Formerly known as Al-Maktoum Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies, the college was established in 2001,[1] and has built a mosque at the cost of £1.3 million on its campus for the local Muslim population.
All students previously enrolled on higher education programmes at the College were transferred to the university of Aberdeen.
[5] The college has been reviewed by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education a number of times, and since 2018[update] it meets UK standards.
[7] Malory Nye was principal of the college until June 2011 when he was dismissed from his post, together with his wife, Isabel Campbell-Nye, who was head of the English language centre.
[9] The couple also lodged grievances against the chancellor of the college, the Lord, Baron Elder for his handling of the process.