Welcome to AUSA, Aberdeen and Scotland
There is so much to learn, see and do here in Aberdeen and Scotland! We've come up with some of the best places to look or visit to help you better understand and appreciate the wonderful place you will be studying, which will ultimately help you get even more out of your university experience.
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1. AUSA is a growing and vibrant Students' Association. Our mission is to Support, Empower and Represent students. We want to encourage students to have a voice, give students the support and recourses to fulfil their potential and get the most out of their University experience. AUSA represent students from all Aberdeen University campuses, including Qatar.
2. You can find AUSA in the Students' Union Building on Elphinstone Road. Here, you can meet our team for support, book AUSA rooms, use our microwaves, start a society or grab a coffee at our bar Union Brew.*
3. On the AUSA website you can find information on AUSA’s societies and clubs, campaigns, volunteering, events, advice and support, student council, committees and representation. The list goes on and on!
4. AUSA is a registered charity with a trustee board comprised of five paid student officers and eight voluntary members, of which four are current students. The AUSA team are made up of around 15 full time staff in a variety of roles including student support, activities and events management, graphic design, communications and sustainability.
5. By being a student at the University, you are automatically a member of AUSA. You are AUSA! Our principles, policies, procedures and governance depend on you and your interests. Our organisation is led by 5 student officers who have been elected by students before you to enact the change you want to see. Your priorities are our priorities. Previous policies and campaigns can be accessible on the website.
*please bear in mind the building might be closed due to COVID-19 restrictions.
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1. The University was founded 525 years ago in 1495, classifying it as one of the ‘Ancient Universities of Scotland’.
2. The institution originally started as King’s College and it was William Elphinstone, then Bishop of Aberdeen, who petitioned Pope Alexander VI to form the facility. It is said that he had wanted to cure the ‘ignorance’ that he had witnessed in his new Parish, and founding Scotland’s third university was his way to counter this. The University that we all know today was actually the result of a merger between the original King’s College and the newer Marischal College in 1860, which up until that point had been a rival institution.
3. The University hosts approximately 14,000 students with 650 undergraduate degree programmes.
4. The University's coat of arms incorporates those of the founders and locations of the two colleges it is derived from. In the top left quadrant are the arms of the burgh of Old Aberdeen, with the addition of a symbol of knowledge being handed down from above. Top right are those of George Keith, the fifth Earl Marischal. Bottom left are those of Bishop William Elphinstone. The bottom right quarter is a simplified version of the three castles which represent the city of Aberdeen (this symbol of the city also appears prominently on the arms of The Robert Gordon University).
5. The University has a campus in Qatar! Learn more here.
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Whether you are on campus or at home, why not try your hand at creating some authentic Scottish dishes? You can find some of our favourites below!
1. Traditional Haggis, Neeps and Tatties - One of Scotland’s most iconic dishes, Haggis is a savoury pudding containing sheep's pluck, minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, and cooked while traditionally encased in the animal's stomach though now often in an artificial casing instead. Learn more here.
Traditional Recipe.
For a veggie or vegan options, you can buy ready made haggis or make your own.
2. Scottish Shortbread - Shortbread is a traditional Scottish biscuit usually made from one-part white sugar, two parts butter, and three parts plain wheat flour. It is simple, but oh so delicious!
Traditional Recipe.
Vegan option.
3. Cullen Skink - Cullen skink is a thick Scottish soup made of smoked haddock, potatoes and onions. This hearty soup is a local speciality, from the town of Cullen in Moray, on the northeast coast of Scotland.
Traditional Recipe.
For a veggie soup, try this Scotch Broth.
4. Cranachan - Cranachan is a traditional Scottish dessert which was originally created for the celebration of harvest, made following the raspberry harvest in June. The dessert of cream and fresh seasonal raspberries is bolstered by Scottish oats and whisky. It has been called 'the uncontested king of Scottish dessert'.
Traditional Recipe.
Vegan Cranachan recipe.
