Race equality

Race Equality Charter

In 2024, the University was awarded an institutional Race Equality Charter Bronze Award in recognition of its work to advance race equality.

Our Race Equality Charter action plan 2024–2029 (PDF) guides our work on race equality. Developed through wide consultation, it’s shaped by the Advance HE Race Equality Charter Framework.

Our action plan is focused on six priority areas:

• strengthen race equality leadership
• enhance inclusion and support
• challenge inappropriate behaviours
• reform staff recruitment and career development
• extend support for students
• proliferate antiracist pedagogy.

Find out more about the Race Equality Charter.

Business in the Community (BitC) Race at Work Charter

In May 2019, the University of St Andrews became the first UK university to sign the Business in the Community (BitC) Race at Work Charter. We last submitted an organisational survey to Business in the Community on 15 June 2023, meeting our commitments as a signatory.

University Strategy

The University’s Diverse Strategy and People Strategy demonstrate wider commitments to enhance race equality, including actions to close the ethnicity pay gap and developing allyship programmes.

The University of St Andrews hosts an annual race equality lecture.

Established in 2025 as part of our Race Equality Charter Bronze Award action plan, this lecture series reflects our institutional commitment to advancing race equality through critical dialogue and public scholarship.

Lectures

• 2025, Professor Gary Younge, University of Manchester: Equal opportunities not photo opportunities

BAME Students’ Network

The BAME Students' Network exists to provide a strong community, adequate resources, and effective support to black, Asian and minority ethnic students at the University.

Careers information for BAME students

This Careers Centre's Equality, diversity and inclusion webpage details professional networks and opportunities to support black, Asian and minority ethnic applicants.

Kaleidoscope Alumni Network (KAN)

Kaleidoscope Alumni Network (KAN) is an alumni network that celebrates the ethnic and cultural diversity of St Andrews graduates around the world.

Anti-colonial approaches and decolonising the curriculum

A collection of resources designed to help staff reflect on how they can adopt and embed anti-colonial practices into curricula.

BAME Staff Network

The Staff Black, Asian and Minority Ethnicity (BAME) Network offers an opportunity for minoritised staff to access a safe and supportive space to meet, network, celebrate and share experiences of being a person of colour at St Andrews.

Diversifying Leadership programme

Diversifying Leadership is Advance HE's leadership development initiative for staff from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds to develop leadership and networking skills.

BAME Students’ Action Plan Report

The BAME Students' Action Plan Report was written by students in June 2020 to reflect a vision for a racially diverse and inclusive St Andrews.

Diversity calendar

The Diversity Calendar promotes diversity initiatives, projects and information from across the University.

Ethnicity pay gap report

The ethnicity pay gap is a measure of the difference between the average hourly pay of staff identifying as black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) and staff identifying as white across the whole organisation.

Legacies of Empire report

The Legacies of Empire report examines the ways in which the University of St Andrews has benefitted from, participated in, or supported British colonialism and imperialism.

Race Equality Charter survey results

The Race Equality Charter survey for students and staff was conducted in 2023 to help us to understand experiences of studying and working at the University of St Andrews – read the survey results.

St Andrews Race and Ethnicity Practice Report

St Andrews Race and Ethnicity Practice Report (PDF) is SUMS Consulting's review of the University’s approach to race and ethnicity practice and recommendations (2022).