Attending public events
As a student society that relies on the dedication of its volunteers, we pride ourselves on debating political, historical, and contemporary subjects. We strive to invite experts in their subjects to come and share in the spirit of our motto: “For Friendship and Learning”.
St Andrews remains the only university in the UK to offer free, weekly, public debates; a fact that we are very proud of.
Frequently asked questions
We love a bit of tradition—so you are very welcome to wear your red gown, and if you don't already have one, you can borrow one from us.
f you are a member of the audience and have interesting thoughts you'd like to share with your fellow viewers and the speakers during the Debate, you are encouraged to give a floor speech! You will have up to two minutes for your speech, and if your speech is particularly stimulating, you could win a £15 voucher. Floor speeches and any audience participation is entirely voluntary!
When you face the front of Parliament Hall, all seats on your left are side 'proposition' and all those to the right are side 'opposition'. You can sit on either side, or choose to sit in a seat that faces directly towards the front. Where you choose to sit will have no impact on the proceedings.
We run single-speaker events and panels on occasion, alongside our weekly public debates. These can be found at public debating webpage. Other ways to get involve include competitive debating and the 1794 Ball.