Applications through UCAS
Most applicants for first-year entry will apply to other universities as well as to the University of St Andrews and will do so by making a single online UCAS application.
Checklist of the UCAS application process
Here is a checklist to help you with your UCAS application if you wish to apply to the University of St Andrews.
- Check the courses available by using our degree list or visit the UCAS web site where you may use the Course Search facility to look for courses in your chosen subject area.
- Check the minimum grades and any subject specific prerequisites for the course.
- Check the Faculty requirements for the degree programme.
- If there is a choice of course between the Faculties of Arts (MA) and Science (BSc) decide which Faculty is for you.
- Draft your UCAS personal statement carefully so that it reflects your choice of course.
- Submit your UCAS application by the appropriate deadline. Medicine15 October; all other courses for UK/UE applicants 15 January; International applicants 30 June.
Entry Requirements
Our selection committee expect you to have taken a rigorous curriculum at school, with a GPA of around 3.6 and over. They look closely at your letters of reference, so choose your referee carefully. If you are applying to take a French course, you should have studied French to AP level (score of 4 or 5) or equivalent.
If applicable, we also expect you to have taken external tests such as SATs, APs and the ACT. If you have taken any APs we require marks of 4 and 5; 1950 + for SATs (across all 3 elements) and a score of 28+ in the ACT. You should submit to us at least one of these external results either directly from the Collegeboard (code: 7775 SAT & AP; 5316 ACT) or the score can be incorporated within your school transcript and verified by your school counselor. In general, the committee look for a good overall application.
Applicants to International Relations. For 2013 entry applicants to International Relations will be expected to obtain the following: 700 in both the reading and writing component of the SAT I OR 700 in two SAT II tests OR two AP's at 5.
Applicants to the Faculty of Medicine. If you are applying to the Faculty of Medicine, you should have studied Chemistry to AP level (score of 4 or 5) or equivalent, plus at least one other science subject (Biology, Physics or Maths). All applicants must arrange to take the UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT). The exam is administered world-wide and there are many registered venues to choose from. The deadline for all applicants (including international students) taking the test is September in the year prior to the year of course entry. For further information please check the Faculty of Medicine webpage.
Please note that admissions decisions are based on your academic results only.
If you have any questions about the entry requirements for North American applicants, please contact International Undergraduate Recruitment.
Personal Statement
This is a very important part of your application. Most of our applicants will be well qualified so decisions on who will receive offers will often be determined by the quality of the Personal Statement. You are encouraged to spend time drafting and re-writing your statement so that it is organised and well-written.
You should give some relevant background information about yourself, your interests and especially reasons for your choice of course. You might want to highlight any relevant work experience or voluntary work you have done. You might have some idea of what your career choice might be and if so you may wish to include this as well.
In summary, your personal statement should give the Admissions Officer(s) a picture of someone who is interested in the subject area for which you have applied and who has the motivation and potential to do well in a university environment.
Referee's Report
If you are at school your Principal or Head of Year will generally write your Referee's Report. If you are not at school you will need to supply a reference from a responsible person who knows you well enough to write about you and state if you are suitable for higher education. References from family members or close friends are not normally acceptable.
Tracking your application
You can check the progress of your application - including our decision - online by using UCAS Track.
Applications for admission to full-time undergraduate study must be made through the online system of the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service where full information on the UCAS application procedure will be found. This applies even to applicants Transfer students from another institute of Higher Education into other than the first year of entry.
STA is the UCAS name of the University of St Andrews and our UCAS number code is S36. UCAS course codes can be found in our degree list.
You may apply for up to five choices of institution or course on the UCAS application. You should not feel obliged to use all five choices. If you wish to apply for more than one degree programme at the University of St Andrews you will have to make separate entries on your application.
There is no facility for you to express an order of preference in your institutions or courses, and all your applications will be treated equally. Universities will not see the other choices you have made so all your applications will be treated on an equal basis.
Personal statement and Referee's report
When to apply
Applications can be submitted online at UCAS from September onwards.
Applicants are advised to apply only after they have carefully read our guidance notes on Choosing your degree which will answer many of the questions you might have about the admissions process at the University of St Andrews.
Deadlines
The relevant deadlines for submission of applications to UCAS are:
- 15 October for those applying to study Medicine or who are also applying to Oxford or Cambridge;
- 15 January for Home fee applicants (e.g. those ordinarily resident in the UK and EU). As we may receive up to 15 applications for every place any applications received after this date are considered at our own discretion, and we cannot guarantee to give them the same level of consideration as those received by the deadline;
- 31 January for those applying to Medicine who are classed as Overseas fee payers
- 30 June for international applicants who are classified as Overseas fee payers (e.g. those domiciled outwith the European Union). However, applicants wishing to transfer from another institute of Higher Education are advised to apply before 31 March.
Notes
- Submitting early. No distinction is drawn between applications which arrive early and those which arrive at UCAS just before the closing date of 15 January. It is, however, in your own interest to submit your form as soon as possible.
- Personal details. You should provide full personal contact details including email addresses and telephone numbers on your UCAS form. Email is the preferred method of communication at the University.
- Qualifications. You are responsible for the accuracy of all statements made concerning qualifications and may be required to submit original certificates at Matriculation if your application is successful.
- Courses offered in more than one Faculty. If you are applying for a course in one Faculty which is also offered in another Faculty, great care should be taken to cite the UCAS code numbers correctly (e.g. it is possible to study Psychology in both the Faculties of Arts (leading to an MA degree) and Science (to a BSc degree).
- Application fee. There is a fee to apply to UCAS when you submit your completed application. You should refer to UCAS instructions regarding methods of payment.