University of St Andrews is ranked 4th in the UK by the Complete University Guide 2027, and it made offers to about four in ten undergraduate applicants for 2025/26 entry. It is Scotland’s oldest university. Most degrees ask for AAA or AAB at A level, and international undergraduate fees for 2026/27 are £33,250 a year.
- Location
- St Andrews, a coastal town in Scotland
- Type
- a research university, founded in 1413. Not a Russell Group member
- Ranking
- 4th of 130 in the UK (Complete University Guide 2027)
- Typical offer
- AAA for Economics and Computer Science, AAB for Psychology
- IELTS
- 7.0 overall with 6.5 in each element for Arts and Divinity, 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each for Science
- International fee
- £33,250 a year for 2026/27, £39,620 for Medicine
- Offer rate
- 9,543 offers from 22,205 applications for 2025/26 entry, about four in ten
Reviewed by Dr Elizabeth Adey for 2027 entry · Uni Direct team, 2026
Source: Complete University Guide 2027, St Andrews’ own undergraduate application statistics and its tuition fees page, read 5 October 2026.
- LocationSt Andrews, a coastal town in Scotland
- Typea research university, founded in 1413. Not a Russell Group member
- Ranking4th of 130 in the UK (Complete University Guide 2027)
- Typical offerAAA for Economics and Computer Science, AAB for Psychology
- IELTS7.0 overall with 6.5 in each element for Arts and Divinity, 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each for Science
- International fee£33,250 a year for 2026/27, £39,620 for Medicine
- Offer rate9,543 offers from 22,205 applications for 2025/26 entry, about four in ten
Where is the University of St Andrews, and what is it like?
St Andrews is a small coastal town in Scotland, and the university’s halls and teaching buildings are part of the town. The Complete University Guide places it in its 10,001 to 15,000 band, and the university counts 10,356 students for 2024/25, of whom 8,381 are undergraduates.
About 37% of students are international, and the university reports more than 120 countries among its students in 2024/25. Its halls include University Hall, John Burnet Hall, Whitehorn Hall and Agnes Blackadder Hall.
If you want a small town where the university is the centre of student life. St Andrews suits you very well. If you want a large city on your doorstep. You may find it too quiet. St Andrews is not in Edinburgh, so check the journey before you commit.
Is the University of St Andrews a good university?
Yes. The Complete University Guide 2027 ranks St Andrews 4th of 130 UK universities. Students rate it 3rd for satisfaction at 3.32 out of 4, and its graduate outcomes score of 87.8 out of 100 is 5th in the table.
Its entrants average 206 UCAS points, 2nd in the country, and 24 of its subjects are in the UK top ten. Research quality is its lowest column at 25th. Teaching began in 1410, and a papal bull formally constituted the university in 1413, which makes it Scotland’s oldest.
| Measure | St Andrews | Table |
|---|---|---|
| Overall UK ranking | 4th of 130 | Complete University Guide 2027 |
| Entry standards | 206 UCAS points, 2nd | Complete University Guide 2027 |
| Student satisfaction | 3.32 of 4, 3rd | Complete University Guide 2027 |
| Graduate prospects, outcomes | 87.8 of 100, 5th | Complete University Guide 2027 |
| Research quality | 25th | Complete University Guide 2027 |
Source: Complete University Guide 2027 profile and the university’s facts and figures page, read 5 October 2026.
Those entry standards mean St Andrews is asking for top grades. If your predicted grades are below AAA, look at Edinburgh or Durham beside it.
The whole field is in our guide to the best UK universities, and studying in Scotland covers the setting.
University of St Andrews entry requirements
St Andrews sets a standard offer and a lower minimum offer for each course, and the minimum is for applicants who meet its widening access criteria. For most international applicants the standard offer applies, and it is AAA on most courses, or 38 points in the International Baccalaureate.
Standard entry requirements for September 2027
A level
International Baccalaureate
IELTS
Source: University of St Andrews course pages for Economics, Psychology and Computer Science, read 5 October 2026.
None of the three asks for previous study of the subject. Economics and Psychology both say no previous experience is required, and Computer Science asks for Mathematics rather than computing.
English language scores depend on your faculty. For direct entry, Arts and Divinity, except the School of English, ask for IELTS 7.0 overall with 6.5 in each element, and Science asks for 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each. Medicine has a profile of its own. Our guide to studying in the UK without IELTS covers the other routes.
