The St Andrews Student Experience: Exchange and Study Abroad Q&A
With the next group of inbound exchange and study abroad students beginning to think about the student experience awaiting them in St Andrews, Global Office summer intern and St Andrews student Regina Moon has put together some useful information to help ensure incoming students make the most of their time with us.
What’s the weather like? Will it be cold?
St Andrews is one of the sunniest spots in Scotland. Snow is rare, but wind and rain can often make temperatures feel lower than they are. The university’s orientation page advises students to bring hooded waterproof jackets and boots. We recommend layers! Scotland can quite often have 4 seasons in one day, so layers are your friend.
What’s Freshers Week? Is there an app for orientation events?
Freshers week, known as orientation week, is the week prior to classes starting. This week is designed to welcome you to the university and allow you time to discover the town and settle into your new home. We highly recommend that you download the orientation app which lets you filter events by student type. The app will share all of the social activities taking place too. Some events not to miss are Advising & Matriculation, which is mandatory, and will most likely take place on Monday 8 September. The university will share more details soon. Other events we recommend you attend are the Sports and Societies Fayre which will be on Tuesday 9 September. The University of St Andrews has over 160 student societies, and even more sports teams, so there really is something for everyone. Here is a link to the societies and the sports facilities webpages to help get you started.
How do I meet new people?
As a diverse university, many students (especially inbound students during their first week) are generally open to connect and foster friendships. All throughout the academic year, but especially during orientation week, there are a variety of social mixers hosted by academic schools, societies, halls of residence, and the Student Union for networking purposes. Information about these events can be found via sources such as the Orientation App, the Union webpages, or the various Instagram pages for each school or society. Additionally, the University offers advice and support for students feeling lonely or homesick, and the International Students’ Committee offers advice and support along with a variety of social events throughout the year for all international students, including those on exchange.
Will there be activities where exchange and study abroad students can meet each other?
The Global Office will be hosting some sessions during orientation week including a session on academic culture, a health and safety induction and a pub quiz! We’re also hoping to host an inbound-outbound event where you can meet our University of St Andrews students who have studied abroad or are planning to study abroad in the near future.
Can study abroad and exchange students get involved in clubs and societies?
Yes, all clubs and societies accept new members at the start of each semester. You can find out more information about each club or society during the Freshers Fayre (semester 1) or Refreshers Fayre (semester 2) at the start of each semester, where each club will have their own booth. Past students best advice is to join societies. It’s the easiest way to meet new people and find your new community within the University of St Andrews. We have over 160 student societies so there is something for everyone. Make sure to check out the Dog Walking Society if you think you’ll miss your pet while abroad!
Do students need to try out for teams or can they just join?
Most sports clubs offer two types of teams – one for competitive sport, where students need to try out (often at the beginning of the semester), and one for recreational sport and learning that is open to all students who have a membership with the club. Though policies differ per club, you can generally find information online via their Instagram pages or offline at the Fresher’s Fayre during orientation week. All sports team and societies offer ‘Give it a Go’ sessions during the first month of semester so make sure to take advantage!
How do I get adopted by an academic family?
There are all sorts of ways to join an academic family, including clubs and societies, mutual friends, or even through meeting by chance on a night out. Additionally, there are also various matching events for people looking for academic families throughout the semester, especially nearing raisin. Here’s some more information on St Andrews unique traditions, including academic families.
Is there a hazing culture?
St Andrews is home to a variety of students with various beliefs and lifestyles. Though many students choose to participate in drinking culture as part of societies and academic families, there are also many groups who do not drink for personal and/or religious reasons. Most societies offer non-alcoholic options at their events. Each society has a student welfare officer who is present at all society events.
Is there a gym on campus?
The University Sports Centre (Saints Sport) offers a variety of sport facilities such as tennis courts, a climbing wall, and a gym. Gym memberships can be purchased either online or in-person, with discounted prices for those with sports club memberships. Students with gym memberships can also book personal training sessions at a price, and sports facilities and weekly sport classes for free.
What do most dorm rooms include? Should I pack things or buy things in St Andrews?
