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Students starting the academic year with the Pier Walk
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St Andrews in the News
September 2025
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Welcome to the September issue of St Andrews in the News, and to the start of the new academic year. The town has a real energy about it thanks to our new and returning students, and their families, many of whom joined them in St Andrews ahead of Orientation Week.
This month, you can read about the launch of our two new Global Research Centres which focus on global health and climate change respectively, find updates from Saints Sport including the announcement of the University as an Olympic training venue, and hear from inspiring graduates who have shared Alumni Stories and careers-focused Alumni Profiles.
We're also delighted to share an update on the Making Waves Campaign as we mark one year since the public launch with a record cash year for donations.
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Scholars at the launch of the Making Waves Campaign, September 2024
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University of St Andrews celebrates record fundraising year
The University of St Andrews has broken its previous cash record for fundraising with over £23.3 million donated in the year ending 31 July. The achievement marks one year since the launch of Making Waves: The Campaign for St Andrews, which will raise £300m for four key projects to deliver capital developments, enhance the student experience, and enable groundbreaking research.
We are so grateful to the more than 15,000 donors, from alumni, family and friends, corporate supporters and many trusts and foundations, for their tremendous support for the Making Waves Campaign and collectively reaching this new record level of support for St Andrews.
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Pier Walk marks the new academic year
Hundreds of students participated in the Pier Walk to mark the start of Martinmas Semester, supported by proud parents, many of whom were watching their students take part for the first time.
The Pier Walk is one of the University’s oldest traditions, and this year it returned to the pier itself, which reopened following storm damage in October 2023.
You can watch the highlights above, which we hope will bring back fond memories for our alumni and friends!
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Top marks for St Andrews
The University of St Andrews Andrews has been named the top university in Scotland and second in the UK, according to The Guardian University Guide 2026.
Academic Schools also performed strongly with Maths, History and International Relations taking top spot in the UK and a further 16 subjects ranking in the top 10.
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In The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, St Andrews was also ranked top in Scotland and retained its spot in second place in the main UK academic rankings. Eight subjects were rated top in the UK.
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St Andrews launches two new Global Research Centres
The University of St Andrews has announced the creation of two new Global Research Centres.
The Global Research Centre for Changing Climates will take a holistic approach to understanding the challenges posed by climate change and the solutions required to address them. The Centre will bring together researchers from the natural sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities.
The Centre for Neonatal Sepsis will focus on the world's leading cause of infant mortality. The Centre will bring together established experts from the UK and Africa to develop innovative healthcare solutions to improve survival rates and health outcomes for vulnerable newborns.
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Researchers and students on a saltmarsh
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Blue Carbon Academy opens doors for future leaders
Thanks to support from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-UK) as part of the Making Waves Campaign, the University of St Andrews has launched the first Blue Carbon Academy.
This programme will examine the science and policy behind blue carbon – the carbon stored in coastal habitats such as saltmarshes and seagrasses – which is crucial in the fight against climate change and nature loss.
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St Andrews named GB Hub for Olympic beach sprint rowing
The University of St Andrews has been officially recognised by British Rowing as both a GB Beach Sprint Performance Development Academy and a GB Olympic Beach Sprint Training Venue, cementing its role at the heart of Great Britain's preparations for the LA 2028 Olympic Games.
Lewis McCue, Director of Rowing at St Andrews, said: "The University of St Andrews, renowned for its academic excellence and sporting ambition, is proud to support the next generation of Olympic rowers and contribute to the growth of coastal rowing in the UK."
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Representatives from Development and Alumni Relations welcomed new students and their families
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A warm welcome at Orientation Week
Members of the University's Development Office enjoyed meeting new students and their families during Orientation Week. Members of our Family Programme attended receptions in the Younger Hall which featured an address from the Principal, Professor Dame Sally Mapstone, while students stopped by our stand at the Freshers' Fayre to collect their welcome gift and tuck into Fisher & Donaldson fudge doughnuts.
