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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:
kitsuneghost · 10/09/2023 17:45

Why would you base your uni choice on distance from Edinburgh? Especially if you are from the south

JaninaDuszejko · 10/09/2023 17:47

Years ago when we were students in the SE we went with friends to visit DH's parents in the central belt. Our friends were southern. We got to Manchester and they said 'almost there' and DH and I looked at each other and said 'em, no, we're only half way'.

RomaniIteDomum · 10/09/2023 17:48

Dear goodness, how EVER did those of use born and bred there survive so far from civilisation? 🙄

And it's never been St Andrews University, Edinburgh. In fact it predates the latter by almost two centuries.

RomaniIteDomum · 10/09/2023 17:51

Silverdogblue · 10/09/2023 17:36

Out of curiosity, what is the best way to get there by public transport? Or do students drive?

My knowledge of Scottish geography is woeful but doing a road trip to Alness later this year! Probably not via St Andrews…

Train to Leuchars then either one of the frequent buses to town, or one of the taxis that sit in the ranks there.

doodlejump1980 · 10/09/2023 17:51

Not studying geography then? 😂

Baldieheid · 10/09/2023 17:52

CurlewKate · 10/09/2023 17:45

@Baldieheid Fisher and Donaldson fudge doughnuts!

Janettas is still there, by the way!

Oh I know Janettas is still there, I'm lucky enough to live an hour's drive from St Andrews so I can get a fix of peach ice cream once every so often.

I prefer the Rhubarb pies from Fisher and Donaldson though.....mmmmmm mmmmm

Good job it's all an hour away or I'd be fat, fat FAAAAAAT

ActDottie · 10/09/2023 17:53

Never heard it be called St Andrews university Edinburgh!

Stroopwaffels · 10/09/2023 17:56

kitsuneghost · 10/09/2023 17:45

Why would you base your uni choice on distance from Edinburgh? Especially if you are from the south

Probably because London - Edinburgh is 4.5 hours on the east coast mainline train, and there's an airport with Easyjet and BA flights to Heathrow/Gatwick/Luton.

WornOutAndWorried · 10/09/2023 17:57

I went. It's over 500 miles from my home town, down south... It took 13 hours by train. So no, I didn't go home at the weekend.

And, as PP have said, it has never been St Andrews Edinburgh.

Baldieheid · 10/09/2023 17:58

I think maybe OP and son should actually visit the Uni for this open day and do it by public transport, just to understand what he'll have to do for 4 years.

And then imagine it in December with it totally dark at 3.30pm, an east coast gale sandblasting the skin off your face and the usual lovely Scotrail delays and cancellations.

Consider buying him a car, OP. It will genuinely save his sanity.

Hellocatshome · 10/09/2023 17:59

Was your son intending coming home every weekend. I went home at Christmas and that was it. Far too busy having fun and working weekends etc

Heatherbell1978 · 10/09/2023 18:00

Desperate to hear where St Andrews is described as being in Edinburgh. An American publication maybe??

CopperLion · 10/09/2023 18:01

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

Umm, they don’t? It’s in Fife.

CopperLion · 10/09/2023 18:04

I was there at the same time as William, started a year later. By the time I got up there from Surrey I could see why The Firm had decided to send him there. No one would ever bother with the schlep up to deepest, darkest Fife to spy on him. Specially not in Winter.

PS it’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever had the fortune to stay in 😍

thaegumathteth · 10/09/2023 18:07

😂

I live near St Andrews and I'm beginning to wonder how we survive in deepest darkest fife

gearedup · 10/09/2023 18:11

Why are you booking an open day, @UlezSchmulez? Are you thinking of going there?

If not, it's up to your son whether he wants to apply, and he can surely look at a map and book an open day himself, should he decide that it's a good idea to be a very long way from home.

RomaniIteDomum · 10/09/2023 18:16

thaegumathteth · 10/09/2023 18:07

😂

I live near St Andrews and I'm beginning to wonder how we survive in deepest darkest fife

Listen we've been promised the interwebz is coming any year now - until then, posting to Mumsnet via carrier pigeon is a vast improvement on the semaphore and smoke signals we relied on in the past

Baldieheid · 10/09/2023 18:17

Good god, you have pigeons??? I'm still using morse bloody code.

CopperLion · 10/09/2023 18:20

Haha, sorry! I was being tongue in cheek. I loved my time there.

Photio · 10/09/2023 18:21

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?

Where are you seeing in called St Andrews university Edinburgh?
St Andrews university is a very famous ancient university which is in........ ...St Andrews

CopperLion · 10/09/2023 18:21

But let’s face it, not easy to pop up for an hour from your desk at the DM HQ if you hear William has popped to Tesco Grin

RomaniIteDomum · 10/09/2023 18:23

Baldieheid · 10/09/2023 18:17

Good god, you have pigeons??? I'm still using morse bloody code.

Well we are St Andrews. I mean we're not just Fifers, we are elite Fifers. (Well those of us who arnae incomers)

CurlewKate · 10/09/2023 18:23

Unless the demographic at St Andrews has changed a lot since my day, the majority of students will have cars. Also many will have family with second homes in Scotland.

RomaniIteDomum · 10/09/2023 18:24

CopperLion · 10/09/2023 18:21

But let’s face it, not easy to pop up for an hour from your desk at the DM HQ if you hear William has popped to Tesco Grin

There's local press photographers. Apparently there's quite a few early pics of Wills and Kate speed away on SD cards but there was a widespread agreement at the time to let him be.

CurlewKate · 10/09/2023 18:25

William went there partly because of the security, but also because royals with dodgy A Levels can't get away with Oxbridge any more, so he went to St As with all the other Oxbridge rejects....