Editing University of St Andrews (section)

==Academics==
===Semesters===
[[File:+ 908 wurde St Andrews bereits Bischohfssitz. 11.jpg|upright=1.25|thumbnail|View across St Salvator's Quadrangle]]
The academic year at St Andrews is divided into two semesters, [[Martinmas]] and [[Candlemas]], named after two of the four [[Scottish term days|Scottish Term and Quarter Days]]. Martinmas, on 11 November, was originally the feast of [[Saint Martin of Tours]], a fourth-century bishop and hermit. Candlemas originally fell on 2 February, the day of the feast of the [[Presentation of Jesus at the Temple|Purification]], or the Presentation of Christ. Martinmas semester runs from early September until mid-December, with examinations taking place just before the Christmas break. There follows an inter-semester period when Martinmas semester business is concluded and preparations are made for the new Candlemas semester, which starts in January and concludes with examinations in April and May. Most Undergraduate graduations are celebrated in mid-June with Postgraduate graduations being celebrated in late November.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/semesterdates/ |title=Semester dates & |publisher=University of St Andrews |date=August 2014 |access-date=9 February 2010 |archive-date=4 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304060505/http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/semesterdates/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Rankings and reputation===
{{Infobox UK university rankings
| ARWU_W = 301–400
| LEIDEN_W = 128
| QS_W = 104
| THE_W = 185=
| LINE_1 = 0
| Complete = 4
| The_Guardian = 2
| Times/Sunday_Times = 2
| LINE_2 = 0
| TEF = Gold
}}
[[File:St Andrews 10 Years.png|thumb|upright=1.2|University of St Andrews' [[Rankings of universities in the United Kingdom|national league table]] performance over the past ten years]]
In the 2022 [[Rankings of universities in the United Kingdom|The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide]], St Andrews ranked as the best university in the UK, the first university to ever top Oxford and Cambridge in a British ranking.<ref>{{Cite news|last=McCall|first=Alastair|title=St Andrews knocks Oxbridge off top spot as best British university|language=en|work=[[The Sunday Times]]|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/st-andrews-knocks-oxbridge-off-top-spot-as-best-british-university-xgldvbbb5|access-date=2021-09-26|issn=0140-0460|archive-date=3 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503014119/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/st-andrews-knocks-oxbridge-off-top-spot-as-best-british-university-xgldvbbb5|url-status=live}}</ref> In the 2023 Guardian University Guide, St Andrews achieved the same feat and ranked first for the first time in the guide's history.<ref name="auto">{{cite news |date=24 September 2022 |title=Forget Oxbridge: St Andrews knocks top universities off perch |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2022/sep/24/stoxbridge-st-andrews-overtakes-oxford-cambridge-guardian-university-guide |access-date=14 February 2023 |archive-date=5 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605025934/https://www.theguardian.com/education/2022/sep/24/stoxbridge-st-andrews-overtakes-oxford-cambridge-guardian-university-guide |url-status=live }}</ref> In the 2024 versions of both The Guardian University Guide and The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, St Andrews was again ranked first in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite news |title=St Andrews University named leading university in UK in rare double |url=https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/people/st-andrews-university-named-leading-university-in-uk-in-rare-double-4336950 |work=Fife Today |date=15 September 2023 |access-date=7 October 2023 |archive-date=20 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920113933/https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/people/st-andrews-university-named-leading-university-in-uk-in-rare-double-4336950 |url-status=live }}</ref> It has been twice named [[Sunday Times University of the Year|University of the Year]] by ''The Times and Sunday Times''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk-university-rankings/article/good-university-guide-2020-of-year-st-andrews-uk-best-place-to-study-jbrf3mcdp|title=University of the Year 2020: St Andrews is UK's best place to study|last=McCall|first=Alastair|newspaper=[[The Times]]|date=22 September 2019|access-date=13 October 2019|issn=0140-0460|archive-date=25 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125053123/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/good-university-guide-2020-of-year-st-andrews-uk-best-place-to-study-jbrf3mcdp|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-49769133|title=St Andrews named University of the Year|date=20 September 2019|access-date=13 October 2019|archive-date=27 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191027103637/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-49769133|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
