Prince William is a pin-up for teenage girls

Dr Lang told The Saint: "I would take a very dim view of any information of an inappropriate nature about any member of the university being passed on.

"At worst, a perpetrator might find him or herself having to find another university."

The university's admissions service confirmed on Friday that it had been flooded with applications.

Some 9,212 would-be students are competing for just 1,250 places this year - a rise of 44.4% on last year's figure of 6,379.

The university has not analysed the figures, but it is understood that the applications cover all subjects and are equally split between both sexes.

British Council officials in the United States were last year reported to have experienced unprecedented levels of interest in the university.

'Hottest date'

The presence of the 18-year-old prince was thought to have contributed to an increased number of enquiries from teenage American girls.

William is no stranger to female admirers, having been flanked by excited young girls pleading for his hand in marriage during his first overseas engagement in 1998.

He was also voted as a woman's hottest date for 2000 by Tatler magazine.

Scotland's oldest university was founded in 1411 and has a lengthy Royal heritage.

Many Scottish kings went to St Andrews until the 16th Century.

William will study subjects such as British furniture, architecture, Renaissance Italy and modern art on his course.