University of St Andrews sustainability score: 53/100
Better than 64% of Higher Education / Universities
Leading practice starts at 60. The highest score on SINK is 71.
The University of St Andrews is Scotland's oldest university, located in Fife. A research-led institution.
More about University of St Andrews
Classified as a research-intensive HE provider in the UK sector.
Founded 1413Head office GBStaff 3,060 FTE (HESA EMR 2023/24)Revenue £322M (HESA EMR 2023/24)Website ↗
St Andrews has credible emissions data and genuine decarbonisation momentum in heat and buildings, but the pace of absolute reduction is far too slow for its 2035 net zero claim. Scope 3 dominance (87% of total) remains largely unaddressed. Renewable electricity sourcing is negligible, and waste recycling performance lags sector benchmarks.
University of St Andrews scores 53/100 (Making progress) on SINK's independent climate assessment, scored from public data only. Scores are free. Nobody can pay to change a score, speed it up or hide it. Last verified October 2026.
That places University of St Andrews joint 86th of 1,023 companies scored, and joint 16th of 67 in Higher Education / Universities.
What is University of St Andrews doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Controversies & Red Flags and Carbon Footprint: Operations (9/10, 7/10). Weakest on Energy Source and Resource Use & Waste (4/10, 4/10).
Where University of St Andrews lost points
For each question that lost points, the evidence our public rubric looks for that we didn't find.
What would raise this score
- How clean its energy isShow at least half its energy is renewable, with a transition plan.
- How it uses materials and handles wasteReport measurable waste or recycling targets publicly.
- Its effect on waterMeasure its water footprint and set reduction targets.
Every question that lost points
- Emissions from its own operations7/10Its own emissions aren't independently verified or tracked over several years.
- Emissions from its supply chain6/10No full value-chain map or supplier engagement programme.
- Whether its emissions are falling5/10No evidence of a year-on-year fall in its total emissions.
- How clean its energy is4/10Less than half its energy shown to be renewable, or no transition plan.
- Its effect on nature5/10Its effect on nature isn't measured or independently verified.
- How it uses materials and handles waste4/10No measurable waste or recycling targets reported publicly.
- Its effect on water4/10No measured water footprint with reduction targets.
- Its climate targets5/10Its targets aren't science-based or committed to the Science Based Targets initiative.
- How openly it reports7/10No mission-locked structure, such as B Corp certification.
A score changes when the evidence does. We use new published evidence at the next rescore. Anyone can send us new evidence, free. How to send it.
How is University of St Andrews's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleWhat evidence is University of St Andrews's score based on?
16 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
56% of them were published by University of St Andrews itself; the rest come from independent sources.
“Total scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions 12,287.3 tCO2e, 2023/24 (HESA Table-3, UKPRN 10007803)”
“Sustainable procurement is a core part of how we deliver our commitment to net zero by 2035”
“Total carbon emissions for 2024-2025 amount to 82,946.5 tonnes, a reduction from 84,968.98 tonnes in 2023-2024”
“one-megawatt ground solar PV system provides Eden Campus with its electricity needs and reduces carbon footprint by approximately 5%”
“solar project will save 200 tonnes of carbon per year, while future-proofing the University's energy security”
“University has made progress towards creating more nature positive and eco-friendly spaces for students and staff”
“2035 target of 60% of University land being managed with biodiversity as a priority”
“diverting over 173 tonnes of food waste from landfill annually”
“Strategy commits the University to becoming net zero by 2035, ten years ahead of the Scottish Government's national target”
“SBTi target dashboard — no University of St Andrews entry found”
“The Forest programme is a core part of the University's vision to be net zero by 2035”
“University continues to fulfil its obligations under the Public Bodies Climate Change Duties report, in accordance with the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009”
“jumping 57 places from 143 to 86, with increases across Environmental Research, Social Impact, Health & Wellbeing”
“University of St Andrews no longer hold any investments in fossil fuel companies; first university in Britain to enact a Sustainable Investment Policy”
“February 2017, the University announced it had removed all fossil fuel holdings from its investment portfolio”
“coalition including Universities of Cambridge, Edinburgh, Leeds, Oxford, Southampton, St Andrews, Manchester, and the London School of Economics”
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How does University of St Andrews compare with other higher education / universities companies?
Where University of St Andrews sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 67 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, University of St Andrews is tied =16th of 67, with 9 others.
Who scores higher in Higher Education / Universities?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above University of St Andrews.
Strathclyde has cut absolute emissions 40% since 2018/19 and publishes credible HESA-verified data, but missed its own 70%-by-2025 interim target by half.
See the breakdown →Bristol has cut Scope 1+2 emissions 56% since 2005 and publishes verified data.
See the breakdown →Birmingham City University has documented operational carbon cuts of 59% since 2005, backed by statutory HESA data and ISO 14001 certification.
See the breakdown →Which companies moved this week, and why.
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