University of St Andrews scores 53/100 (Making progress) on SINK's independent climate assessment — scored from public data only, no company payment can change a number. Last verified October 2026.
That places University of St Andrews joint 75th of 780 companies scored, and joint 16th of 66 in Higher Education / Universities.
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.
This score is built from public data only. If your practice is stronger than your disclosure, submit evidence for review — or challenge any question, free.
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleStrongest on Controversies & Red Flags and Carbon Footprint — Operations (9/10, 7/10). Weakest on Water Impact and Resource Use & Waste (4/10, 4/10).
16 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which rubric questions it informed.
“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”
If you believe a source has been misread or a newer version exists, submit a challenge.
Where University of St Andrews sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 66 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, University of St Andrews is tied =16th of 66, with 10 others.
As University of St Andrews's score updates, the trajectory will appear here.
This score is not currently being contested.
Every challenge is published. We'd rather be corrected than wrong — that's the whole point.
No challenges submitted yet. If you have evidence that contradicts this score, you can challenge any question above — cite a public source and we'll review it.
The University of St Andrews is Scotland's oldest university, located in Fife. A research-led institution. Classified as a research-intensive HE provider in the UK sector.
Peer UK research university; higher education sector, Scottish location.
View breakdown →Peer UK research institution; participated in 2024 sustainable banking coalition.
View breakdown →Peer UK research university; comparable HE sector scale and research intensity.
View breakdown →Peer UK research university; comparable student body size and regional significance.
View breakdown →Email alerts when a rubric question is verified, a challenge is resolved, or the overall score changes.
One email, every Sunday. Score changes, new research, the stories behind the numbers. Free.
No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.
Checking a company?
Search free →Been scored?
See what's behind your number →Nobody can pay us to change a number.