Address: College Gate, North Street, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9AJ, United Kingdom
Arts, Divinity, Medicine, Science
The University of St Andrews in Fife, Scotland, was founded in 1413, when the Avignon Antipope Benedict XIII issued papal bulls granting university status. It is the oldest university in Scotland. The main sites stand on North Street and South Street in the small coastal town of St Andrews, and the town and the university are closely tied.
In the academic year 2024 to 2025 the university counted 11,645 students, equal to 10,800 full-time equivalents. They included 9,180 undergraduates and 2,460 postgraduates. About 45 percent of the intake comes from outside the United Kingdom, with roughly 20 percent from North America. The HESA table gives 9 percent from the European Union and 38 percent from other countries. The staff counted 1,340 academics and 1,915 administrative employees.
The university is organised in four faculties: Arts, Divinity, Medicine and Science. These cover 18 academic schools. Three colleges belong to the university: United College, St Mary’s College and St Leonard’s College. The small size of the town means that students live within walking distance of lectures, libraries and the sea.
The list of alumni is notable. James Wilson signed the American Declaration of Independence. John Napier discovered logarithms. John Knox founded the Church of Scotland. Edward Jenner, the pioneer of the smallpox vaccine, is on the list. James Black, a Nobel laureate, invented beta-blockers. Alex Salmond served as First Minister of Scotland, and Chris Hoy won Olympic gold in cycling. William and Catherine, Prince and Princess of Wales, studied there.
For applicants, the combination of an old foundation, a high share of international students and a compact town is the main appeal. Competition for places is high. Housing in the town is expensive, and students should plan early. Fees depend on the residence and the programme. Check the current tariff.
Student life revolves around the town. The three colleges, the old streets and the sea shape daily routine, and the traditions of the university are widely known. Applicants should apply early, check the entry requirements of each school on the official pages, and plan their housing as soon as they receive an offer.
Domains taught:
Astroscience, Chemistry, Data Analytics, Life Sciences, Marine Science, Mathematics, Physics
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Four faculties, 18 academic schools, three colleges: United College, St Mary’s College and St Leonard’s College.
Research:
Arts, divinity, medicine and sciences, across 18 academic schools.
Famous Alumnis:
James Wilson, John Napier, John Knox, Edward Jenner, James Black, Alex Salmond, Chris Hoy, William and Catherine
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
3255
Current students***:
11645
Foreign students***:
47%
Cumulative former students***:
N/A
Pros
Oldest university in Scotland, founded in 1413, small town setting, about 45 percent of intake from outside the UK, famous alumni.
Cons
Small town far from large cities, high cost of housing, competitive admission.
Best For
Students who want a historic small-town university with an international community.
Official Linkedin
Official Facebook
Official X / Twitter
Linkedin Alumni Page
Most Similar Schools Locally
Durham University works in much the same fields, chiefly astroscience, chemistry and physics, and it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and covers AI and machine learning and engineering as well.
Among national alternatives, University of Cambridge stands out for its focus on chemistry, physics and mathematics, and it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
A good alternative in the same country is Royal Holloway, University of London, which likewise covers marine science, physics and mathematics; it covers AI and machine learning and software engineering as well, and has almost the same size, at about 11,500 students.
University of Oxford overlaps with this university on chemistry, physics and mathematics, so the two are easy to compare, and it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and covers AI and machine learning and software engineering as well.
Anyone who wants a second school in the same country with a similar spread of mathematics and data analytics can consider London School of Economics and Political Science, and it runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, and covers finance and logistics as well.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Beyond national borders, University of Otago stands out as a comparable school for marine science, chemistry and physics; it also offers mba programmes and covers finance and food science as well.
Australian National University, in Australia, takes a similar route through astroscience, chemistry and physics; it covers finance and statistics as well, and is slightly larger, at about 17,380 students against roughly 11,645 here.
A foreign alternative with a similar emphasis on chemistry, physics and mathematics is Brandeis University in the United States, and it is private, whereas this institution is public, and also offers mba programmes.
University of Cape Town in South Africa pursues a similar profile in astroscience, chemistry and physics, and it is also a public institution and also offers mba programmes.
Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel pursues a similar profile in chemistry, physics and mathematics, and it is larger, enrolling about 23,000 students against roughly 11,645 here, and is also a public institution.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Where is the University of St Andrews?
In St Andrews, Fife, Scotland.
When was it founded?
In 1413, by papal bulls issued by the Avignon Antipope Benedict XIII.
Is it the oldest university in Scotland?
Yes.
How many students does it have?
11,645 in 2024 to 2025.
What share of the intake comes from outside the UK?
About 45 percent.
How many faculties does it have?
Four: Arts, Divinity, Medicine and Science.
How many academic schools does it have?
18.
Which colleges belong to it?
United College, St Mary's College and St Leonard's College.
Which scientist who discovered logarithms studied there?
John Napier.
What does it cost?
Fees depend on the residence and the programme. Check the current tariff.
Astrophysics, Chemistry, Innovation, Physics, Research and Development
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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