Abertay University has been named as the Best Modern University in Scotland in various fields

Picture: Abertay University

Abertay University has been ranked the top modern university in Scotland for student satisfaction, research intensity, and investment in facilities, according to the 2026 Complete University Guide.

Published today (Tuesday, 10 June), the guide compares 130 universities across the UK using a range of measures, including student satisfaction, research quality, and graduate prospects.

Abertay achieved an 81% score for student satisfaction, placing it 12th overall in the UK and building on strong results in last year’s National Student Survey. The university was also the top Scottish modern university for research intensity, with a score of 64%, and for spending on facilities.

Recent investments at the Dundee campus include upgrades to the university library, new labs for competitive games and computer art, a skills lab for mental health nursing, and a new Wellbeing Clinic.

Abertay’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Liz Bacon, said the results highlight the hard work of staff and the university’s ongoing growth.

“These rankings reflect the commitment of our staff and our strong focus on student experience, research, and future investment,” she said.

Abertay also performed well in individual subject areas. Mental Health Nursing was ranked top in the UK for student satisfaction, while Forensic Sciences placed in the UK top five. Courses in Computer Arts and Games, Food Science, and several others were ranked highly across the UK and within Scotland.

The university was also named top Scottish modern university for research quality in Computer Arts and Games – a field now supported by the recently launched CoSTAR Realtime Lab, a new centre for virtual production and filmmaking research.

The Complete University Guide rankings help students decide where to study, especially those considering Clearing or late applications.