Graduate careers in Aberdeen
Career city: Aberdeen | Postgraduate study | Local graduate employers | Moving to Aberdeen | Useful links
Aberdeen, Scotland’s third largest city, is known for its oil and gas industry and ongoing quest to become the Energy Capital of Europe. For instance, graduate quantity surveyors and engineers are sought on an ongoing basis by big name recruiters such as Shell and Talisman Energy.
The traditional Aberdonian food, fishing and farming industries also attract those wishing to work in hospitality, catering and food technology, logistics and manufacturing.
Recently, many niche business sectors (eg IT, engineering specialisms, software development, electronic design, biotechnologies and environmental sciences) have set up home in Aberdeen’s science and business parks, providing tech-savvy graduates with a variety of opportunities.
Postgraduate study in and around Aberdeen
Student satisfaction at the University of Aberdeen is among the highest regarded in Scotland ranking in the top five. The university itself offers over 140 masters programmes in subjects ranging from business to nutrition to environmental microbiology.
The Robert Gordon University based in Aberdeen is ranked second in the UK for student employability and is known for its excellent library and information management ratings.
The Scottish Agricultural College is popular with agricultural and land-based postgrads.
10 local graduate employers in Aberdeen
- CMS Cameron McKenna, Aberdeen (Law)
- Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeen (Public sector; Construction; Healthcare)
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Aberdeen (Logistics; Management; Finance)
- Siemens, Aberdeen (IT; Engineering)
- Talisman Energy UK Ltd, Aberdeen (Engineering; Quantity surveying)
- Martin McColl, Aberdeen (Retail)
- LFI Creative, Aberdeen (Graphic design; Web design)
- Shell UK Ltd, Aberdeen (Quantity surveying; Engineering)
- Exclamation Marketing, Aberdeen (PR; Marketing)
- Oil & Gas UK, Aberdeen (Public sector; Environmental)
(Note: these companies may not be currently recruiting. Their names have been provided as a guideline to the type of work available and what areas to look in.)
Moving to Aberdeen
It’s on the map for…
- Striking granite architecture
- Record-breaking ten times winner of the Britain in Bloom competition
- Thriving arts scene eg International Youth Festival, Jazz Festival
It’s within commuting distance of…
- Stonehaven – 15 miles
- Peterhead – 31.9 miles
- Dundee – 66 miles
Monthly lettings costs in Aberdeen
- Single room: £240–£380
- Double room: £240–£480
- Bedsit: £320–£450
- One-bed flat: £400–£620
- Two-bed flat: £480–720