Deans Court Alumni Association

The Deans Court Alumni Association was founded in 2019. The governing vision that gave fruit to the association was to see the creation of a body that would bring together those closely related to the University of St Andrews’ residential hall, Deans Court. That is, an international network of former residents, wardens, and daily on-site staff, united in their shared love for this remarkable hall, and the many memorable experiences it has provided over the years.

Deans Court is a special place. Even those who merely visit its grounds and common spaces recognise this as a fact. For those lucky enough to live and work within its walls, Deans is more than mere buildings and grounds. Belonging to this wonderful community becomes part of your identity. For postgraduates, whose studies are often solitary and isolating, Deans Court represents a beacon of socialisation and community, and an international and cross-disciplinary one at that.

Deans Court as it is now was the brainchild of the fifth Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University. His vision for the property was that it would be a place of residence and dining for postgraduate students, where "guests would be brought to dine and conversation would flourish: a fertile environment for a cross-disciplinary community of scholars”. It has continued to be that very thing to this day - the sole postgraduate-only catered residence that the University provides.

This association seeks to reconnect residents, and build new bridges of friendship and fellowship between different generations of residents. The association also has close ties with the current Deans Court community, and seeks to aid and protect the hall and its residents, to ensure that Irvine’s far-sighted vision might continue to be enjoyed by many future generations of St Andrews postgraduate students to come. 

To this end, the association, in addition to hosting events for socialising and providing opportunities for alumni to return to visit Deans Court, also seeks to hold fundraising events. The funds generated from such events, and from alumni donations, will be put into the Sir James Irvine Fund. Through this fund, the association will better be able to maintain and contribute to ongoing life at Deans Court.