The university is a great blend of charming old-fashioned and modern. The two on-campus libraries are good examples of this, with Duncan Rice having floor to ceiling windows on it's upper floors, as well as archives in the basement, a cafe, technology resources, and private group study rooms. Whereas Taylor is tucked inside an old-campus building, with a quieter atmosphere and more individual silent study desks and plants scattered around, for those who prefer a cozier experience. The campus as a whole is a similar blend, with quiet reading rooms, top of the line labs and research facilities, plenty of smaller cafés, and green spaces throughout. Aberdeen itself is very student-friendly, with plenty of options for groceries, shopping, and entertainment. The university campus is situated in a quieter part of town, about a 25 minute walk away from the city center. It's not far at all if you want to go out for an evening, but the distance is enough that the area around the university remains mostly student occupied and is calmer than the city center. Aberdeen gets wet and grey in the winter since it's so far north, but is otherwise very peaceful and has good nature. There are many easily accesable systems in place for students to receive support in a variety of areas, including those dedicated to financial assistance, academic assistance, and mental health and counseling. Both the university and the students union have organized programs so that whenever you need help and no matter what you need help with, there are multiple people and places you can reach out to. Even if you are lost and not sure exactly where you should go for help, people are always kind and willing to listen and guide you. Even on an individual level I have found all of the teachers and staff in the school of humanities (LLMVC) to be incredibly supportive of individual student's learning and wellbeing, and happy to assist how they can even if it is in a matter that doesn't directly involve academics. The old portion of campus is very charming especially in the springtime with the greenery and smaller cobblestone pathways. The addition of cafés and quiet workspaces scattered around in different nooks throughout the buildings makes for a cozy atmosphere and a place that you feel comfortable coming to study. The newer more modern buildings on the outside of the campus are fun feats of architecture that mesh sometimes surprisingly well with the centuries-old ones, and help contribute to the overall high-end academic atmosphere. When you first arrive it can be a bit difficult to navigate around, but everything on the main campus is still within short walking distance and people are always willing to help with directions. Pretty much any interest you have there is likely a society and/or sport club for it. There is also a range in time/energy commitments and overall vibes across societies as well, so regardless of if you're someone who wants to compete at a national level in ranked competitions or you're just looking for a quiet evening to make some friends, there's a place for everyone to feel like they belong. Outside of societies there are also regularly organized on and off-campus events hosted by either the uni, students union, or other partners that any UoA student can participate in (usually at discounted cost). The city as a whole again is very student friendly, so there is always some kind of event on if you want to look for it. The students union is very active in their communication and is genuinely there to listen to students and support them however they can. This year they provided discounted living necessities to assist with the cost of living crisis, and on a regular basis they also host events and workshops to help the community and get students involved. They are a safe space and even if you've never been in before they're always welcoming and genuinely want to help every individual however they can.

The program is a once in a lifetime opportunity, however does require students to be highly motivated and invested in their own learning, so it may not be for everyone. Students are required to study two languages at degree level, and the theory and practical sessions for translation and interpreting (T&I) can be intensive as they occur alongside your development of language skills (Rather than you already being fluent in two languages and simply learning how to professionally translate between the two). While there is not a ton of coursework week to week, courses move quick and in order to progress at a good pace students must be committed to their learning and study on their own. A lot is covered in this program, and it is all necessary and useful as well as engaging if you already have a passion for languages - but for those who have a casual interest and less motivated they may find it challenging. As with all foreign language related degrees at the university, you are required to go abroad for 3rd year, so you get the chance to expand your CV, build connections and gain experience as a built-in part of your degree. The opportunities for abroad years are really limitless as staff are willing to support students for nearly any type of exchange as long as you take the initiative to source employers/schools and organize the foundations yourself. This degree specifically has you do a semester in each country of the languages you are specializing in, and then you return to your fourth and final year. Which makes it more accelerated than the other programs, ideal for those already motivated and comfortable with quick acquisitions of skills. All of the lecturers are fantastic, with the language classes taught by native speakers with experience in the T&I field, and the T&I specific courses taught by professionals with decades of experience who provide real-life examples and applicable knowledge. Class sizes are small, especially in the specialty courses, so it's very easy to get one-on-one feedback from teachers and learn a lot in a short period of time. All teachers and staff involved with the program are also genuinely invested in its success, and so are happy to help any student who reaches out with questions or difficulties, as well as provide additional resources to supplement learning. If I could ask anything it would only be that the classes be longer, as the in person time spent with lecturers is incredibly valuable and always where I learn the most. As a T&I your options for career are near unlimited. Language skills are always needed in almost any company and profession, and no matter what your interests are you can find a place where translators and interpreters are wanted. The only thing is that within the professional field of T&I, even after graduating with a degree it is likely that you'll need additional training/certification depending on the field you want to specialize in. You will be able to find employment in most sectors directly after graduation, and many employers will cover the costs of additional training since different companies have their own policies. However for certain fields such as medical or legal, additional certification will likely be needed. The school is well-developed for language learning, with multilingual libraries and language centers, and a recently constructed conference room with interpretation booths for practice. The degree itself is quite new, so occasionally gets overlooked by upper administration which can cause difficulties for students, but all of the staff involved with the program work hard on the side of students to get issues resolved quickly. Most everything you could want to try, you just have to ask and be willing to work with program staff to see if it's possible. It's a degree that provides freedom and opportunity to those that are willing to put in the work.

