History
Founded in the fifteenth century, St Andrews is Scotland's first university and the third oldest in the English speaking world. Teaching began in the community of St Andrews in 1410 and the University was formally constituted by the issue of a papal bull in 1413.
Education
All of our undergraduate degrees are designed to be academically stimulating from the first class, allowing you to immerse yourself in the subjects that you are most passionate about.
With a commitment to supporting cutting-edge research projects, the University is the perfect place to further your knowledge in the company of world-renowned lecturers, professors and researchers.
The University of St Andrews also offers a range of courses, classes and projects if you wish to learn a new skill or expand on your existing qualifications without committing to full-time study.
Research
The University of St Andrews is one of the UK’s most research-intensive universities. From local to international topics, our research spans from ancient history to modern scientific breakthroughs.
The majority of research takes place within academic schools. However, the University also supports a large number of world-class, often cross-discipline or cross-institutional, research centres or institutes.
Career
We are committed to supporting your career aspirations, whatever stage your career is at.
Our Careers Centre provides impartial and confidential advice, working in partnership with you throughout your time at university and within three years of graduation to enable you to make well informed and realistic plans for your future.
Almost 96% of our graduates are in work or further study within six months of graduation.
University of St Andrews Key Statistics & Highlights
- #113 Ranking
- 108 Masters
- 86 Scholarships
- 779 Academic Staff
- 10,356 Students
- 4,867 Students (int'l)
- 6,110 Students (female)
- Public Institution Type
University of St Andrews Overview
University of St Andrews Scholarships
University of St Andrews Scholarships
Below you will find scholarships related to University of St Andrews. Distinction can be made between scholarships provided by the University and those provided by independent providers.
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University of St Andrews Student Reviews & Awards
Based on 21 reviews
- 5 Star 8 Reviews
- 4 Star 13 Reviews
- 3 Star 0 Reviews
- 2 Star 0 Reviews
- 1 Star 0 Reviews
How Students Rated This University
- Student Teacher Interaction 4.7
- Student Diversity 4.3
- Quality of Student Life 4.3
- Career Development 4.2
Excellent University
I am about to finish my first year at the University of St Andrews, and it has been a tremendously wonderful experience. Personally, I have found my course content well-suited to my interests. Professors have been easy to contact, and they are open to being asked questions after lectures. They also heavily emphasize listening to and implementing student feedback. For those who require it, support is abundant and easy to access. Despite the small size of the town, there are always events ongoing (a good amount of which are student-led) and ample fun traditions to look forward to.
My StA Experience
I really enjoyed my time, but life here is expensive. Overall, the learning scheme is very independent, so you need to quickly learn how to be or already be comfortable scheduling yourself. Some teachers tend to more helpful/willing to engage with you and help you during office hours than others, but I believe this is true at any University. The library is kind of lacking and is definitely too small for the amount of students. However, it's also kind of nice being forced to study in cafes or other academic buildings. Like I said, living here is very expensive. St Andrews is the most expensive coastal town in Scotland. However, programs like Spare Spoon, the Campus Larder, and various societies' bursaries have proven helpful. Overall, I have really enjoyed my time here and the life-long friendships I have made.
My main challenge is cost of living
Good quality teaching and research, but very expensive and generally quite elitist (lots of students from higher income backgrounds). Not much social scene there in terms of things to do, small town and no nightlife
Global Student Satisfaction Awards 2025
The Global Student Satisfaction Awards empower students across the globe to determine the best universities of 2025. Universities with a score above 4.0 (out of 5) in any of the 7 award categories, receive Badges of Excellence. Congratulations!
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Student Teacher InteractionHow helpful were your teachers?
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Student DiversityHow diverse was the atmosphere at your university?
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Quality of Student LifeHow was your everyday life?
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Career DevelopmentDid the university provide support for your career development?
University of St Andrews Rankings
Study Portals Meta Ranking
Studyportals ranking look at the scores of the most used ranking systems and present you with one number of how well this University performs.
QS World University Rankings
By TopUniversities
Dropped 9 places compared to 2025
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend QS World University Rankings
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 95 | 104 | 113 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
World University Rankings
By Times Higher Education
Climbed 23 places compared to 2025
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend World University Rankings
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 193 | 185 | 162 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Academic Ranking of World Universities
By Shanghai Jiao Tong University
The university hasn’t moved up or down in the rankings over the past year.
ARWU World University rankings is the first world university ranking. It ranks the world's top 1000 colleges and universities based on objective indicator. They look at the number of award-winning (Fields Medals and Nobel Prize) scientists who are located there, how much of their research is cited and referenced around the world, and how much they've contributed to different academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, ARWU ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend Academic Ranking of World Universities
| 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 301 | 301 | 301 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Best Global Universities Rankings
By U.S. News & World Report
This university doesn’t have a ranking for 2026 yet. Rankings are updated yearly, so check back later for the latest info.
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
3 year trend Best Global Universities Rankings
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 394 | - | - |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Student services
The University offers extensive support to all students connected with the University, through Student Services and the Chaplaincy.
Acting as the first port of call for both undergraduate and postgraduate students, Student Services is tasked with helping students at St Andrews achieve what they deserve: the best university experience possible. Student Services also manages communication with anyone who is concerned about a student at the University, from parents and guardians to those in the local community and external agencies.
Student Services coordinates four main functions, each committed to monitoring and enhancing the student experience.
- Student experience
- Advice and support
- Discipline
- Wardennial service
Housing services
St Andrews has more than 4,000 bed spaces and a variety of accommodation to suit various tastes and budgets. Students can choose to live in halls of residence or University-managed houses and flats, or rent privately.
The University-owned and managed accommodation is available for undergraduate and foundation students, and postgraduates students. Accommodation is guaranteed for entrant undergraduate students, care experienced and estranged students.
We also offer a limited number of guaranteed rooms for postgraduate students and flexible contracts for those studying abroad for a semester.
Library services
- Those living in the local community are welcome to use the Main University Library. You can become a member of the Library and borrow books, or just visit to consult material. Within the Library, there is the option to study in silent areas or enjoy the bustling social spaces.
- The library houses a cafe and help is available from the Library Helpdesk and IT Service Desk.
Medical services
- Taking care of your health and wellbeing during your studies is important. The University of St Andrews highly recommends that you register with a doctor in St Andrews at the start of your studies.
- Students with pre-existing health conditions must contact the primary care practice of their choice before arriving in St Andrews.
Campus life
Our town and University have grown together, giving us a unique history and relationship.
University buildings and accommodation sit throughout the town, meaning our students and staff cross paths with each other and locals at cafés, libraries, sports centres, and even theatres — creating a lively sense of community and belonging.
The town’s compact layout also fosters a strong sense of safety. Pretty much everywhere is within walking distance with your friends, but we also run a night bus seven nights a week providing safe travel home after evening events.
Sports facilities
Saints Sport is a vibrant, dynamic and important part of life at the University of St Andrews. With over 50 sports clubs and 100 competitive sports teams, and a thriving hall sport programme, we offer sport for everyone at all levels. Our trained instructors have put together a comprehensive range of Saints Fitness exercise classes to suit all needs, and we welcome anyone who wishes to take part.
Student clubs
The University of St Andrews is home to over 150 different societies, which are run by the Students' Association. The range of societies covers nearly every possible interest, from food and drink, arts, media and music, charitable, ‘fan and geek’, political, as well as academic and educational.
If you can't find a society to suit your interests, the Students' Association can help you start one.