Postgraduate athletes
Take your sporting career beyond your senior year of college and study at a world-leading university.
St Andrews offers students a world-class academic education and a professionally run sports programme as part of the truly unique student experience.
The University
Founded in the 15th century, St Andrews is Scotland’s first university and the third oldest in the English speaking world. It stands for research and teaching of the highest quality and the pursuit of knowledge for the common good.
World Leading
St Andrews is one of the world’s most ancient universities; a world leader in education, internationally Scottish, independent, entrepreneurial and aiming to be a beacon for diversity and social responsibility.
The University’s fundamental goal remains to attract and nurture the most promising students from around the world, and provide an environment in which they can produce their best work for maximum societal benefit.
We consistently rank highly in both national and global league tables, with the QS World University Rankings 2024 placing us within the top 100 world universities.
Teaching quality
The University was named the top university in the UK by the Guardian University Guide 2024 and Scottish University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024.
Research excellence
The most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF) in 2021 ranked the University of St Andrews amongst the highest quality in the country. More than 88% of research carried out by the University was classed as world-leading or internationally excellent.
Employment
The University’s fantastic reputation throughout the world makes St Andrews graduates highly valued by employers. According to the most recent Graduate Outcomes survey (2018-2019), 92% of our undergraduate first-degree level graduates were in either full-time employment or further study.
With over six centuries of heritage, world-class teaching and facilities that are both historic and state-of-the-art, St Andrews offers an outstanding education.
Location
St Andrews is a unique place to study and live and boasts a rich and colourful history, which you are reminded of whenever you walk along the three main streets at the heart of this historic town.
Add in the wide variety of bars and restaurants set amongst the medieval ruins and ancient University buildings, and the beautiful beaches that blend in with the world famous links courses at the Home of Golf, you have a destination that is truly unique and one that differentiates us from any other University in the country.
University life
Nestled on the east coast of Scotland, life here is centred around an internationally renowned teaching system. However, it is the huge range of additional opportunities only St Andrews can provide which creates a unique experience. Our students leave St Andrews with an education that goes far beyond their degree.
High student satisfaction
The University of St Andrews is top in the UK for student academic experience with more than 89% of St Andrews final year students giving the University top marks for the quality of the learning and teaching experience, according to the results of the National Student Survey 2022.
According to the Complete University Guide 2023, students at the University of St Andrews are the most satisfied in the UK.
Traditions
The University of St Andrews is host to an array of traditions. These traditions create a community and result in a truly unique student experience.
Red gown and pier walk
Perhaps the most notable tradition is the red academic gown. Gowns are usually worn at formal occasions and for the pier walk.
The Pier Walk is one of the oldest traditions in St Andrews. Every Sunday, after chapel service, students in their red gowns walk down to the end of the pier, climb up the ladder and walk back along the top.
Academic families
Like many alumni before you, you can join an academic family. This is a spontaneous tradition where older students adopt first-year students as ‘children’. ‘Parents’ then help guide their children in a system of mentoring. This is a fantastic way for you to meet new people. Many of the friendships that begin as part of the academic family tradition continue throughout and after university.
Raisin Weekend
The mentoring provided by your academic family culminates in Raisin Weekend. This is a student-led event where the ‘children’ are entertained by their ‘parents’ and encouraged to play pranks and games. On Raisin Monday, hundreds of first-year students, are dressed in fancy dress by their academic parents. They then gather in St Salvator’s Quad for the annual Raisin Monday foam fight.
May Dip and soakings
Towards the end of the academic year, you may find yourself partaking in the May Dip. A tradition which sees hundreds of students plunging into the North Sea at dawn on the first of May. This spectacular tradition is said to promote good luck in exams.
Once your final undergraduate exam has finished there is one final tradition, soakings. Friends will meet you after your last exam and shower you with cold water. This is a very proud and invigorating moment and provides a great way to end the exam period.
Performance sport
The University is committed to attracting high academic achievers with a talent for sport to come to study at St Andrews.
The Performance Sport programme aims to attract and support the very best athletes at St Andrews who aspire to gain a world-class education while competing at an elite sporting level.
Performance teams
The University supports a small number of targeted performance teams, each benefiting from increased support and a dedicated sport-specific Director or Performance Coach. This support includes sport science interventions such as Strength and Conditioning and performance analysis, increased funding and greater access to training facilities.
Many of our top teams compete at British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Premier League level and most in the top tier within Scotland. Support is in place to help increase the amount of teams competing at the highest level of British student sport, with the aim of winning titles. Some performance teams also compete in national competition to help give our students the most extensive and challenging experience possible.
Performance programmes
Compete in the UK, regardless of the number of years played in the NCAA/NAIA – there is no 4-year eligibility requirement.
What attracted you to St Andrews?
I think it was the history and the reputation of the place. As soon as you have the University of St Andrews on your cv it really carries a lot of weight.
Byron Bowes, Postgraduate Rugby Scholar (University of Cape Town)
Sports scholarships and awards
Our sports scholarships and awards have been developed to attract and then financially support exceptional students who wish to continue their sport at a high level whilst furthering their education at St Andrews.
Available scholarships
Sports scholarships are available across our performance teams and to exceptional individuals competing at an elite level (usually internationally depending on the sport and nationality).
Talented golfers may also apply for the prestigious Arnold Palmer Scholarship or an R&A Bursary.
I believe [St Andrews] offers a unique experience for students and it also has a reputation for world-class teaching. It is a beautiful place to be doing my masters.
Ana Hernandez Gil, St Leonards College Masters Scholar | Basketball (Hofstra University New York City)
There is a lot of support across all areas, both academically and in sport. Everyone here wants you to do well. They make it easy for you to succeed, if you take the opportunities that you are being presented with. This environment really sets you up for success.
Gerard Pieterse, St Leonards College Masters Scholar | Rugby (University of Cape Town)
Why St Andrews – a sport scholar’s perspective
The university just offers everything, great academics and facilities to develop your personal value. Also meeting people from different places is what I was excited for when coming here.
William Draper, St Leonards College Masters Scholar | 600 Golf Club Scholar (California Polytechnic State University)