Prospective students

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I wanted to visit St Andrews - how can I do this?

We have adapted all our visiting options (visiting days and the daily talk and tour) to be delivered virtually. You can find out how to book on the visiting section of our website. You can also email your questions to visitingdays@st-andrews.ac.uk. 

• I have applied to the University of St Andrews for September 2020 entry – will my application be affected?

  All undergraduate degree programmes are now closed for application, with the exception of our Global Online Year One Programme. We are accepting overseas applications until Monday 17 August through our direct application. For more information, please contact Admissions on admissions@st-andrews.ac.uk.

  We will continue to make admissions decisions as usual, and these will be communicated to applicants by email within normal timescales. We know you have worked extremely hard to get to this point, and we value all you have done. We are committed to making decisions on your application in a timely and evidence-based way.

• Can I still apply for SAAS funding?

  A guide to student finance in Scotland and up-to-date information relating to how to apply as well as how SAAS are addressing the ever-evolving situation with Coronavirus can be obtained from Student Information Scotland.

• Will dual mode delivery mean tuition fees for taught programmes are reduced?

  No. The University is committed to delivering parity in quality of study and student experience for all students. For any period of time that you may need to spend engaging with your learning remotely, parity of tuition fees will also apply and there will be no adjustment to tuition fees.

  The university’ s priority is to transition to face to face learning as soon as it is safe and possible to do. This may mean that for some of the learning activities students will engage remotely. As it is likely that various social distancing measures will be in place and students will be joining us at different stages, we have committed to dual delivery (both on line and face to face) as long as it takes to have all our students here.

  The university is committed to ensuring parity for students engaging remotely in terms of content, intensity, learning outcomes and academic development. Your access to academic staff is equivalent and where necessary, additional support has been put in place to support you academically.

  You will also be able to access essential Library materials as if you were studying in St Andrews, and we are currently enhancing access to on-line resources further. Regardless of where you are studying, full Student Services support is available to you across all aspect of university life. Additionally, as far as possible you will be able to engage with student societies, halls of residence communities and events.

  While we will support our students to transition effectively between the different methods of engagement, our objective is to integrate our community and ensure that as soon as it is safe and sensible to do, students can join us in St Andrews.

• What do I have to do prior to/upon entering or returning to the UK?

  From 8th June 2020 all those entering or returning to the UK will be required to provide journey and contact details prior to travelling to the UK and self-isolate in the place that you are staying for 14 days.

  You can provide your journey and contact details by completing the form at https://www.gov.uk/provide-journey-contact-details-before-travel-uk but it cannot be submitted until 48 hours prior to your arrival.  You will  be required to show this form when you arrive at the UK border, either by printing a copy or showing it on your phone.  The Government will use this information to contact you should you or someone you have travelled with develops symptoms and also to ensure that you are self-isolating for the required 14 days after arrival in the UK.

  There are different self-isolation rules and penalties depending on where you are travelling to and links to the guidance which is relevant to you can be found at https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control.

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• I have missed the conditions of my offer, what should I do?

  We are sorry to hear that you have missed the conditions of your offer. When we receive your results we assess your qualifications against all suitable programmes available and offer you an alternative degree programme where we are able to. If you are successful in gaining a remark please contact us on myapplication@st-andrews.ac.uk and admissions officers will take a look at your application on a case by case basis. Please send your remarks to us as soon as you have access to these and absolutely no later than 7 September 2020, the day semester begins.

• My exams have been disrupted and I have a conditional offer – will my application be affected?

  We know you have worked extremely hard to get to this point, and we value all you have done. We are committed to making decisions on your application in a timely and evidence-based way.

  Your exam boards, high schools, college counsellor or teacher should be gathering any alternative evidence on your performance as they would do in the normal way, and as per their own internal guidance, to support any consideration of exceptional circumstances. This evidence should inform estimated grades, again as it should every year. If we require additional information, we will ask you to provide it to us by emailing myapplication@st-andrews.ac.uk and International Foundation programme applicants emailing ifpapplications@st-andrews.ac.uk.

  We are following our admissions policy for extenuating circumstances. You can find full details of how we consider extenuating circumstances in our admissions policy.

• If I miss my conditions and make the decision to sit my A level exams in Autumn will my place be automatically deferred to 2021 entry?

  We will be accepting the grades issued this summer by the relevant recognised authority. 

