A Year of Making Waves: University Campaign Raises £142 million Ahead of Next Phase

Just over a year ago, the University of St Andrews launched the Making Waves campaign on 27 September 2024, with the goal of raising £300 million to fund four major projects: New College, the Digital Nexus Building, scholarships and bursaries, and Endowed Chairs. Now, Alumni Relations reports that the campaign has raised a total of £142 million to date.

In an article published on the University of St Andrews website, Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Dame Sally Mapstone expressed her enthusiasm for the campaign’s initial success.

“This achievement is about more than numbers,” said Mapstone. “It represents our community’s unwavering belief in our vision for the University of St Andrews and demonstrates the power of the Making Waves campaign to change lives through student support, capital projects, and world-leading research.”

Of the £142 million raised, more than £52 million was raised for “scholarships, student support, and widening participation,” and £42.5 million was raised for the development of New College. 

In accordance with the vision of the Making Waves campaign, New College is a £140 million endeavour that will be home to the School of International Relations and a new Business School. The development of New College will mark the first of its kind in nearly 300 years of the University’s history, a project that predates the launch of the Making Waves campaign.

In 2022, the University hired award-winning architectural firm WilkinsonEyre to develop New College on the former site of secondary school Madras College. At the time of taking on the firm, the University announced its plan to begin construction work on the New College project in 2025 in hopes of occupying the building by 2027. In keeping with its redevelopment schedule, the University submitted an application to Fife Council in the summer of 2025 seeking full planning permission to renovate the Madras College buildings on South Street and add new facilities to the site. The application remains subject to approval by the Council.

While New College is in many regards the flagship of Making Waves, the campaign also seeks to fundraise for the Digital Nexus Building, scholarships and bursaries, and Endowed Chairs.

The Digital Nexus Building will provide a home for the School of Computer Science and serve as a collaborative hub for research in a wide array of sciences, including medicine, sustainability, and artificial intelligence — an initiative which requires £60 million.

The University is also raising money for scholarships and bursaries with the aim of lowering barriers to accessing a St Andrews education. Particular attention will go toward PhD students, who face additional challenges in the postgraduate sector, namely reduced public funding, obstacles to international recruitment, and rising living costs. 

Finally, the University is looking to fund the creation of new Endowed Chairs, beginning with appointments in the new Business School, the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, and the Department of Chinese Studies. The University hopes that these positions will reinforce its reputation as a leading institution for top-class academia in the long term.

As the Making Waves campaign enters its second year, much of the work still lies ahead. Securing full planning consent for New College will be a key milestone before construction can begin, while progress on the Digital Nexus Building and other initiatives will depend on maintaining fundraising momentum toward the £300 million goal. With nearly half of that target already pledged, the campaign has built a strong foundation. Nevertheless, turning those ambitions into reality will require a continuation of the same success that has defined its opening year.

At the time of this article’s publication, the University has not responded to The Saint’s request for comment.

Image by Louisa Willan