The University of St Andrews, located in Scotland, United Kingdom, is a small public university. It was formally established after Pope Benedict XIII issued a papal bull to the Ostinian clergy and is the oldest university in Scotland.
| University Profile | University Specifics |
|---|---|
| QS Global Ranking 2024 | 95 |
| Founded | 1410-1413 |
| Geographic Location | Inside the town of St Andrews in the north of Scotland |
| Nature of Education | Public University |
| Type of University | General Research University |
| Characteristics | Classical University |
| Current Leadership | Professor Dame Sally Mapstone DBE FRSE |
| Faculties | Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Management, Faculty of Theology, Faculty of Medicine, etc. |
| Major Awards | 6 Nobel Prizes, UK and Scottish University of the Year, No.1 university in the UK for student satisfaction. |
| Official Website | http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk |
PART.01 Introduction to the University of St Andrews
(Includes University of St Andrews Ranking)
The University of St Andrews is perennially ranked first in Scotland and in the top three in the UK in the three main UK-based rankings. In the 2024 Guardian University Guide and the 2024 Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, St Ann’s overtook Oxford and Cambridge to be ranked number one in the UK, making it the first UK university to break Oxford and Cambridge’s domination of the top two places since the media’s rankings of UK universities, and the first in the history of the UK to overtake Oxbridge at the same time and be ranked number one in the UK in both lists University.
The University has a long history and many famous alumni, including six Nobel Prize winners, American founding fathers, signers of the Declaration of Independence, James Wilson, John Witherspoon, King James II of the United Kingdom, the French politician Marat, the father of immunology Edward Jenner, the Crown Prince of England, Prince William, and his wife, Princess Kate, and so on.
PART.02 Location of the University of St Andrews
The University is located within the town of St Andrews in the north of Scotland. The town is named after St Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland, who is buried there.
The town has a relatively small population of just over 17,000 and nearly a third of these are staff and students of the University of St Andrews.
The town is well connected by road to all major cities. The town centre is served by a variety of buses to the school’s student accommodation and to Dundee, Leuchars railway station and the Fife area. The town’s railway system ceased to serve the town in 1969 and trains need to be taken to the nearest Leuchars train station, which is a 5-10 minute bus ride from the town centre, and trains to Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow are also easily accessible.
The town is also known as the “Birthplace of Golf”. Not only was the Royal Classic Golf Club founded here in 1754, but also the British Open Championship, the oldest of golf’s four majors, is held here every year.
St Andrews straddles a bumpy headland stretch of North Sea water. It consists of three academies and eighteen colleges in four academic divisions. For over a thousand years the town has been a meeting place for bishops and emperors, saints and martyrs, students and travellers. The town is surrounded on three sides by the sea, and everywhere you go you can smell the sea, blow the gentle sea breeze, and see the azure waters and the seagulls that skim the sky from time to time.
It is worth noting that the University of St Andrews is only 30 minutes from Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland. And Edinburgh is recognised as one of the most attractive cities in Europe and a major social and cultural centre in the UK.
Edinburgh is easily accessible by air, with London just one hour away by plane from Edinburgh International Airport. As the capital of Scotland, Edinburgh is well connected by road and rail to all corners of the UK.
PART.03 Faculties of the University of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews is like any other Scottish university. The undergraduate programme is a four-year programme, but unlike other Scottish universities, it consists of only four faculties: Arts, Science, Divinity and Medicine, as well as a number of Cross Faculty Subjects. There is no law school, which is very common.
PART.04 University of St Andrews Campus Facilities
University of St Andrews Library
The main library is located in the centre of St Andrews. It is open over 100 hours per week during term time, including weekends. The library offers a vast range of resources including: over one million volumes, over 400,000 e-books, thousands of print and electronic journals, academic databases, a large number of DVDs and computers on every floor of the library.
The library also offers expert support from members of the Academic Liaison Librarian team who can provide help and training in finding information in the library and online. Students are provided with an introductory tour when they arrive, and with these easy-to-use self-service machines, you can check your books in and out in just a few seconds.
The University of St Andrews’ Main Library is the largest library on campus and is open to all students and staff, located on North Street in the town of St Andrews. The Main Library is open from 8am-2am when classes are in session, and students can travel home at night on the University’s free Night Bus.
