International Study Guide

INTERNATIONAL STUDY

At Abertay University, it’s our goal to prepare you to thrive in a rewarding career, wherever you choose to land.

With around 4500 students, we’re one of Scotland’s smaller universities. Over 60 nationalities are represented in our student community and, at the moment, around 23% of our students are from overseas and EU countries. With our compact size comes a friendly and tightknit community, all committed to offering a personal experience with high levels of support and advice.

Our teaching quality was ranked the best in the UK (The Times & Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021). Our lecturers aren’t just brilliant academics, they come with years of industry experience, and many of our programmes offer built-in work placements so you can gain professional skills and industry contacts while you study.

Of course, university involves much more than studying. Our range of sports clubs and societies provide the perfect way to engage your brain and body in other ways.

So, where are we? We’re based right in the heart of sunny Dundee, a ‘big little city’ located on the east coast of Scotland. It’s a hub for the digital and creative industries, bubbling with arts, culture, bars and restaurants. It’s vibrant and edgy, but also friendly, compact and affordable. With 40,000 students in a city of 160,000 people, you’re bound to have one of the best student experiences a UK city has to offer.

So, if you want an exciting, practical and rewarding university experience, choose Abertay University.

• UK University of the Year for Teaching Quality – Sunday Times 2021

• UK top 10 for student satisfaction – Guardian 2021 and NSS 2020

• One of the top games University’s in Europe — listed in the Princeton Review’s ‘World’s Top 25 Games Universities’ for an eighth year in a row.

• World’s first Ethical Hacking programme

WHAT’S INSIDE . . .

APPLYING TO STUDY AT ABERTAY

We know there’s a lot to think about when applying to study overseas, so let’s try and simplify it. Have a look through our application process and prepare to feel confident about your journey to Abertay.

Explore Abertay online

• Visit www.abertay.ac.uk and have a look through all our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes

• Check the entry requirements of the programme you like

• Register for and attend an online or in person Open Day event (check our website for dates)

APPLY FOR YOUR PROGRAMME

Be prepared! Here’s what you’ll need to apply:

• Details of your previous and current qualifications, including any English language requirements

• Your personal statement, highlighting your motivation to study your chosen programme

• An academic or professional reference

• Some of our programmes require you to submit a portfolio of work to evidence your creative skill

Undergraduate

Undergraduate applications need to be submitted online through the Universities Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) website.

For more information on making your application, visit www.ucas.com.

Postgraduate

Postgraduate applications should be submitted online via the Abertay University website.

RECEIVE AND REVIEW YOUR OFFER

There are three possible application outcomes:

• An unconditional offer – This means we’ve decided you’re already qualified for admission to the course you have chosen and have offered you an unconditional place.

• A conditional offer – We will admit you to the course, provided you achieve the grades and meet any other conditions outlined in the offer. The conditions will be clearly set out in your offer letter from our Admissions Team.

• A rejection – We are unable to offer you a place on the course.

ACCOMMODATION

Abertay has several rooms available within nearby accommodation. International students will be notified when the opportunity to reserve accommodation becomes available.

Visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/accommodation/

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Please check our website for the full list of entry requirements by country for each programme.

Undergraduate

Typical minimum entry requirements

These may be higher for some programmes and certain subjects may be required.

• A levels: CCC

• International Baccalaureate: 28 points, to include any essential subjects at S5 or H4.

• US High School Diploma: GPA 3.0 plus one of SAT(I) 1100; 3 AP tests at grades 333; 3 SAT subject tests at 600; or ACT Composite score of 25. Combinations of AP and SAT tests may be used provided they are in different subjects.

Postgraduate

For entry onto our postgraduate programmes, we typically require a good Bachelor with Honours or Master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant subject.

English Language Requirements

All courses at Abertay are taught in English.

If English isn’t your first language, you’ll need to demonstrate to us that you meet our requirements in written and spoken English before you come. We accept a range of English language certifications, all listed below.

Accepted English language qualifications include:

• IELTS - overall score of 6.0 with no band lower than 5.5.

• TOEFL - overall score of 78 (individual elements: L-17, R-18, S-20, W-17).

• Cambridge FCE/CAE/CPE - overall score of 169 on Cambridge Grading Scale.

• International Baccalaureate - English B at S5 or H4, English A no specific grade required.

• European Baccalaureate - English Language 1 at grade 6 or English Language 2 at grade 7.

For more information, please visit abertay.co/OWI2.

STUDENT VISAS

Students who do not have UK nationality, leave to remain in the UK, or presettled/settled status will need to apply for a Student Visa in order to study in the UK.

If you are studying for less than six months, you may not require a visa, or a different type of visa.

Things to know about the Visa process:

• First things first, check if you need a UK Visa. Visit gov.uk/check-uk-visa

• Visa applications can be made online.

• It costs £376 to submit your visa application. You’ll usually get a decision on your visa within three weeks.

• When submitting your application, you’ll also need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) to access the National Health Service (NHS). This is £470 per person per year.

• From outside the UK, the earliest you can apply is six months before you start your course, though you must wait until you have received your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).

• If your application is successful, you’ll get one of the following:

• A biometric residence permit (if you gave you fingerprints and photograph at a visa application centre.

