University of St Andrews Applicant Thread 2026
The Official University of St Andrews 2026 Applicant Thread
Hi
This is the thread for people who are thinking of applying to St Andrews for 2026!
Meet and chat to other people applying here.
Here are a few suggested opening questions, but ask whatever you want regarding St Andrews!
1) What A Levels are you doing (or other eligible qualifications)?
2) What course at St Andrews do you have your eyes on? And why?
3) What grades did you get/are you predicted to get at GCSE and Sixth Form?
4) Why St Andrews specifically?
5) Will you be attending any Open Days?
6) How are you feeling about starting University?
7) Other unis you're interested in?
You can find a directory linking to all of the other university applicant threads here
Website:
General TSR rules (read before posting in this thread):
(1) Please don't ask for or post group chat links along with any social media contact details both in this thread and via PM. Such posts will be caught by our automatic system and removed.
(2) Please don't ask for or post interview questions.
(3) Be kind and supportive to each other
You may be watching this thread automatically because of the details you gave us when you registered. To unwatch this thread just hit the unwatch button at the top of the page.
Hi
This is the thread for people who are thinking of applying to St Andrews for 2026!
Meet and chat to other people applying here.
Here are a few suggested opening questions, but ask whatever you want regarding St Andrews!
1) What A Levels are you doing (or other eligible qualifications)?
2) What course at St Andrews do you have your eyes on? And why?
3) What grades did you get/are you predicted to get at GCSE and Sixth Form?
4) Why St Andrews specifically?
5) Will you be attending any Open Days?
6) How are you feeling about starting University?
7) Other unis you're interested in?
You can find a directory linking to all of the other university applicant threads here
Website:
General TSR rules (read before posting in this thread):
(1) Please don't ask for or post group chat links along with any social media contact details both in this thread and via PM. Such posts will be caught by our automatic system and removed.
(2) Please don't ask for or post interview questions.
(3) Be kind and supportive to each other
You may be watching this thread automatically because of the details you gave us when you registered. To unwatch this thread just hit the unwatch button at the top of the page.
(edited 2 months ago)
Scroll to see replies
Reply 1
A quick post primarily for applicants with Scotland (Home) fee status. I'm the parent of an applicant who was successful last year and therefore has joined St Andrews in Sept 2025.
The bottom line is that you should expect to have a long wait to hear about any offer from St Andrews even if you apply really early. From our experience and the experience of others in a Scottish school that is lucky enough to send quite a few students to St Andrews each year.
The reason for saying this is that I know how disheartening it becomes waiting for an offer when all of your others are in. Hearing nothing is in this case kind of good news. As others have noted in previous year's threads it does get rather brutal for Scottish students in the Spring, waiting to hear from St Andrews and lots of absolutely brilliant students won't get offers.
They really do read personal statements very carefully!
Good luck. I'm glad not to be going through that wait again!
The bottom line is that you should expect to have a long wait to hear about any offer from St Andrews even if you apply really early. From our experience and the experience of others in a Scottish school that is lucky enough to send quite a few students to St Andrews each year.
•
International students will likely get offers quite swiftly (they are "worth" the most to the Uni.
•
Rest of the UK students will likely hear next (they are "worth" less than international but more than Scotland (Home) students)
•
Scotland (Home) students should expect to wait right up until very close to the cutoff date, albeit some will hear earlier.
The reason for saying this is that I know how disheartening it becomes waiting for an offer when all of your others are in. Hearing nothing is in this case kind of good news. As others have noted in previous year's threads it does get rather brutal for Scottish students in the Spring, waiting to hear from St Andrews and lots of absolutely brilliant students won't get offers.
They really do read personal statements very carefully!
Good luck. I'm glad not to be going through that wait again!
