Admission notes
The following notes are more up-to-date than those in the University’s Admissions Prospectus.
Asking rates
Our current minimum Asking Rates -- in terms of A-Levels, Scottish Highers, and the International Baccalaureate -- are printed in this year’s Admissions Prospectus. Notwithstanding what is set out below our offer will be framed in terms of these rates.
English at St Andrews attracts a very large number of applicants (about ten for every place available) and is, therefore, highly competitive. The deadlines for printing of the University Prospectus mean that it is produced before the current admissions year has finished. In a very competitive environment the minimum entry requirements do not reflect the real picture of actual Admissions decisions.
Although an offer made to you will be in line with the current minimum asking rates, you are unlikely to receive an offer unless you have gained, or are predicted to gain, the following results:
A-levels: AAA (excluding General Studies). AS results are not acceptable.
Scottish Highers: AAAB or AAAA.
International Baccalaureate: 40 points.
Even taking these augmented asking rates into account a majority of applicants obtaining, or predicted to obtain, these results will not be made an offer.
Most Scottish students apply after their Higher Grades are known and are given an unconditional offer or are rejected. In the case of A-level and IB applicants actual grades are preferred but most applicants will present with predicted results. A-level and IB students who apply before their grades are known and who do not receive an offer are welcome to re-apply in the following year provided that the results that they have then obtained meet the level indicated in the box above.
Starred A-Levels
St Andrews currently does not express any of its offers in terms of starred A-level results. However all information given on a UCAS form, including predicted or actual stars, is taken into account.
Deferred entry
Applications for entry are considered only on an immediate basis. Applications for deferred entry will be referred back to the applicant or will be rejected.
Other qualifications
These are assessed on a case by case basis. North American students are not processed by the Admissions Officer for English.
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.
