First Pier Walk since 2019 (Photo credit: Gayle McIntyre)

St Andrews in the News

September 2021

Welcome to the September edition of St Andrews in the News – and an especially warm welcome to our new Family Programme members of the incoming Class of 2025.

We hope you enjoy this month’s edition, which features news, live and watch-again events and fascinating alumni stories and experiences. Please contact us if you would like to contribute your story, video or podcast to share with our online community.

St Andrews makes history by topping definitive UK university ranking

The University of St Andrews has been ranked the top university in the United Kingdom, according to The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022 published today (17 September 2021).

It is the first time in the near 30-year history of the definitive Guide, and UK university league tables in general, that a university other than Oxford or Cambridge has topped the rankings.

St Andrews took first place this year by virtue of its strong performances in student satisfaction, research, teaching quality, entry standards and graduate outcomes.

The University has been consistently amongst the top three in the Times and Sunday Times Guide in recent years. The methodology used by the Guide editors to rank the UK’s universities has not changed this year.

Guide Editor Alastair McCall, said: “St Andrews’ achievement in topping our institutional table should not be underestimated. Never before has any university other than Cambridge and Oxford finished top of our – or any other – domestic ranking of universities.

“It is no fluke. The university has been closing in on the Oxbridge duopoly for several years, buoyed by outstanding levels of student satisfaction which have peaked during the past year of pandemic disruption on campus. The lead St Andrews now has over other universities in this key area of university performance is remarkable.

“Its wider contribution as a centre of teaching and outstanding research marks it out as a global player in the international higher education marketplace.

Sanctuary for Afghan scholars

Members of the University community – in common with people all over the world – have been shocked by the recent footage of citizens trying to flee Afghanistan. It is also harrowing to think of those who couldn’t get out and are now potentially being targeted by the new regime.

You can help in a number of ways to create the opportunity of a new life in St Andrews for Afghan academics at risk – to the ultimate benefit of us all.

Majority of returning students vaccinated

Returns from a recent survey of new and returning students found that almost all who are arriving in St Andrews for the new academic year have been vaccinated against Covid-19.

St Andrews Prize for the Environment Final

The finalists for the 2021 St Andrews Prize for the Environment have been announced.

Planet Indonesia, Snowchange Cooperative and Cities Without Hunger Brazil will compete for the $100,000 prize, which will be awarded in an online ceremony on Tuesday 5 October 2021.

We are grateful to the generous consortium of donors who have made the 2021 St Andrews Prize possible.

The 150th Open, 2022

We are delighted to invite alumni, friends and supporters to a supplementary programme of activities we have planned during the 150th Open in St Andrews in 2022. There are unique opportunities and events on offer - including your opportunity to play at the iconic Kingsbarns Golf LInks - during a full week of festivities.

The return of the men’s Scottish Varsity Match

The return of what is believed to be the oldest varsity match in the world will take place on Saturday 25 September at the University of St Andrews. There are limited tickets available, but the event will also be live streamed.

Study UK Alumni Awards

Applications for the UK Alumni Awards are now open.

Did you study in the UK? Have you gone on to make a difference in your profession, community or country? If so, then apply to the Alumni Awards and you could be a 2021-2022 winner with the opportunity to raise your global profile, expand your professional network AND win a trip to the UK!

SaintsFunder

This month’s spotlight falls on the Blue Angels - the competitive arm of the Dance Club within Saints Sport. They are fundraising for the Blue Angels Bursary (managed confidentially through Registry and Student Services) which aims to break down barriers to dance by helping to cover competition costs.   

SaintsFunder is open to all students, alumni and University staff, so send your ideas to SaintsFunder@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Alumni stories

This month Belinda Wilkes (BSc 1978) describes how a lifelong passion for astrophysics that began at the University of St Andrews ultimately resulted in her appointment as Director of the Chandra X-Ray Centre, operated for NASA by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. 

Learning in the time of Covid

To mark the new academic year, a feature published on the University website describes the experiences of a range of staff and students when in-person teaching first resumed over a year ago.

Saints Talk programme

View the full programme for Martinmas Semester 2021, including the upcoming talk by Professor Will Cresswell - Understanding Bird Migration - on 21 September at 5.15 pm BST via Microsoft Teams.

View programme

Watch again

BAME Alumni Network and newsletter

We have plans to launch a BAME alumni network and newsletter. If you’re interested, please contact us at alumni@st-andrews.ac.uk and mark your email BAME Alumni Network.

Saints Walk

Our latest Saints Walk was submitted by Zoe Ui Choileain (Ancient History and Archaeology 2003) and features the walk from McIntosh Hall to Swallowgate. Zoe remembers: “I would take this walk every morning with Susan McGowan, returning home via Olivers for a hot chocolate and a sausage roll.”

Laidlaw Music Centre

Watch this introduction to the Music Centre and visit the website for news about live-streamed events.

Alumni Authors

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