Is the University of St Andrews Right for You?

It’s university application season, and my love for and loyalty to my university knows no bounds. If you’re wondering if the University of St Andrews is right for you, check out my guide below!

The University of St Andrews is right for you if:

• You want to be academically challenged, but you value a healthy work-life balance and want to do more than study throughout the week. A top-rated university in a laid-back seaside town, St Andrews draws a unique kind of student: intelligent and driven but without a desire for the stress and competition that many associate with Oxbridge or Ivy League colleges. This may be because St Andrews consistently ranks alongside (or above) Oxbridge in the league tables, but usually garners a higher student satisfaction rate.

• You thrive on extracurriculars and want to be around people who feel the same. Similar to the above, St Andrews attracts students who are driven academically, but whose ambitions extend beyond academics. It is not uncommon for a St Andrews student to be involved in several societies, clubs, and sports teams, or to hold positions on more than one committee.

• You love small town living. The town of St Andrews comprises three main streets and a population of just over 18,500, with the student population accounting for around 10,000. This means that while you certainly won’t know everyone in St Andrews, you will recognise most of the people you bump into at Tesco. It’s not uncommon to run into at least three of your friends (not counting those you share classes with) before lunch.

• You love the sea, or nature in general. St Andrews sits on the North Sea and boasts three separate beaches, each with their own unique qualities. A midday walk along the beach is just the thing for stretching your legs or calming your nerves exam season. Likewise, the town is surrounded by fields in most directions, so if the sea doesn’t cure what ails you, a long walk in the countryside will. And, when you feel in need of a city break, Edinburgh is easily reached in about an hour by train.

• You want a gorgeous campus with a mix of town and gown. The University of St Andrews dates back to 1413, while the town itself features architecture from the 12th century. Combine the historic architecture with quaint small-town details and seaside views and you have a picture-perfect campus right out of a movie. And, because it's built around the town, you’re not isolated from the non-collegiate world.

• You don’t need nightclubs to have fun. St Andrews has exactly one makeshift nightclub and it’s the Students’ Union, so… really, no nightclubs. But that doesn’t mean St Andrews students don’t have fun—they make up with the lack of clubbing with house parties, pub meet-ups, balls, and society events. If you do miss the club scene, Dundee is only a bus ride away. Conversely, if you don’t drink, so much the better. It's entirely possible to attend any event sober.

• You know what you want to study, but you still want to be academically well-rounded. When choosing where to apply for university, it was important to me that I could jump, more or less, straight into my degree -- I was tired of studying subjects I knew I would never use and had no intention of paying for the privilege. At the same time, I wanted to allow for learning outside of my comfort-zone. I found Scotland's system, which has you choose three modules, or courses, for your first two years of university, to be a perfect middle-ground.

• You don’t mind crossing paths with royals and the uber-rich. Okay, the rumour is true: St Andrews is really posh. As in, I once saw a student arrive by helicopter, and I've been rerouted on my way to class to allow for filming of The Crown. That said, all types attend St Andrews, so you're sure to find your perfect group of friends. Just maybe take St Andrews off your list if you’re tired of seeing people in flat caps and Barbour.

• (For Americans) You’re not interested in American college experience. If you have no interest in American football games, Greek life, frat parties, and red solo cups, you won’t miss out on anything by going to St Andrews. Instead, you might attend horse races and balls, make friends with your academic family members, take part in ancient traditions, and spend your night out on a pub crawl.

• You’ve always wanted to take part in old traditions. If you’re the kind of person who revels in cultish academic traditions (read: if you kind of wanted to join Gilmore Girls' Life and Death Brigade), St Andrews is the place to release your inner dark academic, just as long as you don’t murder anyone. St Andrews students take part in a number of traditions every year, including the Sunday Pier Walk, Raisin Weekend, Gaudie, and May Dip, often resplendent in the signature red gowns of the university.

• You’re a history buff. St Andrews has no shortage of history, from concealing the relics of Saint Andrew the Apostle in the 730s (these were later relocated to Edinburgh, but the cathedral where they were kept still stands; the town was later renamed to reflect this history) and housing the ruins of St Andrews Castle, to the creation of the university and the maintenance of the Old Course, the oldest golf course still in operation today.

• You love golf. If you happen to love hitting the fairways, there is no better place to practice than at the Home of Golf itself. You can join the university team, earn some spending money as a caddie, or simply try your luck at the Golf Academy, which can be a lot of fun, regardless of ability.

• You enjoy spotting celebrities. If you don’t like golf, you may still enjoy spotting the celebrities who flock to St Andrews to take on the famous Links. The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is typically a great opportunity for stalking the local pubs for a glimpse of Harry Styles. You might even gain a hilarious new party story featuring the time you met Bill Murray.

• You don’t mind cold weather and early nights. One inescapable fact: Scotland is cold. This should be no surprise, as it’s on the same latitude as parts of Alaska. While St Andrews doesn’t get nearly as much snow thanks to its proximity to the sea, you’ll still need to acquire a hat and gloves for the winter months. And another thing: the sun sets at 3:30pm in December (also like Alaska, Scotland makes up for this with long days in the summer and occasional glimpses of the Northern Lights in the colder months).

• You want to go to a top-rated university. St Andrews has claimed first place in several league tables for the past four years, claiming a historic double first in 2023, beating Oxford and Cambridge in both major league tables, The Times and The Guardian, for the first time.

• (For Americans) You want to go to a top-rated university you can afford. Listen, I’m not saying that St Andrews is cheap by any means, but I am saying that compared to American universities of the same stature, it is a LOT cheaper. I will never forget the time I received a scholarship from an American university that was worth more than a year of tuition at St Andrews, and counting tuition, plane tickets, and living expenses, St Andrews still cost less.

• You love being surrounded by people from other cultures. St Andrews is extremely international, with students from over 130 countries. If you happen to be American, you certainly won’t be alone, as Americans make up at least 16 per cent of the overall student population, more than any other British higher education institution. This comes in handy for practical reasons, such as staff knowing how to translate your SAT scores and answer visa queries, as well as stave off any homesickness. That said, you’ll also have the opportunity to associate with people from all over the world (and you should absolutely take it!). Those who do leave with a worldwide network of friends and connections.

If you're still not sure if the University of St Andrews is right for you, feel free to reach out to chat!