Welcome from the Principal and Vice-Chancellor
Welcome to the University of St Andrews. Whether you are a student, a staff member, a town resident, or a visitor I am delighted to invite you to explore this remarkable University. A community of scholars and students with a shared commitment to the power of education has gathered here for centuries to advance knowledge, to explore fundamental questions and above all to exchange ideas.
We are currently celebrating our 600th anniversary, and I feel enormously privileged to be leading this academic community into its seventh century of intellectual exploration. This is an exciting and important time, and as we draw inspiration from past achievements and successes, we are also embracing new challenges and realising new opportunities.
Our continued success is dependent on the contributions of every member of this community, and one of the most powerful assets that we have here at St Andrews is a shared commitment to the pursuit of excellence in our teaching and our research, and a deeply-held belief in the transformative capacity of education. In today’s demanding economic environment, the role of universities in training the next generation and equipping them with the mindset and the skills necessary to navigate the changing times is central to our collective success.
Defined by our history, our location and our size, the University of St Andrews is an institution where tradition sits side by side with modern technology and an outward-looking approach to engagement with the key issues facing the world today. It is a place where the intellectual and personal potential of every member of our international community of students and academics is fostered and encouraged at every turn.
I invite you to discover more about our unique institution and the people who study and work here by exploring this site, or by visiting St Andrews in person.
Louise Richardson