In a ranking conducted by ''The Guardian'' in 2009, St Andrews placed fifth in the UK for national reputation behind Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial & LSE.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Education/documents/2009/08/20/ReputationRankings2009UK.pdf |title=University UK Reputation Index |location=London |work=The Guardian |access-date=15 April 2015 |archive-date=15 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150415151440/http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Education/documents/2009/08/20/ReputationRankings2009UK.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> When size is taken into account, St Andrews ranks second in the world out of all small to medium-sized fully comprehensive universities (after [[Brown University]]) using metrics from the [[Quacquarelli Symonds|QS Intelligence Unit]] in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iu.qs.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/|title=QS World University Rankings: World Map Results (Filter by Institution Profile)|publisher=Quacquarelli Symonds Intelligence Unit|access-date=30 December 2015|archive-date=21 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321154128/http://www.iu.qs.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The university is ranked 5th in Europe by Times Higher Education in its 2019 Teaching Rankings.<ref>{{cite web |title=Europe Teaching Rankings 2019 |date=27 June 2019 |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/rankings/europe-teaching/2019#!/page/0/length/25/sort_by/rank/sort_order/asc/cols/undefined |publisher=Times Higher Education |access-date=4 July 2019 |archive-date=20 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420042410/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/rankings/europe-teaching/2019#!/page/0/length/25/sort_by/rank/sort_order/asc/cols/undefined |url-status=live }}</ref> The 2021 [[Research Excellence Framework]] ranked St Andrews 16th in the UK, and second in Scotland, amongst multi-faculty institutions for the research quality (GPA) of its output profile.<ref>{{cite news |title=REF 2021: Outputs scores |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/ref-2021-outputs-scores |work=Times Higher Education |date=12 May 2022 |access-date=6 March 2023 |archive-date=6 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306181734/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/ref-2021-outputs-scores |url-status=live }}</ref> St Andrews was ranked ninth overall in ''The Sunday Times'' 10-year (1998–2007) average ranking of British universities based on consistent league table performance,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/pdfs/univ07ten.pdf|title=University ranking based on performance over 10 years|work=The Times |location=London |year=2007|access-date=28 April 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080414064446/http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/pdfs/univ07ten.pdf <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 14 April 2008}}</ref> and is one of only three universities to have never left the top 10 in any of the three main domestic league tables since 2008.<ref>{{cite web|title=Domestic Ranking of British Universities over a 10-Year Period|url=http://theuniversitybuzz.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/domestic-ranking-of-british.html|publisher=The University Buzz|access-date=27 April 2017|archive-date=29 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429000319/http://theuniversitybuzz.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/domestic-ranking-of-british.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

According to data released by the [[Department for Education]] in 2018, St Andrews was rated as the fifth best university in the UK for increasing male graduate earnings with male graduates seeing a 25% increase in earnings compared to the average graduate, and the ninth best university for females, with female graduates seeing a 15% increase in earnings compared to the average graduate.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Undergraduate degrees: relative labour market returns (Table 7: HEI&nbsp;— conditional impact on earnings five years after graduation) |date=7 June 2018 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/undergraduate-degrees-relative-labour-market-returns |publisher=Department for Education |access-date=17 December 2018 |archive-date=18 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181218010548/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/undergraduate-degrees-relative-labour-market-returns |url-status=live }}</ref> St Andrews is placed seventh in the UK (1st in Scotland) for the employability of its graduates as chosen by recruiters from the UK's major companies.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/news/best-uk-universities-chosen-major-employers | location=London | work=Times Higher Education | title=The best UK universities chosen by major employers | date=12 November 2015 | access-date=16 November 2015 | archive-date=4 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304044555/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/news/best-uk-universities-chosen-major-employers | url-status=live }}</ref> In 2017, St Andrews was named as the university with the joint second highest graduate employment rate of any UK university (along with [[University of Warwick|Warwick]]), with 97.7 per cent of its graduates in work or further study three and a half years after graduation.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Grove|first1=Jack|title=Russell Group dominates UK's graduate employment charts|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/russell-group-dominates-uk-graduate-employment-charts|access-date=11 August 2017|work=Times Higher Education|archive-date=11 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811165700/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/russell-group-dominates-uk-graduate-employment-charts|url-status=live}}</ref> An independent report conducted by Swedish investment firm, [[Skandia]] found that despite its small undergraduate body, St Andrews is the joint-5th best university in the UK for producing millionaires.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/8824061/Top-universities-for-producing-millionaires.html?image=5 | location=London | work=The Telegraph | title=Top universities for producing Millionaires | date=21 March 2012 | access-date=3 April 2018 | archive-date=20 August 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820154735/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/8824061/Top-universities-for-producing-millionaires.html?image=5 | url-status=live }}</ref> A study by ''High Fliers'' confirmed this by reporting that the university also features in the top 5 of UK universities for producing self-made millionaires.<ref name="Good News for Graduates">{{Cite web|title=Good News for Graduates|url=https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/news/archive/2013/title,220891,en.php|access-date=24 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627141615/http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/news/archive/2013/title,220891,en.php|archive-date=27 June 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> According to a study by the Institute of Employment Research, St Andrews has produced more directors of [[FTSE 100 Index|FTSE 100]] companies in proportion to its size than any other educational institution in Britain.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/1532435.stm |title=Royal university's graduate roll call |location=London |work=The BBC |access-date=17 April 2015 |archive-date=29 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129033014/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/1532435.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the 2019 [[Complete University Guide]], 24 out of the 25 subjects offered by St Andrews rank within the top 10 nationally, making St Andrews one of only three multi-faculty universities (along with [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]] and [[University of Oxford|Oxford]]) in the UK to have over 95% of their subjects in the top 10.<ref name="Who's in the Top Ten for their Subjects 2018">{{Cite web|title=Who Ranks Top of the Tables by Subject 2019|url=https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/who-ranks-top-of-the-tables-by-subject-2019/|work=The Complete University Guide|access-date=1 May 2018|archive-date=7 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507085207/https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/who-ranks-top-of-the-tables-by-subject-2019/|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[The Times|Times and Sunday Times]] Good University Guide 2017 revealed that 24 of the 26 subjects offered by St Andrews ranked within the top 6 nationally with 10 subjects placing within the top 3 including English, Management, Philosophy, International Relations, Italian, Physics and Astronomy and Classics and Ancient History.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Times and Sunday Times League Table Summary|url=https://synergy.st-andrews.ac.uk/earthsci/files/2016/09/Times-Sunday-Times-League-Table-Summary-2017.pdf|access-date=25 September 2016|archive-date=19 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819211639/https://synergy.st-andrews.ac.uk/earthsci/files/2016/09/Times-Sunday-Times-League-Table-Summary-2017.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[The Guardian]] University Guide 2019 ranked Biosciences, Computer Science, International Relations, Physics and Psychology first in the UK. Earth and Marine Sciences, Economics, English, Management, Mathematics, Philosophy and Theology placed within the top three nationally.