Student Life at St Andrews: Advice from Students Who’ve Been There
As part of our pre-arrival series for incoming study abroad and exchange students, we were joined by Bartosz Rogala, President of Wellbeing and Community at St Andrews Students’ Association and a recent graduate in Geography and Sustainable Development. Having studied abroad himself at Queen’s University in Canada, Bartosz understands exactly how it feels to prepare for life in a new country and university. During the session, we discussed everything from academics and accommodation to traditions, sport, wellbeing, and making friends.
A Small Town with a Strong Community
One of the first things incoming students notice about St Andrews is its size. While the town may be small, students quickly discover that there’s always something happening. Bartosz highlighted the strong sense of community that develops when you live and study in a place where familiar faces are never far away. Whether you’re chatting to staff in a coffee shop, getting to know fellow students in your halls of residence, or recognising people on your daily walk to class, St Andrews can feel surprisingly close-knit. “Everyone knows everyone” can sometimes take a little getting used to, but it is also one of the things many students grow to love most about the town.
Academic Life: Collaborative, Not Competitive
A theme that regularly comes up in student feedback is how different the academic culture at St Andrews can feel. Many students arriving from overseas are surprised by how collaborative the learning environment is. Students share ideas, discuss readings together, and support one another in tutorials, rather than competing for limited grades. As Bartosz explained, it’s normal to experience a little imposter syndrome when arriving at a highly ranked university. However, one important thing to remember is simple: If you’ve been admitted to St Andrews, you deserve to be here. Students quickly discover that classmates are passionate about their subjects and keen to help each other succeed.
What Does a Typical Day Look Like?
For many students, a typical day combines lectures, independent study, coffees with friends, and society activities. Most teaching takes place between 9am and 6pm, leaving plenty of opportunities during the day to study between classes. Students often spend time in the library, study spaces, cafés, or departmental buildings before heading to sports training, society meetings, or social events in the evening. One of the biggest adjustments for some exchange students is learning to make use of those gaps in the timetable. Rather than spending all day in scheduled classes, independent study becomes a key part of the university experience.
Finding Your Favourite Study Space
The University Library remains a favourite study destination for many students, offering collaborative spaces, silent study floors, group rooms, and Frankie’s Coffee Shop. However, St Andrews also has plenty of hidden gems. Bartosz shared one of his personal favourites: a quiet study room in the Edgecliffe building overlooking West Sands, providing spectacular views of the sea and the chance to watch local wildlife from a safe distance, including the town’s famously opportunistic seagulls. Speaking of which…
Beware of the Seagulls
This may sound like a joke, but incoming students should take it seriously. The local seagulls are notorious for helping themselves to unattended food. During the session we heard stories of ice creams disappearing straight from people’s hands and the famous toastie shack offering “seagull insurance” on purchases. Consider yourself warned.
Life in Halls
Whether students live in catered or self-catered accommodation, halls play a huge role in helping new arrivals settle into university life. Hall committees organise events throughout the semester, while wardens, assistant wardens and residence staff help support students during their transition to university. For many students, halls are where lifelong friendships can begin.
Adjusting to Scottish Weather
Scottish weather enjoys a reputation for being unpredictable, and St Andrews certainly lives up to it. The advice from both Bartosz and the Global Office was unanimous: Bring layers. Rain, sunshine, wind and mild temperatures can all appear within the same day. A good waterproof jacket and sensible layers will go much further than packing for one specific type of weather. The good news? Despite its reputation, St Andrews is often referred to as Scotland’s sunniest university.
Traditions You Won’t Find Anywhere Else
One of the most distinctive parts of student life at St Andrews is its traditions. Every Sunday, groups of students walk together along the historic harbour pier. The first Pier Walk of the academic year is particularly special, attracting hundreds of students in academic gowns and providing one of the most iconic St Andrews experiences. Meanwhile, academic families pair newer students with more experienced students who act as academic “parents”. These families often provide advice, friendship, and support throughout the year. The tradition culminates in Raisin Weekend, where academic families take part in scavenger hunts, challenges and, ultimately, the famous foam fight on Lower College Lawn. For exchange and study abroad students, it is a uniquely St Andrews experience and one well worth considering.
Sport for Everyone
St Andrews has a thriving sporting community, whether you’re competing at a high level or simply looking to stay active. Students can try hundreds of activities through “Give It A Go” sessions and recreational sport programmes, while competitive clubs represent the university across the UK. Highlights include:
- One of the UK’s strongest women’s football programmes
- World-class rowing facilities
- The oldest varsity rugby match in the world against the University of Edinburgh
- The opportunity to play golf at the Home of Golf
No previous experience is required for many introductory sessions, making sport one of the easiest ways to meet people.
Support Is Everywhere
Perhaps the most important message from the session was that students are never expected to navigate challenges alone. From the Global Office and Student Services to the Students’ Association, Health Hub, Chaplaincy, Academic Schools and halls of residence, there are numerous support services available. As Bartosz reminded students, every member of staff is ultimately here for the same reason: To help students succeed and make the most of their time at St Andrews.
Making Friends and Finding Your Place
When asked what incoming students worry about most, the answer is often not academics, accommodation, or even travelling abroad. It’s making friends. The reassuring news is that friendship opportunities are everywhere. Halls, sports clubs, societies, academic families, volunteer projects, social events, and orientation activities all help students form connections quickly. Many graduates look back on St Andrews not only for the degree they earned, but for the friendships they made along the way.
As both Bartosz reflected during the session, there is something about St Andrews that makes people stay connected long after graduation. Once you come to St Andrews, you may never leave.