The University of Dundee is now recognised as one of Scotland's leading universities with a powerful research reputation, particularly in the medical and life sciences. It is a professional university to pursue a professional education.

Founded in 1881 as University College, Dundee was, for many years, a part of the University of St Andrews, becoming an independent university in its own right in 1967. Three mergers have doubled the university's size over the last ten years and changed the institution dramatically, extending the range of activities to include art and design, nursing and teacher education as well as the full range of academic disciplines.