Spot the Scot: Where are St Andrews’ Scottish Students?

"I grew up in Fife — I kinda hated all the St Andrews students," admits Kady Lawson,  President of the Scottish Independence Society. Lawson is far from the first Scottish person to express this view. Why is St Andrews so hated around Scotland? The oldest university in the country and beating both Oxford and Cambridge in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, this has nothing to do with academic reputation.

The general consensus amongst Scots is that everyone in St Andrews is either English or American.

If, like Lawson, you choose the most American-dominated course in the university, this notion is heightened. “In my first few years, I met two Scottish people on my course,” Lawson explained. 

During her first few years at St Andrews, Lawson’s friendships also reflected this perception. “In my first two or three years at St Andrews, I had a lot of English and even a few American friends,” she said. “I didn’t really have many Scottish friends.”

“I used my hospitality accent in a way, like I sort of presented myself as more understandable and approachable,” Lawson said. Her English friends teased her about suddenly becoming incomprehensible when she was with people from home. “They’d always say to me, oh, when you get drunk or when you’re talking to your friends from home, you start speaking really fast, and I don’t understand what you’re saying.” Although harmless banter, being constantly reminded that your accent is the odd one out in your own country gets old pretty quickly. 

“In my last two years, now that I’ve sort of settled in more, the majority of my friends are Scottish.” Why the sudden change in demographics? The actual number of Scottish students at the University has not changed greatly in the last four years. Instead, she’s gotten better at finding the Scots.“I would definitely say that I am in contact with more Scottish people in the last year than I have in my previous years.”

Finding a Scottish student in St Andrews may initially prove difficult, but as soon as you find one, you’ll find a dozen.

“I feel like you sort of gravitate more towards people that are similar to you,” she explained. “So, when you meet other Scottish people — you’re sort of drawn towards them.”

Like a survival tactic? She laughed, “Yeah, actually.” 

“I think especially in St Andrews, you sort of, you get the feeling that you're sort of a little bit, alienated in your own country.”

Students often band together, gravitating towards others with similar backgrounds. For international students travelling halfway across the world, it is natural that you are going to seek out people who speak your language, eat the same food, and understand your references. But Scots doing the same thing, in Scotland? It sounds absurd. Yet, that’s exactly what happens.

Lawson reckons that it is, for the most part, not a conscious decision, but it is definitely not a coincidence. “I think subconsciously, definitely, I am more likely to be friends with someone who’s Scottish,” she admits. “It just takes less energy being with people that know the same places, the same humour. You don’t have to explain yourself as much.”

That sense of ease makes all the difference. Around other Scots, you can fire off a sarcastic comment without it needing a five-minute explanation. You don’t need to slow down your speech, or switch on the “hospitality accent” to be understood.

So where do these top-secret Scottish gatherings actually take place? For Lawson, most of these connections happened in societies. “I didn’t really meet any Scottish people in my halls, and International Relations is very American-dominated,” she says. Only after joining activities outside of her course did she notice the gradual shift in the company she kept. “Obviously through the Scottish Independence Society, I met lots of Scottish people, but also joining karate, and just meeting people from friends of friends.”

Since Lawson has been a part of the society, it has grown beyond a political space into a social one. Still, it is by no means a Scots-only environment. “Now, the majority of people in the society are Scottish, but we also get international students that want to learn about Scottish politics and culture.” For Lawson, it’s been the place where Scottish students naturally congregate, and where she’s found many of the friends who now make up the bulk of her circle.

It is not a surprise that many Scots in St Andrews will end up flocking to societies and events promoting Scottish culture. Yet, other ‘Scottish’ events at the University are still shaped by large groups of international students. Lawson spoke specifically about Ceilidhs: “It's not necessarily the traditional Ceilidh dancing that me or you will have done at school,” she explained. It's more like “posh Ceilidh dancing.”

So, what is the makeup of Scottish students at St Andrews? “If you had interviewed me two years ago, I would have said, yeah, it’s definitely a minority Scottish university, like I’ve really struggled to find Scottish people,” Lawson said. “But in the last two years, I’ve found a lot more. I don’t know if the number has actually increased, or if I’m just better at finding them.”

For any first years who spent their Freshers' Week running around looking for a single other Scottish person — they exist, I promise! Just hiding very well. Keep an eye out for one, and by the end of the week, you will find us around every corner!

Illustration by Eve Fishman