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Higher education

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

Original poster

University of St Andrews

45 replies

MelodyMalone · 22/08/2024 10:47

DD starting her first year at St Andrews in a couple of weeks - she was desperate to go there, and luckily got an unconditional place. Hoping she's able to settle in quickly and it lives up to her expectations. She's only 17 so still quite young for uni.

Does anyone have experience of either having a child at StA or going there themselves?

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Roryno · 22/08/2024 10:54

My stepson went there and had a fabulous four years. The halls for the first year were nice, there were lots of student events organised and he made lots of friends (and did very well at the university too!).
I hope she loves it.

Original poster
MelodyMalone · 22/08/2024 11:03

Roryno · 22/08/2024 10:54

My stepson went there and had a fabulous four years. The halls for the first year were nice, there were lots of student events organised and he made lots of friends (and did very well at the university too!).
I hope she loves it.

Thank you! I'm glad he had a great time. Can you remember which hall he was in? DD is going into St Salvator's - again that was the one she wanted, she's been very lucky.

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longdistanceclaraclara · 22/08/2024 11:06

Are you Scottish? Lots of the Scottish cohort will only be 17.

I didn't go but had a boyfriend there when I was at Edinburgh. Loved the town.

Original poster
MelodyMalone · 22/08/2024 11:08

longdistanceclaraclara · 22/08/2024 11:06

Are you Scottish? Lots of the Scottish cohort will only be 17.

I didn't go but had a boyfriend there when I was at Edinburgh. Loved the town.

Yes we are (well, I'm English but have lived in Scotland for a long time).

DD has always been one of the youngest in her year group, but I'm sure there'll be plenty of others who are still 17, as you say.

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RosieTheHat · 22/08/2024 11:13

My daughter attended St Andrews, she was in DRA for her first year. There are lots of clubs and societies to join, there are bonfires on the beach, potluck dinner parties, pub quizzes etc. The social aspect is great and she quickly made a lot of friends. St Andrews in general is very welcoming to students. One tip is to go to the Tesco in Cupar for food shopping if possible as it is cheaper.
Being in halls for the first year is ideal and if possible, move on to shared University managed rental afterwards. Private rental is very competitive and expensive.
Any questions, feel free to reach out and I can try to help.

AwomanfromNorthampton · 22/08/2024 11:16

My son is there now, in his fourth year. He loves it and has made loads of interesting and lovely friends. He got involved in a few societies at Freshers and made friends with people in halls. He had to share a room in Halls (St Regulas) but he coped fine as he has a decent roommate.
The Academic Family system was a bit weird but he and his mates seemed to enjoy it all. They mix more between the year groups than we did when I was at uni. It's a very small town so they do seem to find their groove and their tribe more easily than I did in a large city.

PiggyPlumPie · 22/08/2024 11:21

My DD went in 2016, also aged 17. She stayed in DRA. She had the best time! They are hot on not serving alcohol to underage students but she coped until she turned 18 in the January.

Hope you DD enjoys it too!

Original poster
MelodyMalone · 22/08/2024 11:21

@RosieTheHat thanks, that's great! I am a bit worried about second year accommodation as I've heard it's hard to get/expensive. But first year will be fine. We've gone for catered accommodation.

@AwomanfromNorthampton thanks, yes the academic family stuff is a bit weird! but DD loves all that stuff. She's not really a big city gal so hopefully St A will suit her fine.

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SoilTiller · 22/08/2024 13:48

DD was at St Andrews. Scottish. Absolutely loved it and made lifelong friends from a range of countries (including Scotland!). Was in halls for first year and then flats/houses. Always got something in good time before next academic year. Got involved in several student societies and ended up as president and vp of a couple. Also managed to fit in academic work! and got a good degree.

Edited to add that if your DD is also not a hig city girl she will love it. DD used to send us photos of sunrise runs/walks on the beach - ideal de-stress location before exams. Academic families stuff was fine and she sought out parents who were about having fun rather than drinking.

Original poster
MelodyMalone · 22/08/2024 15:28

Thanks so much @PiggyPlumPie and @SoilTiller , this is all super reassuring!

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HappierTimesAhead · 22/08/2024 15:35

I went there and still have treasured friends from my time there even though we are in different parts of the world- we still meet up! It's a special place to go to Uni.

haggisaggis · 22/08/2024 15:40

My dd ( also Scottish) has just graduated. The first 2 years were a bit tough due to Covid but on the whole she had a great time and made some very good friends. She managed to get accommodation outside halls from 3rd year on but it was a bit crap and very expensive! However I believe that now the ‘ Covid bulge’ has left it might not be quite as difficult for new students.

Newgirls · 22/08/2024 15:47

My dd has just left and loved it. Sometimes students can stay in uni accom for 2-3 years and it is worth considering as it can be very good value.

it’s a surprisingly sociable place - great sports, drama and music. And when they get bored in later years they seem to get the bus to Dundee and Edin nightclubs!

