Supporting documents and References
Supporting Documentation
All applications, including those made on-line, must include the following supplementary documentation before a decision can be made.
- CV/resume - your personal details with history of education and employment to date
- A sample of academic written work - see below
- 2 original signed academic references - see below
- Academic transcripts/degree certificates - certified copies only please with official English translations if applicable. Please do not send original documents as they cannot be returned.
- Language requirements certificate - if English is not your first language.
- A research proposal - this applies to research students only. Applicants intending to read for a PhD / DLang / MPhil award should include an outline in English of not more than 500 words (1000 words for International Relations and Philosophy applications) of their proposed research topic, if required by the School or supervisor.
- Covering Letter/Letter of Intent (optional) - a very brief introduction letter stating why you wish to study at the University of St Andrews and your reasons for selecting the programme.
Additional Notes:
If you are applying to more than one programme, please ensure that each application contains a copy of your supporting documents - this greatly speeds up our administration of applications.
Research applicants to the School of Art History must indicate any Scholarships or Funding they are applying for on the application form and provide the relevant additional supplementary documentation. Further details are available on the Art History pages.
Further Guidance for Supporting Documents
- All applications submitted to the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Divinity should include a 2,000 word sample of written work. This can be an extract from a previous project or essay, or part of your dissertation. Applicants who cannot provide a sample such as this should contact the appropriate School directly for further guidance.
- All applications submitted to the School of Management should include a brief Personal Statement (approximately 500 words) instead of the academic written sample, with the exception of the MRes Management Studies, for which the written sample is required.
- Students applying for programmes run by Schools from the Faculty of Science are not expected to submit a sample of their written work with the exception of applicants to Sustainable Development.
Reference forms
Reference forms are available
- via our online application for taught programmes
- by downloading Reference Form (PG) (PDF, 161 KB)
Points to note regarding references to avoid delay in processing your application
- On-line Applications: References are automatically requested via our on-line application form - applicants remain responsible for ensuring that references are sent to us
- Paper Applications: Candidates are responsible for sending reference forms to their named referees and ensuring that they have been sent to us
- References may be sent directly by your referees to us by post (or email if from the referees own email address) or to you in a sealed envelope for forwarding to us - emailed or scanned copies sent from the applicant are not acceptable.
- One employment reference and one academic reference is acceptable for applicants unable to provide two academic references.
- Referees may use their own headed paper and should they wish to do so, please request that they include your full name and proposed programme of study.
- If you are applying to more than one programme, references will be required for each programme.
Submission of documents not uploaded when using the online application form
Documents not uploaded at the time of submitting an online application may be sent by email, fax or post - contact details will be provided in your application form. Please only use one method for when sending documents eg email only or post only.
Submission of paper applications and supporting documents (Research only)
Email is our preferred method for sending documents but you may also send your documents by fax or post - email Postgraduate Admissions or see General Enquiries for address details. Please only use one method when sending documents eg email only or post only.