St Andrews · Founded 1413
Ancient UniversityUniversity of St Andrews
Scotland's oldest university (1413) and consistently the top-ranked in the country. St Andrews is a small coastal town in Fife — the university and the town are inseparable. Entry standards are among the highest in the UK, and the student experience is defined by traditions (academic families, Raisin Monday, pier walks) that have no equivalent elsewhere. Living costs are high relative to the town's size.
Rankings
- Guardian
- Top 202
- Times
- Top 202
- Student satisfaction
- 88%
Cost of Living
- Rent (halls)
- £1000/mo
- Rent (private)
- £800/mo
- Other costs
- £900/mo
St Andrews is a small town and private accommodation is highly limited and expensive. Most students live in university halls — for many this is a necessity, not a choice.
Known For
Students
10,500
Location
St Andrews
SAAS code
S36
Entry requirements for Scottish students
Typical Higher offers for 2026 entry. Always check with St Andrews directly.
International Relations
No specific subjects
Medicine (BSc)
Chemistry + one from Biology, Maths, or Physics
UCAT required; 3-year preclinical only
Physics
Maths + Physics at A
English
English at A
Philosophy
No specific subjects
Computer Science
Maths at A; one further science subject required
Art History
No specific subjects
Mathematics
Maths at A
Entry requirements sourced from University of St Andrews prospectus, April 2026. Competitive courses may ask for higher grades.
What it actually costs per month
Realistic monthly budget for a student living in St Andrews, 2026.
The SAAS gap at St Andrews
- SAAS gives you (max, monthly)
- £950/mo
- Your costs (est.)
- £1,270/mo
St Andrews has the highest rents of any Scottish university town. Even with maximum SAAS support, most students need additional funding. The university's own scholarship programme is the first port of call.
Calculate your exact SAAS packageSAAS tuition — what you’ll actually pay
If you’re a Scotland-domiciled undergraduate, SAAS pays University of St Andrews’s tuition fee (£1,820/year) directly — you pay nothing. The SAAS code is S36.
Open days 2026
Confirmed 2026 open day dates for St Andrews. Always book a place directly via the university website.
24 Jun 2026
Virtual
10 Oct 2026
Campus
28 Oct 2026
Campus
4 Nov 2026
Virtual
Dates sourced from St Andrews’s official open days page, checked April 2026. Confirm current details before travelling.
Scholarships & bursaries
Verified funding available to Scottish-domiciled students at St Andrews. Always check the university website for current eligibility criteria and deadlines.
St Andrews Access Award
£2,651–£5,065/yr
Scottish-domiciled undergraduates with household income under ~£34,000; widening participation criteria (SIMD 1–4, care experience, estrangement)
Apply / find out moreRobertson Trust Scholarship
Up to £4,400/yr
Scottish-domiciled undergraduates aged 16–25 who attended school in Scotland; financial need; includes paid internship programme
Apply / find out moreStudents' Association Bursary
£500/yr
Scottish-domiciled undergraduates demonstrating financial need; paid monthly Sep–May
Apply / find out moreWho is St Andrews best for?
St Andrews is the highest-ranked Scottish university (Guardian #2, Times #2) and consistently competes with Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial in UK league tables. The small-town setting is genuinely transformative — your child lives among the students for the entire degree, with traditions (academic families, Raisin Monday) that have no equivalent elsewhere. Right pick for academically exceptional students who thrive in small classes and tight community. The downsides are real: brutal entry requirements, very high living costs for a town of this size, and no escape from the university bubble. Medicine here is unusual (3-year preclinical only — students transfer to Manchester, Edinburgh or Aberdeen for clinical years).
Student life at a glance
Students’ union
St Andrews SA — runs the famously well-funded Student Union building. 150+ societies. Academic family system pairs new students with older mentors.
Social scene
Town and university are one and the same. Pier walks, May Dip in the North Sea, balls. The nearest proper city is Dundee (40 minutes by bus).
Graduate prospects
One of the strongest UK alumni networks. International relations graduates fill the FCDO, UN, and major think tanks. Strong pipelines into London finance, US graduate schools, and academia.
Considering St Andrews? Also look at
Same prestige tier, much larger and more international, big-city setting
View profileSlightly easier entry, comparable Russell Group academic strength, lower rent
View profileOther ancient Scottish university, easier entry, much lower living costs
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Frequently asked questions about St Andrews
What is University of St Andrews ranked?
University of St Andrews is ranked 2 in the Guardian University Guide and 2 in The Times Good University Guide. Student satisfaction (from the National Student Survey) sits at 88%. Rankings shift annually — always check the latest published tables before relying on a specific position.
How much is student rent at University of St Andrews?
Average monthly rent in St Andrews for St Andrews students is approximately £1,000 in university halls and £800 in private rented accommodation. Other living costs (food, transport, utilities, social) add roughly £900 per month on top. These are indicative averages — actual costs depend on the specific hall or flat. Always check the university's accommodation pages for the latest prices.
What is University of St Andrews known for?
University of St Andrews's strongest subject areas include International Relations, Physics, Philosophy, English. These are the departments most commonly cited in league tables and by employers. St Andrews also has strong graduate employment in these areas — check the university's own graduate outcomes data for the most current figures.
What type of university is University of St Andrews?
University of St Andrews is one of Scotland's four ancient universities (founded before 1600). The ancients — St Andrews, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh — are among the oldest in the English-speaking world and carry significant brand recognition with employers globally.
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Browse options →Rankings, rent, and living-cost figures checked April 2026.
Rankings source: Guardian University Guide and The Times Good University Guide. Rent figures are indicative averages from council and university accommodation pages. Entry requirements sourced from St Andrews prospectus 2026 entry. Always confirm current prices and requirements directly with St Andrews. See our editorial policy for how we source and update this data.