The death of The Rt Hon Lord Campbell of Pittenweem

We are saddened by the loss of The Right Honourable Lord Campbell of Pittenweem CH CBE KC FRSE, our Chancellor, who died in London at the age of 84. On 15 October, family, friends, political and University colleagues gathered at Port of Menteith Church in Stirlingshire to remember, give thanks, and acknowledge this loss. 

Menzies Campbell, or 'Ming' to the thousands who knew him, was one of the great political figures of the modern era and a constant friend and champion of Scotland’s first university. He was appointed Chancellor of the University of St Andrews in 2006, and presided over the Chancellor’s Circle – our community of legacy pledgors – since its inception in 2011.

Professor Lars Kotthoff

New Chair in Artificial Intelligence appointed

Professor Lars Kotthoff has been appointed as the Johann and Gaynor Rupert Chair in Artificial Intelligence (AI). Based in the School of Computer Science, the position will explore and advance the critical role of AI, both now and in the future.

This position was made possible by a generous gift from regular participants of the Dunhill Links Championship who collectively donated £3 million for an endowed Chair in Johann and Gaynor Rupert’s name, in recognition of the years of participation in the Dunhill Links Championship and by way of thanks for Mr Rupert’s contribution to golf, and to St Andrews.

Links Collegiate success for Golf Scholar

Saints Sport Golf Scholar and third-year Economics undergraduate Ellie Monk claimed the individual stroke play title at the 2025 St Andrews Links Collegiate played on the Jubilee and Old Course from 13-15 October. 

St Andrews Links and NBC Sports hosted the third St Andrews Links Collegiate in which the University of St Andrews competed against teams from Princeton University, Michigan State University and the University of California, Berkeley.

Ian Muir, Director of Golf at the University of St Andrews, said: “Ellie’s performance over the last two days was an amazing show of composure and competitive spirit. To win on home soil, against such a strong international field, is a testament to her dedication and the strength of our programme. We’re incredibly proud of her achievement and excited to see what’s next in her journey.”

This year’s  Bobby Jones scholars from Emory University (L-R): David Lee, Lucas San Miguel, Elizabeth Martin, and Lydia King (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

St Andrews welcomes new Bobby Jones Scholars

The University has welcomed four new recipients of the Robert T Jones (Bobby Jones) Scholarship, who have travelled from Emory University to spend a year studying and forming new friendships at St Andrews.

The incoming scholars were hosted by the Alfred Dunhill Links Foundation, whose support helps to provide these scholarships, at this year’s Dunhill Links Championship in St Andrews, where they had the opportunity to see some of the world’s greatest golfers play the Old Course.

Renowned British tenor James Gilchrist

Laidlaw Music Centre appoints new Honorary Professor of Singing

The renowned British tenor James Gilchrist has been appointed as the University's new Honorary Professor of Singing.

Joining the University’s Laidlaw Music Centre, which opened in 2022 thanks to support received during the 600th Anniversary Campaign, James will share his expertise with current and future student singers, as well as contributing to the wider work of the Centre.

St Andrews Playwriting Award recipient Milly Sweeney with her Stage Debut Award for Best Writer

One award leads to another for young playwright

Dr Sara Lodge 

Dr Sara Lodge shortlisted for Wolfson History Prize

Dr Sara Lodge, Senior Lecturer in the School of English at the University of St Andrews, has been shortlisted for this year’s prestigious Wolfson History Prize for her book The Mysterious Case of the Victorian Female Detective. 

The annual prize, worth £50,000, aims to highlight the best historical writing being produced in the UK. The winner of the Wolfson History Prize 2025 will be announced on Tuesday 2 December 2025.

The Wolfson Foundation is an independent grant-making charity with a focus on research and education. Since 1955, the Wolfson Foundation has awarded over £1 billion (£2 billion in real terms) to projects across the UK, all on the basis of expert peer review.

The fourth annual Home International Rowing Beach Sprints Regatta

Rowing successes for Saints Sport

It has been a stellar month for Saints Sport with the fourth annual Home International Rowing Beach Sprints Regatta bringing together the best of beach sprint rowing from across the four home nations to compete for the prestigious Guin Batten Trophy.

In the final race of the day, University of St Andrews Boat Club athlete Tom Mitchell and Saints Sport scholar Hansine Marshall powered through the waves to claim gold in the Senior Mixed Double.

Hansine and Tom, along with fellow Boat Club athlete Cam Buchan, have been selected to represent Great Britain at the 2025 European Rowing Coastal and Beach Sprint Championships.

The University's Boat Club is led by Director of Rowing, Lewis McCue, who was recently named Performance Coach of the Year at the 2024-2025 Scottish Rowing Awards.

Alumni Carol Services in St Andrews and London

All are warmly invited to join us for this year's Alumni Carol Services in St Andrews and London. The services provide an opportunity to meet fellow graduates and catch up with old friends. Please note, seats are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

• London Alumni Carol Service, St Columba's Church, Pont Street – Wednesday 10 December at 7pm (Register for tickets)
• St Andrews Alumni Carol Service, St Salvator's Chapel, North Street – Monday 15 December at 7pm (Tickets are not required)

Professor Sabine Hyland studying a khipu with a hand-held microscope. 

