Making Waves – the campaign for St Andrews

The ambitious campaign, which places students at its core, was officially unveiled with a series of events throughout St Andrews, including a torchlight parade through the town (Saturday 28 September).

The Making Waves campaign focuses on four key areas: New College, Digital Nexus Building, Scholarships and Bursaries, and Endowed Chairs.

Making Waves is a visionary campaign launched at a critical time when the role of universities, funding, and their positive impact on society are under significant scrutiny. This campaign showcases St Andrews’ unwavering commitment to advancing research, nurturing future leaders, and affirming the transformative power of higher education.

New College will be the University’s first new college in nearly 300 years and will bring together the School of International Relations and the new Business School. Located at the historic Madras College site, New College will foster interdisciplinary collaboration and educate future global leaders.

Prominent business and technology leader David Jones joined more than 200 staff, students, alumni, and donors to celebrate the official launch of the University of St Andrews Business School on Saturday 28 September. David delivered the keynote address about the impact of artificial intelligence on brands and leadership.

The Business School aims to develop globally minded leaders with the ambition, knowledge, and skills to create a more prosperous and sustainable world through world-leading research, education excellence, and purposeful partnerships.

A state-of-the-art facility for the School of Computer Science, the Digital Nexus Building will be a hub for research in artificial intelligence, data science, and computer systems. It will facilitate collaboration between scientists and medical researchers, creating an environment for transformative research that addresses critical global challenges.

Scholarships and bursaries for students are a central focus of the ambitious campaign, helping students to reach their full potential. The University will continue to support and attract top-tier talent and ensure that all students, regardless of financial background, will succeed by providing financial support.

New academic positions will be created through Endowed Chairs to attract leading researchers and educators to St Andrews, enhancing the university’s capacity to generate impactful research and foster academic excellence.

University Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dame Sally Mapstone FRSE, said: “Our ambitious Making Waves campaign is fundamentally about the restless power of ideas, the people who have them, and the environment in which we shape and challenge the brightest minds.

“Making Waves is more than a fundraising initiative, it’s a transformative movement for the future of St Andrews and the world. It encapsulates our vision to break boundaries, foster innovation, and attract the brightest minds to our University. By investing in critical projects such as the New College and Digital Nexus, we are creating spaces where interdisciplinary research and teaching can thrive. These new developments will enable us to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time, from sustainability to global health. But this is only possible with the support of our community. Every scholarship funded, every research chair endowed, and every brick laid represents a collective belief in the power of education to shape a better future.

“With a focus on fostering global leaders and advancing research that benefits society, Making Waves represents a bold step forward in St Andrews’ vision for the future.”

At the launch of the Campaign, the Principal announced more than £121 million had already been secured during the quiet phase of the ambitious project.

For more information on the campaign and how to contribute, visit Making Waves Campaign.