New students

If you are a new student, you should upload your ID photo before you arrive at the University so IT Services have time to produce your ID card.

To prevent delays, read the photo guidelines below so you only need to take your photo once. You can also find good and bad examples of digital photos in the Government's passport photo guidelines.

ID card collection

New students staying in halls can collect their ID cards from their Hall of Residence.
New students not in halls can collect their ID cards from the matriculation event in the Gateway Building Friday 23 January 2026 from 8.45am to 1.30pm. After this time, ID cards will be available to collect from the IT Help Point in Main Library.
Other students can collect their replacement cards from the IT Help Point in Main Library Library.

1. Log in to the portal using your University username and password.
2. Click Choose File and upload your photo. If you have any issues, contact idcards@st-andrews.ac.uk.
3. You'll receive an email saying whether your photo has been accepted or rejected. If it's rejected, you'll need to retake it and upload it again, meaning it might not be ready for the start of your course.
In order for your photo to be approved it must be:
- clear and in focus
- in colour
- unaltered by computer software
- at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall
- at least 50KB and no more than 10MB.
The digital photo must:
- contain no other objects or people
- be taken against a plain light-coloured background
- be in clear contrast to the background
- not have red eye.
If you’re using a photo taken during your application, include your head, shoulders and upper body. Do not crop your photo - it will be done for you.

In your photo you must:
- be facing forwards and looking straight at the camera
- have a plain expression and your mouth closed
- have your eyes open and visible
- not have hair in front of your eyes
- not have a head covering (unless it’s for religious or medical reasons)
- not have anything covering your face
- not have any shadows on your face or behind you.

New students

ID card collection

Upload your student ID card photo

ID card photo guidelines