Official opening of the Laidlaw Music Centre

The University of St Andrews recently marked the official opening of the Laidlaw Music Centre, which is open to students, staff and the local community.

Ukraine Hardship Fund

In anticipation of the need to support the students and staff in St Andrews who are affected by the war in Ukraine, the University has launched a greatest-need Hardship Fund to assist with accommodation, living expenses and other incidentals. The Fund aims to provide anyone directly affected by the war with the peace of mind that St Andrews will remain a safe and supportive haven. So far we have raised an amazing £156,408 from 607 supporters. Thank you so much for your support.

Russia's Invasion of Ukraine: A Strategic Overview 

Save the Date as we join Professor Stephen Gethins in Conversation with Professor Phillips O'Brien, Director of the Institute for the Study of War and Strategy (ISWS) on Thursday 12 May at 5.15pm BST in a Microsoft Teams online event. Further information to follow in advance of the event.

St Andrews formally welcomes its first female Black Rector

Dr Leyla Hussein OBE – campaigner and global leader on gender rights - was recently installed as the 54th Rector of the University of St Andrews.

Professor Sharp (centre) with Principal Professor Sally Mapstone and RSGS CEO Mike Robinson

Professor Jo Sharp appointed Geographer Royal for Scotland

Professor Jo Sharp from the University’s School of Geography has been appointed Geographer Royal for Scotland.

Principal Professor Sally Mapstone and Dr Fiona Hill in conversation at the National Liberal Club in London

Alumni and supporter events in New York and London

After a gap of two years, the Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sally Mapstone FRSE, was back on the road meeting with alumni and supporters in New York and, more recently, in London, where she hosted a conversation and a question and answer session with esteemed alumna, Dr Fiona Hill (MA Russian and Modern History, 1989). Dr Hill is one of the world's experts on foreign affairs, and this opportunity could not have been more timely as the west works through a significant rupture in the established international order.

Alumni Weekend 2022

Thank you so much to all the alumni who joined us for our Alumni Weekend - whether it was online, in-person or a combination of both. The weekend was a great success! Watch the online events here if you missed them.

Whether or not you were able to attend, we would value your input so we can shape the format that the Alumni Weekend takes in the future. Please spare a few minutes of your time to complete our Feedback Form.

Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka awarded Edinburgh Medal 2022

Huge congratulations to Dr Kalema-Zikusoka for winning this year’s Edinburgh Medal. Her project Conservation Through Public Health won the St Andrews Prize for the Environment in 2020.

Santander: Your Digital Pathway

Santander has just launched ‘Your Digital Pathway’ – a free introductory digital skills course built in collaboration with the Institute of Coding and the TechUP Initiative to help people who are returning to or starting education; returning to work or changing career; or setting up a business online.

International graduate careers survey

If you’re an international graduate in the UK and finished your studies after 1 July 2021, please complete our survey to tell us more about your experiences. You don’t need to be employed to do this.

National championship success for Saints Golf

Saints Golf, the University of St Andrews' student golf first team, brought the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Match Play Golf Championship cup back to the Home of Golf this week. 

(from left to right): Ross, Lucia, Sarah and Sam

Transatlantic golf legacy

As the Open returns to St Andrews for its 150th year, four outstanding students are leaving St Andrews to go to the United States as part of the prestigious Bobby Jones Scholarship. The Scholarships were established in 1976 by friends and family of the renowned golfer Bobby Jones and since then have supported more than 300 students and built a worldwide network of Bobby Jones alumni.

This year’s scholarship students are Ross Barclay, Sarah Millar, Lucia Guercio and Sam Goldsmith.

SaintsFunder

This month’s spotlight falls on the Principal Team who are appointed to manage the University of St Andrews Student Ambassador Scheme. They are planning to summit Ben Nevis in May to raise funds for Ambassador Scholarships after the enforced two-year hiatus created by the pandemic. Blue Angels are continuing to raise funds to award more bursaries to make dance accessible to all.

SaintsFunder is open to all students, alumni and University staff, so send your ideas to SaintsFunder@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Saints Talk programme

Our next Saints Talk is by Professor Graham Turnbull from the School of Physics & Astronomy on Tuesday 31 May 2022 at 5.15pm BST. Further details will be available soon.

View the full programme for Candlemas Semester 2022 or if you’ve missed any of the Saints Talks, you can watch again.

Join our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic network

We are focusing on enhancing and developing engagement opportunities for alumni, supporters and friends of the University across our ethnically diverse global community.

If you haven’t signed up yet but would like to find out more, please contact Catherine at alumni@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Alumni stories

We welcome stories from alumni about your time here, your journey since leaving and what the University of St Andrews has contributed to that journey.

It is one hundred years this May since JM Barrie gave his legendary address – ‘Courage’ – at his installation as Rector. This month’s contribution from Steven Thompson (PhD 1976) describes the impact that the address had on him while he was studying for his PhD at St Andrews. We felt it was appropriate to publish his story in the same month as another historic event - the installation of Dr Leyla Hussein OBE as the University’s first female Black Rector.

Email the editor sem28@st-andrews.ac.uk if you would like to share your story.

Alumni Authors

University of St Andrews Open Experience

We are delighted to announce that we will be hosting a Golf Graduation ceremony as part of the University of St Andrews Open Experience. Join us at the newly refurbished Younger Hall as we bestow Honorary Degrees on some of our best-known golfing heroes. Those booking tickets for the Open Experience will receive priority tickets to the Golf Graduation ceremony.

Laidlaw Live

Look out for the latest Laidlaw Music Centre live-streamed concerts and access high quality music – wherever you are in the world.

Reconnect!

If you know someone who would like to reconnect and sign up for St Andrews in the News, they can do so using the links below:

alumni: Update your contact information 

parents/guardians of undergraduate students: Register to join the Family Programme

email: alumni@st-andrews.ac.uk for more information