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Abertay Year in Review: 2025
From groundbreaking research and innovative teaching to student success and civic impact, 2025 was a year to remember at Abertay University. Here we look back at just some of the highlights from across the year.
January: VR flight training takes off with local air cadets
Abertay partnered with Dundee’s Air Training Corps to develop virtual reality flight simulators, giving cadets immersive training in aircraft operations and airfield procedures while inspiring future careers in aviation and STEM.
February: £9m CoSTAR Realtime Lab launches in Dundee
The opening of the CoSTAR Realtime Lab marked a major boost for Scotland’s screen, gaming and tech industries, providing state-of-the-art virtual production facilities as part of the UK’s largest-ever creative industries R&D investment.
March: Global top 10 ranking for games education
Abertay was ranked Europe’s top university for video games design and placed in the global top 10 by the Princeton Review, recognising its world-leading courses, facilities and industry links.
April: 15-minute blood test prototype targets multiple diseases
Researchers at Abertay developed a rapid blood test capable of detecting infections such as tuberculosis within 15 minutes, offering a low-cost solution for remote and low-resource healthcare settings.
May: Sustainable procurement pledge strengthens local impact
Abertay reinforced its commitment to sustainability by embedding responsible procurement practices that support ethical sourcing, reduce waste and deliver long-term benefits for local communities and the environment.
June: Festival of Play inspires future games talent
Scotland’s first Festival of Play took place at Abertay, welcoming 250 pupils, teachers and industry partners for hands-on workshops and insights into careers in the video games sector.
July: Strong National Student Survey results
Abertay achieved 82.6% overall student satisfaction in the 2025 National Student Survey, ranking first in Scotland for several subjects and placing in the UK top five for assessment and academic support.
August: New Abertay+ Scheme supports fair access and success
With funding from The Robertson Trust, Abertay launched the Abertay+ Scheme, a three-year initiative designed to remove barriers to higher education and support underrepresented learners.
September: Top Scottish modern university in Guardian Guide
Abertay was named Scotland’s top modern university in the Guardian University Guide 2026, climbing 24 places to rank 11th in the UK with strong scores for teaching quality, student satisfaction and value added.
October: Student developers win Dare Academy 2025
Riverboat Games took the top prize at Dare Academy 2025 with Galactic Postal Servitude, highlighting the creativity and entrepreneurial talent of Abertay students at the university’s flagship games competition.
November: New postgraduate courses strengthen public health workforce
Abertay launched three new MSc Environmental Health programmes, the UK’s only REHIS-accredited master’s degrees, aimed at addressing Scotland’s shortage of Environmental Health Officers.
December: Dundee City Council joins Abertay cyberQuarter network
Abertay teamed up with Dundee City Council to strengthen the city’s digital security, giving students hands-on experience tackling real-world cybersecurity challenges.
As 2025 draws to a close, these stories reflect Abertay University’s continued commitment to excellence in education, research and societal impact – and set the stage for an exciting year ahead.
