Abertay University
Abertay is small, specialist and world-famous for one thing above all: computer games.
Abertay is small, specialist and world-famous for one thing above all: computer games. It ran the world's first degree in computer games technology in 1997, and its graduates work at studios from Rockstar to Ubisoft. Dundee, where Grand Theft Auto was born, is a UNESCO City of Design.
Beyond games, Abertay is strong in cyber security (an academic centre of excellence), computing, psychology, forensic science and sport, all taught in a compact city-centre campus where class sizes are small.
Dundee is one of the cheapest cities in the UK to live in and sits on the Tay estuary an hour from Edinburgh.
Key facts
Fees are indicative for the 2026/27 cycle, change with exchange rates and policy, and should be confirmed with the university or the relevant government before you decide.
Trending subjects
Popular courses at Abertay
A selection of the programmes international students take most. The full catalogue runs to hundreds; ask a counsellor for anything not listed.
BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technology
BSc (Hons) Ethical Hacking
MSc Computer Games Technology
MSc Cyber Security
MSc Applied Artificial Intelligence and User Experience
BSc (Hons) Psychology
Fees are indicative for the 2026/27 cycle, change with exchange rates and policy, and should be confirmed with the university or the relevant government before you decide.
Life at Abertay
Student life
A small, friendly campus in a walkable city with a strong creative scene, the V&A Dundee and the waterfront.
Accommodation
University halls within walking distance of every lecture; among the lowest rents in the UK.
Facilities
Games labs with industry-standard consoles and motion capture, an ethical hacking lab, forensic crime scene houses and a sports performance centre.
Careers
Dare Academy game jam, strong studio links, and cyber security employers recruiting directly from the course.
Where Abertay teaches
City campus
Compact campus in the centre of Dundee, five minutes from the station and the V&A museum.
What you need to apply
- Passport (photo page)
- Academic transcripts and certificates for every year
- Statement of purpose
- Two references (academic or professional)
- English test result or evidence for a waiver
- CV, for postgraduate and work-experience routes
- Portfolio for art, design and architecture courses
Apply through Oasis
Upload your documents once. We prepare and submit the application, track it with the university's international team and pass on the decision the day it arrives. No fee.
Start an applicationAbertay: what students ask
Why study games at Abertay?
It launched the world's first games degree, is ranked top in Europe for games education by the Princeton Review, and its graduates are in most major studios.
Why are Scottish degrees four years?
Scottish honours degrees run four years with a broader first year; students with strong A levels or equivalent can often enter year two.
Is Dundee affordable?
Yes. It is regularly cited as one of the cheapest UK cities for students, with rooms from about £400 a month.
Are there scholarships at Abertay?
International scholarships of £2,000 to £3,000 a year are available to self-funded students meeting the grade criteria.
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