The University of St Andrews, founded in 1413, is Scotland’s oldest university and the third oldest in the English-speaking world. Its ancient buildings and cobblestone streets have witnessed centuries of academic pursuit and, according to many, paranormal activity. The university’s long history has given rise to numerous ghost stories that continue to intrigue students and visitors alike.

One of the most well-known spectral residents is the White Lady of St Andrews Cathedral. Sightings of this apparition date back to the 1870s, with witnesses describing a tall, slender figure in a long white dress gliding through the ruins. Some accounts claim she is the spirit of a noble lady who died of a broken heart, while others believe she is a nun from the cathedral’s pre-Reformation days.

St Salvator’s Chapel, a centerpiece of the university, is said to be haunted by the ghost of Patrick Hamilton, a Protestant martyr burned at the stake in 1528. Students avoid stepping on the PH initials set into the cobblestones outside the chapel, believing it brings bad luck and academic failure. Those who do step on the initials reportedly see Hamilton’s face appear in their bedroom window at night.

The Haunted Tower, part of St Andrews Castle, is associated with the restless spirit of Cardinal Beaton, who was murdered there in 1546. Visitors have reported feeling a sudden chill and sensing an unseen presence in the tower. Some claim to have heard whispers and seen shadowy figures moving within the ancient stone walls.

St Mary’s College, the university’s divinity school, is allegedly home to the ghost of a young girl who fell to her death from one of the upper windows. Staff and students have reported hearing inexplicable footsteps and seeing a small figure darting through the corridors.