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The complete student guide to St Andrews

9 min read·Last updated: 13 July 2026

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SW
Curated and written by

Sacha Wylie

AFS Content Creator

9 min read

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Why study in St Andrews

  1. Rich in History

    You can visit the St Andrews Museum for £12.50, explore the ruins of the famous Castle (£10) or admire the old cathedral. Alternatively, you could take a stroll along the pier to get a view back of the town, or climb St Rule’s Tower if you’ve got a head for heights. Following the coastal path, you might also spot the Martyrs’ Monument, or catch a glimpse of ‘Witch Lake’ where witchcraft trials are believed to have been held.

  2. Well-respected University

    St Andrews is home to Scotland’s oldest university, founded in 1413. It has a widely prestigious reputation, making it notoriously difficult to get into, but severely respected. It’s frequently ranked amongst the top three universities in the UK (usually ranking 1st in Scotland) and is also the institution of choice for a lot of royals when they choose to pursue education. In Britain, it is famous for being the place where Prince William met Kate Middleton.

  3. Small Town and University

    Whilst a tourist spot, the area remains quite small with its town status. Here, you may struggle to find large shopping brands but instead you’ll discover gems in boutiques and independent stores. The university itself is also quite small with class sizes being lower than average – allowing students to make the most out of support provided to them (St Andrews consistently ranks highly on student satisfaction), and meaning that everyone on campus knows everyone.

  4. Specialty Degrees

    The University of St Andrews is internationally renowned for both its academic excellence and research achievements. It is particularly recognised for its strengths in Arts and Humanities subjects, including International Relations, History, English, and Classics. The university also excels in the sciences, with highly regarded programmes in Physics, Marine Biology, and Earth Sciences. These areas of expertise contribute to St Andrews’ reputation as a world-leading institution, known for producing influential research and maintaining exceptionally high academic standards.

Key facts about St Andrews

Student life in St Andrews

St Andrews is not well-known for its student nightlife and is definitely more of a chill pub night rather than a crazy clubbing kind of place. Indeed, there is not a single ‘official’ nightclub in the whole town. That being said, there are plenty of cosy bars and pubs to choose from. You could visit The Rule, where most vodka, whiskey, cider and gin-based drinks cost under £4, or The Old Vic which serves a wide variety of cocktails and shots, as well as non-alcoholic drinks, ranging from £4-£9.50. The Old Vic is very popularwith students and also hosts live music until 3 a.m. every Friday and Saturday, making it the closest thing to a nightclub.   The Keys Bar is another popular choice, with a huge variety of drinks, as well as live sport, and darts and dominoes nights if you’re looking for something fun to do with your friends.   The Student Union itself also hosts a variety of events throughout the semester, including disco nights, karaoke and various balls.  If you are looking for a wild night out, Dundee is just a short drive away and has a much wider selection of pubs and nightclubs. Students can also make use of the free Stagecoach late evening service between the two by showing their University ID card.  Topping & Co is an absolute must-visit if you’re bookish. Reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast’s, floor-to-ceiling bookcases and sliding ladders, you really could get lost in it for hours. You can even get complimentary tea and coffee whilst you browse!  Among St Andrew’s best attractions are its two gorgeous beaches: West Sands (around 2 miles long) and East Sands (approximately 700 metres long). These are great spots to walk or run along, or hang out with friends after a long day of studying. Admittedly they can be quite cold and windy, so make sure to bring a cosy jumper!  No guide about St Andrews is complete without mentioning Jannettas Gelateria which arguably serves THE BEST gelato in the UK, and offers a wide range of seasonal flavours, including Irn Bu, mince pie and tablet! Although it’s not the cheapest, it’s a perfect treat for getting through a tough week of studying or finishing your exams. More budget-friendly is The Rule, which can be found on South Street, and offers a wide variety of main meals for just £6 from Tuesday to Friday. The Keys Bar also offers a lunch deal of a pint of Tennents with a toastie for £7.95 from Monday to Thursday.  If you’re looking for somewhere cute to grab a coffee or meet a friend for brunch, Northpoint Café is a great choice, with its delicious range of soups, sandwiches and cakes. It can fill up pretty quickly though, so make sure you go early or get a takeaway instead. A good lunch option is Munch, which offers filled rolls and baguettes for £3.50 and paninis for £5.50. If you’re feeling particularly hungry, you could even get a burger for just £4.50! CombiniCo is another great choice if you’re looking for something a bit more sophisticated, with its wide selection of Korean and Japanese foods. Since it was founded by former St Andrews students, it’s also very reasonably priced. The University itself has lots of cafés to choose from, including Rector’s Café, and Franki’s Café which are cheaper than most places in town and great for day-to-day use when you’re on campus. You can also grab coffee from The Old Union Coffee Shop which is right next to St Salvator’s Chapel. 

Getting around St Andrews

St Andrews is also located in a slightly awkward spot, and does not have a train station (the nearest one being Leuchars, which is five miles away). This can make it difficult to get to and from the town unless you have a car, and means you’re dependent on buses. 

Buses

Buses are the main form of transport in St Andrews, The University of St Andrews is served by local Stagecoach routes (like the 99, 90A/B/C, and 95) and a free late-night bus helping students home from a night out. Students can get a 75% Stagecoach discount, while those under 22 ride for free through the Scotland-wide NEC scheme.

Walking

The centre of St Andrews is highly walkable with most shops etc. Within a reasonable distance. It depends where you choose to live (if on campus then you won’t have far to walk) but if you live elsewhere you may need to consider other forms of transport to get to class. 

Trains

The nearest train station is Leuchars, which is five miles from St Andrews centre.

Life after uni

Students graduating from St Andrews tend to do very well in terms of finding a job after leaving university due to the high status of the university itself.  

Here are some key facts about employment prospects in St Andrews: 

  • High rates of employment

    The university says that around 94–95% of graduates are either employed or in further study within 15 months of graduation, reflecting strong graduate outcomes compared with national averages.

  • Strong in tech and finance

    Over 40% of employed graduates from St Andrews enter the finance or technology sectors, with major employers including JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Google, Amazon, and Bloomberg. The university also reports that graduates are also well represented in co

  • Excellent reputation

    St Andrews ranks among the UK’s leading universities for student participation in internships, vacation work, and work placements, helping students gain practical experience before graduating.
SW
Curated and written by

Sacha Wylie

AFS Content Creator

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