The University of St Andrews is the third-oldest university in the English speaking world and the oldest in Scotland, founded in 1413. Despite being a small town, St Andrews has long been a centre of Scottish political and religious life, which is reflected in the University’s strong reputation in the humanities, particularly divinity and philosophy. 9,100 students from over 130 different countries make up a significant part of the town’s population, and St Andrews covers the whole area rather than a defined campus.

Scottish degrees last four years, and at St Andrews this is used to provide greater flexibility. Students apply to one of four Faculties (Arts, Divinity, Medicine or Science) and take modules towards a degree, with a chance to specialise further in the final two years. As an old university, St Andrews has a number of traditions such as the concept of university ‘parents’ (third year students) and the May Dip, where students run into the North Sea on May Day dawn.

The Times University Guide named St Andrews its University of the Year for 2020, whilst the Teaching Excellence Framework awarded the University Gold for "exemplary" teaching. St Andrews also has a number of opportunities for undergraduate students to spend a full academic year studying abroad, in destinations around the world.

Ranking

• 3rd in the Times University Guide 2021
• 2nd in the Guardian University Guide 2021
• 96th in the QS World University Rankings 2021

St Andrews has been ranked as the best university in Scotland for the last nine 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.

Alumni

• Prince William, Duke of Cambridge
• Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
• Chris Hoy - Cyclist, the most successful British Olympian in terms of gold medals
• Dame Barbara Woodword – UK Ambassador to China
• John Witherspoon - US Declaration of Independence signatory)