Saints Spotlight: Professor Sabine Hyland

Professor Sabine Hyland is a Reader in the School of Divinity. In this month’s Saints Spotlight, she discusses her research into an Indigenous Peruvian form of proto-writing made of knotted, mixed-fibre strings known as khipus, and the previously uncovered knowledge they could hold about the Inca Empire.

Dame Joanna Lumley in conversation at the 2025 Sands International Film Festival

Save the date: Sands International Film Festival of St Andrews 2026

The hugely successful Sands festival returns – for its fifth year – from Friday 17 to Sunday 19 April 2026.

Produced by the Byre Theatre and the University of St Andrews, with the University’s Department of Film Studies as a key partner, Sands is made possible through generous sponsorship from the Russo Brothers’ independent studio AGBO, and donations from the Murphy Family, and other valued supporters. This unique collaboration – combining AGBO’s ongoing commitment to mentorship with Festival Director Ania Trzebiatowska’s artistic leadership – enables Sands to bring world-renowned filmmakers to St Andrews while continuing to support new and diverse creative voices.

At the heart of Sands is a commitment to nurturing the next generation of filmmakers, championing diverse voices, and creating meaningful opportunities for students and early-career artists.

For 2026, we are delighted to be offering a small number of Sands Patrons packages, to include complimentary and priority ticketing along with invitations to exclusive VIP events with Sands participants, filmmakers, and other supporters during the Festival. To register your interest in becoming a Sands Patron, please email developmentevents@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Programme details and announcements for the 2026 festival will follow in the new year – stay tuned via the Sands website.

General Council

The next meeting of the General Council of the University of St Andrews will take place on Saturday 29 November at 10.30am in Parliament Hall, South Street, St Andrews, KY16 9JU. Tea and coffee will be available from 10am.

General Council members will be sent a link to the billet (meeting paper) before the meeting. Printed copies will be available at the meeting or can be requested in advance from the General Council Office.

To register your attendance, please email generalcouncil@st-andrews.ac.uk with your name, maiden name if applicable, year of graduation, degree, and subject of study.

Alumni Stories

Stuart Butler at St Andrews in the 1960s

Stuart Butler (BSc 1968; MA 1971; PhD 1978) is a public policy expert with over 40 years’ experience in healthcare, budget, education, and more. Stuart credits St Andrews as laying the foundations for his career in public policy research, which culminated in his retirement from the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C, last year.

As the first in his family to attend university and the recipient of grant funding as a student, Stuart funds a Wardlaw Scholarship as his way of 'paying forward' the gift he received.

Jill Craig conducting the St Andrews and Fife Community Orchestra (StAFCO)

Gillian ‘Jill’ Craig (MA 1977) discusses her lifelong love of music, developed during her studies at St Andrews. From her undergraduate lectures on Beethoven to working with the University’s Music Centre over the past 45 years, Jill reflects on her St Andrews story ahead of the 70th anniversary of the Renaissance Group.

To share your Alumni Story, please contact us at deveditorial@st-andrews.ac.uk. You can also submit an Alumni Profile using our brief online form. 

Alumni Authors

SaintsFunder: 150 years of music

The University of St Andrews Music Society was established in 1876 and is both the University's largest and oldest music-making society. In April 2026, the Music Society will celebrate its 150th anniversary.

To mark the occasion, members hope to host a four-day festival (16-19 April 2026) showcasing the rich history of the society and the wider music community in St Andrews.

Saints Talk

Dr Graham Bruce of the School of Physics and Astronomy will give our next Saints Talk on Thursday 30 October at 5.15pm (BST), entitled ' 'Drink, Drugs and Toxic Books – recent adventures in spectroscopic sensing'.

Register below to attend. 

Inscription opportunities: leave a lasting mark

Become part of the ceremonial heart of St Andrews with an inscribed seat plaque inside – or a flagstone outside – the Younger Hall. Both seat plaques and flagstones can be inscribed as a lasting memory of your time at the University – or as a gift to one of our graduates.

Contact Katie Birrell, Development Officer, at kjb21@st-andrews.ac.uk for more information.

Coffee Connect: final opportunity to get involved

Coffee Connect is our exclusive mentoring programme, brought to you in partnership with the University's Careers Service. Coffee Connect is designed to support students and recent graduates by fostering connection, inspiration, and shared experience.

Mentors and mentees are matched for online conversations that can spark new ideas, build confidence, and open doors. Since its launch five years ago, over 4,000 alumni and students have signed up to have a relaxed chat over a virtual coffee. This year, the programme is open for students and recent graduates (up to three years after graduation) to be mentored by alumni, current parents who are part of our Family Programme, and friends of the University.

Applications close on Friday 31 October.

Lululemon x University of St Andrews collection 

Following a sold-out first launch, our 'Lululemon x University of St Andrews' collection is back in stock. Explore the range online and in-store at the University of St Andrews Shop.

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