Reply 2
St Andrews mix is roughly 1/3 rd Scots, 1/3rd RUK & 1/3 rd InternationalIt’s certainly true that International students receive very prompt offers. There are some who complain aboutit but it’s just a fact of life as they pay so much more than other students.In terms of offers, it’s often department specific. If you look back at previous years, some Scots students gotearly offers. One of mine is currently at StA’s & got their offer in February whilst others has to wait up to thedeadline (& then got rejected which is brutal).For people applying this year, I’d recommend familiarising yourself with the admissions statistics. StAndrews is a small university and well over subscribed. Some say it’s thus harder to get into than Oxbridge.As the poster above said they do put a lot of influence on a strong Personal Statement (now in questionformat but essentially the same) Also be aware that they do seem to start by offering places to those withthe highest predicted grades ie. 4 A stars at A level or all A’s at Advanced Higher. This can explain the longwait for some to get an offer as it’s only once someone who has had an offer turns it down that they can offerit to someone else.Good luck, it’s a fantastic university where students seem to thrive.
Reply 3
Any other computing students?
Reply 4
Original post
by AnonymousA quick post primarily for applicants with Scotland (Home) fee status. I'm the parent of an applicant who was successful last year and therefore has joined St Andrews in Sept 2025.
The bottom line is that you should expect to have a long wait to hear about any offer from St Andrews even if you apply really early. From our experience and the experience of others in a Scottish school that is lucky enough to send quite a few students to St Andrews each year.
The reason for saying this is that I know how disheartening it becomes waiting for an offer when all of your others are in. Hearing nothing is in this case kind of good news. As others have noted in previous year's threads it does get rather brutal for Scottish students in the Spring, waiting to hear from St Andrews and lots of absolutely brilliant students won't get offers.
They really do read personal statements very carefully!
Good luck. I'm glad not to be going through that wait again!
The bottom line is that you should expect to have a long wait to hear about any offer from St Andrews even if you apply really early. From our experience and the experience of others in a Scottish school that is lucky enough to send quite a few students to St Andrews each year.
•
International students will likely get offers quite swiftly (they are "worth" the most to the Uni.
•
Rest of the UK students will likely hear next (they are "worth" less than international but more than Scotland (Home) students)
•
Scotland (Home) students should expect to wait right up until very close to the cutoff date, albeit some will hear earlier.
The reason for saying this is that I know how disheartening it becomes waiting for an offer when all of your others are in. Hearing nothing is in this case kind of good news. As others have noted in previous year's threads it does get rather brutal for Scottish students in the Spring, waiting to hear from St Andrews and lots of absolutely brilliant students won't get offers.
They really do read personal statements very carefully!
Good luck. I'm glad not to be going through that wait again!
Actually the best recent year estimates for proportion of undergraduate students in each fee status category are:
Scotland (Home) 25%
Rest of the UK (RUK) 30%
International (Overseas) 45%
The Scottish Government puts strict limits on the number of Scottish students at St Andrews and all other Scottish universities because it is paying the full tuition fees. St Andrews is particularly skewed towards international students and has been for a few decades.
When you see offer/application percentage data for St Andrews, be very careful in its interpretation because the overall average is likely masking huge differences between fee status groups!
Reply 5
Is anyone going to the open day on Saturday? I just need to go to the admissions desk as I've been to the talks already but not sure where it will be. Does anyone know? Also are there departmental teams available to ask questions (ie. Edinburgh had desks set out where you could go and talk to staff members for each subject, separate from the talks)? In spring we just went to all the talks but then ran out of time! Thanks x
Reply 6
Hey everyone!
How are you all feeling? Is anyone applying for any courses with an early deadline (October 15th)? It’s a week to go, so just wanted to check in and see how you're feeling 😄
If you need some help with your personal statement, we have a whole forum dedicated to your questions (just don't post any part of your statement!), and some example statements in our PS library.
What are your main questions?
If you're not applying early, have you started looking around at booking any open days yet? If so, how are they going? Have you visited St Andrews yet?
Good luck everyone
How are you all feeling? Is anyone applying for any courses with an early deadline (October 15th)? It’s a week to go, so just wanted to check in and see how you're feeling 😄
If you need some help with your personal statement, we have a whole forum dedicated to your questions (just don't post any part of your statement!), and some example statements in our PS library.
What are your main questions?
If you're not applying early, have you started looking around at booking any open days yet? If so, how are they going? Have you visited St Andrews yet?
Good luck everyone
Reply 7
Original post
by Evil HomerThe Official University of St Andrews 2026 Applicant Thread
Hi
This is the thread for people who are thinking of applying to St Andrews for 2026!
Meet and chat to other people applying here.
