The University of St Andrews is Scotland’s first university and the third oldest in the English-speaking world. Teaching began in the community of St Andrews in 1410, and the University was formally constituted by papal bull in 1413. Its long history has given it a distinctive academic identity shaped by centuries of scholarship, tradition, and international prestige.
The University of St Andrews has one of the most distinguished alumni traditions in the United Kingdom, with former students and associates spanning politics, literature, philosophy, science, and public life. Its historic reputation and global influence are closely connected to the many prominent figures associated with the University over the centuries.
St Andrews is especially well known for international relations, history, economics, English, philosophy, mathematics, computer science, physics, and theology. It combines outstanding strength in the arts, humanities, and social sciences with a respected profile in the sciences, making it one of the UK’s most academically balanced universities.
The University of St Andrews is organised into four faculties: Arts, Divinity, Medicine, and Science. This structure reflects the University’s historic foundations while supporting a wide range of modern undergraduate and postgraduate study options.
One of St Andrews’ defining features is the way it combines ancient university traditions with a close-knit academic community in a small coastal town. The University is known for its strong sense of community, memorable traditions, and highly personalised student experience. Compared with large urban universities, St Andrews stands out for its intimate environment and distinctive collegiate atmosphere.
Undergraduate admission to St Andrews is highly competitive. The University states that most applicants are well qualified, and decisions on who receives offers are often determined by the quality of the personal statement as well as the full strength of the application. Admissions are holistic and may take into account academic achievement, personal statements, references, and any contextual or personal circumstances that may have affected education.
The University of St Andrews is a historic, globally respected university with exceptional academic reputation, strong traditions, and a distinctive student experience. It is especially attractive to students seeking academic excellence, close community, and the prestige of studying at one of the oldest universities in the English-speaking world.
We offer places to the students who meet our academic requirements and are deemed to have the most potential to benefit from their course and contribute to academic life at the University.
Your grades – both already gained and predicted – are the first area of consideration, and you should be aware of the entry requirements before you apply. You can find information about any specific subject pre-requisites on the individual course pages.
For more information, please refer to academic entry explained.
Specially trained staff at the University will review your application and consider the following areas:
The grades and qualifications that you have already achieved, or are predicted to achieve.
The context in which your qualifications have been or will be achieved - this could include your location, whether any resit exams were taken, and any extenuating factors. Home Funded and Rest of the UK (RUK) fee status applicants may refer to our use of contextual data information for further details.
Your personal statement.
Your academic reference.
Performance at interview (for Medicine, Gateway and Pathway programmes).
Relevant work or other experience, where appropriate.
English language ability, where appropriate.
