As Scotland’s fourth largest city, Dundee offers all the best of city life and yet, because it is compact and easy to get to know, it still retains a friendly atmosphere. With Dundee’s large student population, there is always plenty of nightlife going on. There are also many opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. As well as having the River Tay and rolling countryside on our doorstep, being at the heart of Scotland’s road and rail network puts spectacular scenery, skiing, championship golf, mountain climbing and fishing within easy reach. It’s hard to believe that the bustle of Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh is a little more than an hour’s drive away. These are just a few of the reasons why Dundee regularly appears at the top end of ‘Quality of Life’ surveys. Once you join us, you’ll discover lots more.
The city was once Britain’s premier whaling port and a major hub of the world textile trade, Dundee is now a flourishing centre for life sciences, research, the arts, business, education, hi-tech manufacturing, telecommunications and tourism. It boasts a unique entertainment and sporting facilities and a diverse, modern economy. The city centre has been transformed by an investment of over £400 million in the last decade – an ambitious regeneration recognised by a clutch of awards, including UK Town Centre of the Year and the Royal Town Planning Institute Award for Urban Renaissance. With more hours of sunshine, the purest air quality and more green spaces than any other Scottish city, Dundee provides an unrivalled quality of life. For more information on the City and what’s on visit www.dundee.com and www.dundeecity.gov.uk
Dundee Fact File
- The name of the city is thought to have derived either from the Celtic Duntaw, “the hill on the Tay”, or from the Iron Age fort on top of Dundee Law called Dun Diagh.
- Dundee maintains a spectacular position on the Tay Estuary and is dominated by what is claimed to be a dormant volcano called ‘The Law’. It is the highest point in Dundee, offering a great view over the city and the surrounding area.
- Dundee’s current population is approximately 145,000. Two hundred years ago, Dundee had a population greater than that of Glasgow.
- Ninewells Hospital was the first new teaching hospital to be built in Britain after the Second World War.
- The Tay Railway Bridge is just over two miles long and still remains the longest in Europe. The section closest to Dundee was completed in 1887, to replace a section that was destroyed in 1879 by a storm.
Some Advice Before You Come to Dundee
- Make sure your travel documents, visa etc. are complete.
- Make sure you have booked appropriate flights to get you to Dundee (i.e. either a flight to the airport here, or to a nearby airport where you can travel by bus and/or train to Dundee).
- Make sure you have made arrangements for a place to stay – we recommend booking into a hotel for a minimum of 5 nights to allow you time to find more permanent accommodation. The sooner you get your accommodation arranged, the sooner you will settle in. To a view a list of recommended accommodation on arrival click here.
- Find a contact person (a friend, family or professional acquaintance etc.) in Dundee or even elsewhere in the UK so that they may give advice on how to get accommodation here.
- Our Student Society (ALMISS) is also happy to help with advice about accommodation in Dundee. Email pgadmin@almi.abdn.ac.uk if you would like some information from the students themselves and the administrator will pass your email onto ALMISS.
If you have any questions or want to get in touch with other students you may contact our International Officer.
