Study space for postgraduate students

All postgraduate students have access to a range of libraries, facilities and study areas throughout the University. This includes research rooms and dedicated spaces in Academic Schools and other buildings, allowing you to find the study environment that suits you.

Common study spaces

The Main Library, in the town centre, is the largest of the University libraries with long opening hours and access to a wide range of resources, including plenty of computers. There are newly designed and refurbished spaces reserved for postgraduate students, silent areas for study, group study rooms, spaces for collabo ration and a café.

Also in the centre of town you can use St Mary’s College Library (including the historic King James Library), which houses collections for Divinity and Medieval History. Located in St Mary’s Quadrangle, the King James is claimed to be the oldest library reading room in Scotland.

Postgraduate students, together with academic staff, have exclusive use of the Thomson Reading Room within the Richardson Research Library at Martyrs Kirk, which includes a space where University collections can be studied. On the North Haugh, the J F Allen Library (Physics & Astronomy building) and the Dr Ettie Stewart Steele Reading Room (Purdie building) both provide study facilities as well as books and journals for science subjects. The Library at the Gateway and the Walter Bower House Library also provide study spaces and a range of seating options for postgraduate students.

Postgraduate students can also use the Study Rooms at Butts Wynd Building, across from the Main Library. As well as 24 hour PC classrooms and the PG Lounge, two group study rooms (Group Study Room 8 and Group Study Room 12) are available for drop-in use, and any seminar or teaching room can be used while no teaching is taking place.

For more information about each of the library spaces, including opening times, locations, and facilities, please see Library spaces

There are also drop-in desks at Old Burgh School, the home of St Leonard’s College, which are available only to postgraduate students. Old Burgh School also offers bookable rooms for independent and group study, presentations, meetings and workshops – you can book directly via the online room booking system. The building also has informal spaces (and a picnic area at the garden at the back!) where all postgraduate students can relax, have lunch or a drink, and socialise with colleagues. There is free coffee and tea, fresh fruit every Monday, a kitchen with microwaves to prepare a quick meal, and vending machines with snacks and fancy hot drinks.

Dedicated study space for PhD students

Each Academic School has resources tailored to the specific needs of its research students, whether this is access to an office, materials, laboratories, etc. These will vary by subject area, but the University of St Andrews and St Leonard’s College endeavour to ensure that all registered PhD students who need a dedicated desk while in St Andrews can have access to one.

The University of St Andrews and St Leonard’s College endeavour to ensure that all registered PhD students who need a dedicated desk while in St Andrews can have access to one.

This can be within your School or in a central place, normally in St Leonard’s College in Old Burgh School. If you are a PhD student based in St Andrews and you don’t have a study space, or have any specialist requirements, please contact [email protected] or your Academic School, who would be happy to help!