University of St Andrews - My dream university

• My course was mostly based on presentations and theory. Group and individual coursework weighed a lot.
• Positive is definitely the course structure, the way of teaching and no stress in education. Not pressurized with loads of coursework either.
• Negatives is that the Master of Letters is not offered by all universities and will not be recognized much outside.
   

• I applied to University of Leeds, University of Westminster and Lancaster University, and they also confirmed my admission and Lancaster University even offered me scholarship of around 9 Lakhs INR.
• Queen Mary University of London rejected me because I did not have my bachelor's degree certificate at the time of applying. So I definitely think that future applicants should have all their documents ready.
• I chose this university because it was highly reputed in the UK, and also because the alumni included members from the British Royal Family like Prince William and Kate Middleton. I also knew it is very difficult to get admission here.
• I was only asked to fill an application form and submit two referrals supporting my application. My referrals were sent a form to fill. After 20 days of applying, I received my offer and they say it's very difficult to get an offer from St Andrews so I was happy.
  * Only IELTS was asked for me and the minimum was 7 on a scale of 9.
  * The overall admission experience was very smooth and I was very satisfied with it.
• I applied for the September 2023 intake as I had just finished my bachelor’s degree in April. Also I was already planning to study abroad so I was already in touch with different agencies from March. I applied to universities from May to June. Finally on July 20th I received the offer from St Andrews and I accepted the offer with initial payment on the 24th. After that it took me a whole month to provide loan documentation, get my CAS, apply for visa etc. I had applied for priority visa because this is last minute so I paid extra and got my visa on time before leaving in september.

• A maximum of 2 classes per day, 3 hours each. There are days when no classes will be there or justs one class. Classes usually start at 9am for morning, 12 pm for afternoon and 2 pm for evening. There were also classes that started at 11pm, 1pm or even 3pm depending upon the timetable.
• 32 students in my class from what I remember.
• Only 2 Indian students in my class, including me.
   

• The faculty to student ratio was 1:30. It was really good to have the attention of the professor due to the short scale of the class. Optional modules can even have the ratio of 1:8, with 1:6 being the minimum required ratio to keep the module active.
• The teachers taught with a mix of presentations and a lot of class participation. Class participation was considered a lot and expected due to the small F2S ratio.
• The university had different resources for students to find jobs be it part time or full-time. The professors did not indulge in personal friendships and kept their relationships professional.
• Mr. Khalik from the School of Management is an amazing faculty member and the classes were really interesting.

• The University of St Andrews does not have multiple campuses but is integrated throughout the town of St Andrews.
  North Haugh: Science and medical buildings.
  The Scores: Arts and Divinity faculties.
  St Salvator’s Quadrangle: Divinity faculty and St Salvator’s Chapel.
  St Mary’s Quadrangle: Divinity and Church History.
  Purdie Building: Chemistry department.
  The Gateway: Management school.

• Campus Facilities
  Main Library: Comprehensive resources for all subjects, with study spaces, and an IT help desk.
  Martyrs Kirk Research Library: A space for PG students and researchers.
  University Sports Centre: Includes a gym, indoor courts, a swimming pool, and fitness classes.
  Outdoor playing fields for rugby, football, hockey, and tennis courts.
  Sailing facilities at the nearby harbor.
  University Health Centre: Provides medical advice and GP services.
  Counseling and Wellbeing services for mental health support.
  Music Centre: Offers practice rooms, instrument loans, and musical tuition.
  Student Union: Equipped with bars, event spaces, and support services.
  
   

• These roles are competitive and usually filled by postgraduates or final-year undergraduates with strong academics. STEM subjects often having more opportunities for RAs.
• TA, RA, and DA roles typically pay £10–£15 per hour, depending on the responsibilities and funding source.
• Other On-Campus Jobs:
  • Library Assistants: Roles include shelving books, managing checkouts, and assisting students, with pay around £9–£12 per hour.
  • Catering Staff: Working at university cafés or bars.
  • Student Ambassadors: Assisting during open days, tours, and admissions events.
  • IT Support Assistants: Helping with technical issues or managing equipment loans.
  • Event Helpers: Supporting university- or society-organised events.
  • Pay Range: Most on-campus jobs pay around £9–£12 per hour.
• Students on a student visa can work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during holidays.
• Positions like TAs and RAs are more competitive, requiring academic merit and departmental recommendations.
• Jobs like library assistants or catering staff are easier to secure but still require early applications due to limited availability.
• Usually rates start from £9 to £11-£12 for part-timers. In the UK, your hourly rate is according to your age so PG students have better chances to get a high hourly rate.
• In St Andrews there are lots of jobs but the competition is so high because it is a university town, so it is difficult to get the job. Also, they need you to be very fluent in English. You can get jobs in retail, cafés, and some small businesses. St Andrews has lots of family businesses on the streets.
• The university has its jobs website for internal jobs and there is also the careers centre for looking for internships and full-time jobs, etc. The job process will typically have one interview at least, either by phone call or directly. Please make sure you have the NI number; otherwise you will not be accepted.

