Commuter students
If you plan to commute into the University or live out of town, there is support in place to help you to find your feet, make friends, and reach your full academic potential.
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Students who commute to St Andrews for their studies have access to dedicated commuter facilities.
The Commuter Common Room (79 North Street) offers a small kitchen area, sofas and general study space along with lockers, toilets and showers. This facility is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students.
The North Haugh Commuter Lounge (New Technology Centre) offers open plan social and study space, a small kitchen, lockers and toilets. Please note that a small number of commercial tenants also use this building, and all people using the space are asked to be considerate of each other.
The Postgraduate Lounge (Butts Wynd) is available to commuting postgraduate students offering social space, toilets and lockers. Undergraduate commuting students who require accessible lockers are welcome to use the lockers in this space.
The Old Burgh School is available for postgraduate students - whether they commute or live in town - and has study, social and kitchen spaces, as well as shower facilities.
This Google Map shows commuter spaces in St Andrews, or you can download a pdf copy of this map here: Commuter Map 2023 (PDF)
Access to the commuter lounges is available from 7am to 11.30pm, and from 7am to 2am during revision and exams.
Please note commuter lounges will close in line with the University's closure over the Christmas break.
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From 12 September 2022, lockers will be available to commuter students at the following locations:
- Commuter Common Room (79 North Street): 40 lockers
- North Haugh Commuter Lounge (Tech Centre): 48 lockers
- Postgraduate Lounge (Butts Wynd): 12 lockers
Each locker contains instructions on how to set up the digital code lock.
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Contact your School's Director of Teaching as soon as you start, to let them know that you are a commuter and ask for clarification on the submission process. While most Schools do not require a hard
copy of coursework, some still do. -
Carers, Commuters, Mature and Flexible Learners (CCMFL) is the sub-committee of the Students' Association responsible for representing and supporting a community made up of commuters, parents, postgraduates, evening degree and part-time students. CCMFL is committed to ensuring every student at the University of St Andrews has the opportunity to have a positive student experience, whatever their age or geographical circumstances.
The CCMFL committee works closely with the Students' Association, sharing student perspectives and also working collaboratively with the wider student body. Members offer peer support and encourage engagement with the University, raising awareness of the support and resources on offer. The committee also organises an event each month and actively encourages participation in the many traditions and social events that St Andrews has to offer.
As a subcommittee of the Students' Association, every matriculated student is automatically a member.
For more information, email ccmfl@st-andrews.ac.uk.
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If you are asked to provide evidence of your commuter student status, you can collect a commuter card from the Advice and Support Centre (ASC) at 79 North Street. The ASC is open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. For more information, please email the ASC at theasc@st-andrews.ac.uk.
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The Dundee night bus is available to staff and students, and stops at the Students' Union in St Andrews, Guardbridge, Leuchars, the Old Mill, and East Marketgait in Dundee. Further information can be found on the University night bus service page.
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St Andrews is a small town, with significant pressure on parking capacity throughout the year. We strongly advise you not to bring a car to St Andrews, unless it is essential to you, and to walk or make use of public transport or pedal cycles where possible. Following a wide consultation with our students and staff, the University of St Andrews has committed to be Net Zero by 2035. This can only be achieved if we all make changes to our lifestyles, and reducing car use is integral to cutting our carbon footprint.
As an alternative to using a car, you may be interested in the bike pool project that is available to you Bike Pool – Transition St Andrews
However, it is understood that some students may have to travel from areas where public transport links are difficult and in these instances car use may be unavoidable. In such circumstances:
In terms of the University Parking Regulations, students are only permitted to park their vehicles at designated car parks, namely, David Russell / Fife Park / Agnes Blackadder Hall / Powell Hall. Provision may be made in other areas such as Angus and Stanley Houses for disabled parking only – please note that you must be the holder of a blue badge to be granted disabled parking. Parking anywhere else on University property may result in a civil penalty in terms of the Regulations.
There are very limited ‘free’ on street parking facilities in the town centre (east end of North Street for example). Please be aware of all relevant signage and conditions as enforcement is carried out regularly and strictly by the local authority. Short-term parking (maximum 2 hours) is available in various areas of the town centre and is controlled by metered parking, also enforced by the local authority. Civil penalties (£30 - £60) are issued regularly for breach of local parking regulations. The best advice is to avoid taking your vehicle into the town centre where possible.
If you do require to use designated University student car parks, you must apply for a free University student parking permit which authorises you to park, free of charge, in such car parks only. Please apply online for your permit as soon as possible after matriculation.
It will not be possible to apply before matriculation as the system will not be able to access your details from student records.
If you are a current student and anticipate changing your vehicle(s) within the next month please wait until then before applying for your new parking permit.
Only one permit will be issued per application. If you have access to more than one vehicle you can include up to two registration numbers on the permit and must transfer the permit between vehicles as required.
Your parking permit must be displayed clearly on the nearside of the windscreen of the vehicle in use. Fraudulent use of or copying a permit will result in its withdrawal and may result in disciplinary action. Further conditions and a copy of the University of St Andrews Car Parking Regulations can be found at Car parking regulations.
Please note that it may take up to three weeks following application for your new permit to be issued. Please be patient as this is an exceptionally busy time in the Estates office. Do not attempt to reapply unless advised to do so by Estates office.
If you have any problems with the online application form after you have matriculated, please email Estates at stupark@st-andrews.ac.uk