Most applicants are not interviewed. Medicine, the supported pathway programmes and part-time study are the exceptions. Applicants who meet the equal consideration deadline receive a decision by May.
Courses the University of St Andrews is best known for
St Andrews is strongest across the sciences and the humanities. The Complete University Guide 2027 places 24 of its subjects in the UK top ten, including Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy, Chemistry, Computer Science, Psychology, English and History of Art.
The Business School draws the most overseas applications, 2,138 for 2025/26 entry, and International Relations draws 1,081.
St Andrews does not teach Law. If that is your plan, our guide to the best law universities in the UK sets out where to look instead.
University of St Andrews acceptance rate
About four in ten undergraduate applications to St Andrews receive an offer. For 2025/26 entry, St Andrews received 22,205 applications and made 9,543 offers. Overseas applicants did better, with 5,898 offers from 9,345 applications, about six in ten.
The rate changes a great deal by subject, so the figure to look at is the one for your own school.
| School | Applications | Offers | Offer rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics and Statistics | 405 | 321 | 79% |
| English | 377 | 285 | 76% |
| History | 392 | 291 | 74% |
| Psychology and Neuroscience | 909 | 606 | 67% |
| Computer Science | 574 | 379 | 66% |
| International Relations | 1,081 | 664 | 61% |
| Business School | 2,138 | 1,088 | 51% |
| Medicine | 480 | 157 | 33% |
Source: St Andrews’ own undergraduate application statistics for 2022/23 to 2025/26 entry, read 5 September 2026. Counts are full-time equivalents, rounded.
For the overseas A100 course, the School of Medicine’s admissions data page reports 303 applications, 123 interviews, 105 offers and 33 entrants for 2025/26 entry. The lowest UCAT score selected for interview on that course for 2026 entry was 1710, and the school warns that the 2025 changes to the test make older scores impossible to compare. The A100 course page says students who are overseas for fee purposes complete their training at the University of Manchester, its partner medical school for international students.
How much does the University of St Andrews cost?
International undergraduate tuition at St Andrews is £33,250 a year for Arts, Divinity or Science in 2026/27, and £39,620 for Medicine. The university raises fees each year, usually by 3% to 5%, so expect a different figure for 2027 entry.
| Cost | Figure |
|---|---|
| Tuition, Arts, Divinity and Science (2026/27) | £33,250 a year |
| Tuition, Medicine (2026/27) | £39,620 a year |
| Self-catered hall contract | £6,246 to £11,598 |
| Catered hall contract | £8,709 to £12,976 |
| Living expenses for 38 weeks, university estimate | £3,800 |
| Money to show for your visa | £1,171 a month for up to nine months |
| Immigration health surcharge | £776 a year |
| Student visa application from outside the UK | £558 |
Source: University of St Andrews tuition fees, its undergraduate accommodation fees, which do not state the year, and its cost of attendance page for 2026/27, read 5 October 2026. GOV.UK for the visa figures, read 5 October 2026.
Most hall contracts run for 34 or 38 weeks, and the price covers utilities, internet, contents insurance and the hall committee subscription. The lowest is a single room at Gannochy House on a 34 week contract, and the highest catered room is a single room at Whitehorn Hall on a 38 week contract. The university’s rental cost review says rents rise by 5% for 2026/27.
You can set these figures beside other cities in our guides to the cost of living for international students and the cheapest universities in the UK.
The visa figures come from GOV.UK, which is the only authority on the Student visa rules. We work with partners where an application needs professional handling. Our student visa guide sets out the published steps.
University of St Andrews scholarships for international students
St Andrews offers two awards to overseas students entering the first year in 2027, and both are based on financial need. The International Undergraduate Scholarship is a tuition fee reduction for each year of your degree, and its value will be confirmed by December 2026.
The International Accommodation Award is worth £1,900 a year towards accommodation for the full length of your course. Both close on Wednesday 27 January 2027.
The university also says scholarships based on academic merit and financial need can cover part or all of tuition and living costs. Its fees team can tell you what applies to your country.
Source: University of St Andrews International Undergraduate Scholarship and Accommodation Award pages, read 5 October 2026.
How does the four-year degree at St Andrews work?