I come from the US where dorm accommodation typically has at least two people sharing a bedroom with bunks, so was honestly just thrilled to find that I could get a room to myself and even a bathroom. New Carnegie Court was expensive, but the quality of rooms and level of privacy was definitely worth it to me. It was the cleanest building in Hillhead and in the best repair, and the size of rooms and the ensuite bathroom was very comfortable. Water always worked great, hot or cold, so did heating and electricity. No issues with even cracks in the paint or odd stains or bugs anywhere. Honestly felt a bit like living in a very cozy quality hotel at times. The kitchen was spacious and came with all appliances a student would need to cook. Furniture in rooms and living rooms was in good condition, even the mattresses were comfier than what some of my friends had in other buildings. Genuinely no complaints about the quality of the building, especially compared to the other accommodation at Hillhead, it is the nicest option especially if you are a more private person or perhaps a mature student wanting more apartment-style living instead of dorms. My flat had a few maintenance issues throughout the time we were there, such as broken locks or lights, and the maintenance team was always pretty quick to respond and a very friendly group (that would even unclog drains with zero questions if you needed it). The security team was also great and friendly, you'd see them walking around sometimes and there was always someone operating the main desk even at night, which helped make the whole of hillhead feel more secure. It is surrounded by forest and seaton park, which at night was a bit worrying, but because of the number of students living there and the easy pathways and security team it still felt okay. And the locks especially in New Carnegie were electronic with secure doors, and at least three to go through to get to your room, so very secure. Staff presence was visible throughout hillhead, either at the front desk or cleaning the grounds, with all of them being very friendly but also staying out of student's business. So you felt like if you ever needed an adult, you could easily call one of the numbers or just run to the desk to get someone, but it never felt like you were being parented or monitored. Even on nights like halloween where there were lots of parties and people running around everywhere, you could see the occasional security guard waiting on a bench just in case they were needed, but keeping to himself and not judging or bothering anyone. Really perfect balance for staff presence honestly. I'm not sure if other buildings have ethernet ports, but New Carnegie did, and I highly recommend as it gave excellent upload and download speeds. You just have to email maintenance to request that the port in you room be turned on and they can do it remotely. Wifi elsewhere in the property was a bit spotty depending on where you were, overall I did not use it much. Student accommodation is about a 20 minute walk from the campus, through Seaton park, which becomes a bit impassable in the wintertime or if you have classes that get out after dark. The walk is doable though, and it was nice that the student village wasn't put in the middle of the city or other residential buildings, since it meant just students lived in the area. There's also a few buses that go to campus if you don't want to walk. To the city center its about 50 minutes to walk, maybe 15 by bus. If you're going out late just know the buses in Aberdeen don't run after about 11pm, so you'll likely have to book a taxi back. There were options to be in mixed dorms, single gender, mature student dorms, grouped with those who spoke your native language, didn't drink, etc. and also quiet dorms available. So plenty of ways to fit individual needs. You do have to get in your application quickly if you want to get everything you want though.

I adore the campus and I am proud to say that I have studied at Aberdeen. The support services are excellent and lecturers are generally excellent. However, there is not a lot going on round about the uni and transport links are not great in Aberdeen. The students union leaves a lot to be desired.

I have enjoyed my time on my degree programme, however I do not feel there has been "joined up thinking" in the creation of this fairly new degree. I do feel that contact teaching time has been good and lecturers are inspiring.

Not a great location for ease of travel to the city centre, however transport links were good.