Dip dip hooray!

Hundreds of University of St Andrews students gathered at the East Sands at dawn today (Friday 1 May 2026) to take part in the traditional May Dip.

At sunrise on May Day students make their way down to East Sands and collectively run into the North Sea.

The Dip is a unique St Andrews tradition which is intended to bring good luck to students in their exams and cleanse any academic sins.

The May Dip is also the only cure for the legendary curse of Patrick Hamilton.

The evening before the May Dip, students gather to take part in The Gaudie, a torchlit procession and pier walk in St Andrews.

The annual Gaudie takes place on 30 April to commemorate John Honey, a student who, in 1800, rescued members of the crew of the Janet of Macduff which had run aground off the East Sands.

More photos and video content from The Gaudie and May Dip are available on Instagram and Facebook.