The flame of learning keeps on burning at this ancient university steeped in more than six centuries of academia, and atmosphere. Students in traditional red gowns are a common sight in the Scottish seaside resort taking part in time-honoured rituals such as the weekly Pier Walk and the May Dip, where students run into the North Sea at dawn for good luck in their exams.
Prince William praised the sense of community he found at St Andrews and this feedback is echoed by students two decades later at Scotland’s top university, which retains its second place in our rankings. It is fourth in the UK for student experience and seventh for teaching quality in our latest National Student Survey analysis.The university and its diverse international student body dominate the small Fife seaside town — accounting for more than half of the population — and students benefit from plenty of direct contact with leading academics.
What is the University of St Andrews’ reputation?
There are four faculties: arts, divinity, medicine and science. A flexible four-year degree structure is a big draw, allowing students to take multiple subjects before specialising. This academic breadth is supported by formidable research power. In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), 88 per cent of its work was assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent, earning it 25th place in our research quality index.
As well as subject strengths including international relations, classics, theology and religious studies and philosophy, the university is renowned for its marine research, the Sir James Mackenzie Institute for Early Diagnosis, and the Handa Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence.
Through the Vertically Integrated Projects programme, teams of students from different disciplines and levels of study collaborate on research projects, led by an academic supervisor and earning credit and grades on topics as varied as dolphin acoustics, Scottish professional football and AI for decision-making. The university also has two new Global Research Centres, one addressing diverse intelligence; the other, critical sustainability.
Through its £300 million Making Waves campaign, the university is increasing funding for bursaries and scholarships and investing in new academic posts to attract leading researchers, which will directly benefit undergraduates through expert mentorship.
But St Andrews has not been immune to the financial challenges sweeping through UK universities. Last year it reported that its deficit more than doubled to £13 million in 2023-24, primarily driven by a fall in the numbers of overseas postgraduate students.
What courses have been discontinued and what new courses are available?
The first students began a new five-year medical degree in September 2025. The programme focuses on community healthcare and clinical training will be in NHS settings across Fife. The university has also broadened its joint honours offerings, allowing undergraduates to combine disciplines such as Arabic, comparative literature, and management.
What are the University of St Andrews’ entry requirements — and my chances of getting in?
The lowest A-level entry requirements are ABB, rising to A*A*A (or BBBB to AAAAB for Scottish Highers). As part of its efforts to widen participation, the university offers three levels of entry requirements (standard, minimum and gateway) depending on an applicant’s circumstances. A quarter of the intake was made up of international students.
What are the graduate prospects?
St Andrews ranks an impressive 7th in the UK for graduate prospects, with more than 87 per cent of its graduates in high-skilled jobs or postgraduate study 15 months after finishing their degrees. The university facilitates career growth through alumni networking, international internships, and tailored work experience programmes in America and China. Four miles from the main campus, the university’s Eden Campus houses an entrepreneurial ecosystem that supports university start-ups and spin-out companies.
What is the University of St Andrews' campus like?
The university is the town — perhaps more than anywhere else in the UK. Its ancient buildings are woven into the fabric of St Andrews, about 50 miles northeast of Edinburgh, alongside state-of-the-art new facilities. A fundraising appeal for the university’s 600th anniversary, in 2013, supported by the Prince of Wales, raised £100 million for scholarships and student support and to improve the university’s facilities.
The £12.5 million Laidlaw Music Centre, the first building dedicated to music in the university's history, opened in 2022. The university is planning a £140 million project to house the School of International Relations and the new Business School. Another imminent development is the Digital Nexus Building to create new facilities for the School of Computer Science.
When can I visit?
Everything you need to know about the University of St Andrews’ student life and wellbeing support
Pubs, societies, annual balls and a thriving sports programme are the mainstays of the social scene. A £14 million redevelopment has supercharged the sports centre and students can take part in everything from football to ultimate Frisbee. The Byre Theatre provides a cultural hub, and musical students are especially well provided for. Unique traditions like the May Dip, where students run into the North Sea at dawn for good luck, are rites of passage.
St Andrews runs services for counselling and coaching, as well as psychoeducational groups and cognitive behavioural therapy for those with mental health concerns. There is also out-of-hours care. The university has taken decisive action on student safety. In response to sexual misconduct allegations in 2020, it has introduced mandatory consent modules and a new reporting tool. In 2023, it became the first UK university to receive the EmilyTest Gender-Based Violence Charter Award, recognising its commitment to tackling these issues.
What do the students say?
“Every tutor and lecturer you meet are so passionate about what they do … and they want you to ask for help. When you do, they will help you, and they will help you make the most of your time.”
Euan Higgins, BSc chemistry with medicinal chemistry, fourth-year student
What about student accommodation at the University of St Andrews?
All first-years who apply by the June deadline are guaranteed a place in one of the university’s halls of residence, more than half of which are catered.
How diverse and inclusive is the University of St Andrews?
St Andrews presents a paradox in social inclusion. While it has the most ethnically diverse student body of any Scottish university, it ranks at the bottom for other key measures, admitting the smallest proportion of students from non-selective state schools (64.1 per cent) and the fewest who are the first in their family to go to university (18.1 per cent).
Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at the University of St Andrews
The Making Waves campaign has significantly increased funding for financial aid. To help bridge the cost of a four-year degree, the St Andrews Access Award provides up to £4,400 a year for students from lower-income backgrounds.
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