St Andrews
31 Reviews by Students #73 out of 81 University locations
Love the town, makes being at the University feel even more special, beautiful setting by the sea
By member810410 On 5th July 2015
Study in St Andrews
St Andrews is a small place so there is only one university to choose from, the University of St Andrews. It is the oldest university in Scotland and has a long-standing reputation for academic excellence.
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St Andrews University
St Andrews University has a world-class reputation and holds many traditions that as a student you will quickly become accustomed to. The university has cutting edge facilities housed in the historic buildings located around St Andrews town. There are over 900 courses on offer, over 140 student societies and 50 sports clubs.
Study in St Andrews? Review your location
St Andrews Student Life
It is a unique location due to its history and the way the university is integrated into the town, making it a special and intimate place to study. Students make up a third of the town during term time, so the locals are well-used to having you around and although the town is small there are all the amenities you need and more.
Cost of Living
Accommodation
Student accommodation costs range from £59 to £250 per week; the average is £170 per week.
Compare the average elsewhere: Dundee: £135/week, Edinburgh: £199/week, Glasgow: £169/week.
(prices are for all purpose-built student accommodation (both private and university-owned) over the last 12 months, as listed on StudentCrowd)
The average price for:
A cheap meal at a restaurant: £12
A pint of beer: £3.50
A regular takeout coffee: £2.60
1L of milk: £0.90
A loaf of white bread: £1.00
(Source: Numbeo)
Nights Out
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It may be a small town but there are a lot of pubs to choose from, around every corner you will find another pub! Two pubs that are favourites among students are Whey Pat’s Tavern and Aikman's.
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The closest St Andrews gets to a club is the Vic, where you can expect DJ’s playing music on Friday and Saturday night, expect anything from techno and R&B to the ’80s.
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The Student Union has a number of bars to choose from. For example, Club 601 which is popular for Friday Night Bop, Sandy’s Bar for karaoke or the newly opened “premium bar” Beacon Bar.
Public Transport
Getting around St Andrew’s is easy by foot or bike. To travel out of town there are good links by rail and road. Dundee, the nearest city, is only 13 miles away and Edinburgh is an hour by train. There are express buses that run to major Scottish cities, almost hourly.
Eating Out
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With the tongue-in-cheek slogan, ‘Where Kate Met Wills… For Coffee,’ Northpoint Cafe is located just opposite the university library and is a popular place to pop in for breakfast, lunch or coffee.
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Dervish is an institution and is a place that all students know well for their 2 am munchie fix. Kebabs, pizza or chips? Dervish have you covered!
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Shopping
St Andrews has a small but lovely selection of independent boutiques and family-run shops, you can find anything from golf gear and crystals to books and vintage clothes. However, if you are looking for a larger selection and the well-known high street names then you can head to nearby Dundee.
Days Out
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Take a scenic train journey to nearby Edinburgh, for an unmissable day trip. There is so much to do from the Castle, Arthur’s Seat and the Old Town to an abundance of bars, comedy clubs and fantastic shopping. Your day trip might just need to extend to a weekend away!
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In just half an hour on a train, you can be in Dundee. This compact city is excellent for a day visit with everything accessible by foot. It was named UNESCO’s city of design in 2014 and since then has become home to V&A Dundee, Scotland’s first design museum.
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Jump in a car and in 15 minutes you can be at Ansthruther a traditional fishing village with tiny cobbled streets. It has a multi-award winning fish and chip shop, The Anstruther Fish Bar, which is a must. It also plays host to plenty of wildlife, take a boat trip to spot seals and puffins.
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The “Gateway to the Highlands” is an hour away by road. It is a must-visit for history lovers due to its huge significance in Scotland’s tumultuous past, coupled with its breath-taking scenery, Stirling should be high on your to-do list.
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Loch Lomond And Trossachs National Park
Slightly further afield, around an hour and a half, spend a weekend exploring this stunning Scottish National Park. Take in the beautiful scenery of lochs and mountains with the many hiking trails. Make sure you don’t miss the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond and perhaps squeeze in a whisky tasting or two!
