Undergraduate Entrance Qualifications
In the last undergraduate UCAS cycle we received over 12,000 applications for approximately 1,100 'Home' i.e. United Kingdom / European Union domiciled places. 'International' or non UK/EU domiciled applicants are not counted in this government-funded applicant pool. With around 10 applications per place, competition per place is intense and all candidates will be expected to achieve highly in the qualifications they are studying for.
The University expects all the qualifications detailed to be gained at the first diet of examinations. If there have been resit examinations in any module or component of the subject award, this should be declared by the candidates on their UCAS Personal Statement or Reference. If you are a non native speaker of English or the language of instruction is not English, you may be asked to provide evidence of your English language ability in addition to the following entrance qualifications. Further information for non-native English speakers can be found on the English Language Teaching pages.
For candidates wishing to study Medicine at the University of St Andrews, comprehensive information on entrance qualifications and the application process can be found on the School of Medicine website.
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Our Admissions Statement
The University of St Andrews attaches the greatest importance to promoting diversity and equality of opportunity in all its admissions policies and processes. Our full Equal Opportunities and Admissions Statement may be found here.All applications to the University of St Andrews are read thoroughly by Admissions Officers and many factors are taken into account when making decisions. These factors include the personal statement and reference. No applicant will be guaranteed admission on the basis of examination grades alone.
At the same time the University of St Andrews will not discriminate on grounds of age, race, religion, sex or disability. The University of St Andrews has taken steps to ensure that all those involved with the admission of students are aware of its whole Equal Opportunities Policy.
Under the arrangements with UCAS we are also committed to give equality of consideration to all applications received at UCAS by 15 January. After this date late applications can only be considered if places remain available. However, the University continues to meet in all other respects its obligations to treat all applications fairly and consistently, irrespective of whether they are made before or after 15 January.
Several factors may affect the decision on which applications merit an offer of a place and which applications do not. These factors include the following:
- Existing qualifications and grades
- Anticipated qualifications and grades
- Consistency of applications made by same candidate across different courses
- Personal statement by the candidate
- Content of any non-standard communication from the candidate
- Personal reference
- Interview, for instance, in the case of mature students or candidates to the Faculty of Medicine
- Number of places available
The University of St Andrews considers applications from students with a wide variety of qualifications. For example, Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers, AS- and A-levels, International Baccalaureate, Irish Leaving Certificate, vocational qualifications, Access courses and qualifications from countries outside the UK. Our Admissions Application Centre provides advice on the acceptability of particular qualifications for undergraduate entry.
Widening Participation
In attracting and responding to applications for entry, the University of St Andrews never consciously discriminates against anyone.
In determining who is to be offered a place, Admissions Officers seek clear evidence of academic ability since we see no point in unduly exposing people to the prospect of failure.
We do not, therefore, have quotas which advantage or disadvantage any group of applicants and we are committed to treating all applications within an admissions cycle both fairly and transparently.
Our policy has, however, always been to take into account academic potential as well as achievement in examinations. Hence referees' reports from schools and colleges as well as other factors, including clear and justifiable explanations of personal and social reasons for under performance, are treated as important indicators.
We are, of course, not convinced that we or any other institution have wholly reliable ways of predicting precisely how students will fare after entry. We are, however, determined to recognise both attainment and potential as we work to make St Andrews more accessible to those who can benefit from an education undertaken here and add to its academic reputation.
Our articulation agreements with local schools and colleges, our summer schools and our fund raising campaigns for bursaries are just some of the ways in which we try to ensure that we attract from neighbourhoods and schools where participation rates in Higher Education have been traditionally low. In this way we enrich our increasingly diverse student population by attracting applications from those who can contribute positively to raising the very high standards to which we are always committed.