Robert Gordon University (also known as RGU) is a Scottish university in Aberdeen. It is a new university, after it was given university status is 1992. Although the institute can be traced back to 1750 when it was known as Robert Gordon's Hospital - an estasblishment to provide education to the male children of Aberdeen's burgesses.

Robert Gordon was a 17th century merchant and philanthropist born in Aberdeen in 1668. He made his fortune when working in the Baltic sea as a Merchant. When he retired to Aberdeen he was a very wealthy man. Never marrying and without an heir he founded 'a hospital for maintenance, aliment, entertainment and education of young boys'. The project started in 1730, although Gordon never saw his legacy completed as he died a short time into the project, possibly from overeating. 

Growing steadily over the 19th century, the university today has nearly 13,000 enrolled students and rates as the top university in Scotland for graduate employment (The Times Good University Guide, 2007). In 2002, 98% of RGU students were in employment or further study six months after graduating.

RGU has a further 8,000 students enrolled in its distance learning programs, attracting enrollments from 113 countries.