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St Andrews, William & Mary join forces

The oldest universities in Scotland and Virginia announce they will offer a series of joint degree programs

The University of St Andrews in Scotland and the College of William & Mary in Virginia are to begin offering joint degree programs starting in the autumn of 2011. Students admitted to the programs will receive a single Bachelor of Arts degree issued on behalf of both institutions — which will be the only B.A. offered by St Andrews, whose arts & humanities undergraduates typically graduate with an M.A.

The joint degrees will be available in four fields — history, international relations, English, and economics — with the aim of combining the depth traditional to the Scottish style of education with the breadth of William & Mary’s liberal curriculum. Students will spend the first year at their home university, followed by a second year abroad, with the remaining two years divided between the two. The program will start with about forty students divided between the two, with the hope to gradually double that size.

St Andrews is the oldest university in Scotland, and third-oldest in the English-speaking world. The College of William & Mary (now a university, despite its name) is the oldest in Virginia, the second-oldest in the United States, the third-oldest in North America, and the ninth-oldest in the English-speaking world. William & Mary, which is located in Virginia’s ancient capital of Williamsburg, has traditionally maintained links to Great Britain even after the Dominion of Virginia was recognised as independent in 1783. Queen Elizabeth II has visited the College twice, first in 1957 and more recently in 2007, and her former prime minister, Baroness Thatcher, served as Chancellor of the University.

Published at 2:12 pm on Tuesday 18 May 2010. Categories: Scotland St Andrews Tags: , , .
Comments

Very interesting. If the CWM is the third oldest university in North America, which is the second or first?

— The Monarchist 19 May 2010 1:57 pm

Harvard (1636) and Laval (1663).

I should have said ‘north of the Rio Grande’ however. The University of Mexico, of course, beats both Harvard and Laval, having been founded in 1551, and has two extant successor institutions: the National Autonomous University of Mexico and the Pontifical University of Mexico.

— Andrew Cusack 19 May 2010 5:26 pm

I had no idea Laval was that old, but I suppose it stands to reason given that Quebec City is the second oldest city in North America after Jamestown. Thanks for clearing that up – I wasn’t sure what your definition of North America was.

— The Monarchist 20 May 2010 9:22 am

Perhaps Sydney could round out a triumvirate, in a worldly English-speaking degree?

Let’s settle for a more regionalist powerhouse. That would include Dunedin, Sydney and Singapore and…I think I’ve gone off wandering.

Anyhow, Kiwis would follow their Scots instincts and probably rebel, in a rather Andersonian fashion.Which is a rather exciting trans-Tasman prospect for a dyed-in the-wool Australian.

So it’s more trouble than its worth. But anything that gives Melbourne a sense of being snubbed, is worth some serious inquiry.

— J. George Archer 22 May 2010 12:38 am
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