Original poster
MelodyMalone · 22/08/2024 16:49

Thanks so much everyone, great info!

@haggisaggis that's so rough about the first two years being during the pandemic. I really feel for students who missed out on experiences they should have had. Missing out on school stuff was bad enough.

@Newgirls good tip about uni accommodation after first year. I had heard that was sometimes possible and it would definitely be easier.

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Lovetobake2 · 22/08/2024 16:55

My younger daughter is there now & loves it- she’s made some fantastic friends & overall had a brilliant time

Students live in a ‘StA’s bubble’ as they call it- by which it means they end up so busy with friends/study/ social events/ clubs & societies that they don’t have a lot of time to stay in touch so look upon it as a good thing if you don’t hear from them much

The 2 semester year also mean that they finish for Christmas much later than other Scottish universities & don’t get an Easter break as such so you might wish to build that into any family plans you may be making

St Andrews is a very special place & I hope your daughter loves it as much as mine does

Roryno · 23/08/2024 00:08

No, sorry I can’t remember what hall it was.

He had such fun. Especially at the start. The walk in their gowns along the harbour wall, raisin week (totally bonkers!). Lots of balls and parties. He got seriously into polo and swimming in the sea.

Original poster
MelodyMalone · 04/09/2024 10:38

Well... she's off on Saturday 😲 excited but nervous (both of us!)

Any top tips anyone may have for moving in, settling in, freshers week, etc much appreciated!

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Newgirls · 04/09/2024 16:09

There is a lot going on - freshers fairs, hall socials etc so she will be busy. They sell lots of secondhand stuff from leaving students so you prob don’t need to buy that much - or anything really if going into halls. If you want to eat out book now. Or get fish and chips and look out for seagulls!

Original poster
MelodyMalone · 30/09/2024 16:32

Just thought I'd update this - DD now into her fourth week and getting on great. She's been a bit homesick off and on and is still phoning regularly, but has made lots of friends (mostly in her hall), joined clubs etc and generally all seems good. Hopefully she is finding her niche. Although there does seem significantly more socialising going on than studying, but hopefully that will settle down!

I do miss her, but things are a bit difficult at home just now so it's as well she's not here. I have been to visit her though, as it's not too long a drive, which is nice.

Only thing that worries me a bit is the money - obviously StA has a lot of wealthy students, and though I have a good job I'm not exactly loaded, and paying for the accommodation is not cheap. I'm giving her an allowance but it may not stretch far enough to enable her to keep up as much as she might like to. She'll probably have to get a job at some stage - she has hospitality experience so should manage to do so.

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Newgirls · 30/09/2024 16:36

Lots of the students work especially from
y2. Any hospitality venue you go in has students working in it.

if she stays in halls it’s quite cheap compared to other unis. If she rents somewhere with friends it is more ££ but they do seem to eat in a lot. Balls etc are cheaper than at many unis as so much subsidising going on. Don’t worry and glad she’s doing ok

Original poster
MelodyMalone · 30/09/2024 16:41

Newgirls · 30/09/2024 16:36

Lots of the students work especially from
y2. Any hospitality venue you go in has students working in it.

if she stays in halls it’s quite cheap compared to other unis. If she rents somewhere with friends it is more ££ but they do seem to eat in a lot. Balls etc are cheaper than at many unis as so much subsidising going on. Don’t worry and glad she’s doing ok

Thanks, yeah I know it compares OK cost-wise to other unis, but it's still expensive for me! (My friend has a son in Glasgow paying the same amount for a self-catered tiny room in a flat - DD is catered, three meals a day.)

I'd quite like her to stay in halls for year 2- but suspect she'd rather rent somewhere with friends. The only ball mentioned so far was £100 a ticket, but apparently sold out in minutes!

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Stockpot · 30/09/2024 17:55

We pay DD’s rent, phone and train tickets home. So she could get by on the maintenance loan, but she chose to work a day a week in hospitality. It gave her some extra money, looked good on her cv and was a route to making a diverse group of students outside her hall.

There are so many balls and events that they need to pick and choose. Not just die to the expense, but so they have time to study and give their livers a rest!

Newgirls · 30/09/2024 18:10

Wow that was a lot! The drama and sports balls are much cheaper.

mine had a job for 3 years and she liked the variety and social aspect.

Original poster
MelodyMalone · 30/09/2024 18:14

Newgirls · 30/09/2024 18:10

Wow that was a lot! The drama and sports balls are much cheaper.

mine had a job for 3 years and she liked the variety and social aspect.

That's good they're not all that price! I think it was maybe a charity thing, maybe that was why.

She's into drama, so good to know they're cheaper.

I will encourage her to get a job in year 2 I think.

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Newgirls · 30/09/2024 18:19

Does she do the mermaids drama society? My dd loved that. They have a very good mermaids ball. I think being in the drama crowd meant mine was always busy so would recommend