The University of St Andrews ranks #=115 in QS World University Rankings 2027, holding its place as Scotland’s oldest university and the #18 university in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1413 in the coastal town of St Andrews, Fife, the university also sits at #34 globally for Arts and Humanities on the Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026 ranking and #12 globally for Philosophy on the QS Subject Rankings 2026. View full profile
- QS World University Rankings 2027: #=115 globally, #18 in the UK
- Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026: #111 globally, #21 in the UK
- THE World University Rankings 2026: #162 globally, #21 in the UK
- US News Best Global Universities 2025-2026: #375 globally, #30 in the UK
Reading the rank pattern: QS places St Andrews near the global top 115 and Collegedunia Study Abroad puts it at #111, while THE drops it to #162 and US News to #375. The split happens because QS weighs academic reputation and employer surveys, which favour the university’s 600-year name and Arts and Humanities depth, whereas THE and US News reward research citation volume where smaller universities lose ground to research giants. For Indian applicants targeting Philosophy, English, Theology, History or International Relations, the QS and subject-level numbers carry the most weight.
Table of Contents
- University of St Andrews Overall Rankings
- University of St Andrews Rankings: Bottom Line for Indian Students
- University of St Andrews QS World University Rankings 2027
- Collegedunia Study Abroad Rankings of University of St Andrews
- University of St Andrews Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings
- University of St Andrews ARWU (Shanghai) Rankings
- University of St Andrews US News Best Global University Rankings
- University of St Andrews Subject Rankings
- University of St Andrews Rankings: Indian Student Outlook
- University of St Andrews Ranking FAQs
University of St Andrews Overall Rankings 2026 and 2027
Five agencies place St Andrews in a band that runs from #111 to #375, a 264-position spread that reads as a methodology gap, not a quality gap.
| Ranking Body (Edition) | University of St Andrews Global Rank |
|---|---|
| Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026 (Overall) | #111 |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | #=115 |
| Times Higher Education World 2026 | #162 |
| US News Best Global Universities 2025-2026 | #375 |
| ARWU (Shanghai) 2025 | #301-400 |
QS and Collegedunia Study Abroad anchor the university within 4 positions of each other, while THE and US News sit 47 and 260 places lower. The gap signals strong reputation and employer recall but a smaller research output footprint, which means the QS-led number is the one most Indian recruiters and graduate admissions teams will recognise.
Key insight: Across the four reputation-weighted bodies (QS, THE, CD, US News), the average rank is #191, comfortably inside the global top 200 for Indian degree-equivalence purposes.
University of St Andrews Rankings: Bottom Line for Indian Students
The QS world rank of #=115 places St Andrews 19 positions ahead of the closest Indian peer (IIT Bombay #=134) in QS 2027, a meaningful gap for any Indian applicant comparing global-brand value.
| Ranking Signal | Rank | What it means for Indian applicants |
|---|---|---|
| QS World 2027 (overall) | #=115 | Degree carries top-120 global brand value, useful for India placements and US/UK PG admissions |
| Closest Indian peer (IIT Bombay QS 2027) | #=134 | St Andrews edges IIT Bombay by 19 places, signal of comparable or better global recognition |
| QS Philosophy 2026 | #12 | First-choice destination for Indian Philosophy PG aspirants worldwide |
| QS Theology and Divinity 2026 | #13 | Top-15 globally, useful for Indian Religious Studies and Humanities applicants |
| CD Study Abroad Arts and Humanities 2026 | #34 globally | Confirms Arts and Humanities depth across both Collegedunia and QS scoring |
| THE Arts and Humanities 2026 | #35 globally | Two ranking bodies agree on the same top-35 placement, an unusually consistent signal |
| ARWU 2025 | #301-400 band | Research-output band is lower; STEM PhD applicants should weigh subject ranks separately |
The Indian applicant takeaway is direction-specific: the university outperforms its overall #=115 rank in every Arts and Humanities subject by an average of 80+ positions, but underperforms in research-volume bodies like ARWU and US News where the gap to QS reaches 260 places.
Key insight
- QS gap to IIT Bombay: 19 places ahead, the largest QS lead St Andrews holds over any major Indian institute.
- Subject premium: Philosophy (#12) and Theology (#13) outrank the overall #=115 placement by 103 and 102 positions respectively.