Here are a few suggested opening questions, but ask whatever you want regarding St Andrews!
1) What A Levels are you doing (or other eligible qualifications)?
2) What course at St Andrews do you have your eyes on? And why?
3) What grades did you get/are you predicted to get at GCSE and Sixth Form?
4) Why St Andrews specifically?
5) Will you be attending any Open Days?
6) How are you feeling about starting University?
7) Other unis you're interested in?
You can find a directory linking to all of the other university applicant threads here
Website:
General TSR rules (read before posting in this thread):
(1) Please don't ask for or post group chat links along with any social media contact details both in this thread and via PM. Such posts will be caught by our automatic system and removed.
(2) Please don't ask for or post interview questions.
(3) Be kind and supportive to each other
You may be watching this thread automatically because of the details you gave us when you registered. To unwatch this thread just hit the unwatch button at the top of the page.
Hi
This is the thread for people who are thinking of applying to St Andrews for 2026!
Meet and chat to other people applying here.
Here are a few suggested opening questions, but ask whatever you want regarding St Andrews!
1) What A Levels are you doing (or other eligible qualifications)?
2) What course at St Andrews do you have your eyes on? And why?
3) What grades did you get/are you predicted to get at GCSE and Sixth Form?
4) Why St Andrews specifically?
5) Will you be attending any Open Days?
6) How are you feeling about starting University?
7) Other unis you're interested in?
You can find a directory linking to all of the other university applicant threads here
Website:
General TSR rules (read before posting in this thread):
(1) Please don't ask for or post group chat links along with any social media contact details both in this thread and via PM. Such posts will be caught by our automatic system and removed.
(2) Please don't ask for or post interview questions.
(3) Be kind and supportive to each other
You may be watching this thread automatically because of the details you gave us when you registered. To unwatch this thread just hit the unwatch button at the top of the page.
I'm not applying this year but will be applying for direct entry to second year maths at the end of next year and these are my stats
1) Maths, Further maths, AEA in Maths, Physics, Comp Sci, Chem
2) Direct entry to second year because it's maths and it's difficult
3) Got 9999998888 A at GCSE and don't have predicteds but my minimum expected grades for the 4 I'm taking with school are A*, I'm certain about A* in AEA on top of that and A*/A in chem.
4) St Andrews because of league tables tbh. It's not my first choice.
5) No, I live very far away
6) Feeling good, hope I'll meet some nice people there
7) Cambridge, Imperial, KCL and Southampton
Reply 8
Original post
by StrawberryDreamsHey everyone!
How are you all feeling? Is anyone applying for any courses with an early deadline (October 15th)? It’s a week to go, so just wanted to check in and see how you're feeling 😄
If you need some help with your personal statement, we have a whole forum dedicated to your questions (just don't post any part of your statement!), and some example statements in our PS library.
What are your main questions?
If you're not applying early, have you started looking around at booking any open days yet? If so, how are they going? Have you visited St Andrews yet?
Good luck everyone
How are you all feeling? Is anyone applying for any courses with an early deadline (October 15th)? It’s a week to go, so just wanted to check in and see how you're feeling 😄
If you need some help with your personal statement, we have a whole forum dedicated to your questions (just don't post any part of your statement!), and some example statements in our PS library.
What are your main questions?
If you're not applying early, have you started looking around at booking any open days yet? If so, how are they going? Have you visited St Andrews yet?
Good luck everyone
I just applied earlier this week from the US via the Common App. I really appreciated the 800 word PS this year and hope it will help my application shine. Is it true that StA will not consider the Common App Activities List and the seperate PS we write for American unis? What is the expected turn-around time for an application from the US?
Reply 9
1) What A Levels are you doing (or other eligible qualifications)?
Not A-levels but SQA qualifications. ADVH Maths, ADVH Biology, (crash) H Physics, FA Scientific Technologies and OU YASS Contemporary Topics in Science.
2) What course at St Andrews do you have your eyes on? And why?
Biology or mathematics. Still undecided as to which I'll go for. I'm writing a PS for both and will most likely go for the one that I think is strongest. In an ideal world I'd get into St As and then be able to switch from a single honours to their joint honours in bio and maths. As for why, they're the two subjects I find the most interesting.
