The University of St Andrews is Scotland's oldest university, founded in 1413 on the Fife coast. It is best known for small-group teaching, top-three UK league table positions and one of the highest student satisfaction scores in the country. Choose it for a close-knit academic town rather than a big city.
St Andrews, United Kingdom
Official website: st-andrews.ac.uk
#104
Top 3 (Guardian and Times league tables)
1413 — third-oldest in the English-speaking world
Consistently top 5 in the National Student Survey
£26,000 – £35,000
International students, undergraduate and taught Master's
£11,000 – £14,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on st-andrews.ac.uk before you apply.
MSc Finance
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 94
MSc Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 94
MLitt International Security Studies
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 94
MSc Management
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 94
MA (Hons) International Relations
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 92
Top 3 in UK league tables — regularly ahead of Oxford and Cambridge in the Guardian.
International relations — one of the UK's most respected departments for the subject.
Founded in 1413 — Scotland's first university, with medieval quads still in use.
Over 40% of students come from outside the UK, giving classes a global mix.
Finance graduates enter investment banking and asset management in London and Edinburgh.
International relations alumni work in the UN, foreign ministries, think tanks and NGOs.
Computer science graduates join tech firms and Edinburgh's fintech scene.
A strong share of graduates continue to PhDs at St Andrews, Oxbridge and US universities.
Undergrad
14 Jan 2027
Postgrad
Rolling
The university is spread across the town itself rather than a single campus. Lecture halls, libraries and student halls sit among three medieval streets and the seafront.
St Andrews is a town of about 17,000 people, where students make up a third of the population. Edinburgh is 90 minutes away by train for city weekends.
CAS from the University of St Andrews
Proof of funds for fees and living costs
English test at B2 level or above
TB test certificate, if required
Immigration Health Surcharge payment
Valid passport with blank pages
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS with an equal-consideration deadline of 14 January 2027 for September 2027 entry. Taught postgraduate courses use rolling admissions, but popular programmes such as Finance and International Relations can close early, so apply by March.
St Andrews has a single main intake in September for both undergraduate and postgraduate study. A few research degrees allow a January start by arrangement with the school, so check with the department if you need one.
You need a Student route visa. The university issues your CAS after you accept an unconditional offer and meet any deposit conditions. Apply online up to six months before your course begins and budget for the Immigration Health Surcharge.
Finance, management, international relations and computer science draw the most applicants. Master's courses typically ask for a 2:1 or equivalent and IELTS 7.0. Undergraduate offers are usually AAA to AAB or equivalent, and the four-year Scottish honours degree lets you combine subjects in your first two years.
Yes. St Andrews runs international undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships that reduce tuition, alongside subject-specific awards from individual schools. Master's applicants from eligible countries can also apply for Chevening. Check the university's scholarships pages, as awards and deadlines change each cycle.