• A digital immigration status (if you used the UK Immigration: ID Check app)

For more information on the documents you’ll require to apply, and to start your application, please visit gov.uk/student-visa

THE GRADUATE ROUTE

International graduates can work in the UK after completing their studies at Abertay and other education providers.

Students who successfully complete an undergraduate (Bachelor’s) or postgraduate (Master’s) programme can be granted a Graduate route visa lasting two years.

Students who successfully complete a PhD or other doctoral qualification can be granted a Graduate route visa lasting three years.

Applications for the Graduate visa must be made in the UK, and students must have a current Student or Tier 4 visa. This visa is not sponsored, you don’t need a job offer lined up and you won’t be required to show proof of income.

This is a brilliant opportunity to explore working and living in the UK after graduation!

For more information on eligibility, costs and application details, please visit gov.uk/graduate-visa

TUITION FEES

Tuition fees for international students vary depending on which degree you choose.

Your offer conditions will likely require a 50% tuition fee deposit. The remaining fees, less any scholarship, are due at the start of the academic year.

We offer all new international students a fee guarantee: the fee rate published for 2023-2024 entrants will be the same each year and won’t increase during your course of study.

Undergraduate Programmes Tuition Fees per year (GBP £)

BA (Hons) Computer Arts

BSc (Hons) Computer Game Applications Development

BSc (Hons) Computer Game Technology

BSc (Hons) Computing

BSc (Hons) Cybersecurity

BSc (Hons) Ethical Hacking

BA (Hons) Game Design and Production

All other Undergraduate Bachelors Degree Programmes

Postgraduate Taught Programmes

MSc Ethical Hacking and Cybersecurity

MSc Applied Artificial Intelligence and User Experience

MProf Games Development

MSc Computer Games Technology

All other Postgraduate Taught Programmes

Postgraduate Research Programmes

PhD/MPhil/MbR subjects in Food, Environment, Engineering, Science, Sport

PhD/MPhil/MbR subjects in Computing, Computer Games, Computer Arts, Ethical Hacking

PhD/MPhil/MbR subjects in Counselling, Psychology, Sociology, Management, Marketing, Business, Accountancy, Economics, Mental Health Nursing

Fees per year

£)

Fees per year (GBP £)

£13,750

Continuation Fee for Masters by Research (for the additional two months) £150

Continuation Fee for PhD/MPhil (per academic year) £500

SCHOLARSHIPS AND FUNDING

We offer and accept a range of scholarships and bursaries which help pay for your tuition fees and living costs during your time at Abertay.

Undergraduate Abertay International Scholarship

For international undergraduate students - an award of £3,000 is deducted from the tuition fee for each year of study, up to a maximum of four years. You do not need to apply for this scholarship. You will be automatically considered for this once we have received and processed your application.

For more information, visit abertay.co/NjQw

US Student Loans

At Abertay, we accept Federal Aid and private education loans such as Sallie Mae. We also accept VA funding through the GI Bill. Check our webpage on US loan information and get in touch for further information.

For more information, visit abertay.co/Y2I2

Postgraduate Abertay International Scholarship

International Postgraduate Abertay Scholarship – For international students who are studying a postgraduate taught Master’s, an award of £3,000 will be deducted from the tuition fee. There is no application for this scholarship, we will automatically assess you for this once we have received and processed your application.

For more information, visit abertay.co/OTE5

Saltire Scholarships

Scotland’s Saltire Scholarships are awarded by the university in collaboration with the Scottish Government. The scheme offers awards of £8,000 towards tuition fees for any one year of full time study on a postgraduate Master’s programme in an eligible subject area. The scholarship programme is currently open to citizens of Canada, China (incl. Hong Kong), India, Japan, Pakistan and USA.

For more information, visit abertay.co/M2Q4

Chevening Scholarship

Funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Chevening Award is a Scholarship provided to eligible candidates looking to study a postgraduate degree in the UK. Candidates must have previous work experience in order to qualify. This scholarship does require an application and you will have to meet the required criteria to be considered. Applications can only be made at certain times throughout the year. The Chevening Award is typically open for applications in August and closes in November.

For more information, visit abertay.co/MDU2

We accept a wide range of student loans and sponsorship from various countries. Contact the international team for further details: international@abertay.ac.uk.

For more information on the scholarships we offer, please visit abertay.co/Yzhl

STUDY ABROAD

Make the most of your time at Abertay by taking advantage of the opportunity to study or work abroad. You will gain invaluable experience to help give you an edge when applying for jobs. There are a range of options, including semester/ academic year long studies abroad, work placements, and summer schools. Exchanges are open to students in year 2 or 3, though certain subjects may have the option in year 4.

You cannot go back to your home country to study abroad as this circumvents the admissions system of the home country.

Study abroad does not impact pre-settled status as it is a valid reason to be out of the country.

If you have been away from the UK for less than 6 months, you will be able to apply for pre-settled/settled status. If you have been away 6 - 12 months, you will still be able to apply under the scheme if you can prove that this was due to your study or work year abroad.

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E: international@abertay.ac.uk

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Abertay University is a charity registered in Scotland, No: SC016040.