University of Aberdeen, Public research university in Aberdeen, Scotland
The University of Aberdeen is a public research institution in northeastern Scotland with facilities spread across several sites in the city. Stone buildings from the 19th century stand beside laboratory blocks and library wings, while green spaces separate individual faculties from one another.
The institution began in 1495 through a papal bull and initially carried the name King's College. A second college called Marischal College opened in 1593, and both merged only in 1860 to form the current university.
The name King's College reflects royal patronage from the Scottish crown during the late medieval period. Students today still gather in courtyards surrounded by stone walls, where academic robes appear during graduation ceremonies each year.
Visitors can explore public areas of the campus including the chapel and selected exhibition rooms, which are usually open during daytime hours. Some buildings sit in pedestrian zones and are easy to reach, while others farther out require separate travel arrangements.
The institution operates marine research vessels that regularly travel the North Sea. On board, research teams collect samples from the seabed and study life in coastal waters.
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