Apply for 2026 / 2027 intake.

Study at University of St Andrews

St Andrews

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Location: St Andrews
Founded: 1413 (teaching from 1410)
Students: about 10,400 (2024–25)
Type: Public university
Main intakes: September; January for some foundation routes
Study levels: Undergraduate, Postgraduate taught, Postgraduate research

St Andrews was founded in 1413, which makes it Scotland's oldest university and the third oldest in the English-speaking world. It's a small public university in the town of St Andrews on the Fife coast, and research plays a large part in what it does. In 2024–25 it had about 10,400 students, most of them undergraduates. Teaching sits in four faculties, Arts, Divinity, Medicine and Science, and between them they cover 18 schools. The university does very well in UK league tables. The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 and The Guardian University Guide 2026 both put it first in Scotland and second in the UK, and subjects such as International Relations, History, Art History and Maths came first in the UK in one or both guides. You'll study among historic buildings such as St Salvator's Chapel and quadrangle, with modern science and medicine facilities close by.

Location and student life

There isn't a single enclosed campus here. Instead, the schools, libraries, laboratories and halls are spread through the town itself, with the historic centre around North Street, South Street and the Scores. St Andrews is small, so you can walk almost everywhere, and the beaches are close at hand. Much of student life runs through the Students' Association, along with societies and sports clubs. For trains, Leuchars is the nearest station, about five miles away on the Edinburgh–Dundee line, and a regular bus links it with the town. You can also travel by bus to Dundee, Edinburgh and Edinburgh Airport.

Courses and subjects

When you enrol, you join one of four faculties (Arts, Divinity, Medicine and Science), which together make up 18 schools. Subjects the university is particularly known for include International Relations, History, Art History, English, Modern Languages, Philosophy, Economics, Management, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science, Psychology and Medicine. Degree structures follow the flexible Scottish pattern, and on many programmes the first two years are broad. If your school qualifications aren't accepted for direct entry, you can apply for one of the university's own International Foundation programmes instead. These include International Year Zero, International Year One for some science routes, and International Pre-Med.

Entry requirements for international students

What you'll need depends on the course, so always check the page for the programme you want. If your previous qualifications weren't taught in English, you'll usually need to take an English language test. By way of example, one direct-entry profile asks for IELTS Academic 6.5 overall, though some courses set the bar higher. If you need more preparation before you start your degree, the university runs Academic English pre-sessional courses and International Foundation programmes for that purpose. The course pages give the exact requirements, and it's worth reading them carefully before you apply.

Accommodation

First-year undergraduates are guaranteed accommodation if they apply by 30 June, accept an unconditional offer by 31 August and meet the other conditions the university publishes. The same guarantee applies to overseas postgraduate taught students who meet the set deadlines and conditions. Accommodation includes catered and self-catered halls and shared flats and houses in St Andrews and nearby areas. After the first year, many students move into private rented housing, which is common here.

Scholarships and funding

The university offers a range of scholarships for international students, although the details and values change from year to year. At undergraduate level, examples include the International Undergraduate Scholarship, which reduces fees according to financial need, the International Excellence Scholarship, the Accommodation Award International, and awards for students from the United States and United World Colleges. If you're applying for postgraduate study, you'll find the funding listed in the online scholarships catalogue. Do check the official scholarships pages for who can apply, the deadlines and how much each award is worth.