3) What grades did you get/are you predicted to get at GCSE and Sixth Form?
All As in Nat5s: English, Maths, Computing Science, Biology, Chemistry, Applications of Maths, Geography.
All As in Highers: English, Maths, Computing Science, Biology, Chemistry.
Passes in NPA 6 Scientific Technologies and NPA 5 Photography.
4) Why St Andrews specifically?
Like many other people I'd imagine, the reputation and its league table standings. I do also like the town (having visited it on multiple occasions) and it's been my top choice of uni since I was 13, I think.
5) Will you be attending any Open Days?
Already have. I attended the one on the 11th and thoroughly enjoyed myself!
6) How are you feeling about starting University?
Pretty excited. I'm ready to get away from the school I go to. Nice to start a new chapter in my life too.
7) Other unis you're interested in?
Eh. Still not 100% sure. Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, I think.
Not A-levels but SQA qualifications. ADVH Maths, ADVH Biology, (crash) H Physics, FA Scientific Technologies and OU YASS Contemporary Topics in Science.
2) What course at St Andrews do you have your eyes on? And why?
Biology or mathematics. Still undecided as to which I'll go for. I'm writing a PS for both and will most likely go for the one that I think is strongest. In an ideal world I'd get into St As and then be able to switch from a single honours to their joint honours in bio and maths. As for why, they're the two subjects I find the most interesting.
3) What grades did you get/are you predicted to get at GCSE and Sixth Form?
All As in Nat5s: English, Maths, Computing Science, Biology, Chemistry, Applications of Maths, Geography.
All As in Highers: English, Maths, Computing Science, Biology, Chemistry.
Passes in NPA 6 Scientific Technologies and NPA 5 Photography.
4) Why St Andrews specifically?
Like many other people I'd imagine, the reputation and its league table standings. I do also like the town (having visited it on multiple occasions) and it's been my top choice of uni since I was 13, I think.
5) Will you be attending any Open Days?
Already have. I attended the one on the 11th and thoroughly enjoyed myself!
6) How are you feeling about starting University?
Pretty excited. I'm ready to get away from the school I go to. Nice to start a new chapter in my life too.
7) Other unis you're interested in?
Eh. Still not 100% sure. Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, I think.
Reply 10
No way this guy is coming st andrews too
Reply 11
For international students, when will St. Andrews begin to send out the first round of offers? I applied in early October and was hoping for a general timeline.
Reply 12
Hello I applied to Saint Andrews via common app around august 12th with them staring to look at application on September 5th when do you think they start sending out decisions?
Reply 13
Original post
by AnonymousHello I applied to Saint Andrews via common app around august 12th with them staring to look at application on September 5th when do you think they start sending out decisions?
Good luck. How do you know they started to review applications on 5 September? Good for you for getting in your application so early. The new 800 word Common App personal statement really had me rethink and rework my PS so I was not ready to submit it until early October and was hoping to hear sooner than later. Now, I am little discouraged that with you not hearing after submitting over two months ago, that I will be waiting for some time.
Reply 14
Original post
by AnonymousFor international students, when will St. Andrews begin to send out the first round of offers? I applied in early October and was hoping for a general timeline.
Reply 15
Original post
by AnonymousJust saw an offer for International Relations.
That's great. Do you know when this person submitted his or her application?
Reply 16
Hello! I applied for the MSc Marine Mammal Science course. I’m interested in St. Andrews because a lot of the research focuses on killer whales, which is what I would like to do as well. I’m an international student, so I’d like to attend a virtual open day, but I’m not sure if I’ll be able to.
I submitted my application in early September, but the letter of recommendation and and supplemental information was submitted the end of September. Haven’t heard anything yet and I’m very nervous!
I submitted my application in early September, but the letter of recommendation and and supplemental information was submitted the end of September. Haven’t heard anything yet and I’m very nervous!
Reply 17
Original post
by AnonymousThat's great. Do you know when this person submitted his or her application?
I dont know. Student is attending high school in US so International.
Reply 18
Original post
by AnonymousJust saw an offer for International Relations.
Where did you see this? Thanks!
Reply 19
Original post
by AnonymousJust saw an offer for International Relations.
Where did you see this?
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