Student Beans’ Best University Guide: University of St Andrews
Everything you need to know about the University of St Andrews.
St Andrews, found in Scotland, is slowly creeping (and sometimes overtaking) the prestigious Oxford and Cambridge universities on the league tables. It’s no surprise, though, with St Andrews’ University rankings showing high satisfaction rates, competitive entry requirements and proven top-scoring records.
In fact, St Andrews is one of the top ten universities for getting a first-class degree (the highest grade you can achieve) and its course and teaching satisfaction rates are the highest in the UK.
Vibe Check
Let’s break down some key notes around St Andrews’ vibe:
- Despite continuously ranking highly on university league tables, St Andrews University is not a Russell Group institution.
- Students at Scottish universities are one the least likely to fall victim to Freshers Flu, with only 16% claiming to catch it. If you do find yourself one of the unlucky ones, see our handy guide on freshers flu treatments here.
- The University of St Andrews’ notable alumni includes some royal names. In fact, it’s at St Andrews where Kate Middleton and Prince William first met.
- Want to hear more about student goings-on? Read up on St Andrews’ student newspaper, The Saint.
- St Andrews University Library is home to one of the most extensive research libraries in the UK.
Picture this
There’s always time for coffee and cocktails in Scotland.
According to Google Maps, these are the top spots you should be visiting that are close to the St Andrews University campus:
Getting in
All of St Andrews’ university courses will have different entry requirements, but in 2021 the university had an average entry tariff of 207 UCAS points — the highest of any UK university, making it a competitive one to get into.
Student satisfaction
Students at St Andrews are some of the happiest with the education they receive — last year 93% said they were satisfied with their course and 92% were happy with the teaching. According to the Guardian’s 2022 University Rankings, the national average for course satisfaction is 78.5% and teaching satisfaction is 81.6%, meaning St Andrews’ rates come in well above average.
St Andrews’ University also boasts a healthy student to staff ratio, with one lecturer to every 11 eleven students.
Future prospects
In 2021, the biggest share of students graduated with a first class degree (47.35%), followed closely by those who secured a 2:1 (47.06%). This makes St Andrews the seventh best university for students achieving top marks.
After graduating with primarily first and upper second-class degrees, 84% of St Andrews graduates find a career after 15 months. Whilst this is over the national average of 78%, it falls shy of Oxford and Cambridge’s 93% career success rates.
Contact
Tel: +44 (0)1334 46 2150
Email: admissions@st-andrews.ac.uk
Web: st-andrews.ac.uk
Accommodation: accommodation@st-andrews.ac.uk
Popular FAQs about St Andrews University
Where is St Andrews University?
St Andrews University is located in St Andrews on the east coast of Fife, 30 miles northeast of Edinburgh.
Data has been used from the following sources:
- www.theguardian.com/education/ng-interactive/2021/sep/11/the-best-uk-universities-2022-rankings
- www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/students/table-16
- www.universitycompare.com/rankings/accommodation
- www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/business/activitysizeandlocation/datasets/publichousesandbarsbycityregion
- www.tripadvisor.co.uk
- uk.indeed.com/career/lecturer/salaries
