The University of St Andrews is the oldest university in Scotland and third oldest in the English-speaking world, having been founded between 1410 and 1413. The University is situated in the town of St Andrews, in Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. The library and many university departments are spread around the town centre. The town's population of 18,000 is boosted considerably by the University's 7,200 students. St Andrews is a member of the 1994 Group, a network of smaller research-intensive British universities.
The university has a widening participation policy; however, the university has one of the smallest percentages of students from lower income backgrounds, out of all higher education institutions in the UK. Intake from Independent schools in England is high. At the same time, the average price for accommodation for students at St Andrews is more than that for students at any other university in Scotland.
History of the University
Founded in 1413, St Andrews is the oldest university in Scotland. By the middle of the sixteenth century the University had three colleges - St Salvator's (1450), St Leonard's (1511), and St Mary's (1538): the buildings of St Mary's College and St Salvator's Chapel both date from this period.
The 16th to 18th centuries saw a period of mixed fortunes for the University. During this time St Salvator's and St Leonard's Colleges joined to form the United College which still survives in a greatly enlarged form.
In the 19th century the University made considerable progress in developing teaching and research in the Arts, Divinity and the Biological and Physical Sciences. In 1897 the University was joined by a new academic centre in Dundee and with it gained notable achievements in Medical and Applied Science. This association ended in 1967 with the foundation of a separate University of Dundee.
The University history, its personalities and its teaching practices can be traced through the collections of documents, art works, furniture, laboratory equipment and specimens that it has accumulated in its Museum collections.
Campus
St Andrews is situated on the east coast of Fife, Scotland, UK. The town is approximately 50 miles north-east of Edinburgh, 14 miles south-east of Dundee, 78 miles south of Aberdeen, 82 miles east of Glasgow; and 466 miles north of London.
University Library
The Library at St Andrews dates back to the early 17th Century and over the years we have collected over one million volumes to support teaching, learning and research. Although still print-based, the balance of the collection has switched to electronic books, journals and datasets to enable easier internet access to these resources.
The Library also provides a variety of study environments ranging from the quiet to group working areas, from the 17th Century King James Library in St Mary's College to the 20th Century Main Library.
Research
The University of St Andrews is one of the leading research-intensive universities in the world.
Over many centuries St Andrews has attracted outstanding scholars from around the world who have continually enhanced the reputation of this academic gem by conducting ground breaking research across all disciplines within the Faculties of Arts, Divinity, Medicine and Science.
In the most recent UK (RAE), the University of St Andrews was placed second in Scotland and 14th in the UK for research, with internationally leading research recognised in all academic disciplines.
Research varies from single scholar endeavours to large research groups within the 18 Academic Schools. Over 40 Research Centres and Institutes bring researchers together to focus on specific topics with an emphasis on interdisciplinary research.
In 2007-08 the total value of research grants and contracts awarded to the University was over £38 million.
Academic Reputation
The independent IpsosMORI National Student Survey 2006 commissioned by HEFCE placed it third among the UK universities. It has achieved the most consistently high ratings in research assessment exercises with no subjects receiving a rating lower than 4 on a grading scale 1-5*, where 5* denotes outstanding international research. The departments of English and Psychology have received a 5*, and 72% of staff across the university received a 5 or 5* rating. The Philosophical Gourmet report ranks St Andrews' graduate philosophy programme as third in the UK, and the joint programme with Stirling University is ranked second in the UK and joint 13th in the world.
Nearly eight in ten graduates obtain a First Class or an Upper Second Class Honours degree. A similar proportion enter further employment requiring a respected degree or obtaining placements for further postgraduate research. The ancient Scottish universities award Master of Arts degrees (except for science students who are awarded a Bachelor of Science degree) which are classified upon graduation, in contrast to Oxbridge where one becomes a Master of Arts after a certain number of years, and the rest of the UK, where graduates are awarded BAs.
Entry to the University is highly competitive; the latest UCAS figures show that there are generally 12 applications per place available, and the University has not entered Clearing since 2003. The standard offer of a place tends to require at a minimum AAABB at Scottish Highers for Scottish applicants, AAB at GCE A Levels for English, Welsh and Northern Irish candidates, or a score of at least 36 points on the International Baccalaureate, with International Relations commanding AAA at GCE A Level due to the high level of able applicants. They have a noted preference for candidates who already have these qualifications, something that implicitly gives preference to Scottish applicants as they will have normally completed the Scottish Highers at the time of application, whereas other applicants, such as those studying in England, are still in the process of attaining their final secondary qualifications.
Faculties
The University is divided into four academic Faculties:
- Arts
- Divinity
- Medicine
- Science
Each is governed by a Faculty Council and administered by a Dean. Students apply to become members of a particular faculty, as opposed to any particular school or department.
The University of St Andrews was ranked 83 in the 2008 THES-QS World University Ranking.
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