University of St Andrews
Scotland's first university, founded in 1413: a small, highly international seaside university with four-year degrees.
- Students
- 10,356
- 8,381 undergraduates
- International
- 49%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 12.9:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- £34,910
- From · 2027-28
- Founded
- 1413
About St Andrews
Teaching began in St Andrews in 1410 and the university was formally founded by papal bull in 1413, making it Scotland's first university and the third oldest in the English-speaking world. It remains small: 10,356 students in 2024-25, of whom 8,381 were undergraduates, in a coastal town in Fife where the university and the town are closely woven together.
St Andrews is organised into four faculties (Arts, Divinity, Medicine and Science) and follows the Scottish model of four-year honours degrees, many of them flexible MA or BSc programmes where you study several subjects before specialising. It tops The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2027 for the UK and is especially strong in International Relations, History, Art History, English, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics in UK subject tables.
It is the most international of Scotland's universities, with students from more than 120 countries. It suits academically strong students who want a close-knit, tradition-rich student community in a small town rather than a big city, and who are comfortable with a competitive admissions process. More than 95% of its undergraduate graduates were in full-time work or further study in the latest Graduate Outcomes survey.
Aien aristeuein
“Ever to Excel” — university motto
Why students choose St Andrews
St Andrews is ranked the top university in the UK in The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2027 and joint 115th in the QS World University Rankings 2027.
Flexible four-year Scottish degrees let you study several subjects in the first two years before choosing your honours route.
Students stay: 99.27% of 2021-22 entrants continued their studies at St Andrews, one of the best first-year retention rates in Scotland.
There are more than 150 student societies, over 50 sports clubs and traditions such as academic families and the 1 May dawn dip in the North Sea.
Admissions
2027 entry (September 2027)
Selectivity
St Andrews does not publish an overall offer rate on its admissions pages; it describes receiving thousands of applications each year and sets Standard, Minimum and Gateway entry grades, with Minimum grades for applicants who meet its contextual criteria.
Typical entry requirements
| A-levels | Standard AAA for Economics, International Relations and Computer Science (Computer Science needs an A in Mathematics plus a science); Minimum ABB for applicants meeting contextual criteria |
|---|---|
| SQA Highers | Standard AAAAB, Minimum AABB (Economics, International Relations, Computer Science with an A in Mathematics) |
| IB Diploma | Standard 38 points (HL 6,6,6), Minimum 36 (HL 6,5,5); Computer Science also needs HL6 Mathematics and SL5 in a science |
| English language | IELTS 7 · TOEFL iBT 91 Arts and Divinity (Profile 3-D): IELTS Academic 7.0 overall with at least 6.5 in each component, or TOEFL iBT 91 with Listening 19, Reading 19, Writing 23, Speaking 22. Science (Profile 7-D), Medicine (Profile 2-M) and the School of English (Profile 1-D) have their own profiles. |
Deadlines
- UCAS (Medicine) Non-binding Next deadline · In 9 days15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time
Medicine A100 application deadline for 2027 entry.
- UCAS equal consideration deadline Non-binding In ~3 months13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
Most courses. Applicants who apply by the equal consideration deadline get a decision by May.
UCAS deadlines for 2027 entry are confirmed on ucas.com. Common Application and direct applicants should check St Andrews' own deadlines, which count against the same equal consideration dates. Accommodation applications open on 28 January.
How to apply
Apply through UCAS; overseas students may instead use the Common Application or a direct application, each counting as one of the five UK choices. Applications are reviewed on achieved and predicted grades, the context of your qualifications, the personal statement, the academic reference and relevant experience; Medicine also uses the UCAT and interviews.
What admissions looks for
- Grades already achieved or predicted, at or above the Standard entry requirements, with any subject prerequisites met.
- The context of your qualifications, such as location and extenuating factors; eligible UK applicants can receive Minimum entry offers.
- A personal statement that shows genuine interest in your chosen subjects.
- A strong academic reference and, where relevant, work or other experience.
Tips for applying to St Andrews
- 1 Use the entry requirements indicator to see whether Standard, Minimum or Gateway grades apply to you before applying.
- 2 Overseas and US applicants can apply through the Common Application instead of UCAS, but it still counts as one of your five UK choices.
- 3 For Medicine, decide between the Scotland and England routes (clinical years at partner schools such as Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester or London) and aim well above the UCAT threshold.
- 4 Joint honours need the grades of the more demanding subject, so check both course pages.
