Museums and collections
Founded between 1410 and 1414, St Andrews is Scotland's oldest university. The history of the University, its personalities and its teaching practices can be traced through the collections of documents, art works, furniture, photographs, laboratory equipment and specimens that it has accumulated. This page links to further information on Museum and Collections venues, collections and Learning and Access.
Venues:
MUSA: Museum of the University of St Andrews
The Museum of the University of St Andrews (MUSA) provides a venue to display the highlights from the University's collection of over 112,000 artefacts. The museum has four galleries, a 'Learning Loft' and a viewing terrace with panoramic views over St Andrews Bay.
Gateway Galleries
Discover the treasures of Scotland's oldest University in our exhibition spaces in the Gateway Galleries.
Bell Pettigrew Museum
The history of the Bell Pettigrew Museum can be traced back to the University's first natural history museum, founded in 1838. Housed at the School of Biology, the core purpose of the museum today is to allow the evolutionary and taxonomic relationships between animals to be clearly understood.
Library collections
The University of St Andrews Library.
Collections:
Heritage collections
The Heritage collections illustrate the history of the University, including items dating back to its very early days. Through the Heritage collections it is possible to trace the changing life of the University, its place in Scottish and its role in the history of education.
Boswell Collection
The Harry and Margery Boswell Art Collection consists of contemporary and twentieth century artworks by leading Scottish artists. The works assist in the teaching of Scottish art and culture within the University and are made available for public viewing and exhibition purposes.
Science collections
The University has science collections documenting the history of scientific teaching and research. The collections cover a wide range of subjects, including physics, chemistry, anatomy, psychology and geology.
Ethnography and archaeology collections
The University was regarded as an appropriate place to deposit archaeological and ethnographic objects at times when St Andrews lacked a museum. Thus it accumulated "curiosities", which can be found in the Ethnography and archaeology collections.
Special Collections
The department of the University of St Andrews Library is home to the Library's collections of rare and early printed books, manuscripts, photographs and the University's institutional archive (muniments). These form a superb resource for research and teaching in a wide variety of disciplines across the arts and science.
Photographic database
The University of St Andrews photographic database, incorporating current images of the University and town.
Learning and Access
The Learning and Access department works across all our venues and collections.