<ref>{{Cite web|title=University league tables 2019|website=[[TheGuardian.com]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/ng-interactive/2018/may/29/university-league-tables-2019|access-date=29 May 2018|archive-date=2 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002131517/https://www.theguardian.com/education/ng-interactive/2018/may/29/university-league-tables-2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In the 2015–16 [[Times Higher Education World University Rankings]], St Andrews is ranked 46th in the world for Social Sciences,<ref name="THE SS">{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2016/subject-ranking/social-sciences#!/page/0/length/25|title=Top 100 universities for Social Sciences 2015–16|access-date=4 November 2015|work=Times Higher Education|date=9 October 2015|archive-date=7 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107041428/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2016/subject-ranking/social-sciences#!/page/0/length/25|url-status=live}}</ref> 50th in the world for Arts and Humanities<ref name="THE A&H">{{Cite web|url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2015-16/subject-ranking/subject/arts-and-humanities|title=Top 100 universities for Arts and Humanities 2015–16|access-date=21 October 2015|work=Times Higher Education|date=9 October 2015}}</ref> and 74th in the world for Life Sciences.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2016/life-sciences#!/page/0/length/25|title=Top 100 universities for Life Sciences 2015–16|access-date=28 October 2015|work=Times Higher Education|date=9 October 2015|archive-date=17 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117025102/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2016/life-sciences#!/page/0/length/25|url-status=live}}</ref> The 2014 [[CWTS Leiden Ranking|CWTS Leiden rankings]], which "aims to provide highly accurate measurements of the scientific impact of universities", placed St Andrews 39th in the world, ranking it fifth domestically.<ref name="Leiden Rankings">{{Cite web|title=Leiden Rankings|url=http://www.leidenranking.com/ranking/2014|access-date=29 July 2014|archive-date=11 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511220356/http://www.leidenranking.com/ranking/2014|url-status=live}}</ref> The philosophy department is ranked sixth worldwide (3rd in Europe) in the 2020 [[QS World University Rankings]].<ref name="QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020&nbsp;— Philosophy">{{Cite web|title=QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020&nbsp;— Philosophy|url=https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/university-subject-rankings/2020/philosophy|access-date=1 April 2020|archive-date=16 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200316061709/https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/university-subject-rankings/2020/philosophy|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Admissions===
{| class="floatright"
| 
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%; text-align:center; margin-bottom: 5px"
|+UCAS Admission Statistics
!
!2024
!2023
!2022
!2021
!2020
|-
| '''Applications'''{{efn-lg|name=mainscheme}}<ref name=UCASEoC>{{cite web |title=UCAS Undergraduate Sector-Level End of Cycle Data Resources 2024 |url=https://www.ucas.com/data-and-analysis/undergraduate-statistics-and-reports/ucas-undergraduate-end-cycle-data-resources-2024 |at=Show me... Domicile by Provider |website=ucas.com |date=December 2024 |publisher=UCAS |access-date=7 February 2025}}</ref>
| 18,520
| 18,740
| 21,680
| 21,405
| 20,580
|-
| '''Accepted'''{{efn-lg|name=mainscheme}}<ref name=UCASEoC/>
| 1,910
| 1,765
| 1,955
| 1,820
| 2,245
|-
| '''Applications/Accepted Ratio'''{{efn-lg|name=mainscheme}}
| 9.7
| 10.6
| 11.1
| 11.8
| 9.2
|-
| '''Offer Rate (%)'''{{efn-lg|name=ukjune}}<ref name="UCAS Offer Rate">{{cite web|title=2024 entry UCAS Undergraduate reports by sex, area background, and ethnic group|date=7 February 2025|url=https://www.ucas.com/data-and-analysis/undergraduate-statistics-and-reports/ucas-undergraduate-end-cycle-data-resources-2024/2024-entry-ucas-undergraduate-reports-sex-area-background-and-ethnic-group|publisher=[[UCAS]]|access-date=7 February 2025}}</ref>
| 30.0
| 26.6
| 24.7
| 25.0
| 41.0
|-
| '''[[UCAS Tariff|Average Entry Tariff]]'''<ref name="CUG Entry">{{Cite web | url=https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings?tabletype=full-table&sortby=entry-standards | title=University League Tables entry standards 2024 | work=The Complete University Guide | access-date=23 July 2023 }}</ref>
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| 212
| 209
|}
{| style="font-size:80%;float:left"
|{{notelist-lg|refs=
{{efn-lg|name=mainscheme|Main scheme applications, International and UK}}
{{efn-lg|name=ukjune|UK domiciled applicants only}}
