Where it ranks in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, what it’s really like to study there, and what halls and living costs look like.
Dundee is a mid-sized university with a compact City Campus in the West End, a short walk from the regenerated waterfront and the V&A Dundee. It's known for life sciences, medicine and dentistry at Ninewells Hospital, and art and design at Duncan of Jordanstone. All the university's halls are within walking distance of campus.
You should know the university has been through a serious financial crisis since late 2024. It has received emergency funding from the Scottish Government and has cut hundreds of staff jobs, and further redundancies were still being discussed in autumn 2026. Teaching continues, but check how your course is affected before you apply.
Known for
The University of Dundee is 62nd out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 48.5, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | University for the Creative Arts | 48.7 |
| 61 | University of Leicester | 48.6 |
| 62 | University of Dundee | 48.5 |
| 63 | University of York | 48.5 |
| 65 | Sheffield Hallam University | 47.8 |
Each award ranks all 124 universities on one part of student life. Click through for the full table.
17th of 124 · Nightlife Score 64.7
26th of 124 · Social Score 61.7
27th of 124 · Value Score 58.4
28th of 124 · Employability Score 38.8
28th of 124 · Affordability Score 64.5
29th of 122 · Careers Score 39.4
32nd of 124 · Freshers Score 61.9
35th of 124 · Balance Score 48.7
41st of 124 · Wellbeing Score 54.6
49th of 124 · Societies Score 53.2
62nd of 124 · Inclusion Score 58.3
80th of 124 · Safety Score 36.7
85th of 123 · Happiness Score 42.4
100th of 124 · Innovation Score 44.3
115th of 124 · Sustainability Score 27.6
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.
The University of Dundee appears in 28 of our subject league tables. Here’s where it places in each, best first.
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacology | 4th | of 37 | 91 |
| Interior Design | 9th | of 36 | 84 |
| Social Work | 27th | of 67 | 137 |
| Civil Engineering | 24th | of 58 | 108 |
| Computer Science | 44th | of 102 | 149 |
| Medicine | 13th | of 30 | 67 |
| Dentistry | 4th | of 8 | 36 |
| Animation (2D/3D) | 27th | of 52 | 102 |
| Biomedical Science | 49th | of 93 | 109 |
| Nursing | 45th | of 85 | 116 |
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philosophy | 29th | of 54 | 95 |
| Anthropology | 13th | of 24 | 63 |
| Business and Management | 65th | of 114 | 129 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 46th | of 77 | 109 |
| Law | 59th | of 97 | 104 |
| Psychology | 66th | of 108 | 110 |
| Neuroscience | 16th | of 26 | 58 |
| Biochemistry | 37th | of 60 | 82 |
| Mathematics | 38th | of 61 | 87 |
| Product Design | 27th | of 43 | 73 |
| Graphic Design | 43rd | of 68 | 100 |
| Physics | 29th | of 45 | 84 |
| Geography | 41st | of 63 | 92 |
| Economics | 56th | of 85 | 84 |
| Fine Art | 39th | of 58 | 84 |
| Environmental Science | 32nd | of 47 | 68 |
| Biology | 35th | of 51 | 71 |
| Chemistry | 32nd | of 44 | 58 |
Subject tables compare universities on graduate earnings, student satisfaction, teaching quality and academic support. Scores aren’t comparable between subjects.
DUSA, the Dundee University Students' Association, reported 240 student-led societies in 2023. It isn't affiliated to the NUS. Some of its buildings have been closed since 2023 because of RAAC concrete issues, so not all its amenities are available. Dundee is a small, friendly city with a growing creative and games scene, the V&A Dundee on the waterfront, and an easy train to Edinburgh. The Perth Road, by campus, is lined with student pubs and cafés.
University halls cost £179.48–£239.05 per week (2026/27, standard 39-week contracts, bills included) (2026/27 prices).
First-year accommodation guarantee
The university says: "We guarantee you one offer of single student accommodation for your first year of study" if you're a new full-time student and apply by the relevant deadline. Dundee must be your firm (first) choice: if it's your insurance choice you can't apply until you've firmly accepted. You normally need to accept within 7 days of the offer, including any advance rent. Deadlines are published annually; Clearing applicants get rooms subject to availability.
| Hall | Area | Rooms | From | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Park Villas | Between City campus and Ninewells | single room | £179.48/wk | The cheapest option: £6,999.72 for the 39-week contract (12 September 2026 to 12 June 2027). |
| West Park Flats | Between City campus and Ninewells | standard or premier room | £206.57/wk | Standard £206.57 a week, premier £213.57, 39 weeks. Handy for medics at Ninewells. |
| Seabraes 1 | A short walk from City campus | single room | £216.86/wk | £8,457.54 for 39 weeks; also used for nursing students on 44-week contracts. |
| Seabraes 2 | A short walk from City campus | single room | £230.09/wk | £8,973.51 for 39 weeks. |
| City Campus Flats | City campus | standard or premier room | £232.05/wk | On campus. Standard £232.05 a week, premier £239.05, 39 weeks. |
Prices are the university’s published weekly starting prices and can change. Always check the official accommodation site before applying.
The main student area, right by campus, with tenement flats, pubs and cafés.
Close to the shops, station and waterfront, and a short walk from campus.
Cheaper flats north of the centre, up a steep hill.
Top tip
Firmly accept Dundee as your first choice and wait for the email inviting you to apply, then apply before the published deadline to keep the guarantee. Accept your room offer within 7 days. If you're studying medicine or dentistry at Ninewells, West Park is the handiest location.
Dundee is generally an affordable Scottish city, but university halls aren't the cheapest: 2026/27 rooms cost £179.48–£239.05 a week on a standard 39-week contract, with bills included. That's roughly £7,000–£9,300 a year. Most students walk everywhere, which saves on transport. Scottish students' tuition is paid by SAAS.
Getting around
City Campus is in Dundee's West End, a short walk from the city centre, the waterfront and Dundee station, so most students walk. Seabraes is about five minutes from campus, and West Park sits between City campus and Ninewells Hospital. Dundee station has direct trains to Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen.
Weighing up your options? Here’s how nearby universities compare in the Unifresher Rankings 2027.
The University of Dundee is 62nd out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 48.5. Its strongest results are for nightlife (17th), social life (26th), value for money (27th).
Yes. New full-time students who apply by the relevant deadline are guaranteed one offer of single accommodation for their first year. Dundee must be your firm choice, and you normally have 7 days to accept the room offer.
For 2026/27, rooms cost £179.48 to £239.05 a week on a standard 39-week contract (12 September 2026 to 12 June 2027), with bills included. West Park Villas is the cheapest and City Campus Flats the most expensive.
In late 2024 the university disclosed a large deficit. Since then it has received emergency funding from the Scottish Government, cut hundreds of staff jobs and seen industrial action by staff, and further redundancies were still being discussed in autumn 2026. Teaching continues, but check your course's status before applying.
Clinical teaching is at Ninewells Hospital, west of the City campus. West Park halls sit between the two, which makes them popular with medics.
Yes. City Campus Flats are on campus, Seabraes is about five minutes' walk away, and West Park is between City campus and Ninewells.
It's small, friendly and affordable, with a creative scene, the V&A Dundee and lots of pubs along the Perth Road. Edinburgh is about an hour away by train for bigger nights out.
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.
