St Andrews Admissions Statistics: Entry Insights

If you’re eager to apply to St Andrews, chances are you’re keen to hunt down some admissions statistics. 

We've gathered the latest St Andrews admissions statistics to show you exactly how competitive each subject group is. Read on to find out more.

Top 3 St Andrews Admissions Statistics 

• Overall in 2024, 21,515 students applied to St Andrews University for an undergraduate course.

• Of those, 8,147 students received an offer.

• And, of these, 3,810 ended up accepting their place and starting their chosen course.

St Andrews Admissions Statistics: By Subject Group

Undergraduate degree programmes at the University of St Andrews have been grouped into seven subject groups. Each course is counted once only, with joint honours programmes assigned according to the first-named subject. 

The below figures relate to the 2024/25 admissions cycle.

Statistics are from St Andrews’s own application data, published as a result of a Freedom of Information request (opens in a new tab):

Key Trends from 2024

1. The subject group with the highest offer rate is Arts and Humanities

• Applications: 5,731

• Offers: 2,476

• Offer rate: 43%

While there are lots of applications, a relatively large proportion receive offers. However, only half of these offers convert to students actually taking up their place and starting their course.

2. The subject group with the lowest offer rate is Business, Management and Economics

Career-focused degrees are the most competitive at St Andrews.

• Applications: 3,441

• Offers: 963

• Offer rate: 28%

Out of these 963 offers, just 435 of these students go on to enrol on their chosen course.

How Competitive Is It to Get Into St Andrews?

The University of St Andrews is Scotland's oldest university and consistently ranks as one of the UK's top institutions.

In the 2026 Guardian University Guide (opens in a new tab), St Andrews ranked second in the UK overall, behind only Oxford. In The Times University Rankings 2026 (opens in a new tab), the university also secured second place nationally, behind LSE.

Given this reputation, competition for places is fierce. Applicants are competing against some of the highest-achieving students in the UK and internationally.

How to Maximise Your Chances of Admission

Your application needs to stand out from thousands of others. Here's how to strengthen it.

Achieve exceptional grades

With typical offers of ABB to A*AA at A Level (opens in a new tab), you need consistently high performance. Focus on subjects relevant to your chosen course and aim to exceed minimum requirements. While achieving these grades doesn’t automatically guarantee you an offer, you can’t get an offer without them!

Write a compelling personal statement

St Andrews looks for academic passion. Read widely around your subject, engage with relevant topics, and demonstrate intellectual curiosity. 

Make your personal statement specific to why St Andrews and why the particular course you’ve chosen suits you. Mention any extracurricular activities that show your commitment and determination, and detail any future aspirations (if you’ve worked them out yet).

Research the course thoroughly 

Linked to the personal statement tip, make sure that you demonstrate knowledge of St Andrews' specific approach. This means researching the course that you want to secure a place for. Mention the things that attract you, like:

• Particular modules

• Research strengths

• Teaching methods

Frequently Asked Questions

What Percentage of St Andrews Applicants Get Accepted?

In 2024, around 38% of St Andrews applicants received offers for their chosen course, but less than half of students with offers ended up enrolling at St Andrews. However, as demonstrated by the table above, offer rates and acceptance rates vary considerably between different subject groups.

What Percentage of St Andrews Students Drop Out?

St Andrews has a low drop out rate of 2.1% (opens in a new tab). This accounts for students who drop out of their course during the first year only. This is the eighth-lowest drop out rate for all UK universities, showing that student retention at St Andrews is high.

Is the University of St Andrews a Russell Group University?

No. The University of St Andrews is not a member of the Russell Group. This doesn’t mean it isn’t highly regarded. It often outperforms Russell Group universities in league tables and is a leading global academic centre of research.

Get Into St Andrews with Save My Exams

St Andrews is one of the best (according to league tables) universities in the UK, with acceptance rates rivalling - or even exceeding - the competition at Oxford and Cambridge.

The statistics in this article can seem daunting, but remember they describe groups of students. They don’t tell you whether you’ll receive an offer or not. Thousands of students successfully gain admission each year by demonstrating academic excellence, passion for their subject, and careful application preparation.

If St Andrews is your dream, go for it. Research thoroughly, apply strategically, and present the strongest possible application. And don’t forget, you can maximise your chances of getting an offer by using Save My Exams examiner-written revision resources. They’re built around what actually comes up in exams, helping you boost your grades and stay in control of your revision - without the overwhelm.

Explore our A Level revision resources and dedicated university guidance.

References

Guardian - University Rankings 2026 (opens in a new tab)

St Andrews - Application Data (opens in a new tab)

University of St Andrews - Entry Requirements (opens in a new tab)

The Times University Rankings 2026 (opens in a new tab)

What Uni - Universities With Highest and Lowest Dropout Rates (opens in a new tab)