- Cross-body agreement on strength: CD Study Abroad #34 and THE #35 both anchor Arts and Humanities at top-35 worldwide.
University of St Andrews QS World University Rankings 2027
QS, which scores universities mainly on academic reputation, employer reputation, research citations and faculty ratios, ranks St Andrews at #=115 in 2027, a 4-position slip from the #113 position it held in 2026.
| Year | University of St Andrews QS World Rank |
|---|---|
| 2027 | #=115 |
| 2026 | #113 |
| 2025 | #104 |
| 2024 | #=95 |
| 2023 | #=96 |
The five-year line shows a steady drift from #=96 in 2023 to #=115 in 2027, a 19-position softening, with the sharpest single-year drop between 2024 (#=95) and 2025 (#104). For an Indian applicant, the brand stays inside the global top 120 across every edition shown, which is the band most Indian PSU and corporate hiring panels recognise without an extra explainer.
Key insight: Despite the 19-position slip, the five-year average QS rank of #104.6 keeps St Andrews comfortably inside the global top-110 cohort that includes IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi and IISc Bangalore.
Read More: University of St Andrews Courses and Fees 2026 for Indian Students
Collegedunia Study Abroad Rankings of University of St Andrews
Collegedunia Study Abroad places St Andrews at #111 of 824 universities globally and #21 of 127 in the United Kingdom, with its strongest category rank in Arts and Humanities at #34.
| Collegedunia Category | Collegedunia Rank (Global) |
|---|---|
| Overall | #111 |
| Arts and Humanities | #34 |
| Social Studies | #139 |
| Medicine and Health Care | #165 |
| Computer Science | #273 |
The Arts and Humanities rank of #34 outperforms the overall #111 by 77 positions, the same direction QS data shows. The Computer Science rank of #273 is the weakest signal in the table and reads as a sub-tier choice for Indian CS applicants when peer UK and US options sit much higher.
India-relevance: A 162-position gap between the strongest category (Arts and Humanities #34) and the weakest (Computer Science #273) means the right Indian applicant matters more than the right university; degree value is subject-specific here.
University of St Andrews Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026 place St Andrews at #162 globally, the university’s best THE position in at least five editions and a 39-place gain from 2022.
| Year | University of St Andrews THE World Rank |
|---|---|
| 2026 | #162 |
| 2025 | #185 |
| 2024 | #193 |
| 2023 | #=201 |
| 2022 | #=201 |
THE shows the opposite trajectory to QS: a steady climb of 39 positions over five years and a 23-position jump in the latest edition alone. For Indian students, THE’s heavier weight on teaching, research income and citations means the climb signals genuine improvement on the metrics often cited in graduate-school evaluations.
Trend signal: St Andrews is the only one in this Indian peer comparison set where QS and THE move in opposite directions. The QS-to-THE divergence of 47 places in 2026 narrowed from 105 places in 2022.
University of St Andrews ARWU (Shanghai) Rankings
ARWU, which scores universities almost entirely on research output, Nobel and Fields Medal counts and citations in top journals, has placed St Andrews in the #301-400 band for every edition from 2021 to 2025.
| Year | University of St Andrews ARWU Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #301-400 |
| 2024 | #301-400 |
| 2023 | #301-400 |
| 2022 | #301-400 |
| 2021 | #301-400 |
The flat band over 5 years tells two things at once: the research-volume profile is stable, but it is also one full band below where QS, THE and US News place the university. Indian PhD applicants prioritising lab-based STEM research should weigh this signal alongside the stronger QS and THE numbers.
What it signals: A 200-place gap between the top of the ARWU band (#301) and the QS rank (#=115) means research-volume rankings undervalue St Andrews by approximately 2 full ranking bands versus reputation-led rankings.
University of St Andrews US News Best Global University Rankings
The US News Best Global Universities 2025-2026 edition places St Andrews at #375 globally and #30 in the United Kingdom, a 19-place recovery from the prior year’s dip to #394.
| Year | University of St Andrews US News Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025-2026 | #375 |
| 2024-2025 | #394 |
| 2023-2024 | #352 |
The three-year average sits at #373.7, well below the QS and CD numbers because US News uses heavy bibliometric input. The rank still sits inside the top 30 UK cohort, which is the figure most US graduate admissions committees reference when they cross-check a UK undergraduate transcript.
Key insight: The US News three-year movement of 42 positions (#352 → #394 → #375) shows mid-band volatility typical of research-citation-led rankings, not a structural decline.
University of St Andrews Subject Rankings
St Andrews has 11 subjects ranked inside the global top 50 across the QS Subject Rankings 2026, with Philosophy and Theology leading at #12 and #13 globally.
Subject ranking signals
- Strongest QS subject: Philosophy #12 globally, outperforming the overall #=115 by 103 positions.
- Strongest THE subject: Arts and Humanities #35 globally, 127 positions ahead of the overall #162.
- Strongest ARWU subject: Geography #34 globally, the only ARWU GRAS subject inside the top 50.
- Newly ranked subject (2026): Film Studies enters at UK joint #30 for the first time.
University of St Andrews Philosophy Ranking
QS Subject 2026 ranks Philosophy at #12 globally and UK #4, up one position from #13 in 2025. The 103-position lead over the overall QS rank makes Philosophy the strongest single signal in the entire St Andrews ranking set for an Indian PG applicant.
University of St Andrews Theology and Divinity Ranking
QS Subject 2026 places Theology and Divinity at #13 globally and UK #4, a 1-position climb from 2025. The subject sits alongside Philosophy as the second-highest globally ranked discipline at the university.
University of St Andrews English Language and Literature Ranking
QS Subject 2026 ranks English Language and Literature at #40 globally, with the university also recognised as the UK #1 for English. The position outperforms the overall QS rank by 75 places.
University of St Andrews History Ranking
QS Subject 2026 places History at #45 globally, inside the world top 50 and 70 positions ahead of the overall QS rank. The subject is among the 20 of 28 ranked disciplines that retained or improved their global position in 2026.
University of St Andrews Modern Languages Ranking
QS Subject 2026 ranks Modern Languages at #63 globally and UK #11. The position trails the four flagship Arts subjects but still sits 52 places ahead of the overall QS rank.
University of St Andrews Arts and Humanities Ranking (THE)
THE World University Rankings by Subject 2026 places Arts and Humanities at #35 globally, holding the same position as 2025 while improving across key indicators. The figure agrees within 1 place with the Collegedunia Study Abroad Arts and Humanities rank of #34.
University of St Andrews Geography Ranking (ARWU GRAS)
ARWU Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2025 places Geography at #34 globally, the only St Andrews subject inside the ARWU top 50. Earth Sciences sits in the next band at #51-75, with Atmospheric Science further down at #101-150.
University of St Andrews UK Subject Rankings (QS 2026)
Beyond the global top-50 subjects, the QS 2026 UK list shows St Andrews in the following positions for subjects popular with Indian applicants:
| Subject | QS UK Rank 2026 |
|---|---|
| Economics | Joint #24 |
| Medicine | #28 |
| Environmental Sciences | Joint #29 |
| Film Studies (new entry) | Joint #30 |
| Business and Management | Joint #36 |
The Economics UK #24 and Business and Management UK #36 are the two ranks most cited by Indian PG Finance and Management applicants. The 12-place gap between them inside the same university tracks how St Andrews scores stronger on the Economics theory side than on the applied Business and Management side.
University of St Andrews Rankings: Indian Student Outlook
For an Indian applicant, the St Andrews rank pattern points to one clear use-case: a Humanities, Liberal Arts, International Relations or Philosophy postgraduate degree where the university outranks both its overall position and most Indian peers by a wide margin.
Popular programs chosen by Indian students at St Andrews:
- MA International Relations: St Andrews is the UK’s reference school for IR, drawing heavily on Indian applicants planning policy or diplomatic careers.
- MSc Management and MSc Finance: School of Management postgraduate routes, popular for Indian commerce and engineering graduates.
- MSc Computer Science: The university’s CS UK rank is competitive though the CD global category rank of #273 sits below the strongest UK CS options.
- MA Economics: Backed by the QS Economics UK joint #24 rank.