Though this differs per accommodation, most rooms will include either a double (queen sized) or single bed with a mattress and protector, a desk and chair, a desk-light, shelves, a wardrobe, and general waste and recycling bins. Kitchen facilities are equipped with a kettle, a microwave, a fridge and freezer, and cleaning supplies. Items such as bedding are not included but can either be pre-ordered via UniKitOut or bought in stores such as Tesco and Aldi in town. More information on what and what not to bring can be found in the What To Pack webpage. You cannot bring any electronic equipment other than a laptop.
Can I move into housing early? When do I find out about housing allocation?
Housing opens on Saturday 6 September 2025. Accommodation allocations are released on a rolling basis. Individual room numbers are released a few weeks before the new semester begins. You should not have anything shipped to your accommodation prior to move in day.
How is the catering? How many meals are included in my meal plan?
You can find the details of your individual halls of residence’s meal plan here. You can also find menus and allergens here. It’s possible to buy meal cards which you can ‘load up’ and use on a pay as you go service. If you are in a residence with a meal plan, you must eat in your halls of residence, you cannot eat in other halls of residence. If you are in a catered halls of residence, and cannot make it home in time for lunch, you may request a packed lunch the evening before. If you are in any doubt about whether to select a meal plan or not, Accommodation Services recommend that you select self-catered and then add a meal card later. This is possible in Agnes Blackadder, Powell, David Russell and Gannochy.
Can I have guests in my accommodation?
You are allowed to have a guest in your halls of residence for up to 2 nights. You must sign your guests in at reception for fire safety regulations.
How do I travel around St Andrews? Can I rent a bike?
The university bike pool offers support for cyclists such as refurbished bikes for rent or bike fixing sessions. There are also various buses around town, including the university night bus which students can use for free. More information can be found in the university travel guides. Academic year students can apply for the Young Scot card which offers free bus travel around Scotland. Semester students can download the Stagecoach app and will automatically receive 75% off all bus fares. St Andrews is a small town, so very walkable. Try the self guided walking tour to see for yourself.
How do I register for modules?
Study abroad and exchange students will provisionally select modules online in mid-August during pre-advising. After selecting modules, your Academic Adviser will check and approve your choices during your advising meeting at the start of the semester. If you have selected any ‘Honours’ level modules, which are 3000 or 4000 level courses, you’ll also meet with a subject specific Academic Adviser to check you meet the pre-requisites. Online meetings with advisers are planned for orientation week but check your University of St Andrews email regularly for updates. The university’s academic advising FAQ webpage may be of interest.
Will there be lab research and volunteer opportunities for study abroad and exchange students?
There are some limited opportunities for study abroad and exchange students who are in St Andrews for a semester but you will find yourself immersed in independent research daily as part of the academic culture here. Do look out for opportunities advertised by STARIS. You do require a UK bank account to be considered for STARIS internships as they are paid. If you are interested in research opportunities, take a look at Living Labs for projects focusing on sustainability in particular.
Are courses expensive? Will I need to buy textbooks?
There are no additional fees for individual courses after your initial tuition fees are paid, apart from optional evening language courses. If there is a list of set texts for the module, this will show up on your MySaint page after you have registered for modules. Additionally, many of the set texts can be found within the library’s offline and online resources or in various charity shops and bookstores across town. The School of English also holds a used book sale at the start of each semester for texts for English modules.
Can I apply for academic adjustments even if I’m only attending for one semester?
Yes, we recommend you apply as soon as you arrive. You can email our accessibility and inclusion team on [email protected] and request an appointment. The deadline to register for receiving an academic adjustment in the exam period is early October.
What does a typical academic schedule look like? Will I have classes on a Friday?
Typically, sub-honours (first and second year) students take 3 modules a semester, each module consisting of three hours of lectures and an hour of tutorials per week. This may vary. Timetables differ for some modules but as a rule of thumb, most students won’t have classes on a Wednesday afternoon, as this timeslot is reserved for university sports.
How do I find a student job?
Local part-time vacancies are mostly posted on the University CareerConnect website. The University Careers Centre hosts a variety of career-related events, including part-time job fairs, and information can also be found on the CareerConnect webpage. Local shop owners occasionally post vacancies inside of their shops and online. Remember that you must have a Tier 4 visa to volunteer or work in the UK.