Research in Schools
The majority of the research at the University of St Andrews takes place within the Academic Schools and Research Centres. The diverse range of these research areas can be seen below. The excellent quality of research at the University is demonstrated by the results of the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 2008.
Art History
The School of Art History has an international reputation for excellence in research. The research interests of the School extend from the Mediaeval to the Modern periods, comprising the art of Renaissance Italy, British architecture, furniture history, photography, and 19th- and 20th-century art in Britain, France and Russia.
Biology
- Biomolecular Sciences
- Cell and Systems Biology
- Evolutionary Biology and Animal Behaviour
- Marine Biology
Chemistry
Research at the School of Chemistry is part of EaStCHEM, a world-class research group based at St Andrews and Edinburgh. EaStCHEM's research themes: the Chemistry/Biology Interface, Experimental and Theoretical Chemical Physics and Molecular Synthetic Chemistry cover a wide range of areas and build on the existing strengths of the parent Universities.
Classics
The University of St Andrews has been a centre for Classical studies since its foundation in 1413, and the School of Classics' staff continues to build on its reputation for research.
Computer Science
Computer Science has a top-class group of researchers with interests in a wide range of areas of theoretical and practical computer science:
- Artificial intelligence and symbolic computation, including constraint programming, computational algebra and computational logic and natural language processing, image processing and robotics.
- Human Computer Interaction, including pervasive and ubiquitous computing, input and output technologies, intelligent interactive systems and visualisation.
- Networked and distributed systems, including distributed and autonomic systems, middleware, network design and architecture, wireless and sensor networks, performance measurement and distributed learning environments.
- Systems engineering, including software engineering, system dependability and social informatics.
Divinity
The School of Divinity staff have an internationally renowned reputation for high quality research.
Economics & Finance
- Research centres in the School of Economics and Finance
- Staff and their research interests
English
The School of English research has a very high reputation, ranked 2nd in Scotland and 8th in the UK in RAE2008. Particular research groups include:
- Mediaeval and Renaissance
- 18th Century, Romantic and Victorian
- Modern and Contemporary
- Creative Writing
Geography & Geosciences
- Research at the Department of Geography and Sustainable Development
- Research at the Department of Earth Sciences
History
The School of History has particular research strengths in a variety of areas, including the Middle Ages and the Reformation, the Mediaeval and early modern English and Scottish Parliaments, Scottish and Mediterranean history, Environmental history, and the history of modern identity, including gender, ethnicity and nationalism.
International Relations
Research at the School of International Relations includes several research groups and focuses on three broad themes: conflict, peace and security; the evolving character of global and supra-national institutions; and civil societies and international relations.
- Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies
- Centre for Study of Terrorism and Political Violence
- Centre for Russian, Soviet and Central and Eastern European Studies
- Centre for Global Constitutionalism
- Centre for the Study of Religion & Politics
- Institute of Middle East, Central Asia and Caucasus Studies
Management
Mathematics and Statistics
The research groups at the School of Mathematics and Statistics are internationally leading and attract researchers, postgraduate students and collaborators from around the world.
The School is also well-known for its research in the History of Mathematics.
Medicine
The School of Medicine has active research programmes covering a variety of areas of biomedical science.
Modern Languages
In the RAE2008, research at the School of Modern Languages was ranked 2nd, 4th and 9th in the UK for German, French and Spanish, respectively. Italian was ranked highest in Scotland. The School is involved with various Centres and Institutes within the University.
Philosophical, Anthropological and Film Studies
- Research centres and interests within Philosophy
- Research centres and interests within Social Anthropology
- Research environment at Film Studies
Physics and Astronomy
The School of Physics & Astronomy is highly rated for its range of pure and applied research in Astronomy and Physics.
Psychology & Neuroscience
The School of Psychology & Neuroscience at St Andrews is one of the top rated research departments in the UK. There is a thriving research culture involving staff and postgraduates. Current research of international renown is being carried out in the following areas: