University of St Andrews

Scotland’s first university, an experience like no other

Postgraduate Research degrees to help you reach your ambitions.

The University of St Andrews is the UK’s top University (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024). As a 600 year-old institution, we are known across the globe for our world leading quality and depth of research. For six centuries some of the world’s brightest and most promising students have come to study with us, enriching their future and ours while spearheading new developments and progress through research.

Known as a world leader in education for over 600 years, the University of St Andrews has helped some of the brightest and most promising students to thrive both professionally and academically. Working together with and supported by leading academics who are research active in their fields, your experience at the cutting edge of development in St Andrews will be inspirational and truly rewarding.

Our graduates go on to help shape the world – From ambassadors to politicians, leading researchers to board members of international corporations and organisations. Wherever you want to go, a postgraduate qualification from St Andrews will help you realise your full potential and make your own lasting mark on the world.

Tell us what interests you – Sign up on our website for more information

Reputation

The University of St Andrews is ranked 1st in the UK (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024) and with us you are guaranteed a student experience like no other. Voted by students themselves in the National Student Survey, the experience of life and study in St Andrews is un-matched around the country.

Living in our small and picturesque coastal town with great transport links to nearby cities and the world beyond, you will have the space to think and excel at your studies, along with everything needed for an active and unforgettable student life.

You will soon find the unique scale of our town and university builds a strong and lasting sense of belonging and safety that is hard to find elsewhere. It also gives you a much more individual and personal learning experience that makes your studies that much more rewarding and unique to you.

Research at St Andrews

The University of St Andrews is one of the most research-intensive universities in the UK and we pride ourselves on the quality of the research we produce. If you are looking for a deep research based degree that will help you achieve your academic and professional goals St Andrews might be the place for you.

Our academic schools did exceptionally well in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF) and our staff are very much research active, striving constantly towards new developments and progress. As a result, our staff and our graduates have impacted the world in a large variety of ways, some of which you can read about on our website in our recent case studies and areas of research.

We are always looking for pioneering individuals with a drive and passion to chase new developments and add further depth to their fields of study. Get involved and immerse yourself in a research-based degree at St Andrews, and lead the next breakthrough in your area of study.

Finding your research area

Starting your research based qualification at St Andrews means applying to work with an individual supervisor or supervisory team within a school or institute, and not a specific programme of study.

Your first step will be to look at the research interests of our teaching staff within your chosen area to ensure that your project matches with an existing area of research.

Full information on how to apply to St Andrews as a PhD student can be found on our website.

Funding and scholarships

There are a number of different research scholarships available which can help fund all or part of your studies. Full information on all of these can be found on our website.

Tell us what interests you – Sign up on our website for more information