University of St Andrews
St Andrews, UK
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About the University
The University of St Andrews was founded in 1410, when scholars were granted a charter of incorporation connected to the Augustinian priory of St Andrews Cathedral, making it the oldest university in Scotland and the third-oldest in the English-speaking world. The university grew through the 15th and 16th centuries with the founding of St Salvator’s College (1450), St Leonard’s College (1511), and St Mary’s College (1537), and today is organised around United College (a union of St Salvator’s and St Leonard’s), St Mary’s College, and St Leonard’s postgraduate college.
Location
The university is based in the historic town of St Andrews, in Fife, Scotland — a small coastal town rather than a large city, with the university closely woven into everyday town life. This is a notably different setting from most other UK universities on this list, which are based in large cities.
What Students Can Study
St Andrews is organised into 18 academic schools across four faculties. Physics and astronomy have been taught at the university for more than 350 years, one of its longest-running subject areas. Along with Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Edinburgh, St Andrews was one of the Scottish universities associated with the 18th-century Scottish Enlightenment. Specific course content, structure, and entry requirements vary by school and should be checked directly with the university.
Why Students Consider This University
Students often consider St Andrews specifically for its small-town setting, a genuinely different experience from studying at a large city university, combined with its status as one of Scotland’s oldest institutions. That suits students who want a close-knit, campus-like community, though it means less of the scale and big-city amenities that come with a university like Glasgow or Edinburgh.
Studying in St Andrews
StudyUKToday covers St Andrews as one of its UK study destinations, including what the city itself is like for students, alongside University of St Andrews.
See our full St Andrews guide →
Applying to University of St Andrews
StudyUKToday can help with your application to University of St Andrews: understanding your course options, preparing your documents, matching you to the right course, and preparing and submitting your application. This is free for students; we're paid by the university once you enrol, not by you.
University of St Andrews makes its own admissions decisions. We support and guide your application; we don't decide the outcome.
Important Information
Course availability, entry requirements, tuition fees, application deadlines, and other admissions requirements can change and vary by course. Always confirm current details directly with University of St Andrews or with our team before relying on them.