}}
|}
|}
{| class="wikitable floatright sortable collapsible mw-collapsible"; style="font-size:85%; text-align:right;"
|+ class="nowrap" |HESA Student Body Composition (2023/24)
|-
!Domicile<ref name="Table 1">{{cite web|url=https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/students/table-1|title=HE student enrolments by HE provider, permanent address, level of study, mode of study, entrant marker, sex and academic year|publisher=[[Higher Education Statistics Agency|HESA]]|access-date=3 April 2025}}</ref> and Ethnicity<ref name="HESA ethnicity">{{cite web|url=https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/students/whos-in-he/characteristics|title=Who's studying in HE?: Personal characteristics|date=3 April 2025|publisher=[[Higher Education Statistics Agency|HESA]]|access-date=3 April 2025}}</ref>
! colspan="2" data-sort-type=number |Total
|-
|[[White people in the United Kingdom|British White]]{{efn|Not be confused solely with [[White British]]}}
|align=right| {{bartable|43|%|2||background:red}}
|-
|[[Classification of ethnicity in the United Kingdom#Collective terms for minority ethnic groups|British Ethnic Minorities]]{{efn|Includes those who indicate that they identify as [[British Asian|Asian]], [[Black British people|Black]], [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed Heritage]], [[British Arabs|Arab]] or any other ethnicity except White.}}
|align=right| {{bartable|10|%|2||background:green}}
|-
|[[European Union|International EU]]
|align=right| {{bartable|8|%|2||background:blue}}
|-
|[[International students in the United Kingdom|International Non-EU]]
|align=right| {{bartable|39|%|2||background:gray}}
|-
! colspan="4" data-sort-type=number |Undergraduate [[Widening participation|Widening Participation]] Indicators<ref name="Table 1"/><ref name="Times25">{{cite web |date=24 September 2024 |title=Good University Guide: Social Inclusion Ranking |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk-university-rankings/league-table |work=[[The Times]]}}</ref>
|-
|[[Feminism in the United Kingdom#Education|Female]]
|align=right| {{bartable|61|%|2||background:purple}}
|-
|[[Private schools in the United Kingdom|Independent School]]
|align=right| {{bartable|36|%|2||background:orange}}
|-
|Low Participation Areas{{efn|Calculated from the Polar4 measure, using Quintile1, in England and Wales. Calculated from the [[Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation]] (SIMD) measure, using SIMD20, in Scotland.}}
|align=right| {{bartable|15|%|2||background:black}}
|}

The university receives applications mainly through [[UCAS]] and the [[Common Application]] with the latest figures showing that there are generally 12 applications per undergraduate place available.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/education/scottish-universities-see-a-rise-in-applications-from-the-rest-of-the-uk-1.66743 |title=Scottish universities see a rise in applications from the rest of the UK |work=The Courier |date=31 January 2013 |access-date=19 May 2014 |archive-date=12 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712144324/http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/education/scottish-universities-see-a-rise-in-applications-from-the-rest-of-the-uk-1.66743 |url-status=live }}</ref> According to 2022 UCAS figures, the university had an offer rate of 24.7% for undergraduate applicants – the third lowest amongst higher education institutions (behind only Oxford and Cambridge).<ref name="offer rate22">{{cite news|title=Cambridge to scrap ‘unjust’ state school targets|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/03/11/cambridge-to-scrap-state-school-targets/|publisher=The Telegraph|access-date=11 March 2024|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240331190103/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/03/11/cambridge-to-scrap-state-school-targets/|archive-date=31 March 2024}}</ref> The university is one of the most competitive universities to gain admission into, with successful undergraduate entrants holding 212 UCAS points (the equivalent of just under A*A*A*A at A Level) ranking it as the highest amongst higher education institutions in the UK for the 2021 admissions cycle.<ref name="CUG Entry"/> The standard offer of a place tends to require five best Highers equivalent to AAAAB, three best A-levels equivalent to AAA or a score of at least 38 points on the International Baccalaureate.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings?o=Entry |title=Top UK University League Tables and Rankings 2013 |work=The Complete University Guide |access-date=6 June 2012 |archive-date=6 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140406172723/http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings?o=Entry |url-status=dead }}</ref> For 2016–17, the acceptance rate was 8.35% and the offer rate was 22.5% for Scottish/EU applicants where places are capped by the [[Scottish Funding Council|Scottish Government]].