Settling In: A Guide to Travel, Halls & Getting Started in St Andrews

Jack Aitken

Tuesday 1 July 2025

Moving to a new country is exciting—but let’s be honest, it can also feel a bit overwhelming. That’s why the Global Office and Accommodation Services recently teamed up to host two online sessions just for our inbound exchange and study abroad students. Our goal was to help you feel more confident about your move to St Andrews and answer all your questions about accommodation, arrival, and settling in. If you missed it, here’s a recap.

Getting to St Andrews: Your travel options

Wondering how to get from the airport to St Andrews?

• Airport shuttle: the St Andrews Shuttle is a really convenient option and offers both shared and private transfers from Edinburgh Airport straight to your accommodation.
• Bus: a newer option, the Jet 787 bus runs every two hours including late-night and early-morning trips. It’s a budget-friendly way to get from Edinburgh Airport to St Andrews.
• Tram, train + taxi combo: You can take a tram from the airport to a nearby Edinburgh train station like Gateway or Haymarket, hop on the train to Leuchars, and then grab a 10-minute taxi or bus ride to St Andrews. It’s a bit more effort, especially with luggage in tow, but doable. When you’re more settled into life in Scotland, the train’s a great way to help you explore.

Arrival in St Andrews: What to expect

You’re finally here. What happens when you arrive?

You’ll have been asked to choose an arrival slot, with details sent out about this in mid to late August. The first arrival slot opens at 10am on Saturday 6 September. You can arrive whenever you like, but if you’re getting in after 6pm, let your Hall know in advance.  

Here’s what happens when you first show up:

• Pick up your room key
• Complete your room inventory and make sure to check out the Resident’s Guide.
• Check your bedding pack (depending on where you live this may be delivered to your room. If not, staff will let you know where it can be collected).
• Find out the time of your first meal, if you’re on a meal plan.
• Meet the staff in your residence – there’ll be a meeting to introduce you to University staff.

Make sure you’re in town by Monday 8 September—that’s when in-person matriculation takes place!

Where will I live?

One of the biggest questions on everyone’s mind: Where am I going to live, and what will it be like? 

Allocating rooms for thousands of students is no small task, but the Accommodation Services team works hard and ensures the vast majority of students receive their first or second choice of room type.

Whether you’re catered or self-catered, in the town centre or closer to the North Haugh, your accommodation will be your home away from home. It’s where you’ll relax, recharge, and even make your first friends.

There isn’t a main campus. Instead, the University has grown with the town. This means your classes, accommodation, and social spaces are spread throughout St Andrews.

Some students are based in the historic centre – like in St Salvators or McIntosh. Others will be based in more modern halls like Fife Park and David Russell Apartments (DRA). No residency is close to everything, but each has its perks.

For example, while DRA may be furthest from the main library, it’s the largest residency with over 1,700 students, so you won’t feel isolated. It includes music and cinema rooms and is just a 20-minute walk to the library and close to the Sports Centre and Science buildings. It’s also well-connected through cycle paths and buses.

Remember, St Andrews students get discounted bus travel with Stagecoach – 75 percent! Also, if you’re here for a full year, apply for a Young Scot card—you’ll get free bus travel across Scotland.

What should I bring?

Packing can be a puzzle, so here’s some guidance. Bedrooms and kitchens come with a basic level of equipment to help get you started.

• Top tip: Coordinate with your flatmates—one kitchen doesn’t need six air fryers!
• You can order bedding packs in advance. If you want to shop sustainably and save some money, look into pre-owned bedding bundles. Or check out UniKitOut and use the code ANDREW10 for 10% off.
• What each residency has to offer can vary from one building to the next, but for the most part, they come with common areas, mailrooms, IT facilities, laundry rooms, game and music rooms.
• No need to bring or buy books—your readings should be available online. There’re a few bookshops in town, including second-hand options.
• Label your bags with your university address in case they get delayed. Consider using an AirTag to track your luggage. Note: if your luggage is delayed, let your Hall know to expect it.

What not to do

Ask yourself: Do I really need this, or can I live without it for a semester?