The school’s IT Service Centre is located in the Main Library, so if you need help with your IT skills, you can go to the ground floor of the library for assistance. In addition to borrowing books and journals, students have free access to computers, printers, photocopiers and scanners in the Main Library, and there is also a café on the ground floor of the Main Library which offers exclusive ‘student packages’ for students.
University of St Andrews Museum
The University of St Andrews also operates several museums and galleries, with The Museum of the University of St Andrews, which opened in 2008, being renowned for displaying some 100,000 artifacts from the university. In addition to displaying artifacts such as the College of Arts Sceptre, which is closely linked to the history of the university, the museum also holds many historical artifacts, including paintings by John Opie and Charles Sims, which has led to some of the university’s collections being hailed by the National Galleries of Scotland as a “national symbol for Scotland”. This is why some of the school’s collections have been described by the National Gallery of Scotland as “National Significance for Scotland”.)
In addition to the humanities, the Belpertygrove Museum, founded in 1912, houses a collection of natural science objects, including specimens of extinct plants and animals, such as the dodo and the Tasmanian tiger.
University of St Andrews Chapels
The University of St. Andrews has two chapels. St. Salvator’s Chapel, founded in 1450 by Bishop James Kennedy, is now the centre of the University’s activities. The church boasts the only remaining six-bell bells in Scotland that can be used with transposed ringing (French). Not far from St. Salvator’s is the University’s oldest building, St. Leonard’s Church, which is smaller but has parts that date back to 1144. Both churches have their choirs, mostly selected from among the students.
Historical sites will be everywhere at St. Andrews, and it is possible to travel through the centuries and talk to historical pioneers by looking down on them.
University of St. Andrews Theater
The University of St Andrews has two theaters: the Byre Theater and the Barron Theater.
The Byre Theatre hosts year-round drama, music, opera and dance as well as community, literary and academic events. It is a vibrant cultural center for St. Andrews and a focal point for the arts in North East Fife.
The Barron Theater is a space run entirely by student volunteers. It is a 54-seat black box studio with projection facilities and a deep, floor-level stage.
University of St. Andrews Student Accommodation
The University of St. Andrews has 14 halls of residence with more than 3,000 places. All new students live on campus, and most second year students also live on campus. Postgraduate students can apply for a place in the halls of residence if they have taken a pre-sessional language course, but very few other students are successful in their applications.St. Andrews University St. Andrews University provides modern and well-equipped self-catering or catered halls of residence to ensure the safety of its students, with wireless internet access in all rooms. All students need is a laptop computer to access the Internet and e-mail in their dormitory.
St. Andrews University Single Halls of Residence : St. Andrews University offers a wide range of halls of residence for single postgraduate students. Prices for catered halls of residence range from £7,529 to £9,853; self-catering halls of residence range from £4,416 to £5,602.
Private Housing in St Andrews: house prices vary considerably between St Andrews town and the countryside. However, as a general rule, the cost of a 1-bedroom, 1-bathroom apartment in the town is Pound600 per month; 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom apartments cost between Pound400 and Pound600 per month, with larger apartments costing more.
University of St. Andrews Saints Campaign
Saints sport is a vibrant, dynamic and important part of life at the University of St Andrews. With more than 50 sports clubs and 100 competitive sports teams, as well as a thriving hall sports program, it offers sports for all levels.
Student-led sports clubs are at the heart of Saints athletics. These clubs offer competition at all levels in college and national league tournaments, as well as recreational and social activities that welcome members of all abilities.
PART.05 Application Instructions
| College – Academic Calendar | IELTS Requirements |
|---|---|
| Seminary – Undergraduate | IELTS: 7.0 |
| Graduate School of Theology | IELTS: 7.0 |
| Faculty of Natural Sciences – Undergraduate | IELTS: 6.5 |
| Faculty of Natural Sciences – Graduate | IELTS: 7.0 |
| Faculty of Natural Sciences – Graduate | IELTS: 7.0 |
| Faculty of Arts – Undergraduate | IELTS: 7.0 |
| Faculty of Arts – Graduate | IELTS: 7.0 |
| Faculty of Medicine – Undergraduate | IELTS: 7.0 with no less than 7.0 in any category |
| Faculty of Medicine – Postgraduate | IELTS: 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in all categories. |
| Faculty of Economics and Finance – Postgraduate | IELTS: 7.0 with no less than 6.0 in all categories |
| School of Management – Graduate Students | IELTS: 7.0 with no less than 6.5 in all categories |
| School of English | IELTS: 8.0, with no less than 8.0 in all categories for graduate students. |
Medical Programmes Require Certificates to Be Accredited by the UK General Council.
