Student Ambassador scheme

The Student Ambassador scheme is programme aimed at students who share a passion for the University and feel able to share their knowledge and experience to motivate and encourage other young people to consider higher education.

Student Ambassadors play a crucial role in a wide range of student experience and outreach activities. This includes visiting days, virtual sessions and Widening Participation programmes the University supports around Fife and the UK. Ambassadors also support a variety of events for faculties and service units across the University.

The program is designed to be flexible around studies and we welcome students – both undergraduate and postgraduate - from all backgrounds to consider submitting an application to the scheme.

Representing the University of St Andrews through the Ambassador Scheme is an exciting and rewarding way to develop employability skills and gain relevant work experience while meeting other students from different backgrounds

Why become an ambassador?

Being a Student Ambassador is a deeply rewarding opportunity both on a personal level and also in terms of your career prospects after leaving St Andrews.

Develop your skills

As a Student Ambassador you have the opportunity to get involved with many different types of work allowing you to develop skills you already have as well as gain new ones. Our Ambassadors are typically confident, dynamic and strong communicators. Such skills may include;   

  • Public speaking
  • Communication and interpersonal skills
  • Presentation skills
  • Team work
  • Office experience
  • Networking

Influence

As a Student Ambassador you are the face of the University and as part of this role, you will relay information about your St Andrews experience to the prospective students of tomorrow. You will be highly influential in decisions that have a big impact on the University including a student's decision to study with us.

Participation

Alongside our visiting days, the Ambassador scheme offers a fantastic opportunity to get involved with the University's many widening participation and outreach programmes. Working with young people across Fife and the UK on projects like First Chances and Space School are among the most rewarding experiences you can have as a St Andrews student. Every year individuals who have participated in these schemes in years gone by join St Andrews, with fond memories of times spent here when they were younger. 

Progression

As Ambassadors progress through the scheme, they are entrusted with additional responsibilities which offer greater chances for personal development and the development of leadership skills. The Ambassador handbook gives further details of the progression process and overview of each position. 

Ambassador projects

As the official student representatives for the University, the Student Ambassadors are involved in a wide range of projects, events, and activities. While the following list is not exhaustive, it details a number of the main project focused on student experience and widening access and participation.

Visiting and offer holder days

The student Ambassadors are heavily involved in the University’s visiting days and offer holder events, instantly recognisable by their red t-shirts and gowns!

Responsibilities on these days involve leading town and accommodation tours, assisting academics in subject talks, managing the registration desk and directing visitors around the town.

Ask a student

Ask a student is an email based service which allows prospective students to contact current students (Ambassadors) to ask any questions they might have about student life in St Andrews.

The Principal Team will connect prospective students with the most appropriate Ambassador to answer their question.

Talk and tour

The University welcomes prospective students and their families to St Andrews every week, not just on visiting days!

Visitors can book onto a ‘Talk and Tour’, which begins with a 1 hour tour of the town led by a Student Ambassador, followed by a 1 hour talk in the Admissions building led by a member of the Admissions team.

While walking their route, Ambassadors are expected to talk to visitors, answer their questions, and share their personal experience of being a student at St Andrews.

Experienced guides may apply to join the advanced tour team, who are given the opportunity to deliver personalised tours for special guests to the University.

Widening access and participation

After an application process, Student Ambassadors can support the Admissions department with several of the University’s widening access and participation initiatives and projects aimed at young people in Fife and across the UK.

The main goal of these initiatives is to help those from under-represented groups achieve their full potential with the ultimate goal of accessing higher education. 

Because these projects can change year-on-year depending on being awarded external funding, it is hard to provide a comprehensive list of projects. However, in the past, Student Ambassadors have:

  • Worked on annual day-long and longer residential summer schools for school pupils
  • Tutored groups of students in specific subjects online via Teams
  • Helped to facilitate visits to the University from underrepresented groups in higher education, such as care-experienced pupils

Other examples

Alongside more regular opportunities, Ambassadors will sometimes be requested by individual Schools or Units to help out with various projects and events. In the past, Student Ambassadors have:

  • Featured in Development’s annual festive video sent to alumni and posted on social media.
  • Taken part in photoshoots for the University prospectus and general advertising.
  • Worked at launch events for University fundraising initiatives.
  • Sat on student panels for various organisations.