Steeped in tradition, the University of St. Andrews is among the oldest in the English-speaking world. The academic institution is known for its impressive buildings spread around fields and floral displays. Visit its museums to see collections that inspire the students of this venerable university.
Read the various plaques giving context to the buildings. See the Schools and United College, which was one of the first parts of the university to be built. Enter the majestic structures to see the old-fashioned lecture theatres and dining halls. These buildings stand around St. Salvator’s Quadrangle. Access the large plaza via a hidden archway beneath the tower of St. Salvator’s Chapel.
Enter this religious site and appreciate the tranquil setting. Its black-and-white tiled floor, wooden wall fixtures and religious artworks generate an inviting atmosphere. Visit the other collegiate chapel of St. Leonard’s.
Relax with a drink at a campus restaurant and watch the students and professors go by. Discover the café that claims to be the spot where Prince William and Kate Middleton first met as students.
Imagine being a scholar living in the university halls. Note the diversity of architectural styles for the student accommodation, from brutalist to Gothic Revival.
Spend some time in the Museum of the University of St. Andrews, which has more than 112,000 items. Its four galleries display items ranging from medieval maces and stained-glass windows to golf relics. See natural history exhibits in the Bell Pettigrew Museum and university history in the Gateway Galleries.
Learn about the university’s long-lived traditions. Some students wear distinctive red gowns the way they wear them indicates their years of studies. Hear about Raisin Weekend, when first-year “bejants” present a gift to their third-year academic “parents.”
Visit the university between morning and late afternoon on any day year-round. The University of St. Andrews campus is spread out across the centre of the city. Numerous bus stops line the streets at the various entrances to the university.
