Top marks for St Andrews in Guardian university rankings

The Guardian University Guide 2021 shows St Andrews splitting the Oxbridge duopoly for a second year in succession. Last year, the Guardian ranked St Andrews second to Cambridge. This year, Oxford takes top spot with Cambridge moving to third.

St Andrews’ ranking is by virtue of its high scores for student satisfaction and experience, graduate employment and the quality of its academic programmes.

For decades, the universities of Oxbridge had traditionally monopolised first and second place in every UK university league table, until last year. In recent years, no other university has ever finished higher than third place.

Professor Sally Mapstone, St Andrews principal and vice-chancellor, said: “For a small Scottish university to be competing amongst the very best in the United Kingdom reflects our commitment to the highest standards of learning, teaching and student experience. Our warmest congratulations to Oxford on securing the top spot this year.

“This ranking is significant because it comes at a difficult period for students across the country who have experienced a year like no other, and are facing a very different university experience.

“It’s so important that while we encourage students to observe safe behaviour, we empower and support them to show what they can do during these enormously restrictive times.

“That is a priority for us in St Andrews.”

Dan Marshall, president of the St Andrews Students’ Association, added: “To receive this recognition from the Guardian is great news for St Andrews. I think it is a testament to the hard work and initiative of the students and staff who help make St Andrews so unique.”

St Andrews was ranked first in the UK for student satisfaction. St Andrews’ academic schools again performed strongly with the University ranking top in the UK for nine subjects: Classics, International Relations, History of Art, Media and Film Studies, Philosophy, Computer Science, Geography, Economics and Physics.