Costs & financial aid
2027-28 · figures in GBP
St Andrews offers scholarships and bursaries based on financial need, academic excellence or other achievements such as leadership, sport or music; the university reports 3,292 awards across all levels, 94% of them funded by St Andrews. Which awards you can apply for depends on your fee status, and an offer of a place does not guarantee funding.
- 3,292 (94% of undergraduate and PGT scholarships funded by St Andrews)
- Scholarship awards across all study levels
Academics
International Relations (MA)
Ranked top in the UK in both The Times and Guardian guides; AAA or 38 IB points standard entry.
Art History (MA)
Ranked top in the UK in both The Times and Guardian subject tables.
Economics (MA)
A four-year MA with joint options including languages and social anthropology; AAA standard, ABB minimum.
Computer Science (BSc)
AAA including an A in Mathematics; overseas fee £34,910 for 2027 entry.
Medicine (BSc, A100)
Three years at St Andrews for a BSc, then three years of clinical training at a partner medical school in Scotland or England.
Physics and Astronomy
Physics was ranked top in the UK in The Times Good University Guide 2026.
Research
- More than 88% of research was rated world-leading or internationally excellent in REF 2021.
- St Andrews describes itself as one of the UK's most research-intensive universities, with research from ancient history to modern science.
- Eight subjects were ranked top in the UK in The Times Guide 2026, including Chemistry, Physics and Social Anthropology.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Arts
- Faculty of Divinity
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Science
More than 95% of undergraduate first-degree graduates were in full-time employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes survey 2022-23).
Student life
Student life in St Andrews is shaped by a small town, a big international mix and centuries of tradition. Students join academic families, where older 'parents' look after first-years; some avoid stepping on the PH cobbles outside St Salvator's Quad, said to curse your degree; and on 1 May many run into the North Sea at dawn. There are more than 150 societies and over 50 sports clubs with 100 competitive teams. Halls offer catered and self-catered rooms, and first-years can apply for the accommodation guarantee.
- Academic families: older students adopt first-years as academic 'children'.
- The PH cobbles outside St Salvator's Quad mark where Patrick Hamilton was burned in 1528; tradition says stepping on them curses your degree.
- The 1 May dawn dip in the North Sea.
- More than 150 societies, 50 sports clubs and 100 competitive teams.
Housing. An accommodation guarantee is available to eligible first-year undergraduates, with catered and self-catered halls; applications open on 28 January.
Location
St Andrews is a small coastal town in Fife on Scotland's east coast, on the North Sea. University buildings, halls and student life are woven into the town itself, so the university and the town feel like one community. Life is quieter and more community-focused than in a city, with Edinburgh reachable for bigger trips.
Nearest airport: Edinburgh Airport (EDI)
Notable alumni
- WP William, Prince of WalesHeir to the British throne; graduated in Geography in 2005
- CP Catherine, Princess of WalesGraduated in History of Art in 2005
- AS Alex SalmondFormer First Minister of Scotland
- CH Chris HoyOlympic track cycling champion; studied mathematics and physics at St Andrews for two years
- EP Elizabeth PrelogarFormer Solicitor General of the United States
- AY Alex YoungerFormer Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6)
- BW Barbara WoodwardUK Permanent Representative to the United Nations
- MS Mark SedwillFormer Cabinet Secretary
Frequently asked questions
What grades do you need for St Andrews?
For 2027 entry, Standard entry for courses such as Economics, International Relations and Computer Science is AAA at A-level, AAAAB at Higher or 38 IB points. Applicants who meet contextual criteria may qualify for Minimum grades such as ABB or 36 IB points.
How much are St Andrews tuition fees?
It depends on fee status: Scottish (Home Funded) students paid £1,820 in 2025-26, with the 2027 rate still to be set by the Scottish Government; students from the rest of the UK pay £10,050 (subject to confirmation); EU and overseas students pay £34,910 for most degrees and £41,600 for Medicine in 2027.
Can I apply to St Andrews with the Common App?
Yes. Overseas students may apply through the Common Application or a direct application instead of UCAS, and it counts as one of your five UK choices.
Does St Andrews interview applicants?
Most applicants are not interviewed. Interviews are used for Medicine and for the Gateway and Pathway programmes.
When is the St Andrews deadline for 2027 entry?
15 October 2026 for Medicine and 13 January 2027 (UCAS equal consideration deadline) for most other courses.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
Explore nearby in the world top 100
Universities ranked close to St Andrews in the QS World University Rankings 2027.