• Don’t ship luggage ahead of time. Halls are in use throughout the year, won’t accept your deliveries and don’t have sufficient storage.
• Don’t bring illegal items like pepper spray or CS spray—they’re banned in the UK.
• Be careful with medications—some (like Adderall) aren’t licensed in the UK. Check the UK Government website for guidance on travelling with medicine and controlled drugs.
• St Andrews has some beautiful (and old!) buildings, which means electrical safety is a big deal. Every electrical item you bring will need to be PAT tested. Avoid using plug adaptors – bring UK plugs instead. Be cautious with some appliances, particularly those that have heating elements like kettles or hair dryers, as some types can trip the power in older buildings.

Meal plans: Catered or self-catered?

When it comes to food, you’ve got two options: catered or self-catered.

• If you go catered, you’ll be on a meal plan.
• Menus run on a four-week rotation and are the same across all catered residences.
• You can check menus online, including nutritional info, allergens, and dietary options.
• Got class over lunch? You can request a packed lunch in advance.

Meals usually include one main dish, plus unlimited sides and salad. Stick around until the end of service and you might even score seconds or thirds!

You can’t just wander into another Hall for dinner—but if you’ve got a friend there, they can buy you a guest pass. That said, the University is trying to be more sustainable and reduce food waste, so it’s best to eat in your own Hall whenever possible.

Who will I live with?

Flatmates can be a big part of your experience. You might be wondering: Will we get along? What if we have different routines? Worried about making friends? You’re not alone—it’s one of the most common concerns students have. Here’s how to get connected:

• Your Hall of Residence will have a Halls Life team. There’s also a Student Committee that runs events, socials, and activities to help you meet new people.
• St Andrews is a small town which lacks the nightlife of a big city, meaning societies are the heart of the social scene.
• Check out the Student Union and Societies webpages – there’s a society for everything and everyone.
• Consider using social media to look up your Hall’s Instagram group. There may still be Facebook groups. Some residencies will set up WhatsApp groups for events and updates after you arrive.

Getting around St Andrews

St Andrews is compact, walkable and full of charm. You’ll find everything you need within reach, but here are a few tips:

• Don’t rush to buy everything on Day 1. Local shops stock up for student arrivals but once you’ve met your flatmates, you may be able to share the cost of certain items.
• Delivery services and lockers are available for anything you can’t find in town.
• Online grocery shopping and delivery is cheap and convenient – shop in bulk with your flatmates to save money.
• Check out St AndReuse, a sustainability initiative that collects and redistributes items left behind by students. Most of it is free (except clothing), and they’ll usually host drop-in fairs throughout the year.

The final bits you need to know

If you’ve applied for accommodation but haven’t heard back yet, don’t panic. There are a few things that might be holding things up. First, check your application status. Have you completed the criminal convictions check? Are you holding a conditional or unconditional offer? If your offer is still conditional, you won’t receive your room allocation until it becomes unconditional. Even if you do have an unconditional offer and still haven’t heard anything, Accommodation Services will be in touch soon. They’re working through a huge volume of room allocations and will contact you directly in the coming weeks.

If you’re a study abroad or exchange student, you don’t need to make a pre-payment for your accommodation. Fees are due when you arrive but you don’t have to pay everything at once. It’s possible to set up a payment plan.

Watching live TV? You’ll need a TV licence in the UK—even if you’re streaming it online. WiFi is available in all residences via Eduroam. While gaming consoles are allowed, they’ll need to be PAT tested, and your Hall Manager will help with this after you arrive. Consoles will need to use a different WiFi network than Eduroam but the University doesn’t guarantee that all games or consoles will be able to connect.

The University also provides comprehensive contents insurance so most of your belongings should be covered. If you’ve got something expensive or unique, check the website to see if you need extra cover. You should review the University’s cover to ensure you understand the protection provided.

Moving to St Andrews is a big step—but you’re not doing it alone. There’s plenty of support to help you feel at home. Ask questions when you need to, and don’t forget to explore everything the area has to offer.