<ref name="sta admissions">{{Cite web|url=http://theuniversitybuzz.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/university-of-st-andrews-2012-13-entry.html|title=University of St Andrews Entry UCAS Home Application Summary|website=theuniversitybuzz.blogspot.co.uk|access-date=3 August 2015|archive-date=25 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025163331/http://theuniversitybuzz.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/university-of-st-andrews-2012-13-entry.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14612463.St_Andrews_University_hits_out_at_claims_it__quot_prefers_quot__fee_paying_students_from_England_over_Scots/?ref=twtrec|title=St Andrews University hits out at claims it "prefers" fee-paying students from England over Scots|work=The Herald|date=11 July 2016|access-date=12 July 2016|archive-date=17 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817141443/http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14612463.St_Andrews_University_hits_out_at_claims_it__quot_prefers_quot__fee_paying_students_from_England_over_Scots/?ref=twtrec|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017, the most competitive courses for Scottish/EU applicants were those within the Schools of International Relations, Management, and Economics and Finance with offer rates of 8.0%, 10.9% and 11.5% respectively.<ref name="sta admissions" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=St Andrews 600 Quick Facts|url=https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/media/600th-old/documents/st-andrews-600-quick-facts.pdf |publisher=University of St Andrews|access-date=31 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127024419/http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/media/600th-old/documents/st-andrews-600-quick-facts.pdf|archive-date=27 January 2013 }}</ref> 

The university hosts the most ethnically diverse student population out of all universities in Scotland, with 17.4% of students from an ethnic minority background and has a higher proportion of female than male students with a female ratio of 59.7% in the undergraduate population.<ref>{{cite web |title=Good University Guide: University of St Andrews |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk-university-rankings/university-of-st-andrews |publisher=The Times and Sunday Times |access-date=21 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/media/human-resources/equalitydiversity/reports/Equality-Mainstreaming-Interim-Report-30April2019-Final.pdf|title=Equality Mainstreaming Interim Report (2017–2021)|website=University of St Andrews|page=62|access-date=6 October 2019|archive-date=27 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191027094911/https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/media/human-resources/equalitydiversity/reports/Equality-Mainstreaming-Interim-Report-30April2019-Final.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Under 40% of the student body is from [[Private schools in the United Kingdom|private schools]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/pdfs/stug09/loweststateschoolintake.pdf |title=Lowest state school intake |work=The Times |date=22 May 2012 |access-date=6 June 2012 |archive-date=28 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728045641/http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/pdfs/stug09/loweststateschoolintake.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the university has one of the smallest percentages of students (13%) from lower income backgrounds, out of all higher education institutions in the UK.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/pdfs/stug09/mostmiddleclass.pdf |title=Most middle class |work=The Times |access-date=6 June 2012 |archive-date=28 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728044940/http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/pdfs/stug09/mostmiddleclass.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="times_access_agenda">{{Cite web|url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=209682&sectioncode=26|title=Access agenda is now back on track|work=The Times|date=20 July 2007|location=UK|access-date=25 November 2008|archive-date=21 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521162647/http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=209682&sectioncode=26|url-status=live}}</ref> According to data from UCAS, St Andrews' offer rate to students from the most deprived areas (as measured by SIMD20) has increased from 28% in 2010 to 72.1% for entry in 2022, almost three times higher than the university's overall offer rate for all students.