Degree of success for St Andrews

The prince will be staying in halls of residence

St Andrew's University has gained the Royal seal of approval as Prince William comes to study on Scotland's east coast for the next four years.

In September 2000, The Sunday Times University Guide voted St Andrews the top university in Scotland and 7th in the UK.

The same guide this year, however, placed the university in 16th place and gave Edinburgh the top spot in Scotland.

Despite this the university is experiencing a increase in applications.

These are no doubt partly due to the attraction of its first royal student.

The university though has a lot to offer besides Prince William.

Graduates of St Andrews have one of the highest rates of employment in the UK.

The university has also produced more directors of FTSE 100 companies in proportion to its size than any other educational institution in Britain.

Not all graduates go on to business, politics and public life are also common choices.

St Andrew University itself is a interesting mixture of tradition and modernity.

The modern aspects include the flexible degree structure, which has more than 400 degree programmes and a teaching year organised on semester basis with modular courses.

The University of St Andrews was founded between 1410-1413 and is reputed to be the oldest in Scotland and so has its fair share of ancient customs.

The traditions the prince can expect to take part in include students processing in scarlet gowns along the pier, Raisin Monday when students give their academic parents a bottle of wine in return for a Latin receipt and a May morning dip in the North Sea.

Students at the university make up a third of the town's population during term time.

Not only is the university highly regarded for its academic rigour but it is a place of history and beauty.

St Salvator's Chapel with its high clock tower is one of the finest examples of mediaeval architecture in Scotland.

St Mary's College Quadrangle comprises mainly 16th century buildings, with a thorn tree reputedly planted by Mary Queen of Scots.