Why are the grade requirements for Computer Science in St Andrews quite low?

I was looking at the ranking tables for computer science degrees and compared to the rest of the top 10, the University of St Andrews have quite the low grade requirements with ABB (A in Maths) for Computer Science. Why is that?

It isn't a particularly great uni, but it does have a lot of history, and has been a magnet for the rich for centuries.

It isn't a particularly great uni, but it does have a lot of history, and has been a magnet for the rich for centuries.

i mean if you define 'great' by research output no it isn't particularly great but that's because it's an undergrad focused uni...

i mean if you define 'great' by research output no it isn't particularly great but that's because it's an undergrad focused uni...

The feedback I have been given (anecdotal evidence) is that it looked dated and second rate compared to Bristol. But that is just one opinion.

Most likely they just don't get a huge amount of applicants for that course in particular, so they may hope that having lower entry requirements may increase the amount of applicants for that course.

St Andrews is actually a very competitive uni to get into. The grade requirements are set as a minimum of what they expect and most applicants will exceed these requirements. The admission process relies heavily on the personal statement and references.

Don't think a sample size of one is very helpful to applicants.

Like all unis, St A has its pros and cons

It has some nice buildings, and appeals to rich students with excellent grades (inflated somewhat by royal connections). A really boring place to spend 3 years though. I hope students there look out for one another.

I don’t think you should really be giving opinions on the place when you don’t even know that most students there do a 4 year degree😬

I was looking at the ranking tables for computer science degrees and compared to the rest of the top 10, the University of St Andrews have quite the low grade requirements with ABB (A in Maths) for Computer Science. Why is that?

I did know, just made an error. I am free to give opinions on St Andrews on TSR. This is not Iran.

Competitive or not, it is a rather superficial uni, and it is doing badly in the THES World ranking.

I was looking at the ranking tables for computer science degrees and compared to the rest of the top 10, the University of St Andrews have quite the low grade requirements with ABB (A in Maths) for Computer Science. Why is that?

Isn't that with a contextual offer? The standard offer is AAA, and it's actually rare for me to see someone with that grades - the majority do have A*s.

Interesting that you are prepared to give these opinions when you've admitted that you know very little about the uni. What on earth is your evidence that it is a superficial uni? It is well regarded for its teaching and does very well for student satisfaction. It comes out lower in rankings based on research as it is a small university and so has fewer published papers. But that is probably of more importance at post-grad level

The THES rankings make a correct for the size of institution and subjects. LSE is also small, yet performs a lot better. Play the ball, not the poster.