St Andrews top in new university rankings

The University of St Andrews is Scotland’s top university and one of the top four universities in the UK, according to a new league table published today (Wednesday 7 June).

The Complete University Guide 2024 ranks St Andrews as the top university in Scotland, and fourth in the UK, a few points behind rivals Cambridge and Oxford, which take second and first place respectively, in the annual assessment of universities’ teaching and research strengths.

The Complete University Guide 2024 placed St Andrews top in the UK for student satisfaction for the fifth year running.

St Andrews is one of a trio of Scottish universities that make the top 30 in The Guide, with the University of Edinburgh placed 12th and Glasgow 26th.

Success in The Guide includes Mathematics, which is now ranked in the top five in the UK, an improvement of five places on last year. Maths has also seen a 14 per cent increase in the number of students who take up graduate level employment or further study after completing their studies.

A total of 24 of the 27 St Andrews’ subjects assessed were ranked within the top ten.

Welcoming the news, Juan Pablo Rodriguez, President of the St Andrews Students’ Association, said:

“Consistency of excellence in the ever-changing world of higher education is a rare gem. However, St Andrews has shown that this is possible. Remaining number one in Scotland for another year is an incredible achievement. I am proud of these results, which are a testament to the collaborative approach of the University, the Students’ Association, staff, and students to ensure the very best learning and teaching environment on offer.

“Over the past two years we proved St Andrews’ capacity to lead in the big leagues. This year’s UK results must be an invitation to continue our hard work to strive for excellence at a national level. St Andrews is, however, more than just league tables and statistics, we are a small, dedicated, and supportive community and it is encouraging to see this recognised. These results reflect the dedication of our community to deliver our unique student experience and research-led teaching at St Andrews.”