Top 10 St Andrews Accommodation
John Burnet Hall
This a great hall to spend time at in St Andrews....
McIntosh Hall
Best hall. Fact. No Argument....
St Regulus Hall
Stayed in Regs from academic year 2021/2022. Very conveniently located place, just down the road from St Andrews' three main streets and the town cent...
St Salvator's Hall
I was really excited to be allocated to sallies, and I have absolutely loved my first semester here. Because of catered meals and events, it is so eas...
Andrew Melville Hall
Ahhhhh Melville, by far the best hall on campus. Our stunning concrete block looks far better on the inside and houses our close nit community of Melv...
East Shore
East shore is located right off of East Sands beach and the Fife coastal path which is wonderful for walks and swims. There is also a nice communal ro...
University Hall
David Russell Apartments
Many say that this hall is inaccessible because it is furthest from the school and the town centre. With buses this is not really a problem. There are...
Agnes Blackadder Hall
I've really liked living in Agnes, its a very large hall with lots of residents but the hall committee often put on hall events so you get to know pe...
Read St Andrews Reviews
Not much in the t...
Not much in the town itself, but it’s so easy to get to Dundee & Edinburgh, but while there isn’t much to do on a night out, the town is SUPER safe and (as a girl) I can walk home alone & it’s safe read more
very limited oppo...
very limited opportunities to eat out/transport read more
Standard small to...
Standard small town, not really much to say apart from rent is expensive and there are only 3 clubs. read more
A central bus hub...
A central bus hub for North East Fife with regular passage to Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dundee. A proximate train station in Leuchars (~15 minute bus journey). An array of resturants and shopping facilities, although more pricey than in some cities. Amenities in Dundee are cheaper and provide greater choice. Nightlife is restricted to union-led events as well as low-key bar nights. Nightclubs are avaliable in Dundee. read more
Cute small town,...
Cute small town, very small and not much nightlife but you knew that already. read more
St Andrews is a v...
St Andrews is a very expensive town. Cost of living (rent, bills etc) are higher than that of towns hosting other universities. However you’re paying for a top tier university and the experience that comes with it. They are many restaurants to eat out at or for those who prefer cooking their own food there are shops within walking distance of most places. Shops are ok, not your typical student shopping experience that you’d get in a big city though. Public transport is ideal - has a bus and train station close by. read more
No nightclubs let...
No nightclubs lets down an otherwise good town read more
Picturesque, stun...
Picturesque, stunning views, wonderful beaches. Great traditions, lots to do- but not necessarily for students. Very pricey especially houses (rent around £500 ppm if you are lucky) Only one nightclub, but it is a blast and there is always the union which is in the process of being redeveloped. Limited shopping but great bus links to Edinburgh and Dundee. A very different student experience and one I wouldn't change for anything read more
I absolutely love...
I absolutely love this town, I'll miss it sooooo much when I graduate! read more
Beautiful but it...
Beautiful but it is a tad expensive read more
I'm not really a...
I'm not really a town person but I love St Andrews, it really feels like home to me now. The town atmosphere is great and people are generally very friendly read more
It's a small town...
It's a small town , it's surprising how even there are shops here and it's a great small town life . It's different from a city , but I wanted a change . read more
it's extortionate...
it's extortionate to live here, but it's lovely town once you learn to navigate the tourists read more
If you are rich g...
If you are rich great but this is no place for anyone who is struggling with money. read more
Walkable town, fa...
Walkable town, fantastic restaurants, good shops read more
The town has an u...
The town has an unbelievable amount of history and a lot of pubs! read more
St Andrews is the...
St Andrews is the best place on the planet, stunning views, stunning people and stunning activities. For the person who isn't into the big city life but loves a close knit community where friends are easily made St Andrews is the town for you. read more
Lovely seaside to...
Lovely seaside town. Rent can get pricey but manageable if prepared. read more
Expensive but lov...
Expensive but lovely. Union is great (and cheap), plenty of social and night life that is also safe. Great place to be. read more