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Specific Asking Rates

  • These asking rates are the minimum grades normally required to be considered for admission to study English at St Andrews.
  • Attainment of these grades is no guarantee that you will actually be made an offer, because we have many more highly qualified applicants than we have places for. Please see below for additional factors that will be taken into consideration in deciding whether to make an offer to a candidate.
  • These asking rates assume that the volume of applications for 2009 entry remains comparable to that for the previous year. Were the volume of applications to rise significantly, the asking rates could also rise without notice.
  1. Scottish Highers
    For results obtained in a SINGLE examination diet: AAAB, including an A in English.

    For results obtained over two or more examination diets: AAAA (or some combination of Higher and Advanced Higher grades).

    Promising candidates who have just missed this score but who are taking Advanced Highers may be made a conditional offer based on AH performance.

  2. A-levels
    For results obtained in a SINGLE examination diet: AAB at A2, including an A in English.

    For results obtained over two or more examination diets (whether through a deliberate spreading of the workload, resits or the decision to pick up an additional A-level): AAA at A2, including an A in English.
    • St Andrews does not make offers based on UCAS tariffs or on AS levels.
    • For candidates taking more than 3 A-levels, the offer applies to their best three subjects (one of which must be English!).
    • General Studies is never included: candidates taking General Studies (although in itself commendable) must offer three other subjects at A2 level.

  3. International Baccalaureate
    36 points, including 6 at HL English (A1 or A2) or 7 at HL English B.

  4. Other Qualifications - These are assessed on a case by case basis. North American students are not processed by the Admissions Officer for English.

  5. English Language Competence
    Candidates whose native language is not English and whose schooling has not been through the medium of English will normally be required to pass a recognised test of English.
    Preferred qualifications:
    Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (minimum pass at B)
    IELTS (minimum score of 7.5)
    We also consider candidates with excellent scores for TOEFL.

    6. Reapplications

    We welcome re-applications from unsuccessful applicants who have decided to spend a year taking an extra qualification or, in some circumstances, resitting exams for existing qualifications. Please make it clear on your UCAS form that you are applying a second time - it is to your advantage to ensure we know how keen you are!