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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Does anyone from down south go to St Andrews university? I didn't realise it was 50 miles away from Edinburgh?

254 replies

UlezSchmulez · 10/09/2023 17:14

Why do they call it At Andrews university Edinburgh when it's nowhere near Edinburgh!

It's 50 miles, 1 hour and 40 minutes by train.
If you're from Southern England do you just accept that you don't return for any weekend during term time.

Just thinking of booking an open day there but wondering if it's just too far?
Which is a shame as it's very highly rated for maths which my son wants to study.
Any thoughts?

OP posts:
Penelope1703 · 10/09/2023 17:18

Where do they call it St Andrews University Edinburgh?? Never heard that.
St Andrews is in St Andrews 😆

RoyKentFanclub · 10/09/2023 17:19

Erm, are you getting mixed up with Edinburgh university?

HirplesWithHaggis · 10/09/2023 17:20

Kate and William met at St Andrews, are they from the south? Grin

OhBuggerandArse · 10/09/2023 17:20

'They' don't call it St Andrew's University Edinburgh. Because it isn't.

Surprisingly, there are other universities which are even farther away from Southern England (sic).

Justmuddlingalong · 10/09/2023 17:20

It also doesn't have a train station. The nearest one is Leuchars.

Baldieheid · 10/09/2023 17:20

Why is the location of St Andrews taking you by surprise?

Is your child just starting there, or are you looking for next year, and who on earth told you it was in Edinburgh?

ClaraThePigeon · 10/09/2023 17:21

Why do they call it At Andrews university Edinburgh when it's nowhere near Edinburgh!

They don't. Confused

FloweryWowery · 10/09/2023 17:22

Ask them to move it closer to Edinburgh. Or even better, Southern England.

Baldieheid · 10/09/2023 17:22

But yes, it is most definitely NOT a location that is easy or quick to get to.

Hence Prince William being allowed to go there. Harder to kidnap if you can't get him out of Fife and onto a damn motorway till you've driven through darkest farmland for an hour.

Baldieheid · 10/09/2023 17:23

FloweryWowery · 10/09/2023 17:22

Ask them to move it closer to Edinburgh. Or even better, Southern England.

Reminds me of the urban legend of the American tourist in Edinburgh complaining about why they'd built the castle so far from the shops. It may be a myth but after the stuff I hear coming out of tourist's mouths, it would not surprise me if it were true....

DahliaMacNamara · 10/09/2023 17:23

Helluva walk from the railway station.

It's pretty normal not to go home for weekends during term time. Nothing wrong with it if that's what the student wants to do, of course.

SnoopDogisamenace · 10/09/2023 17:24

My son also keen to go for Maths next year. We’re in NI so doing the virtual open day as it’s a pain to get to from here.

ShellySarah · 10/09/2023 17:24

Oh dear. How do people not know this. It's your sons choice why isn't he deciding if he wants to be there without your input and where to apply to?

Bigbus · 10/09/2023 17:25

It’s not called the University of St Andrews Edinburgh. I went there many years ago and it is quite remote (it actually got cut off when it snowed!) so no, no weekends home (I’m from South London) but then no one really went home at weekends in those days, even if they lived in Dundee!

72EasyLessons · 10/09/2023 17:25

You seem both confused and awfully aggrieved about the location of an extremely well-known university! Guess what, some people go to university on a different continent to their home place. I did. I only went home for the long vac.

TenOhSeven · 10/09/2023 17:25

It's probably the Scottish university that attracts most students from "down south" apart from Edinburgh itself!

Justmuddlingalong · 10/09/2023 17:26

If you're from Southern England do you just accept that you don't return for any weekend during term time.
Part of the plan, possibly? 😉

fairydust11 · 10/09/2023 17:27

The closest city (I think, as I’ve driven through it to get there) is Dundee which has an airport, so that’s a quicker link to the south, but probably pricey for weekend visits.

Justwingingit2005 · 10/09/2023 17:27

We go to St Andrews on holiday alot and we are from the South. Yes St Andrews is a way from Edinburgh but it's honestly one of the nicest places I have ever been.

Baldieheid · 10/09/2023 17:27

TenOhSeven · 10/09/2023 17:25

It's probably the Scottish university that attracts most students from "down south" apart from Edinburgh itself!

and Americans, and Chinese. It's not really a university for Scottish people to be honest.

gogomoto · 10/09/2023 17:27

St Andrews is in St Andrews, whereas Edinburgh university is in Edinburgh. The further you go from home the less likely you can go home though flying can be quick and cheap if you live near an airport

Kingdomoffife · 10/09/2023 17:29

I have a DC there. Lots of international students and students from England so there's no mass exodus home at weekends. There's a reading week each term so some students visit family then, but lots stay during reading week or go on other travels. And no I have never seen it as being marketed as in Edinburgh!

SomersetBrie · 10/09/2023 17:30

Who is "they"??
I've never heard anyone call it that.

RidingMyBike · 10/09/2023 17:31

Why would you return home for the weekend during termtime? Some students did when I was a student but they missed out on loads of fun stuff and everything we did at weekends.

University terms are pretty short and the holidays longer than school ones so no need to go back home.

Newgirls · 10/09/2023 17:31

my dd does and loves it. I thought it was a long way 4 + 1 hour train journeys but she does it easily. And then I realised that students fly in from all over the world, like they do for many UK unis and the journey seemed relatively short!