St Andrews University Review

As year 12s begin the rather arduous task of the UCAS process, I thought I’d share my reflections from a university open day at the University of St Andrews. I should add that I attended back in October, so my memory may not be the sharpest… Like my approach at University of Edinburgh, I kept my options open and explored a wide range of talks and events: History, International Relations, tours of the Music Centre and visits to accommodation: Agnes Blackadder Hall & McIntosh Hall.

To set the scene: for those unfamiliar with St Andrews, this costal town sits on Scotland’s east coast above the river Forth, opposite Edinburgh. In terms of transport, there are several options: public buses into Edinburgh, driving (a considerable trek from Suffolk) or catching the train from nearby Leuchars (might be familiar to those of you studying A level maths). The small, close knit community reminds me a lot of Suffolk’s coastal towns like Southwold and Aldeburgh, so there’s a definite sense of familiarity that some might fina therefore a sense of familiarity may be appealing.

Accommodation is always one of my favourite parts of an open day. It’s the moment when you can really picture yourself living there, room decorated to your own personality. I began with a tour of McIntosh Hall, right in the centre of town. McIntosh is a catered hall with shared bathrooms (not my preference) and the meal times displayed on the walls were slightly concerning. Breakfast and dinner seemed very early, with one student admitting many people wake up for breakfast only to return straight to bed. Still, as with everything, there’s always a workaround. The location was ideal, and I got the sense that it’s a very popular hall, so competition for places might be steep.It was obvious they wanted to impress us by showing one of the nicest rooms available: large, airy, and boasting an incredible view of the sea and the world-famous golf courses. It looked like paradise; bringing me on to the weather.

Despite visiting St Andrews several times and always (miraculously) catching bright and sunny days, the average weather is… not quite so idyllic. Luckily, we’re used to dreary skies here at school, so it wouldn’t be too much of a shock. Even during the spitting rain that afternoon, the scenery still held its charm.

Next was Agnes Blackadder. At first glance, the exterior is not the most inspiring (especially to someone interested in architecture), but the interiors were far more inviting, with a warm, homely atmosphere throughout the extensive building. This hall offers both catered and self-catered en-suite rooms, which suited my preferences much better. Its main drawback is the location: ideal for sports facilities and science buildings, but a longer walk from the town centre and main lecture areas.

When it came to subject talks, the university truly lived up to its reputation. In International Relations, St Andrews ranks top in the UK across the major league tables. The session highlighted the flexibility of dual honours programmes. For example, ‘International Relations and History’ is a 50/50 split, whereas ‘International Relations with History’ prioritises IR with fewer History modules. The History talk also emphasised unusual and exciting subject combinations, and once again St Andrews ranks first in the UK for this discipline. You can choose from a wide range of modules and decide whether to focus on Ancient, Medieval, or Modern History. Personally, Modern would be my choice, spanning everything from the Tudors to the present day. Unsurprisingly, there was a strong emphasis on Scottish and American history, reflecting both the university’s location and significant student demographics.

If you read my review of Edinburgh, you’ll know I was slightly underwhelmed by their music facilities. St Andrews, however, was the complete opposite. I’d never thought of it as a musically focused institution, but the modern, state of the art Music Centre suggests otherwise. I genuinely loved the building: its layout even reminded me slightly of our own music school.

St Andrews is also famously popular with American students. I’ll let you decide whether that’s an advantage or not… but they were certainly enthusiastic and extroverted during the tours. This leads neatly to the golfing facilities: one of the major attractions for many Americans and plenty of others. I’m far from a golfer, so I won’t pretend to understand the terminology, but even I could appreciate that this must be one of the most picturesque places in the world to play a round. And for beginners like me, I would highly recommend the putting green, which provided great entertainment for my family.

Finally, there are the royal connections. For those who don’t know, this is where Prince William met Catherine Middleton. Reportedly at a fashion show, though their first meeting was actually in the Northpoint Cafe at the end of North Street. By total coincidence, my family and I stopped there for coffee without realising its cultural significance. So, could you meet your future soulmate, or even a prince?

For me, St Andrews felt like an option that would keep me comfortably in my familiar zone: a tight-knit community similar to RHS, with a reassuring atmosphere. But if you want a more bustling, urban, and contrasting experience, this might not be the university for you. It’s not in a city and can feel somewhat isolated. While its facilities and teaching are exceptional, for a quick reality check: the entry requirements are high, and its growing popularity continues to make applications increasingly competitive. Despite this, even if you’re not considering studying there, I’d still strongly recommend a day trip if you’re ever in Scotland. It’s a beautiful place to explore and fantasise a calm coastal lifestyle, maybe even with a prince?