Centred around a complex of buildings in Dundee's Bell Street, the Abertay University was founded in 1994. It was originally constituted as the Dundee Technical Institute in 1888, established in buildings on Small's Wynd with a bequest of £20,000 from textile manufacturer Sir David Baxter (1793 - 1872). The Institute relocated to larger premises on Bell Street in 1911 and became the Dundee Technical College and School of Art. It was renamed Dundee Institute of Art and Technology (1933) and Dundee College of Technology (1975). It has been offering degree-level education since 1945. Today the University has over 5000 students and 600 staff. Its specialisms include a centre for computer games and virtual entertainment.
A spectacular new library was added at the cost of £8 million in 1996-98, the work of the Parr Partnership. This building includes a glass facade and a drum-tower clad in red sandstone. A new student centre by the same architects was completed in 2005.
Notable graduates include Lord Simpson of Dunkeld (who was Managing Director of GEC plc) and Brian Souter (who founded the international bus group, Stagecoach Holdings plc).