{{refn|Tableau Graph<ref name=Tableau>{{cite web|url=https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/david.kernohan/viz/SIMDQ5/Dashboard1|title=UCAS offer rate, SIMD 2016 Q1|access-date=24 February 2023|archive-date=24 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224223157/https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/david.kernohan/viz/SIMDQ5/Dashboard1|url-status=live}}</ref> WonkHe: Nicola Sturgeon's higher education legacy<ref name="SIMD20 UCAS">{{cite web|url=https://wonkhe.com/wonk-corner/nicola-sturgeons-higher-education-legacy/|title=Nicola Sturgeon's higher education legacy|publisher=wonkhe|access-date=24 February 2023|archive-date=24 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224124953/https://wonkhe.com/wonk-corner/nicola-sturgeons-higher-education-legacy/|url-status=live}}</ref>}} The university participates in widening access schemes such as the [[Sutton Trust]] Summer School, First Chances Programme, REACH & SWAP Scotland, and Access for Rural Communities (ARC) in order to promote a more widespread uptake of those traditionally under-represented at university.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/study/access/school-college-projects/|title=Our projects&nbsp;— University of St Andrews|website=www.st-andrews.ac.uk|access-date=18 June 2015|archive-date=22 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161122031009/http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/study/access/school-college-projects/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the seven-year period between 2008 and 2015, the number of pupils engaged with annual outreach programmes at the university has increased by about tenfold whilst the number of students arriving at St Andrews from the most deprived backgrounds has increased by almost 50 per cent in the past year of 2015.<ref name="Raising aspirations and attainment">{{Cite web|title=Raising aspirations and attainment|url=http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/news/archive/2015/title,260262,en.php|access-date=17 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619044153/http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/news/archive/2015/title,260262,en.php|archive-date=19 June 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Lecture series===
[[File:St Andrews University Classics Building.jpg|thumb|right|Classics Building, Swallowgate]]
To commemorate the university's 600th anniversary the ''600th Lecture Series'' was commissioned in 2011, which brought diverse speakers such as former prime minister [[Gordon Brown]], naturalist [[David Attenborough]] and linguist [[Noam Chomsky]] to St Andrews.<ref name="600th Lecture series">{{Cite web|title=600th Lecture series|url=http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/600/gallery/gordonbrown/#/media/600/images/gallery/gordonbrown/2-gordon-brown-ar.jpg|access-date=3 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217185900/http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/600/gallery/gordonbrown/#/media/600/images/gallery/gordonbrown/2-gordon-brown-ar.jpg|archive-date=17 February 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

As part of the celebration of the 400th establishment of the King James Library, the ''King James Library lectures'' were initiated in 2009 on the subject of 'The Meaning of the Library'.<ref name="King James Library lectures">{{Cite web|title=King James Library lectures|url=http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/library/news/lectures/|access-date=3 January 2013|archive-date=27 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127035400/http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/library/news/lectures/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[Andrew Lang Lecture]] series was initiated in 1927, and named for alumnus and poet [[Andrew Lang]]. The most famous lecture in this series is that given by [[J. R. R. Tolkien]] in March 1939, entitled 'Fairy Stories', but published subsequently as '[[On Fairy-Stories]]'.<ref name="Andrew Lang lecture">{{Cite web|title=Andrew Lang lecture|date=6 September 2012|url=http://www.sfscope.com/2012/09/jane-yolen-to-lecture-at-st-andrews/|access-date=24 January 2013|archive-date=17 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017020735/http://www.sfscope.com/2012/09/jane-yolen-to-lecture-at-st-andrews/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The computing ''Distinguished Lecture Series'' was initiated in 1969 by [[Jack Cole (scientist)|Jack Cole]].<ref name="st-andrews distinguished lectures">{{Cite web | url=http://www.cs.st-andrews.ac.uk/distinguished-lectures | title=Distinguished Lecture Series | publisher=University of St Andrews | access-date=12 March 2012 | archive-date=22 September 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110922220555/http://www.cs.st-andrews.ac.uk/distinguished-lectures | url-status=live }}</ref>

===Exchange programmes===