Most St Andrews degrees take four years, and you do not have to commit to one subject at the start. In first year you study three subjects each semester. In second year you can change up to two of them, and science students take two subjects rather than three.
Honours study begins in third year, when you decide your final degree with your Advisor of Studies. A single honours degree can be in any subject you studied at both first and second year level. An Honours degree needs 480 credits, against 360 for a General degree.
Source: University of St Andrews flexible degree structure, read 5 October 2026.
How do I apply to the University of St Andrews?
Choose how to apply
You can apply through UCAS, the Common Application or a direct application.
Count your choices
An overseas applicant has up to five UK choices in total.
Meet the deadline
Apply by the equal consideration deadline to receive a decision by May.
Help with your St Andrews application
We can help you with your application to St Andrews, from choosing your courses to writing your personal statement and meeting your deadline. If you are not sure yet whether St Andrews is right for you, we can talk it through with you first.
Students tell us the quick replies made the biggest difference.
St Andrews is the university I would suggest to a student with top predicted grades who wants a small town and the freedom of the Scottish four-year degree. It asks for AAA on most courses and makes offers to about four in ten applicants, and to about six in ten overseas applicants, so a strong application is realistic. The fee is £33,250 and the scholarships depend on financial need, so work out the whole cost before you apply. If your grades are below AAA, apply to St Andrews as one choice among several.
Frequently asked questions about the University of St Andrews
Is the University of St Andrews hard to get into?
It asks for AAA on most courses, and its entrants average 206 UCAS points. About four in ten undergraduate applications received an offer for 2025/26 entry, and about six in ten from overseas applicants. Medicine is far harder, with 157 offers from 480 overseas applications.
Is the University of St Andrews in the Russell Group?
No. St Andrews is not a member of the Russell Group, and it does not appear on our list of the 24 members. You can read how the two groups compare on our page about Russell Group and non Russell Group universities.
How old is the University of St Andrews?
Teaching began in 1410, and the university was formally constituted by a papal bull in 1413. The university describes itself as Scotland’s oldest university and the third oldest in the English-speaking world. That makes it more than 600 years old.
How many students are at the University of St Andrews?
The university counts 10,356 students for 2024/25, of whom 8,381 are undergraduates. The Complete University Guide records 37% as international, and the university reports more than 120 countries among its students. That places it in the Complete University Guide’s 10,001 to 15,000 band, smaller than many UK universities.
Does the University of St Andrews offer law?
No. St Andrews does not list Law among its undergraduate subjects. It does teach International Relations, Economics and Management, and International Relations drew 1,081 overseas applications for 2025/26 entry. Our guide to the best law universities in the UK covers where to study it instead.
Is the University of St Andrews in Edinburgh?
No. St Andrews is a separate coastal town in Scotland, and the University of St Andrews is a different university from the University of Edinburgh. An application to one is not an application to the other, so check the university named on any offer before you accept it.
What IELTS score do you need for the University of St Andrews?
For direct entry, Arts and Divinity ask for 7.0 overall with 6.5 in each element, and Science asks for 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each. The School of English and the Faculty of Medicine each have a separate profile. Check your own course page for the profile that applies to you.
Is the University of St Andrews the best university in the UK?
The Complete University Guide 2027 ranks it 4th of 130, with the 2nd highest entry standards and 3rd for student satisfaction. Research quality is its lowest column, at 25th. A ranking depends on the table, so compare the same table for every university you consider.
The next step
Tell us your grades and the St Andrews courses you are considering, and we will tell you where you stand.
If St Andrews is on your list, send us your grades and the courses you are considering. We will tell you how your profile compares with St Andrews’ requirements and which courses give you the best chance. Our guide on how to study in the UK covers the steps from choosing a course to arriving.
You may also want to compare St Andrews with Bristol, Warwick and UCL, and with the Russell Group universities. Or for a free consultation, contact us now.
Sources: Complete University Guide 2027 · University of St Andrews course, fee, accommodation, scholarship, language, history, facts and degree structure pages · St Andrews School of Medicine admissions data · St Andrews undergraduate application statistics, released October 2025 · GOV.UK Student visa. Read 5 October 2026, and 5 September 2026 for the application statistics. Photograph by Remi Mathis, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Next review: when St Andrews publishes its 2027/28 fees and 2028 entry requirements.