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Preserving all the best traditions of the ancient Scottish universities, St Andrews believes in offering a broadly-based education and a wide choice of degree subjects ranging from English and theology to more modern selections such as film studies and sustainable development. The modular degree structure — with its in-built flexibility, particularly in the first two years of study — allows students to enter on one degree programme and graduate in an entirely different one.

With courses normally lasting four years, students usually take at least three subjects in each of their first two years before specialising. The exception is the innovative medical degree, where they do a BSc honours in medicine for three years before transferring to one of five medical schools (four of which are in Scotland) for their clinical training.

Three years after Prince William graduated with a 2:1 degree in geography, St Andrews remains one of the most sought-after destinations for prospective students from the UK, Europe and overseas, in spite of its tough entry requirements — asking rates range from ABBB to AAAAB at Higher and ABB to AAA at A-level.

“We look Oxford and Cambridge in the eye,” says Lang.

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As former alumni such as Alex Salmond, Scotland’s first minister, author Fay Weldon and actress Siobhan Redmond would no doubt testify, the thrill of being accepted at St Andrews is only surpassed by the experience of being there, with students and staff making up half the 18,000 population in term-time. A third of scholars come from overseas, adding a cosmopolitan feel to this small city and, although it is increasingly popular with public schools, the university successfully attracts candidates from nontraditional backgrounds, adding further diversity.

They may work hard, but students know how to let their hair down. When they are not poring over their books they can be found on the nearby beaches, teeing off on one of St Andrews’ seven links courses, in one of the many bars or taking part in other sports or university activities. The facilities include tennis courts, a running track, cricket nets and an Astroturf pitch. St Andrews also boasts 110 student societies — more than any other university in Scotland — which range from debating and hill walking to tiddlywinks and even a Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Appreciation Society.

St Andrews, founded in 1413, very much looks to the future. Capital investment is continuing with a new school for medicine and the sciences, the refurbishment of the main library and new student accommodation.

The future may also include developing a St Andrews abroad. “One possible project we have in mind is a satellite elsewhere,” says Lang. “There is an exciting future for St Andrews,” he adds, admitting he will miss the university when he leaves.

Now that a significant proportion of young people go on to get degrees, what sets the best universities apart from the rest is their ability to turn out employable students. Few do it better than the Robert Gordon University (RGU), our Scottish University of the Year runner-up, situated further up the coast in Aberdeen, the wealthy and cosmopolitan European capital of the oil industry.

RGU graduates are among the most sought-after in the UK. Our award celebrates the achievement of this very modern institution of not only consistently being one of the best in the UK for graduate recruitment — just 2% of students are unemployed six months after finishing — but also in gaining top graduate-level jobs (87.1%). That’s on a par with Cambridge, with only the London School of Economics and Imperial College ahead of them.

At RGU, degree programmes are designed to offer a combination of academic study and practical experience, with virtually all involving some form of work placement.

“It is something that the university has worked on for many years,” says Mike Pittilo, the principal and vice-chancellor. “We make sure there is employer engagement with every single course.”

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