The Museum of the University of St Andrews (MUSA)


MUSA tells the story of the history of the University of St Andrews. On display you can see highlights from the University's collection of over 112,000 artefacts. The museum has four galleries and a Viewing Terrace with panoramic views over St Andrews Bay.
Venue Type:
Museum

Enduring Gifts: 600 Years of Philanthropy in St Andrews
- 17 March — 30 June 2018 *on now
Since its foundation in 1413, the
University of St Andrews has benefited
greatly from public generosity. Enduring
Gifts: 600 Years of Philanthropy in
St Andrews explores a range of donations
and the motivations behind them,
revealing how these charitable acts
have shaped the University's existence.
Come and discover some of the most
influential personalities and fascinating
objects which have made the University
of St Andrews what it is today
Suitable for
- Any age
Website
https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa/

Baby MUSA Time
- 4 May 2018 10:15-11:15am
- 1 June 2018 10:15-11:15am
Held every month, Baby MUSA Time allows your little one to discover some of the fantastic things found in museums through stories, songs, art and messy play.
This drop-in activity is for babies, preschool children and whoever looks after them. The MUSA Learning Loft provides a place to relax, park your buggy and enjoy time with your children.
Each month has a different theme;
February: Dressing Up
March: Space Explorers
April: Funny Faces
May: Light and Dark
June: Our Bodies
Suitable for
- 0-4
Website
https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa/

Out of the Box; Curious Creatures
- 29 April 2018 1-3pm
Pop into MUSA and try a new ‘Out of the Box’ challenge each month. Encounter African animals, celebrate Chinese New Year or upcycle everyday materials into something you can use at home!
Take a closer look at the creatures inside the Cabinet of Curiosity. Are there any important animals that are missing? What would you add?
Make or draw a creature and show it off in a new cabinet filled with our visitors’ creations!
These self-led activities are available on Sundays and are fun for all the family.
Please ask at Reception to get started.
Free drop-in, no booking required
Suitable for
- Any age
Out of the Box: Curious Creatures
- 29 April 2018 1-3pm
Take a closer look at the creatures inside
the Cabinet of Curiosity. Are there any
important animals that are missing? What
would you add? Make or draw a creature and
show it off in a new cabinet filled with our
visitors’ creations!
Suitable for
- Any age
Website
http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa/
Still Life Masterclass
- 28 April 2018 2-4pm
Instil some life into your drawings at this
practical workshop using artefacts and
specimens from MUSA’s collection as a
still-life display. You’ll learn some tips and
tricks on how to make a structural drawing
and the basics of painting. Held at MUSA.
Suitable for all abilities. Free but booking
essential.
Suitable for
- Any age
Website
https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa/
Baby MUSA: Light and Dark
- 4 May 2018 10:15-11:15am
Held every month, Baby MUSA Time
allows your little one to discover some
of the fantastic things found in museums
through stories, songs, art and messy play.
This drop-in activity is for babies, pre-
school children and whoever looks after
them. The MUSA Learning Loft provides a
place to relax, park your buggy and enjoy
time with your children.
Suitable for
- 0-4
Website
https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa/
Sounding Out Astronomy
- 5 May 2018 2:30-3:30pm
Postgraduate Astronomy students from the
University of St Andrews collaborate with
composers from the Royal Conservatoire of
Scotland to produce six new compositions
performed by the St Andrews New Music
Ensemble. Part of the SHINE: Code for
Everything III installation. Free, no need
to book.
Suitable for
- Any age
Website
https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa/
Out of the Box: Eco-Maynia
- 6 May 2018 1-3pm
- 13 May 2018 1-3pm
- 20 May 2018 1-3pm
- 27 May 2018 1-3pm
To promote MUSA’s eco-friendly goals we
are dedicating this month to upcycling.
Create a range of unique gifts, while
learning about how we can do more for
our environment.
Suitable for
- Any age
Website
https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa/

