University of St Andrews

Located on the dramatic east coast of Scotland, St Andrews is Scotland’s oldest university and an internationally famous institution, delivering world-class higher education for hundreds of years. 

It was established in the 15th century as a centre of learning for Scotland and became a home to other colleges and schools over the years. From the 1980s the university underwent significant investment, allowing it to grow into the global, research-focused institution it is today. 

Students at St Andrews will graduate with an internationally valued postgraduate degree. The university was rated 4th in the UK according to the Complete University Guide 2024 rankings. 

Aside from its academic prestige and rich history, students at St Andrews will be able to benefit from the university’s remote location on the coasts of Fife. The tranquility of this medieval town is suited to scholarly activity, and students can often be seen crossing championship level golf courses on their way to class or relaxing on the beach afterwards. 

The town itself is home to a wealth of historic buildings and religious sites, as well as a range of pubs, restaurants and cafes serving everything from local ale to award-winning meals. 

St Andrews has a vibrant student community with more than 140 student societies and over 50 different sports clubs, as well as regular events delivered through its students’ association. 

Many famous alumni have passed through the university’s doors, including Prince William and Kate Middleton who began their relationship while at the university. Many prominent Scottish politicians, scientists and actors also got their education at St Andrews. 

St Andrews offers a variety of study options at postgraduate level, helping a wide range of students to study towards an internationally sought-after qualification. 

Students choosing St Andrews can select from a variety of taught courses, such as MLitt and MSc programmes, as well as a wide range of research courses including MPhil, PhD, DLang, MSc (Res) options and more. 

The university also offers some distance learning postgraduate options, allowing students to complete a degree programme at St Andrews without being physically present on campus.  

It also maintains a number of collaborative programmes that are delivered in partnership with other institutions around Europe. These unique degrees combine the best of each university’s expertise and allow students to study across the continent. 

St Andrews is home to professors and lecturers who are leaders in their field, contributing to the university’s high rankings across the UK and the world. Its teaching staff is made up of active researchers, authors, high-level consultants and think-tank founders, allowing students to learn at the cutting edge of their subject area.  

Admission to a postgraduate course at the University of St Andrews is subject to entry requirements, which may differ depending on the course being applied to. 

For a taught master’s course students will typically need to demonstrate achievement of a 2.1 or higher degree with honours, from a UK institution or overseas equivalent. GMAT and GRE scores are not required. 

For example, applicants for the MSc in Mathematics will need a 2:1 undergraduate honours degree in mathematics or a similar area, such as statistics. 

Applicants for the MLitt in Creative Writing will need a 2:1 undergraduate honours degree in any subject, though relevant subjects like English literature are preferred. Applicants with evidence of outstanding writing skills such as publications or professional qualifications may also be able to qualify. 

For a research programme at the university, students will need to demonstrate achievement of a good master’s degree or a bachelor’s with a 2:1 mark, depending on the faculty being applied to. 

A medical qualification accredited by the UK General Medical Council is required for the degree of medicine (MD). 

Entry requirements may vary so applicants should check with the university for the latest information before applying. 

St Andrews offers its students flexible access to various modules and courses through a unique Professional Skills Curriculum, which focuses on developing key professional skills that are valued by employers. Areas like communication, management and organisational skills are some of the focus areas identified by the university and its industry partners.  

The university’s structuring into faculties and schools allows students to learn in a focused and specialised academic environment, while being involved in research activity at the forefront of their fields. As a result, postgraduate programmes at St Andrews are suited to students looking to kick-start an academic or professional career. 

The university’s Careers Centre is available year-round and provides personalised support through careers advisors, along with a busy calendar of careers-focused events. These include networking events, employer presentations and careers fairs, allowing students to make connections and secure employment opportunities before they graduate. Frequent workshops allow students to drop in and enhance their skills or learn more about further study options and industry sectors. 

St Andrews CareerConnect service offers students a direct avenue for applying to graduate roles, internships and part time work opportunities, and helps hundreds of students find success at St Andrews students each year.  

Accommodation

St Andrews offers its students a wide range of accommodation options to choose from, including 4,000 places in the university’s own halls of residence. Postgraduate students will be able to choose from a number of postgraduate-specific halls after they have accepted their study offer. They’ll be able to register their preferred living location, but as halls are popular this choice can’t be guaranteed. 

Students will be able to choose from self-catered or catered rooms including ones with shared bathrooms, en-suite rooms or studio apartments, depending on their preferences and budget.  

There are also plenty of private accommodation options to choose from in the surrounding town. St Andrews is a famous university town, located on the picturesque east coast of Scotland, renowned also for its rich religious and cultural heritage going back hundreds of years. Coastal walks, pubs, restaurants and a multitude of championship golf courses provide the perfect backdrop to a postgraduate degree.  

Private rentals offering individual or shared living arrangements are available across the town. The university runs Studentpad, a search engine dedicated to student accommodation, as well as personalised accommodation and renting advice from the students’ association. 

St Andrews appreciates the importance of higher studies and their value as an investment into a student’s future. As a result, it has developed and maintains a wide range of scholarships and bursaries to help students access postgraduate education, whatever their financial circumstances. 

Many of these scholarships and bursaries are designed to recognise academic achievement and potential, particularly in cases where postgraduate students are met with personal financial barriers. 

These awards may be subject to other eligibility criteria related to students’ area of study and fee status. 

The university offers a number of scholarships and bursaries with broad eligibility criteria, such as: 

Accommodation Award – a means-assessed award to discount accommodation for new postgraduate students 

Recent graduate discount – a 10% tuition fee discount for graduates of St Andrews within the last three years 

Postgraduate Taught Access Scholarship – a means-assessed scholarship of £5,000 per academic year for new postgraduate students 

Subject specific awards are also available, such as: 

MSc Statistical Ecology Scholarship – tuition fee waivers for successful applicants to this course, based on various criteria 

School of Economics and Finance MSc Funding – two £5,000 awards for successful applicants to this course