  If you do not meet the conditions set out in your offer and you choose to sit an exam in Autumn 2020, we will not be in a position to guarantee you an offer of a place in 2021. However, we would encourage you to submit a new application through UCAS in the normal way. 

• I have applied through UCAS – when do I need to accept my offer by?

  If you receive your last decision on or before 4 June 2020, your reply date was 18 June 2020.

  If you receive your last decision on or before 13 July 2020, your reply date is 20 July 2020.

• As a result of disruption to exams, will you be making all conditional offers unconditional?

  We know you have worked extremely hard to get to this point, and we value all you have done. We are committed to making decisions on your application in a timely and evidence-based way.

  We will therefore be accepting the grades issued this summer by the relevant recognised authority. Providing you meet all of the conditions of your offer with us by the deadline stated on your offer letter, your offer will be confirmed and you will be accepted by the University. This applies to all offer holders who are holding a conditional offer, irrespective of qualification. 

• I have an International Foundation Programme offer. Will my deposit be refunded if I choose to decline my place due to Coronavirus?

  To accept and secure an offer of a place on one of our International Foundation Programmes, you are required to pay a deposit of £3,000. If Coronavirus affects your travel plans or our start date to the extent that you wish to decline our offer of a place on the foundation programme, we will refund your deposit in full.

• I have an offer to start studying in September, may I defer my place?

  For those who may be unable to travel to join us for induction on 7 September, and the start of teaching on 14 September, we will provide comprehensive tuition remotely, and a smooth transition to the classroom on joining us in St Andrews once travel restrictions are lifted.

  We realise however, that the ​Coronavirus crisis may have changed your undergraduate study plans. Requests for deferral will be considered sympathetically on a case by case basis. You ​​will need to give a good reason for deferral and support your request with as much evidence as possible, for example, cancellation or delay of exams at your previous institution or financial implications resulting from the crisis.

• I have a conditional offer, and I do not think I will make my conditions, what do I do?

  You should keep a record of any issues that could affect your academic results. Then, if your final grades do not meet our conditions, you can present a case to us with your evidence and we can fairly consider it at that time.  

  You should email myapplication@st-andrews.ac.uk when you know the outcome of your grades and qualifications and ensure that your school includes any details regarding your individual circumstance at that time. International Foundation programme applicants should do the same but email ifpapplications@st-andrews.ac.uk. 

  You can also find full details of how we consider extenuating circumstances in our admissions policy. 

• I have accepted an unconditional offer to start studying with you in September. What are my next steps?

  You will receive an ‘Entrant’ email from us. You should receive this email once your offer has become unconditional and usually within two weeks if your offer was previously conditional with us.  

  This email will provide information to enable you to set up your St Andrews Computer Account, apply for accommodation as well as a whole range of other things.  

  Our Registry Team send these ‘Entrant’ emails out from June. 

  
  More information about your next steps can be found on the following webpage: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/new-students/ug/

• To meet the conditions of my offer I must give proof of my qualifications, how do I do this?

  We can accept scanned copies of original certificates, transcripts and test results from all qualifications. Please email them to us at myapplication@st-andrews.ac.uk to confirm your place with us.  

• Due to the Covid-19 virus I have not had the opportunity to take the ACT or SAT in 2020. Will your university be test optional for 2021 entry?

  We understand that Covid-19 may have prevented you from taking the SAT or ACT. We give applicants the option of submitting SAT and ACT scores, but do not require them for your application to be considered under our holistic admission review, a comprehensive process that emphasizes multiple criteria, including grades, strength of curriculum, personal statement and references. 

  If you have not completed the SAT or ACT, a minimum of three AP courses of grade A/B or 4+ or SAT Subject Test scores of 650+ will be required in relevant subject areas. Competitive applicants should be following a rigorous curriculum at high school, which should include a college preparatory curriculum including honours classes or equivalent, and Advanced Placement (AP) classes or equivalent where available.

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• I would have liked to visit before accepting my offer, are there any virtual options?

  Until further notice we will be offering a virtual information session in place of our talk and tour, every weekday.  

  This session will be hosted by a member of Admissions staff and will cover our flexible degree structure, accommodation, student life and more. 

  You can also book an 'ask a student Q&A' as part of your virtual visit. This session is hosted by one of our summer student Ambassadors and provides an opportunity for you to ask all your student experience questions. If you do not have time for a session, you can meet more of our ambassadors on the ask a student page.