- MA Philosophy: Backed by the QS Philosophy #12 global rank, the strongest subject signal in the article.
| India-specific Signal | Rank | India-relevance |
|---|---|---|
| QS World 2027 (overall) | #=115 | 19 places ahead of IIT Bombay (#=134), the closest Indian QS peer |
| CD Study Abroad UK 2026 | #21 | Outside the UK top 20 on CD; alumni network smaller than London-based peers |
| QS Philosophy 2026 | #12 globally | Strongest single subject signal; first-choice for Indian Philosophy PG applicants |
| THE Arts and Humanities 2026 | #35 globally | Confirms top-35 Humanities strength via second ranking body |
| QS 5-year movement | #=96 to #=115 | 19-position slide; degree value stays inside top-120 band across all 5 editions |
| THE 5-year movement | #=201 to #162 | 39-position gain; research-side metrics improving year on year |
Indian Student Outlook key signals
- QS lead over IIT Bombay: 19 places, the cleanest cross-comparison signal for an Indian applicant choosing between St Andrews and IIT Bombay on global brand alone.
- Cross-body agreement on strength: CD Study Abroad #34 and THE #35 both place Arts and Humanities at the same global top-35 mark, an unusually consistent signal.
- Subject-vs-overall premium: Philosophy outranks the overall position by 103 places; the strongest signal-to-overall gap in the entire ranking set.
- Stability check: ARWU sits flat at #301-400 for 5 years; research-volume profile is stable but lower than reputation-led rankings suggest.
- Direction divergence: QS down 19 places, THE up 39 places over the same 5-year window; the university is gaining on research metrics and softening on reputation metrics.
The University of St Andrews ranks consistently in the global top 120 on QS and Collegedunia Study Abroad, lower on THE and US News, and inside the #301-400 band on ARWU, a spread that maps directly to how each agency weights reputation versus research output. For an Indian student, the 19-place QS lead over IIT Bombay, the Philosophy QS #12 and the Arts and Humanities top-35 placements across two bodies make St Andrews a strong choice for Humanities, Philosophy, English, Theology and International Relations, while the lower ARWU and US News positions signal that lab-based STEM and high-volume research applicants will find better-positioned alternatives elsewhere.
University of St Andrews Ranking FAQs
Ques. What is the University of St Andrews QS ranking in 2027?
Ans. The University of St Andrews ranks #=115 in QS World University Rankings 2027, a 4-position slip from #113 in 2026. The university also holds the #18 spot in the United Kingdom on the same QS edition.
Ques. What is the University of St Andrews THE ranking in 2026?
Ans. The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026 place the University of St Andrews at #162 globally. The position is a 23-place improvement from #185 in 2025 and the university’s best THE rank in at least five editions.
Ques. Where does the University of St Andrews rank in the United Kingdom?
Ans. The University of St Andrews ranks #18 in the UK on QS 2027, #21 on Collegedunia Study Abroad UK 2026 and #21 on THE UK 2026. The Guardian University Guide 2026 also places it at UK #2, and the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 ranks it the top university in Scotland.
Ques. Is University of St Andrews better than IIT Bombay in QS rankings?
Ans. Yes, the University of St Andrews ranks #=115 in QS World University Rankings 2027 while IIT Bombay sits at #=134, a 19-place lead for St Andrews. The QS gap reflects stronger academic reputation and employer survey scores for St Andrews, though IIT Bombay leads on STEM subject rankings such as Engineering and Technology.
Ques. Which subjects is the University of St Andrews ranked best for?
Ans. The University of St Andrews ranks #12 globally for Philosophy, #13 globally for Theology and Divinity and #34 globally for Geography (ARWU 2025) as its top three subject positions. THE 2026 also places Arts and Humanities at #35 globally, and 11 subjects in total sit inside the QS world top 50.
Ques. What is the Collegedunia Study Abroad rank for the University of St Andrews?
Ans. Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026 places the University of St Andrews at #111 globally and #21 in the United Kingdom. The strongest Collegedunia category rank is #34 globally for Arts and Humanities, with Computer Science the weakest at #273.
Ques. How has the University of St Andrews QS ranking changed over the last 5 years?
Ans. The University of St Andrews QS rank has moved from #=96 in 2023 to #=115 in 2027, a 19-position slide across five editions. The sharpest single-year drop happened between 2024 (#=95) and 2025 (#104), and the five-year average rank sits at #104.6, inside the global top 110.
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