Aberdeen University (Student Life)

Accommodation: Not cheap but plenty of private flats for let.

Eating: Loads of restaurants and bars in city, many offer decent student discounts. Great range: turkish, Indian, chinese, thai, italian,fish & chips all excellent and relatively cheap. Lemon Tree good for vegan/vegetarian food and live entertainment, plus the union is excellent for cheap but quality lunches/dinners.

Drinking: Real ale at various outlets and, of course, excellent range of whiskies.

Nightlife: Large and competitive nightclub scene so loads of drink promos and class acts. Some excellent live music venues, The Lemon Tree being best. Excellent productions at His Majesty's Theatre all year.

Sports: University facilities poor but talk of major redevelopment.

Financial help: Access funds and other student/uni-arranged hardship funds - worth applying.

Jobs: SA runs a popular babysitting agency; Joblink helps students find part-time work, often course-related.

Annual living costs: The minimum amount students say you need to live on each year (covering all living expenses but excluding tuition fees) is £4000-£4500 (in uni accommodation), £4500-£5000 (in private accommodation).

Best features: Level of choice offered to students.

Worst features: Not a lot of daylight during the winter.

More info: Ring SA on Tel: 01224 272965 or ask for Freshers' Mag.

Past students: Sandy Gall (ITV newscaster), Iain Cuthbertson (actor), Douglas Henderson MP, James Naughtie (Today programme), David McLean MP, Alistair Darling MP (social security minister), Sir Denys Henderson (ICI), Earl of Strathmore, Ian Crighton Smith, Catherine Gavin, Nikki Campbell (radio broadcaster), Kenneth McKeller. Evelyn Glennie (percussionist), Lord Addington, Ewan McGregor (Trainspotting).