St Andrews Named Top University in Scotland and Second in UK in 2026 Rankings

The University of St Andrews has once again cemented its reputation for academic excellence, ranking first in Scotland and second in the UK, according to the latest Guardian University Guide 2026, published Saturday 13 September.

St Andrews is one of six Scottish universities to feature in the UK’s top 30, alongside Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Strathclyde, Glasgow, and Dundee. Several of the University’s schools also achieved national recognition, with Mathematics, History, Art History, and International Relations all ranked first. Seventeen subjects were also placed in the top ten, including Economics, Film Studies, Psychology, Management, Chemistry, and a plethora in the School of Modern Languages. Geography also placed second, as well as Philosophy, Physics, Anthropology, Classics, Computer Science, and Earth Science, with English placing third. 

The Guardian Guide ranks universities according to student satisfaction, spending per student, student-to-staff ratio, and career prospects. St Andrews first broke the longstanding Oxbridge duopoly in 2019, unseating Oxford to take second place nationally. The University reached the top spot in 2022 and maintained its position in 2023, cementing its reputation for outstanding teaching and student experience.

In a separate ranking,The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026, published Friday 19 September, St Andrews was again confirmed as Scotland’s top university and second in the UK. Eight subjects achieved first place nationally: Art History, Chemistry, English (joint top with Oxford), French, History, International Relations, Physics, and Social Anthropology. For the first time in the Guide’s 32-year history, Oxford and Cambridge both fell outside of the top three, with the London School of Economics (LSE) ranking first and Durham University third.

Emily Bannister, President of Education at the Students’ Association, expressed her pride in the University’s performance: “This prestigious recognition reflects the dedication of our staff, the excellence of our academic provisions, and fundamentally the outstanding achievements of our students.” 

Bannister emphasised the importance of collaboration between the Union and the institution: “I am particularly grateful for the strong partnership between the Students’ Association and the University, which plays a vital role in creating a supportive and enriching environment for our students.” 

Highlighting the University’s teaching and support systems, Bannister noted, “We are supported by outstanding staff who have an unwavering commitment to offer an exceptional academic experience. Our success is further built on strong partnerships with students; we are proud to support and train over 400 academic representatives who are treated as partners in shaping the academic environment.”

Looking ahead, Bannister stressed the need to maintain excellence. “Our institution must not become complicit,” she said. “Students deserve the very best spaces in which to study and learn, and we should continue to work to be an attractive destination for prospective students through embracing the changes brought by artificial intelligence and the evolving digital landscape. To stay ahead in the ‘Stoxbridge’ race, the University of St Andrews must ensure our historic legacy is complemented through embracing innovation.”

Alice Hodges, Students’ Association President of Union Affairs, also celebrated the University’s unique culture and achievements. “St Andrews is proof that excellence doesn’t have a single definition. Every student here shapes a different experience, from world-class teaching and research to unique traditions, creativity, and community within our Union. What makes us special is that these experiences don’t compete, they build on one another, and together they push all of us to achieve more. This recognition is a reflection of that shared spirit of collaboration and ambition — what our motto ‘Ever to Excel’ truly means,” she said.

Alastair McCall, Editor of the Daily Mail Guide, also praised St Andrews’ longstanding excellence in a statement to the University: “St Andrews is one of the serial winners in British and global higher education over the past twenty years [...] That might seem strange to say for an institution that has survived for more than 600 years: it has clearly been doing something right for much longer than that.”