Why study at St Andrews?

The course is for high school graduates who want to improve their English language and study skills, while studying a variety of academic subjects at pre-undergraduate level.  Our aim is to help you to become fully prepared for studying and living in the UK, by supporting you both academically and personally throughout the programme.

Course aims

By the end of the course, you will be able to write an academic essay of 2000 words after doing all of the necessary reading and research. You will also be able to present your opinions and findings clearly and logically through giving confident presentations using PowerPoint. In addition, you will have knowledge of the subject that you plan to study as an undergraduate and be confident when talking and writing about your subject's key points and issues.

Course structure

The course has three terms and runs from September to June.  You will be taught in small classes, and follow the academic subjects of your choice.  There are examinations at the end of each term, and your performance in essay writing, projects and selected homework tasks will also contribute towards the end-of-term grades.  A sample timetable and details of how the course is assessed are included in the brochure that you can download from here:

• Undergraduate foundation programme (PDF, 1,354 KB)

Entry requirements

You need to complete high school in your own country and graduate with good grades.  Because we accept students from a wide range of countries, we look at each application on an individual basis (as school systems vary greatly from country to country). 

Business applicants require a minimum of 5.5 in IELTS (or internet-based TOEFL 80).

Social Science & Law applicants require a minimum of 6.0 in IELTS (or internet-based TOEFL 90).