5. Stovies - If it is real Scottish food that you are looking for, then you won't find a better option than this Stovies recipe. Ask 100 Scots for the recipe, and you will get 100 different answers. The word Stovies means "bits from the stove," so it is a recipe using whatever you happen to have to hand on a Monday, after your Sunday roast. Think of all those leftovers, with the main constituent being the bits of meat from the roast the day before. It may not look very appetising… but it’s DELICIOUS.
Traditional Recipe.
Vegetarian Recipe.
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1. Harry Potter - Glenfinnan
Glenfinnan Viaduct is instantly recognisable to Harry Potter fans, as filming of the second and third Harry Potter books, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban took place here. Who can forget the sight of the Hogwarts Express crossing the viaduct and calling in at Glenfinnan?!
2. Braveheart
A great Scottish movie from 1995, this epic starred Mel Gibson as William Wallace. It was shot around Loch Leven, Glencoe and in the Mamores mountains near Fort William. All of these locations can be seen along the West Highland Way.
3. Avenger's Infinity War – Edinburgh
The only location used outside the studio for filming, Edinburgh’s stunning Old Town was the backdrop for key scenes in Avengers Infinity War. The Royal Mile, Cockburn Street, St Giles Cathedral and Waverley Station all take centre stage as Captain America, Black Widow and Vision battle the evil Thanos for supremacy.
4. James Bong, Skyfall - Glen Etive
Starring Daniel Craig as 007, the action centres around Skyfall House, Bond’s ancestral family home in isolated Glencoe. In a iconic scene from the movie, Bond drives his Aston Martin under brooding skies along a windswept, desolate road surrounded by stunning mountain scenery. This was filmed in Glen Etive.
5. World War Z - Glasgow
In 2013, Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt brought Glasgow to a standstill, as he was in town to shoot scenes for World War Z, a dramatic zombie thriller movie. A number of city centre streets and George Square featured in dramatic crash scenes, with Glasgow’s famous architecture, wide roads and grid layout being a dead ringer for the US city of Philadelphia, where the movie is set.
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1. Visit Scotland Website
www.VisitScotland.com is the official website for Scotland’s national tourist board. They work to ensure that visitors experience the very best of Scotland. Their website features information on attractions, travel, activities, events, accommodation much more. Whether it’s finding a route for a short walk in Aberdeen or planning a Scottish adventure, Visit Scotland has an abundance of information.
2. Aberdeen Maritime Museum
Aberdeen Maritime Museum tells the story of the city's long relationship with the Sea. This award-winning museum is located on the historic Shiprow and incorporates Provost Ross's House, which was built in 1593. The Maritime Museum houses a unique collection covering shipbuilding, fast sailing ships, fishing and port history. It is also the only place in the UK where you can see displays on the North Sea oil and gas industry. Aberdeen Maritime Museum offers visitors a spectacular viewpoint over the busy harbour. More information here.
3. Aberdeen Art Gallery
The Aberdeen Art Gallery is the main visual arts exhibition space in the city of Aberdeen, Scotland. The gallery is home to one of the finest collections in the UK, including works by important Scottish artists, designers and makers, as well as nationally and internationally acclaimed artists. Having gone through a £34.6million transformation in 2019, its worth a visit! More information here.
4. The Tolbooth Museum
The Tolbooth Museum is one of Aberdeen's oldest buildings and one of the best-preserved 17th century gaols in Scotland. It features displays on local history and the development of crime and punishment through the centuries. The Tolbooth Museum provides a unique experience in the form of its atmospheric 17th and 18th century cells, original doors and barred windows. Displays include the Maiden and the blade of Aberdeen's 17th century guillotine. Learn more here.
5. Dunnottar Castle (Stonehaven)
This dramatic and evocative ruined cliff top fortress was the home of the Earls Marischal, once one of the most powerful families in Scotland. Steeped in history, this romantic and haunting ruin is a photographer’s paradise, a history lover’s dream and an iconic tourist destination for visitors the world over. Visit Dunnottar Castle for your own unforgettable experience and discover the importance of Dunnottar – an impregnable fortress that holds many rich secrets of Scotland’s colourful past. Find out more here.