UniHomes guide to

Dundee

Uni Life in Dundee

Dundee student life​ is something you’ll be writing home about. As Scotland’s fourth largest city, Dundee is a vibrant place for students to live and study. Both the University of Dundee and Abertay University are reputable and known for their high student satisfaction, contributing to the city’s student population, which is large relative to its size. This means that the area is tailored to students, with low living costs, bars, and cultural experiences.
There are plenty of student areas here, including central, West End, and Stobswell, making it easy to find your next home away from home.

Key reasons to study in Dundee

  • 1
    Coastal location

    One of the most unique things about Dundee student life is its coastal location. When the sun comes out, it’s worth visiting Dundee Urban Beach and trying out a few watersports to catch a few rays. We also recommend tackling the Dundee Maritime Trail if you’re a keen walker!

  • 2
    Nature hotspots

    If your student life in Dundee is getting a bit hectic, you can easily escape into nature and get some much-needed vitamin D. Aside from the waterfront, students can enjoy Riverside Nature Park, Dundee Law, and Slessor Gardens, just to name a few spots!

  • 3
    History and culture

    Dundee is a historic port city, meaning there’s plenty of culture to immerse yourself in here. During your student life at Dundee, be sure to visit the free V&A Dundee, RRS Discovery, and Dundee Contemporary Arts. If you appreciate a good masterpiece, take a self-guided tour of Dundee’s Open Close Street Art Trail.

  • 4
    A lively night scene

    While not as large as Edinburgh, Dundee still puts on a great night out. Fat Sam’s is a shout for live music, while you’ll love Club Tropicana & Venga if you’re into 90s throwbacks. The Dundee University Students’ Association is specifically designed for uni students, so you’ll find plenty of drinks deals and themed nights there.

  • 5
    Sport heaven

    Aside from watersports, there are plenty of ways to stay fit and healthy in Dundee. Test your upper body strength at Avertical World Climbing & Bouldering Centre, or put your best skates on at Dundee Ice Arena. There’s also go-karting at TeamSport and a state-of-the-art sports centre at the university.

  • 6
    Local highlights

    Student life in Dundee wouldn’t be complete without its unique touches, including its must-try Dundee Cake, the city’s local fruit cake, and one of the oldest ships in the world, the HMS Unicorn. Check out more things to do as a student in Dundee for a bigger insight!

Dundee puts on a great night out. Fat Sam’s is a shout for live music, while you’ll love Club Tropicana & Venga if you’re into 90s throwbacks.

UniHomes City Guide

Universities in Dundee

University of Dundee

Picture of University of Dundee

The University of Dundee is a highly regarded institution, known for its expertise in medicine, dentistry, and life sciences. It is a research-intensive institution, attracting more than 13,000 students to its coastal streets each year.

Abertay University

Picture of Abertay University

Granted university status in 1994, Abertay University is a modern, career-focused institution based in the heart of Dundee. It is well known for its courses in game design and computer arts, welcoming a small community of around 4,000 students.

Frequently Asked Questions

Student life in Dundee is bursting with excitement. The city itself is compact and friendly, as well as affordable - perfect for your student budget! While not as large as Edinburgh and Glasgow, Dundee still brings that buzzing energy needed to make your time memorable here.
While smaller than larger cities like London, Dundee is still a very lively student city. There are plenty of pubs, bars, and nightclubs to get stuck into, whether you want to stick to a student-only spot or take on an affordable bar crawl around town!
Student satisfaction at the University of Dundee is consistently high and, in fact, increased in satisfaction from 2024 to 2025. According to the NSS 2025, student satisfaction improved from 82.4% to 84.8%.
Highlights of studying in Dundee include its affordability and coastal surroundings. You'll never be too far from a nature spot here, but you can also immerse yourself in culture on a rainy day.

What students are saying about us