The University of St Andrews is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the United Kingdom. Widely known for its academic excellence, the university is currently ranked first in the U.K. according to The Guardian University Guide and is within the top 100 universities in the world according to the QS World University Rankings. For almost six centuries, it has upheld a tradition of excellence, attracting world-renowned scholars and the brightest students from every continent. Today, the university has evolved into four faculties: the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Divinity, the Faculty of Medicine (not open to study abroad students), and the Faculty of Science.

Most academic departments are located around either St Salvator’s Quadrangle, St Mary's Quadrangle (with its sixteenth-century buildings), or North Haugh, a modern site overlooking the sea and a mere half-mile from the town center. An overall academic staff to student ratio of 1:12 enriches the learning experience, and some tutorial groups are even considerably smaller, providing personalized academic attention and support. All schools have vigorous research programs with extensive collaborations beyond campus, reaching other universities and research establishments within Scotland, the U.K., and around the world.

As a St Andrews student, you will be able to participate in campus activities, student organizations, and sports, and you will have full access to all advising, library, and computing facilities across the university. There are more than 200 student societies and sports teams to choose from, designed to meet a diverse range of interests – from academic to cultural, from recreational to political, and from charitable to the downright silly.

Rather than being a campus university, St Andrews is closely integrated with the town. Many of its 10,400 students use bicycles as a convenient way of getting around, but all areas of the university are within easy walking distance and regular bus service is also available.