I've just finished my second year at St Andrews so you could say I know what I'm talking about.

St Andrews is a great university, its small and everyone is really friendly.
St Andrews is very multi-cultural so where ever you're from its easy to fit in. I'm from Northern Ireland, but I made friends from England, Scotland, the US and god knows where else.

If you're interested St Andrews has more pubs per square foot than anywhere else in Britain!! But if you're into nightclubs then you'll be disappointed, St Andrews is a nightclub free zone. You'll have to go to Dundee for nightclubs, but buses go every half an hour or so at weekends so its not too much hassle.

Its a quiet little town and very conservative but it definitely has something to offer everyone.
As St Andrews is so small there are not very many shops, but if you are a shopaholic like me Dundee is only a bus ride away. St Andrews is also relatively close to Stirling, Edinburgh and Glasgow, all only an hour away on the train.

St Andrews is also very beautiful and the beaches, which are within walking distance from anywhere in town are amazing especially in the summer. There are two beautiful quadrangles in the town centre where some lectures take place - St Salvators and St Marys.

The Union has a huge variety of clubs and socieities and if you are in to acting there are always plays running. No matter what your interests you'll find a club for you. There are numerous music and film societies, a large Christian Union, a photography society, and many many more.
Watch out in Freshers week or you'll end up broke by the time you've joined all the clubs you are interested in.


The accomodation in St Andrews is also pretty cool, a lot of it is in old fashioned buildings in the town centre, which are really pretty to look at, such as 'Regs' or 'Sallies' (where wills is rumoured to be st
aying).

The less expensive accomodation is located a bit further from town as are the self-catering houses. DRH, Andrew Melville and Fife Park are all located about a mile from town. The walk can be a pain especially in typical St Andrews weather but you get used to it and bus run every half hour.

The food isn't fantastic in any of the halls (and trust me i work in one of the nicest halls and people still complain all the time!) but then it is no worse than any other universtity.

If you're a first year I would definitely recommend catered accomodation as it is much easier to meet people and make new friends, there is also a better atmosphere than the self catered flats. Selfcated flats tend to be more groups of friends coming back in 2nd, 3rd and 4th year as I discoverd in 1st year.

Also although New Hall sounds really good,it is a huge hall and its harder to meet people than in one of the smaller ones like David Russell or St Regs.Its not worth it just for a double bed and ensuite...no really its not.



St Andrews is also a great academic university and it has many highly rated departments such as psychology, maths and history.
There is a great choice of classes and the system is very flexible. The teaching in all of the apartments I have had classes in has been of a very high standard and most lecturers and tutors are happy to help with any problems.
I applied to do English and Psychology joint honours when i started St andrews but now i'm doing Single Honours History which i love. So it all goes to show your ideas change a lotfrom 1st year and the university is great at accomodating them.

There are also lots of facilities available for students such as excellant libraries, computer suites and a top class gym with all the trimmings.

If you are into the whole exercise thing there is a team for every sport you could imagine at St Andrews. Including hockey, football, athle
tics, rugby, badminton, tennis....and the list goes on. There is also a swimming pool in town but it is quite pricey.

All in all St Andrews is a great university, there is a fun atmosphere and quite a tight knit community. There is always something to do and some place to go.


However on the down side....St Andrews is an expensive little town. Prices have risen even more since news arrived that Prince William was coming. Private rents are atleast £50 and week plus bills. House prices are also pretty steep. Al ot of the pubs cater for the rich, which is unfair as most people are just regular students.
And then theres the golfers and the tourists, always wondering around looking directions and taking photos.
And finally on the downside...the St Andrews phenomonon known as 'yahs', people who say yah instead of yes, wear sunglasses on their heads constantly as well as jumpers tied around their shoulders and daddy pays for everything.
But in most cases you can just avoid them as they dont tend to associate with the likes of us.

Definitely a great university, I wouldn't swap for anything.

A recent bad point for St Andrews is Prince Will. Sure, I don't have any problem with him going to uni, he has the right to an education wherever he likes as much as the rest of us but I am worried about the effect it will have on the university itself.
There have already been bomb threats and the Scottish National Liberation Party have been making death threats. Security has increased at uni and so have all the prices, which really isn't fair on us regular people, who have to live off our loans.
St Andrews is already tourist central, with the golf and the history, I can only imagine things getting worse this year.
There has been talk that the press have bought 2 houses in St Andrews so someone can be there all the time, getting the latest gossip, which isnt really on.

I hope the arrival of royal
ty doesn't effect the uni and the community too much, as I like it the way it is. I also don't want St Andrews to become known simply as the uni William went too......