Family Programme members can send Fisher & Donaldson cakes, chocolates and gift baskets directly to their students via our Love from Home service.
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St Andrews Links Collegiate Golf Tournament
The University of St Andrews Golf team will compete against teams from Princeton University, Michigan State University, and the University of California, Berkeley in the 2025 St Andrews Links Collegiate from Monday 13 to Wednesday 15 October. The tournament is presented by World Wide Technology and will be played on the Old Course and the Jubilee Course.
Alumni, families, and friends are encouraged to come along to support St Andrews or tune in. NBC Sports will present live coverage on the GOLF Channel, and Sky Sports will provide coverage in the UK.
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QS rankings: call for alumni support
The QS World University Rankings recognise the top global universities, including the University of St Andrews. We are calling on our alumni to support St Andrews by participating in the survey and sharing feedback on our University.
There are two ways to get involved. Whether you're a graduate in employment or you employ a St Andrews graduate you can make a difference. Would your employer be willing to complete the upcoming QS survey about the calibre of graduates they employ?
Please let us know at alumni@st-andrews.ac.uk and we will be in touch with you in October with further information about how to participate in the survey. QS is a crucial ranking for
St Andrews and your support would be greatly appreciated.
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Professor Silvia Paracchini, right, with her daughter, Anita
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Saints Spotlight: Professor Silvia Paracchini
Professor Silvia Paracchini is a human geneticist working in the field of human complex diseases with a focus on dyslexia, handedness, and neurodevelopmental traits.
In this month’s Saints Spotlight, Professor Paracchini discusses her research through conducting large-scale genetic screenings and her recent co-founding of the Specific Learning Difficulties Network.
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Study UK Alumni Awards: applications now open
Applications for the UK Alumni Awards 2026 are now open with applications accepted until 16 October 2025.
The awards honour international leaders who have leveraged their UK education to make significant contributions to their communities, industries, and countries. St Andrews alumni are encouraged to get involved for the opportunity to raise their global profile and expand their professional network.
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L-R: Racheal Inegbedion; Anne Cockburn and Jenny Peat
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Anne Cockburn (BSc 1975) and Jennifer ‘Jenny’ Peat (MA 1975) met as students over 50 years ago. After reuniting in St Andrews for Alumni Weekend 2025 in June, the friends of five decades discuss their fond memories and enduring connection.
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| Anne and Jenny's story |
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Racheal Inegbedion (MSc 2023), is the founder of non-profit Special Needs Initiative for Growth (SNIG). She discusses finding a sense of belonging as a postgraduate at St Andrews, her continued work in inclusion, and her vision for the future.
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| Racheal's story |
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If you’d like to share your Alumni Story, please contact us at deveditorial@st-andrews.ac.uk. You can also support and inspire students and fellow graduates considering their career pathways by submitting an Alumni Profile using our brief online form.
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Alumni Authors
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Rose Murray-Brown (MA 1983)
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Edward Christie (MA 1988)
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Coffee Connect: online mentoring programme open now
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.
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SaintsFunder: Saints Hockey coaching fund
Founded in 1904, Saints Hockey is one of the University's oldest and largest sports clubs, representing 2.5% of the student body. With teams in both the BUCS (British Universities & Colleges Sport) and National Leagues, the Club provides students with opportunities to play competitively and recreationally.
The 2023-2024 season saw four BUCS teams win their respective leagues. The Men's First Team were a significant part of the season's success, finishing third in the National League and winning BUCS Scottish Tier one with a league-record points tally.
The club is committed to achieving promotion in both leagues in the upcoming season. Having previously relied on student coaches, they are looking to employ a high-quality coach to lead the Men’s First Team to success.
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University shop
We’re excited to announce the launch of our alumni golf collection. Available exclusively to our alumni community, this range can be accessed with the password: uostagolfalum1413.
Celebrate your alma mater in style!
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Laidlaw Live
Look out for the latest Laidlaw Music Centre live-streamed concerts and access high-quality music – wherever you are in the world.
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| What's on |
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