  You can also watch a virtual tour of St Andrews, led by a student Ambassador.

   

• I am booked on to a visiting day or talk and tour visit – is this still going ahead?

  Our Offer holder day, visiting days and talk and tour offerings have all been amended to be delivered virtually. Information on these events has been emailed to everyone booked (using the email address given when booking). If you have not received information or are unsure on next steps, please email visitingdays@st-andrews.ac.uk. 

• I am expecting to attend an Access & Widening Participation Outreach event and/ or Summer School – is this still going ahead?

  Until further notice we will be offering a revised programme of Access & Widening Participation activities and Summer Schools in a range of virtual formats. 

  Admissions staff have contacted all pupils involved in these programmes.  

  If you have further questions, please contact schools.access@st-andrews.ac.uk and we will provide you with more tailored guidance.

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• I may be starting in September from a different time zone, will lectures be recorded for me to access at any time?

  Yes, all lectures will be recorded and available online through our online teaching platforms. You will be able to access these at any time.

• Can I arrive 14 days early in order to quarantine in halls of residence before orientation week?

  Yes, students from outside the UK will be able to arrive from 24 August in order to complete a 14-day quarantine period before the start of orientation week on 7 September. This two-week stay will be free of charge, and students will not need to pay any additional accommodation costs. Food will be delivered to each student in their room during this quarantine period. We will do all we can to make your quarantine period as comfortable as possible.

• I have questions around dual delivery – Can you give me more information?

  We will begin our academic year, as planned, on Monday 14 September 2020, with Orientation week beginning on Monday 7 September 2020. We recognise that circumstances might vary considerably around the world. For this reason, we will be offering dual delivery of our teaching for as long as necessary as a stepping stone towards returning to the traditional approaches to learning and teaching that we are renowned for.

  Watch our video (https://youtu.be/PJigNCcqD5o) to find out more or visit our dual delivery webpage for offer holders: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/offer-holders/dual-delivery/ 

• Will faith services resume in September? Will this provision be both online and in person?

  There is a broad provision of services for worship, prayer and meditation offered and supported by the Chaplaincy.  We hope that Christian worship services in St Salvator’s Chapel will begin on Sunday 6 September at 11 am, and continue throughout the semester, with Sunday morning services, Evensong on Sundays and Wednesdays, and Compline on Thursday nights.  We hope that people will be able to attend these services in person, or take part through live-streaming, or access recordings on the Chaplaincy website. We also hope that Muslim Friday prayers and access to prayer rooms in the Chaplaincy building called Mansefield will have resumed by then, as well as Buddhist Meditation, Jewish services, Quaker-led Simply Quiet occasions, and other faith society events. All such services will follow social distancing measures, and be in accordance with Scottish Government instructions. 

  Details will be updated throughout the summer on the Chaplaincy webpages at https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/chaplaincy/  and on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mansefield/   

  To contact the Chaplaincy, email chaplain@st-andrews.ac.uk or call +44 (0)1334 462866.

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• My university is changing how and when I will receive my current degree – will my application be affected?

  We appreciate that there are many circumstances that are out of your control.   

  If you firmly know that you will not receive your degree award in time to meet the conditions of your offer, please let us know about your specific circumstances by emailing us:

  • Taught programmes (most Masters programmes): pgt.application@st-andrews.ac.uk 
  • Research programmes: pgr.application@st-andrews.ac.uk  

• I have a conditional offer, and I do not think I will make my conditions, what do I do?

  You should keep a record of any issues that could affect your academic results. Then, if your final grades do not meet our conditions, you can present a case to us with your evidence and we can fairly consider it at that time. 

  Your university may wish to consider providing you with information on: 

  • When setting your assignments and examinations, did your university make consideration to the very unusual circumstances under which you have produced the work?  
  • Did your university adjust your assessments, examinations or overall grades in the academic year to make fair allowance for your individual circumstance? 

  When you firmly know the outcome of your degree award, you should let us know by emailing: 

  • Postgraduate taught (Masters) programmes: pgt.application@st-andrews.ac.uk 
  • Postgraduate research programmes: pgr.application@st-andrews.ac.uk 

  You can find full details of how we consider extenuating circumstances in our admissions policy. 

• I have an offer to start studying a postgraduate taught course in September, may I defer my place?

