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St Andrews in the News

April 2024

Welcome to the April issue of St Andrews in the News.


We hope you enjoy this month’s newsletter, which features updates, live and watch-again events, and fascinating alumni stories and experiences. Please contact us if you would like to contribute your story, video or podcast to share with our online community.

principal and guest

Medicine comes home

Medical students will now be able to complete their primary medical qualification – including their clinical training – in Fife for the first time in over 50 years thanks to a new partnership between the University of St Andrews and NHS Fife. 


The partnership – outlined in the video above – will benefit patient care and medical research locally, while boosting Scotland’s training provision for new doctors.

Read more


Joe Russo, Tom Holland, Harry Holland, and Anthony Russo

Sands: International Film Festival 2024

In this year's festival some of the most creative and innovative people working in the entertainment industries came together with audiences to explore the different ways that we tell stories, including producers and directors Joe and Anthony Russo and Steven Soderbergh, casting director Debra Zane, gaming experts Chris van der Kuyl and Donald Mustard and composer Alan Silvestri.   


Pictured (left to right) are Joe Russo, Tom Holland, Harry Holland, and Anthony Russo attending the Opening Night of the Sands: International Film Festival of St Andrews on 19 April 2024. Photo credit: (Photo by Euan Cherry/Getty Images for University of St Andrews) 


We are grateful to AGBO and to the Russo Brothers for their continued generous support, and to all the other donors who make the Sands festival possible.


Watch vido clip


Alumni Weekend 14-16 June 2024 logo

St Andrews' Ellie Monk wins Scottish Women's Open

University of St Andrews' student Ellie Monk has won the 2024 Helen Holm Scottish Women's Open. Her final round of 71 at the prestigious Royal Troon Golf Club secured her a two-shot win over her competitors.


Celebrations, however, had to wait - the new champion had to go straight back to the library to study for her economics exam the following morning.

Read more


Alumni Weekend 14-16 June 2024 logo

University's Women's 1st football team are triumphant

Saints Sport is having a bumper month! The University's Women's 1st Football Team triumphed against the University of Edinburgh at the recent #SheCanSheWill final. After a draw, the game went to extra time, and then to penalties. This is the third time and the third year in a row that the team has won the cup.

Read more about Saints Sport success


Alumni Weekend 14-16 June 2024 logo

Alumni Weekend

Join us from Friday 14 – Sunday 16 June for this year’s Alumni Weekend. Events include a reception with fizz at Topping & Company Booksellers, ‘Behind the scenes at ‘New College’’ complete with a buffet lunch, barbecue dinner, an interdisciplinary panel discussion entitled ‘In conversation: Alien Worlds’ and much more.


Book your accommodation now – there’s a special alumni discount at David Russell Apartments or McIntosh Hall.


Please contact the Alumni Relations Team at alumni@st-andrews.ac.uk if you have any questions or would like help to contact old friends and classmates.


View the full programme and register now to attend.

Register now


St Mary's Quad

University Annual Public Meeting 2024

All are welcome to attend the University’s Annual Public Meeting, which will be followed by a reception. Please register via the link below.


Date: Saturday 15 June 2024

Time: 3pm – 5pm

Location: Buchanan Lecture Theatre (Meeting), Parliament Hall (Reception)

Register here


golf course view

The Arnold Palmer Invitational, St Andrews

Register now for this year’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, which will be played for the first time on the Kittocks Course, St Andrews, on Saturday 15 June 2024. This one-day tournament brings together alumni, parents, students, and friends of the University in support of our performance golf programme, Saints Golf


The tournament has been organised in conjunction with St Andrews Graduates Golf Society (StAGGS), who are including a singles competition for graduates as part of the event.

More information and register now


group photograph of attendees

Arnold Palmer Legacy Experience at Latrobe Country Club

Sticking with the golf theme - there is still a chance for alumni, parents, and friends to join us for the exclusive Arnold Palmer Legacy Experience at Latrobe Country Club, Pennsylvania, on Sunday 19 and Monday 20 May 2024.  


This is a wonderful opportunity to play with the University's talented golf team, including Ellie Monk, who recently won the Helen Holm Scottish Women's Open (see above).


Proceeds from the event will benefit Arnold Palmer Golf Scholarships at the University of St Andrews and the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation.

