St Andrews University - In Depth

Founded: 1410.

Site: St Andrews town centre, plus North Haugh site mile west of the centre.

How to get there: Nearest station is Leuchars (5 miles away on main London-Aberdeen line), then bus; from Edinburgh, train takes 1+ hour, 2 hours by bus; good road links (M90 and A91).

Academic features: Admission to faculty rather than course so final choice of subject(s) can be delayed until end of second year. Entry requirements are relaxed for mature students. Semester and modular system.

Awarding body: St Andrews University.

Main undergraduate awards: MA, BSc, MPhys, MChem, MSci, MTheol, MMath.

Length of courses: 4 years Honours; 3 years general; direct 2nd year entry to some science Honours degrees.

Library & information services: 850,000 volumes, 2750 periodicals, 1100 study areas. Annual expenditure on library material £129 per (FTE) student. Separate IT services. Ratio workstations to students 1:5 (open 24 hours/day); some 800 workstations have library and internet access. Student IT advisory service (staffed by postgrads) and specialist support staff available; library introduction for all new students; free 6-hour IT skills training courses available (and more advanced courses if required).

Other learning resources: Computing laboratory, Gatty marine laboratory, language centre.

Study abroad: 10% of students spend a period abroad. Some 25 formal exchange programmes, many with multiple links, involving 9 other countries.

Careers: Information, advice and placement service.

Student advice & services: Doctor, FPA, chaplain, student welfare service. Limited residential facilities for married and disabled students.

Amenities: SA with coffee and snack bars, newspaper. arts and crafts area, shops, bars etc.

Sporting facilities: Modern physical education centre; 40 acres of playing field; 6 squash courts, all-weather athletics track, tennis courts, astroturf pitch, cricket bays. Many golf courses locally (including 'Old Course'); local public leisure complex with indoor swimming pool.

Accommodation: 100% of first years who want it are in university accommodation, 67% of all undergraduates. 2800 places available: 66% are full-board places, £92-£126 per week, term time or longer; 33% are self-catering places at £45-£86 pw. Students live in privately owned accommodation for 1+ years: rents £55-£90 pw self-catering. Under 5% of first degree students live at home.

Living expenses budget: No university-recommended minimum.

Term time work: University allows term-time work for full-time students. Limited work on campus as cleaners etc.

Financial help: Total available £247,000 government funds, 600+ students helped; £25,000 own funds, 100 helped; plus £10,000 other funds. Special help for single parents, mature students and self-financing students. £50,000 used to provide short-term loans for 300 students. Apply for help to Student Support Services (email: access(at)st.andrews.ac.uk) for bursaries to access(at)st.andrews.ack.uk

Tuition fees: Scottish and EU students pay no fees during course; other UK home students up to £1200 pa for first degrees (except in 4th year). in 2005. International students pay £10,300 pa (classroom or lab), £13,400 (pre-clinical).