University of St. Andrews

University of St. Andrews, institution of higher learning and the oldest university in Scotland. It is located in Saint Andrews, Scotland. Saint Andrews was founded in 1411, incorporated in 1412, and granted university status by the antipope, Benedict XIII in 1413. Women were first admitted in 1892. Until 1967 Saint Andrews comprised St. Mary's College, the United College of St. Salvator and St. Leonard, and Queen's College, Dundee. In that year Queen's College became the University of Dundee. Of the present colleges, St. Mary's, founded in 1419, was reorganized as a college in 1537. It became a college of reformed theology in 1579. United College was created in 1747 by the merger of the colleges of St. Salvator, founded in 1450, and St. Leonard, in 1512. The university offers instruction in the arts, sciences, and theology. After a three-year course of study or four years of study for an honors degree, the university awards either the master of arts, bachelor of science in medical science, bachelor of divinity, or master of theology degree. The university awards the graduate degrees of master (distinct from the master of arts) and doctor. The historic 15th-century university chapel is renowned for its architectural beauty. The library, dedicated in 1612, is famed for its collection of rare manuscripts and incunabula (books printed before 1500).