| Key Information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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Rank 1
Location
St Andrews, Scotland
Established 1413
International Students 41.4%
Famous Courses International Relations, Computer Science, Physics
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| Key Information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | St Andrews, Scotland | ||
| Established | 1413 | ||
| Famous Courses | International Relations, Computer Science, Physics | ||
The University of St Andrews, founded in 1413, is the third-oldest university in the English-speaking world and the oldest in Scotland. Despite its location in a small town, St Andrews has long been a centre of Scottish political, intellectual, and religious life. This history is reflected in the University's strong reputation in the humanities, particularly in divinity, philosophy, and international relations. Today, the University hosts around 9,100 students from over 130 countries, making up a significant part of the town’s population. Unlike many universities, St Andrews is spread across the town rather than being confined to a single campus.
Scottish undergraduate degrees typically last four years, providing greater academic flexibility. At St Andrews, students apply to one of four faculties—Arts, Divinity, Medicine, or Science—and select modules towards their degree, with the opportunity to specialise in their final two years. This broader approach allows students to explore different subjects before focusing on their main area of interest.
As one of Scotland’s ancient universities, St Andrews is steeped in tradition. Among these customs is the practice of 'academic families,' where third-year students act as ‘parents’ to first-years, offering guidance and support. Another famous tradition is the May Dip, where students plunge into the North Sea at dawn on 1 May to wash away the sins of the academic year.
In recent years, St Andrews has earned many accolades. In 2020, it was named University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times University Guide. The University was also awarded Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) for its outstanding teaching quality. Additionally, the University offers numerous opportunities for undergraduates to study abroad for a full academic year, with partner institutions across the world.
In subject-specific rankings, St Andrews has consistently performed well. For example, its economics courses were ranked third in the UK by the Guardian University Guide 2022. The University’s overall acceptance rate is relatively competitive, with approximately 41% of undergraduate applicants and 54% of postgraduate applicants being offered a place.
At the postgraduate level, St Andrews offers over 1,000 master's courses across various disciplines, providing ample opportunities for advanced study and research.
The University of St Andrews provides pre-sessional and free in-sessional English language support for students. Student Services at St Andrew's has two dedicated International Student Advisors to provide specific support and more general advice and support services. St Andrews is committed to attracting the very best students, regardless of financial circumstances, and they offer a large number of bursaries and scholarships to international students. These are designed to provide assistance and help students support themselves during their time at the University.
All undergraduates are assigned an Adviser of Studies whom they must see at the start of each semester to discuss their choices. Advisers are also available for consultations at other times and will guide the student through the complexities of the modular structure to ensure that any desired degree pathways or options remain accessible.
St Andrews has been ranked as the best university in Scotland for the last ten years by The Times University Guide and was crowned Scottish University of the Year four times in a row from 2011 – 2015. In 2020, it was named the UK University of the Year. University of St Andrews computer science programmes are ranked number one in the UK.
According to REF 2021, more than 88% of the research carried out by the University of St Andrews is world-leading or internationally excellent. The overall quality of research at St Andrews has also increased by 5.7% since the last assessment exercise in 2014. Overall, under GPA, the University of St Andrews ranked 3rd in Scotland and 28th in the UK.
The University guarantees an offer of accommodation in halls at St Andrews for all undergraduate first-year students, providing that they submit their accommodation application by the 30th of June of their year of entry. There are more than 4,000 rooms available around the town, about 40% of which are catered, with a choice of single or shared rooms and rooms with shared bathroom facilities or en suite. Students live around the town rather than on a single campus.
University of St Andrews residences range from beautiful stone-built listed buildings full of original period features to stylish new apartments, built to high environmental and sustainability standards. Andrew Melville Hall is a particularly popular residence at the University.
The town of St Andrews sits on a rocky headland overlooking the dramatic waters of the North Sea. Around 22,000 people, including students, live in this small, historic town and many beautiful buildings still stand as monuments to the thousands of years it has been a focal point for bishops, kings, saints and martyrs. The University does not have a campus, but instead covers the whole town and St Andrews is just over 80km north east of Edinburgh.
The University of St Andrews has superb facilities in a variety of buildings, ranging from the ultra-modern new Medical laboratories on our North Haugh site, to the mediaeval grandeur of St Salvators Quadrangle where many lectures are held daily. Both The Students Union and University Sports Centre have had undergone improvements in the last decade, with the Sports Centre being the subject of a major £14 million redevelopment.
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