36.7
100th of 124 · Balance Score 35.5
103rd of 124 · Societies Score 40.6
112th of 124 · Sustainability Score 29.7
117th of 124 · Inclusion Score 25.6
Dundee as a student city
Ranked 19th of 72 UK university cities in our Best University Cities 2027 ranking, with a score of 56.9.
Abertay University appears in 12 of our subject league tables. Here’s where it places in each, best first.
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing | 35th | of 85 | 134 |
| Biomedical Science | 49th | of 93 | 109 |
| Engineering (General) | 16th | of 30 | 64 |
| Sports Science | 43rd | of 78 | 109 |
| Computer Science | 57th | of 102 | 129 |
| Criminology | 55th | of 94 | 106 |
| Psychology | 65th | of 108 | 112 |
| Marketing | 56th | of 88 | 95 |
| Law | 63rd | of 97 | 100 |
| Sociology | 58th | of 86 | 102 |
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forensic Science | 21st | of 31 | 70 |
| Business and Management | 78th | of 114 | 92 |
Subject tables compare universities on graduate earnings, student satisfaction, teaching quality and academic support. Scores aren’t comparable between subjects.
Abertay Students' Association (Abertay SA) runs societies, sports clubs, events and student representation. Dundee is a compact student city shared with the University of Dundee, so there's a decent student scene for its size, with bars and gig venues in the city centre. The waterfront and the V&A Dundee design museum are a short walk from campus, and Dundee Rep Theatre is nearby. For the outdoors, the coast, the hills and even skiing are within reach, and there's a skate park about 10 minutes' walk from campus.
University halls cost £159.47–£323.95 per week (Parker House, Abertay preferential rate, 43-week lease, all bills included) (2026/27 (the university notes the room types offered at the preferential rate were still to be confirmed for 2026 entry) prices).
First-year accommodation guarantee
No formal accommodation guarantee is published. Abertay doesn't own halls; instead it has a limited allocation of rooms at Parker House (run by iQ) at a preferential rate, offered first come, first served once you've firmly accepted your offer. When that allocation is full, you can book the same rooms directly with iQ at their standard rate, or use other Dundee providers.
| Hall | Area | Rooms | From | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parker House (iQ) | City centre, Parker Street | en-suite rooms, studios and apartments | £159.47/wk | The university's main partner residence, a five-minute walk from campus. Abertay preferential rates run from £159.47 (Bronze en-suite) to £217.53 (Platinum en-suite plus), with studios from £270.74 and 1-bed apartments £285.46–£323.95. 43-week lease. A UK-based guarantor is required. |
| Telephone House (Mezzino) | West Bell Street, opposite campus | en-suite and studios | Not published | New residence directly opposite campus, opening September 2026, with a gym, study and social spaces and a courtyard. Privately operated: you book directly with Mezzino. |
| Lyon Street Terrace (Mezzino) | Lyon Street | flats of 1–3 bedrooms | Not published | Newly refurbished, with 126 bedrooms, 10 minutes' walk from campus and close to bus routes. |
Prices are the university’s published weekly starting prices and can change. Always check the official accommodation site before applying.
Walking distance to campus, the waterfront and nightlife, with lots of flats above shops.
Dundee's classic student area, with cafés and bars along Perth Road. Popular with students from both universities.
Cheaper tenement flats east of the centre, with local shops and buses.
Top tip
Once you've firmly accepted your offer, the university emails you a link to book Parker House at the Abertay rate. It's first come, first served, so book as soon as you get the email. You'll need your student ID and a UK-based guarantor. If the Abertay allocation runs out, you can still book Parker House directly with iQ or look at Telephone House and other providers.
Rent at Parker House starts at about £159 a week at Abertay's preferential rate for a 43-week lease, with all bills included. Larger rooms, studios and apartments cost £177–£324. Abertay doesn't publish a cost-of-living estimate, so budget for food, travel and going out on top. Walking everywhere in a compact city helps keep transport costs low. Scottish students usually pay no tuition fees.
Getting around
Dundee is compact, and Abertay's campus is in the city centre, so most students walk. Parker House is five minutes from campus and Telephone House is directly opposite. Buses cover the rest of the city, and Dundee station on the waterfront has trains to Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen.
Weighing up your options? Here’s how nearby universities compare in the Unifresher Rankings 2027.
Abertay University is 103rd out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 41. Its strongest results are for nightlife (33rd), affordability (39th).
No. Abertay works with private providers instead. Its main partner is Parker House (run by iQ), five minutes' walk from campus, where it has a limited allocation of rooms at a preferential rate. Telephone House, opposite campus, and Lyon Street Terrace are other options.
There's no formal guarantee. The preferential-rate rooms at Parker House are offered first come, first served once you've firmly accepted your offer. If they run out, you can book directly with iQ or another Dundee provider.
At the Abertay preferential rate, rooms cost £159.47–£217.53 a week for en-suites, £270.74 for a studio and £285.46–£323.95 for 1-bed apartments, on a 43-week lease with all bills included.
Yes, for Parker House. iQ requires a UK-based guarantor aged 18 or over for all bookings, at both the Abertay rate and their standard rate. If you can't get one, contact Abertay's accommodation team about support.
Computer games and cybersecurity are its best-known subjects. It also teaches psychology, sport, nursing, business and more, all on a small campus in the centre of Dundee.
It's a small, friendly city with two universities, a waterfront, the V&A Dundee design museum and the outdoors on its doorstep. Everything in the centre is walkable, and Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen are reachable by train.
About this guide. Rankings data comes from the Unifresher Rankings 2027 (methodology). Facts, hall prices and costs come from the university and official sources listed below. Last updated 23 October 2026.