• The average salary for graduates in management or business-related roles typically ranges between £25,000–£35,000 annually, depending on the role and location. Top-tier roles, especially in London or consulting, can be more because of the location of the job.
• Job Search Methods
  Networking: St Andrews alumni connections are incredibly helpful, and LinkedIn plays a big role.
  Internships: Many students secure pre-graduation internships, which often convert into full-time roles.
  Careers Centre: The university’s Careers Centre helps with CVs, job applications, and connecting students to employers.
  Online Portals: Job platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, and GradConnection are commonly used here.
• Placement Experiences
  My batchmates found opportunities in the fields—consulting, finance, and marketing.
  Some joined major firms like Deloitte, PwC, EY, Accenture, and Amazon, while others secured roles in boutique firms or startups.
  Job roles include Business Analyst, Marketing Specialist, Financial Consultant, and Management Trainee positions.
• Top recruiters are Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, Accenture, Amazon, Barclays, and Google.

• The college arranged accommodation for some post graduation students outside the town, hence I was in uni accommodation.
• My monthly rent was around ?575 per month. This was for a single room in an apartment with 5 bedrooms, one shared bath, one shared toilet and a shared living cum kitchen area. It was located in the centre of the city and was very convieniently placed near shopping places.
• I did not have to face any challenges as I got approved for uni accommodation.
• For st andrews, it is always better to go for the uni accommodation because external accommodation can be difficult to find and you will also lose out on the full uni experience.
• The accommodation was 45 mins away from the university by bus. Most Indian students stayed in St. Andrews itself.

• Only IELTS is required because this course doesn't require competitive tests.
• Statement of Purpose, LOR, CV, Passport, Transcripts of Class XII and Bachelor's Degree and Loan Letter for Educational Loan. I was also asked to pay an advance of INR 5 lakhs to confirm my offer.
• No interviews for this offer, I applied and only my references were contacted. I heard only PhD applications are called for interviews.
   

1. Major Festivals and Events

• Raisin Weekend: A fun tradition where first-years (academic children) are mentored by seniors (academic parents) and participate in scavenger hunts and other activities.
• May Dip: A tradition where students run into the North Sea at sunrise on May Day for good luck in exams.
• Graduation Ball: Celebratory event for graduating students.
• Mermaids' Performing Arts Festival: A showcase of student theater and performance.
• St Andrews Charity Fashion Show (FS): The largest student-run fashion show in the UK, supporting charities.

2. Clubs and Societies

• Debating Society: I think it is one of the oldest debating societies in the world.
• Mermaids Performing Arts Fund: Supports theatrical productions by students.
• Music Society: Organises concerts, recitals, and music festivals.
• Athletic Union: Coordinates over 50 sports clubs, including golf, rowing, and archery.
• Cultural and International Societies: Includes societies for international students, such as the Nordic Society, Indian Society, and Afro-Caribbean Society.
• Volunteering and Charity: Organisations like St Andrews Voluntary Service (SVS) and student-led charities.
   

• My tuition fees for one year of study was ?27250, and I had to pay an additional ?6000 for accommodation in Dundee
• You can pay all-together or split up your payments into a maximum of 12 installments. I did 3 installments. Rent was to be paid either monthly or all at once.
• I was cooking by myself so I easily had around ?400 as monthly expenses.
• As I was under 22 traveling in Scotland is free on buses so I did not have to incur traveling costs. All expenses was for eating out, cooking and other living and shopping purposes. Laundry had to be paid for too.

• I did not receive any scholarships as I was past the deadline for scholarships.
• Nobody in my batch requested financial aid. Every classmate was from well-to-do elite families in different parts of the world.
• Usually, 50% of tuition is the typical award amount, and everyone who applies before the deadline is considered. I am not sure about the averages.