The town

St Andrews provides a unique location for a very special university. Wherever you walk you are reminded of its rich and colourful history with buildings both ancient and modern.

The beautiful unspoilt beaches with fresh clean air and wide expanse of sky juxtapose well with the classroom or laboratory. You can take a quiet thoughtful stroll or a bracing walk with a group of friends along the two unbroken miles of the West Sands. You can also take to the water as a surfer on the waves of the East Sands or enjoy many other water sports such as sailing, sea kayaking, or windsurfing. A walk to the end of the stone pier offers a spectacular experience.

St Andrews is a small town, and while much safer when compared to larger cities, you will still need to exercise common sense with regard to your personal physical and social safety. The University funds a night bus which helps get you home safely seven nights a week from 10pm until 2am.

Golf

St Andrews is the home of golf and is where it was first invented. There are ample opportunities for the keen golfer with seven local courses which often host major international tournaments.

Beyond St Andrews

Beyond St Andrews, you can nip down to Anstruther (9 miles / 14km away) for fish and chips at the town’s award-winning fish bar. Dundee, the nearest city, is only 13 miles / 21km away, and Edinburgh is an hour by train.

There are express buses that run to major Scottish cities, almost hourly. Naturally there are many opportunities to travel north to the stunning Highlands and Islands for which Scotland is world-renowned.

Climate

This part of Fife, the East Neuk, enjoys a microclimate of mild sunny summer days with contrasting blustery rain, crisp frosts and occasional snow in winter. It is much drier than western parts of the country with strong winds often blowing in off the North Sea.