St Andrews has developed student exchange partnerships with universities around the globe, though offerings are largely concentrated in North America, Europe, and Asia. Exchange opportunities vary by School and eligibility requirements are specific to each exchange program.<ref name="University of St Andrews">{{Cite web|url=http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/studyabroad/outgoingstudents/thinkingaboutstudyabroad/wherecanigo/|title=Where Can I Go?|publisher=University of St Andrews|access-date=12 August 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813130043/http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/studyabroad/outgoingstudents/thinkingaboutstudyabroad/wherecanigo/|archive-date=13 August 2014}}</ref>

In North America, the highly competitive Bachelor of Arts International Honours program, run in conjunction with the [[College of William & Mary]] in [[Williamsburg, Virginia]], allows students studying Classical Studies, Film Studies, International Relations, English, History, or Economics to spend two years at each institution and earn a joint degree from both.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.wm.edu/sites/standrews/index.php |title=William & Mary – St Andrews William & Mary Joint Degree Programme |publisher=The College of William & Mary |access-date=17 April 2011 |archive-date=5 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405100550/http://www.wm.edu/sites/standrews/index.php |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Bobby Jones (golfer)|The Robert T. Jones Memorial Trust]] funds the Robert T. Jones Jr. Scholarship, which allows selecting St Andrews students to study, fully funded, for a year at [[Emory University]] in [[Atlanta]], and [[University of Western Ontario|Western University]] and [[Queen's University at Kingston|Queen's University]] in Canada.<ref name="Scholarships for Study Abroad">{{Cite web|title=Scholarships for Study Abroad|url=http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/studyabroad/outgoingstudents/practicalinformation/moneymatters/scholarships/|access-date=19 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130110143031/http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/studyabroad/outgoingstudents/practicalinformation/moneymatters/scholarships/|archive-date=10 January 2013}}</ref> The [[Robert L. McNeil, Jr.|Robert Lincoln McNeil Scholarship]] allows students to study at the [[University of Pennsylvania]].

One of the largest North American exchanges is with the [[University of California]] system, in which students can study at [[University of California, Berkeley|UC Berkeley]], [[University of California, Los Angeles|UC Los Angeles (UCLA)]], [[University of California, Santa Cruz|UC Santa Cruz (UCSC)]] and [[University of California, San Diego|UC San Diego (UCSD)]].

Other North American partners offering multiple exchanges include the [[University of Virginia]], the [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]], [[Washington University in St. Louis]], [[Washington and Lee University]], [[Elon University]], and the [[University of Toronto]].<ref name="University of St Andrews" /> Some exchanges are offered within specific research institutes at St Andrews, rather than across entire Schools. For example, the [[Handa Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence]] (CSTPV), within the School of International Relations, offers student exchanges in partnership with the [[School of Foreign Service]] at [[Georgetown University]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~wwwir/research/cstpv/news/files/georgetown-exchange-2013.php |title=Georgetown Exchange Programme |date=12 January 2013 |publisher=Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130112180956/http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~wwwir/research/cstpv/news/files/georgetown-exchange-2013.php |archive-date=12 January 2013 }}</ref>

St Andrews participates in the [[Erasmus Programme]] and has direct exchanges with universities across Europe.<ref name="University of St Andrews" /> For example, in France exchanges are offered at the [[University of Paris|Sorbonne]], [[Sciences Po]], and [[Pierre-and-Marie-Curie University (University of Paris 6)|University of Paris VI]]. In the Netherlands, students can study at [[Leiden University]] and [[Utrecht University]]. Narrower exchanges include those with the [[University of Copenhagen]], the [[University of Oslo]], and [[Trinity College, Dublin|Trinity College Dublin]]. Exchanges are also available for postgraduate research students, such as the opportunity for social scientists to study at the [[European University Institute]] in Florence, Italy.

More recently, St Andrews has developed exchanges with partners in Asia and Oceania. Notable partners include the [[University of Hong Kong]], [[Hong Kong University of Science and Technology]] and [[National University of Singapore]] in Asia; the [[University of Auckland]], [[Australian National University]] and the [[University of Melbourne]] in Oceania.<ref>{{cite web |title=Where can I go: St Andrews abroad St Andrews abroad programme |url=https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/csa-app/search.htm |publisher=University of St Andrews |access-date=1 March 2024}}</ref>