A New York Times bestseller shaped at St Andrews
Peter Burns (MA Hons 2004) has spent almost two decades writing non-fiction and working as Managing Director at Polaris Publishing. In 2025, he realised his lifelong ambition of becoming a…
Category: Alumni Stories
Voices behind the screen
For Molly Ryan (MLitt 2022), coming to St Andrews for a postgraduate degree marked a change of direction from museums and heritage into a career in film. She reflects on…
Tea, toast and journalism: a career shaped at St Andrews
Christina Mackenzie (MA Hons 1979) chose to study at the University of St Andrews as a nod to her father’s Scottish heritage. She shares memories of her time at the…
Around the world on two wheels
Connor McElwaine (MLitt 2015) left his job in school leadership to embark on the adventure of a lifetime: a long-distance bikepacking journey inspired by a desire to understand the world…
Online learning: from optics to AI
Andrei-Ioan Bleahu (MSc 2025) completed the online Masters programme in Data Science at St Andrews. He discusses his decision to study flexibly and remotely, his ambitions to transition into the…
It all started with St Andrews…
Margaret Wood (MB ChB 1970) is a leader in anaesthesiology care, education, and research. From humble beginnings in Leeds, she attended St Andrews where she met her husband, Alastair Wood (MB…
No particular place to go
Fate brought young reporter JP (Paul Jean) Creton (MA 1970) to St Andrews and saw him leave life in the city of jute, jam and journalism for a career in…
Raisin Weekend, the Charities Campaign and NYC: a lasting connection to St Andrews
Jessica Whiteley (MA Hons 2018) is President of the University of St Andrews New York Alumni Club. She reflects on cherished St Andrews traditions, her time with the Charities Campaign,…
The Sutton Trust, Saints Sport and a ‘squiggly’ career path
Collette Norval (née Oliver) (MA Hons 2013) had her sights set on St Andrews since her first experience of the University during summer holidays as a child. She shares her…
A full circle moment: from student to part of the curriculum
Flavia D’Avila (PhD 2022) is an award-winning theatre director and researcher. She discusses her PhD workshops, making your own St Andrews traditions and the creation of Placeholder – a poignant…