Out of the Box; Eco-Maynia
- 6 May 2018 1-3pm
- 13 May 2018 1-3pm
- 20 May 2018 1-3pm
- 27 May 2018 1-3pm
Pop into MUSA and try a new ‘Out of the Box’ challenge each month. Encounter African animals, celebrate Chinese New Year or upcycle everyday materials into something you can use at home!
To promote MUSA’s eco-friendly goals we are dedicating this month to upcycling. Create a range of unique gifts, while learning about how we can do more for our environment.
These self-led activities are available on Sundays and are fun for all the family.
Please ask at Reception to get started.
Free drop-in, no booking required
Suitable for
- Any age
Website
https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa/
Medieval Mayhem
- 7 May 2018 11am-3pm
Ever fancied travelling back in time to be
a monk, knight, queen or nun? Now’s your
chance! Join us for Medieval Mayhem to
witness thrilling weapons demonstrations,
face fierce foes in our catapult competition,
use virtual reality to explore St Andrews as
it looked 500 years ago, create your own
medieval manuscript and much more. Plus,
complete all the activities in your free
past-port to win a prize! Drop-in activities
for the whole family.
Held at MUSA. Free, no booking required.
Children should be accompanied by an adult.
Suitable for
- Any age
Website
https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa/
'Still Alice' Film & Talk
- 10 May 2018 From 10:30am
As part of Dementia Awareness Week
we look at how museums are using their
collections and sensory experiences to work
with people living with dementia. Come
along and handle some objects from MUSA’s
collections and discover why they act as
touchstones to the past.
Suitable for
- Any age
Admission
For this unique series of events MUSA has teamed up with the Byre Film Club to bring
you some of your favourite films paired with a curator’s talk on an associated topic.
You’ll have chance to see intriguing objects from behind-the-scenes of the museum and
your ticket includes a cuppa and scone.
Screenings begin at 10.30am and will be followed by a talk of approximately 15 minutes.
Held at the Byre Theatre, Abbey Street
Tickets £6. Tel. 01334 475000.
Website
https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa/
Ever to Excel Discovery Afternoon
- 19 May 2018 From 2pm
Donating to a University like St Andrews
makes world-class research possible. Explore
some of this research with experts in the
Enduring Gifts gallery. They will highlight the
impact that the donations of St Andrews’
most generous benefactors have on research
today: from Art History to Medicine.
Refreshments will be provided. Held at
MUSA. Free, but booking essential.
Suitable for
- Any age
Young Archaeologists: Rotten Romans
- 26 May 2018 2-3pm
Fancy searching for clues in the ground with
a trowel and a toothbrush? Then come and
join us for this month’s Young Archaeologists
workshop where we’ll be encountering
evidence of those Rotten Romans! Held at
MUSA, free, but booking essential.
Suitable for
- 7-10
- 11-13
Website
https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa/
St Andrews Through Time Walk
- 28 May 2018 2-3:30pm
Discover the history of St Andrews and its
famous University on this stroll through the
streets. You’ll see some of the sites which
played a key role in St Andrews’ past and the
stories they have to tell. Walk length roughly
two miles. Please dress for all weathers and
meet at MUSA. Free, but booking essential.
Suitable for
- Any age
Website
https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa/
Baby MUSA: Our Bodies
- 1 June 2018 10:15-11:15am
Held every month, Baby MUSA Time
allows your little one to discover some
of the fantastic things found in museums
through stories, songs, art and messy play.
This drop-in activity is for babies, pre-
school children and whoever looks after them. The MUSA Learning Loft provides a
place to relax, park your buggy and enjoy
time with your children.
Suitable for
- 0-4
Out of the Box: Summer Solstice
- 3 June 2018 1-3pm
- 10 June 2018 1-3pm
- 17 June 2018 1-3pm
- 24 June 2018 1-3pm
Learn about the summer solstice and what
it means while creating some tropical crafts!
From exotic-fruit pencil holders to brighten
up your house to colourful pin-wheels to
take outside, we have summer covered!
Suitable for
- Any age
Website
https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa/

Out of the Box; Summer Solstice
- 3 June 2018 1-3pm
- 10 June 2018 1-3pm
- 17 June 2018 1-3pm
- 24 June 2018 1-3pm
Pop into MUSA and try a new ‘Out of the Box’ challenge each month. Encounter African animals, celebrate Chinese New Year or upcycle everyday materials into something you can use at home!
Learn about the summer solstice and what it means while creating some tropical crafts! From exotic-fruit pencil holders to brighten up your house to colourful pin-wheels to take outside, we have summer covered!
These self-led activities are available on Sundays and are fun for all the family.
Please ask at Reception to get started.
Free drop-in, no booking required.
Suitable for
- Any age
Website
https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa/
Science of Sound
- 4 June 2018
Find out how sound works by carrying
out lots of fun experiments in our science
classroom! Play games and make your own
scientific equipment to learn about the
properties of sound.
Held at MUSA, free, but booking essential.
2-2.45pm (Ages 3-6)
3-4pm (Ages 7-12)
Suitable for
- 0-4
- 5-6
- 11-13
- 7-10
Website
https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa/
'Dunkirk' Film & Talk
- 7 June 2018 From 10:30am
Catch a glimpse of Scotland’s landscapes,
buildings and livelihoods depicted in the
University’s Recording Scotland Collection
and discover why artists were enlisted
during the Second World War to create this
important visual archive.
Suitable for
- 18+
Admission
For this unique series of events MUSA has teamed up with the Byre Film Club to bring
you some of your favourite films paired with a curator’s talk on an associated topic.
You’ll have chance to see intriguing objects from behind-the-scenes of the museum and
your ticket includes a cuppa and scone. Screenings begin at 10.30am and will be followed by a talk of approximately 15 minutes.
Held at the Byre Theatre, Abbey Street
Tickets £6. Tel. 01334 475000.
Website
https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa/
St Andrews Through Time Walk
- 16 June 2018 From 2pm
Discover the history of St Andrews and its
famous University on this stroll through the
streets. You’ll see some of the sites which
played a key role in St Andrews’ past and the
stories they have to tell. Walk length roughly
two miles. Please dress for all weathers and
meet at MUSA. Free, but booking essential.
Suitable for
- Any age
Website
https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa/
Rockpooling
- 17 June 2018 From 2pm
Explore the magical under sea world of rock
pools. Stick on your wellies and search for
crabs, anemones and shrimps below the
walls of St Andrews Castle. Children must
be accompanied by an adult. Please bring
wind/waterproof layers and be prepared for
uneven, slippery ground. Walk begins and
ends at MUSA. Free, but booking essential.
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
- 11-13
- 14-15
Website
https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa/
Young Archaeologists: Curious Clothing
- 30 June 2018 2-3pm
Have you got the curiosity and the patience
to piece together evidence from the
past? Then join us for this month’s Young
Archaeologists workshop where we’ll be
finding out what our ancestors looked like
– from clothes and jewellery to armour and
make-up, you won’t believe some of the
freaky fashions! Held at MUSA, free, but
booking essential.
Suitable for
- 7-10
- 11-13
Website
https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa/
The Museum of the University of St Andrews (MUSA)
7a The Scores
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9AR
Scotland
Website
museumenquiries@st-andrews.ac.uk
Telephone
01334 461660
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