In the Middle Ages, with no national university, Scottish students had to pursue their learning abroad. Read more: https://dradamalexander.com/st-andrews-ranked-in-worlds-top-100-best-universities

1. OF ST ANDREWS
UNIVERSITY
THE ESTABLISHMENT

2. THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF ST ANDREWS
UNIVERSITY
In the Middle Ages, with
no national university,
Scottish students had
to pursue their learning
abroad.
H
owever, in 1410 these students (most of
whom were in Paris) found themselves in a
precarious position when two rival popes di-
vided the Catholic church. While one of these
popes was supported by the French cardinals, Scotland
remained faithful to the other. It was time to found a
seat of learning, that would be of international stand-
ing, in Scotland.
Founding and Establishment
As the location of a monastery and the seat of Scot-
land’s greatest bishopric, St Andrews was chosen as
the home of the soon-to-be-established university. A
group of masters (largely graduates of Paris) founded a
school of higher studies in the city in May 1410.
By early 1411 the school had sufficiently established
itself to be awarded a charter of privileges and
incorporation from Henry Wardlaw, the Bishop of St
Andrews. This charter granted the student and masters
recognition as a corporation that had been properly
constituted and was therefore safeguarded and duly
privileged in respect of the pursuit of learning.
2 Dr Adam Alexander

3. As the location of a monastery and the seat
of Scotland’s greatest bishopric, St Andrews
was chosen as the home of the soon-to-be-
established university.
3
Dr Adam Alexander

4. For more
information about
this topic, visit the
blog of Dr Adam
Alexander.