Find out more and book your place


group photograph of attendees

Alumni events in China and India

It was wonderful to catch up with so many of our alumni and friends in Shanghai and Beijing at our recent events. We also hosted receptions in Delhi and Mumbai and look forward to catching up with more alumni, families, and friends around the world – and in St Andrews – over the year ahead. 


Tartan Day Parade with SA banner

New York Alumni Club: Tartan Day Parade

The St Andrews Alumni Club of New York joined in the 26th annual Tartan Week Parade in Manhattan earlier this month. Many also enjoyed a brunch for alumni, families, and friends of the University before gathering for the main event.

View photo album


man sitting a top mountain

Alumni Stories

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


This month, as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the reconstitution of St Leonard’s College, we feature two of our postgraduate alumni.


Abigail Peters (MLitt 2023) was selected by Professor John Burnside of the School of English as the recipient of the Clarissa Luard Award 2023 and is awaiting publication of her first book. Joseph Reilly (MLitt 2022), pictured, won the Trench Gascoigne essay prize for the best original work on international defence and security issues. He shares his story from a Royal Navy warship in the Indo-Pacific.


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


Alumni Authors

Fibres of a Memory


Natalie Kormos (BSc 2020, MLitt 2023)

book cover

The Cairngorms & North-East Scotland


Iain Young (BSc 1980, PhD 1984), with Heather Morning and Anne Butler

book cover


Saints Talk Professor Matthew Holden logo

Saints Talk

Professor Matthew Holden of the School of Medicine will give our next Saints Talk on Tuesday 30 April at 5.15pm (BST), entitled 'DNA detective work tracing the spread of pathogens'.


You can register for the talk or watch previous Saints Talks below.

More information and register here
Watch previous Saints Talks


Saints Hockey group photo

SaintsFunder: Saints Hockey Bursary 2024-2025

This month’s SaintsFunder project is organised by Saints Hockey and aims to provide a bursary for the 2024-2025 academic year. The Saints Hockey Bursary aims to make the game more accessible for current and prospective members who would otherwise struggle to cover the associated costs.

Find out more about how you can support the project


view of training in office

Executive Education: Digital Trends in Financial Technology

The University's Business School has launched its Executive Education programme. The first course – in Digital Finance – takes place from Monday 5 – Wednesday 7 August 2024 in St Andrews and is designed for professionals seeking to grasp the complexities and future trajectory of the FinTech landscape. The content will cover FinTech start-ups, Generative AI in finance (Chat-GPT, Claude), regulatory and ethical considerations, and more.


The August session will feature executive guest speakers from industry as well as thought leaders from the University of St Andrews Business School. 


To celebrate the launch of the Business School, a special 15% alumni discount on Executive Education courses is available to all St Andrews graduates. Contact bschoolexecedu@st-andrews.ac.uk or register below for more information and for updates on future courses.

Find out more and register your interest


four students reading The Saint student newspaper

Send us your memories of The Saint

The Saint is somewhere that alumni, families, and friends can access news about St Andrews – but it’s currently facing challenges. Contact aes34@st-andrews.ac.uk  with your memories and help raise awareness of this excellent student-run newspaper so it can continue to provide high-quality, award-winning journalism and launch student careers.

Read more


beyond startups logo

Entrepreneurship Centre Podcast Launch

The University of St Andrews' Entrepreneurship Centre has launched a new podcast. Beyond StArtups delves into the stories of those who have pursued a creative or entrepreneurial journey, whether students, staff, academics, alumni or members of the wider community.


The first episode features student entrepreneur Jake Bill, co-founder of Klank, an entertainment booking service to connect musicians and performers with venues and fans.


If any of our alumni and friends are interested in sharing their entrepreneurial journey, contact entrepreneurship@st-andrews.ac.uk

Beyond StArtups - listen now


mountain glen view

Acting on climate change: policy, rights, and net zero

The Centre for Energy Ethics is hosting a day of engaging discussion, debate, and reflections from stakeholders –  including MSPs, industry leaders, and local climate activists – on Friday 10 May.


The event is funded by Scotland's Future Series and will bring issues of climate policy and climate rights into focus as the nation moves to rapidly and sustainably reduce its carbon emissions.


The event will be held in St Andrews and online.

More information and register to attend


Laidlaw Music Centre

Laidlaw Live

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

What's on


Student in red gown on beach

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


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