PART.06 Cost of Living at the University of St Andrews
Undergraduate
Entrance Fee: £15,460
Living Costs: £6,000 – £10,000
Postgraduate
Entry Fee: £16,750
Living Costs: £6,000 – £10,000
What are Some Other Great Universities for Brits?
In fact, when choosing a university in the UK, QS or TIMES rankings are not the most important thing. More people will choose according to their specialisation and, more importantly, which institutions are rich in achievements in their field.
🏫 LSE
(QS45)
✅ Economics media professionals can be compared with Oxbridge
✅ Economics QS ranked 6th in the world and 1st in UK disciple
✅ Sociology QS ranked 3rd in the world
✅ Politics and International Relations QS ranked 4th in the world
🏫 University of Edinburgh
(QS22)
✅ Engineering tops the list of engineering programmes in the UK
✅ Linguistics QS ranked in the top 10 worldwide
✅ Geology also appears in the top 20 in QS rankings
🏫 The University of Manchester
(QS32)
✅ Computing programmes represent the TOP level of computing development in the whole of the UK
✅ Accounting and Finance, Materials Science and Engineering, and Chemical Engineering are also all in the QS top 20
🏫 University of Leeds (QS75)
✅ Media, Design, Economics are all very high in reverse and popularity across the UK
✅ Environmental Science, Civil Engineering are among the top 3 in QS ranking
✅ Centre for Translation Studies is one of the world’s top eight high translation institutes
🏫 Durham University (QS78)
✅ Theology and Religion are world rankings are bang on!
✅ Classics and Ancient History and Archaeology are also very good choices
✅ Law, Accounting and Finance are also on the rise in strength
🏫 University of Birmingham
(QS84)
✅ Hospitality Management, Comedy Dance and Film are all popular majors among locals
✅ Physiotherapy and Creative Writing are also very strong majors
🏫 Lancaster University (QS122)
✅ Very famous for accounting and finance, top 10 in the UK for MSc Business Finance
🏫 Loughborough University
(QS212)
✅ Institutions with superb sports specialisms
✅ Fashion design and engineering are awesome and good to apply for
✅ General Engineering is the second best in the UK after Cambridge.
Life Hacks about St Andrews Weather
The latitude is relatively high in the small town of St Andrews, Scotland. In winter, the sun rises at 8/9 am and sets at 3/4 pm. In summer, the sunrise is very early, and the sunset is at 9/10 pm. Indoors, the heat is on almost year-round, and you can wear short sleeves.
Sunshine is the Best Thing that the Creator has Given to St Andrews.
FAQs
How easy is it to obtain a visa to study in the UK?
The UK government has streamlined the visa application process for international students, making it more straightforward than many expect. By applying for a Tier 4 (General) student visa, you’ll find clear guidance and support throughout the application process. While it requires diligent preparation—such as proof of acceptance at a UK institution, financial stability, and English language proficiency—with the right documents, obtaining a visa can be a smooth process.
Can I work while studying in the UK?
Yes, international students in the UK on a Tier 4 visa can usually work up to 20 hours a week during term time and full-time during vacation periods. However, it’s crucial to check your visa conditions and consult with your university career service for guidance, ensuring any employment complies with your visa terms.
What cultural experiences does St Andrews offer?
Beyond its golfing legacy, St Andrews is a treasure trove of cultural experiences. From the medieval ruins of St Andrews Cathedral and Castle to the contemporary art exhibitions at the Crawford Arts Centre, the town offers a fascinating mix of history and modernity. Additionally, its vibrant student population ensures a lively selection of cafes, bookshops, and theatre productions throughout the year.
Is St Andrews accessible for international visitors?
Absolutely. Although nestled on the east coast of Scotland, St Andrews is easily accessible from major airports in Edinburgh and Glasgow. There are various transport options including buses, trains, and car hires that make the scenic journey to St Andrews not just convenient but also enjoyable.
Can I access online resources if I’m not on the University of St Andrews campus?
Absolutely. The University of St Andrews Library offers a wide range of digital resources, including e-books, academic journals, and databases, accessible to all students and staff from any location. Simply use your University login credentials to access our digital library from the comfort of your home or while on the go.