  For those who may be unable to travel to join us for induction on 7 September, and the start of teaching on 14 September, we will provide comprehensive tuition remotely, and a smooth transition to the classroom on joining us in St Andrews once travel restrictions are lifted.

  We realise however, that the ​coronavirus crisis may have changed your postgraduate study plans. Requests for deferral will be considered sympathetically on a case by case basis. You ​​will need to give a good reason for deferral and support your request with as much evidence as possible, for example, cancellation or delay of exams at your previous institution or financial implications resulting from the crisis.

• I was not able to take an English Language test due to Covid-19 restrictions. What should I do?

  In order to accommodate applicants who are not able to take IELTS or other similar tests during this difficult time, we are now accepting the following online tests of English language ability as a special measure for 2020 entry:

  • Duolingo English Test (DET)
  • LanguageCert
  • TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition  (not available in mainland China and Iran)

  Our English language requirements for postgraduate students page provides information about the scores needed for entry on these and other tests.

  We are also temporarily accepting IELTS and other listed tests taken within four years of an intended course start date as evidence of English language ability. These tests are normally only accepted if taken within two years of an intended course start date.

  If you have not achieved the required score for entry on one of the above English tests then you may be able to use your score to enrol on a pre-sessional course, through which you can meet English language entry requirements. Please see the pre-sessional course English language entry requirements for more details. If you have met English language entry requirements, you are still encouraged to take the 4-week pre-sessional course on an optional basis, to give you a solid foundation in using academic English before starting your postgraduate studies.

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• I’ve got an offer, when will you be in touch about my visa?

  In order to apply for your visa you require a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) number which is issued by the University.  You must have firmly accepted an unconditional offer and have gone through the administrative process of transferring you from applicant to entrant to be eligible for the CAS process to commence.  CAS numbers are issued from early June onwards to those who are classed as entrants and the Compliance Team will contact you, via email, with instructions about uploading your passport and the other steps required to obtain your CAS number.

• I’ve been given a CAS number, what do I do with this?

  Once you receive your CAS number you can start the process of applying for your visa.  Information about how to do this can be obtained from our website or by contacting our International Advice team at advint@st-andrews.ac.uk. 

• Will the current Covid-19 pandemic impact my ability to apply for a visa?

  You can still apply for a visa through the UK Visas and Immigration web page. However, to complete this process you will need to make arrangements to provide biometrics (fingerprints and facial photograph), which may involve attending a Visa Application Centre. While some Visa Applications Centres remain closed, you will be unable to complete this part of the application process and obtain your visa.

• Where can I find information about the steps I need to complete to obtain my visa?

  Further information about the visa application process can be found on the visa web page. 

  In summary, the process is that you apply, pay your healthcare surcharge, pay for your visa application, book your biometric appointment at a visa application centre, attend that appointment, submit your documentation and passport, receive a decision on your application and receive your passport back with a single entry visa included.

  If you have any questions about this process, you can contact our International Advice team at advint@st-andrews.ac.uk. 

• Visa Application Centres in my country are closed, what can I do?

  The Visa Application Centre is where you submit your biometric information and other supporting documentation. Until the centres reopen and you can submit this information, your application cannot be completed.

  You should keep checking the commercial partner websites to stay up to date on centres reopening and make an appointment to submit the required information as soon as they do:

  • TLScontact for Europe, Africa and parts of the Middle East  - https://uk.tlscontact.com/
  • VFS global for all other countries - https://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/en

• I can’t book a biometric appointment at a Visa Application Centre. Can I submit my biometrics any other way?

  If the Visa Application Centres in your country are currently closed, you will need to wait until they reopen. There is no other way to submit your biometric information.

• What will happen if I cannot submit biometrics, can I arrive as a visitor and apply for a Tier 4 visa later?

  If you need a Tier 4 visa to study, then you will need to apply for this and receive it before travelling to the UK. Tier 4 students that arrive in the UK without a Tier 4 visa will not be allowed to matriculate or begin classes, they will have to return home and go through the application process. You can only apply for a Tier 4 visa from your country of residence.

• Are there delays expected in being able to obtain a visa?

  We expect there to be some delays to the visa process as the Home Office work to reopen offices and check their operational capacity in the current climate. There are no priority or super-priority services being offered at the moment.

• What if I do not receive my visa in time?

  We hope you will be able to obtain your visa and arrive in time for classes starting on September 14 and we are doing all we can to support this. If you are not able to, do not worry, teaching at St Andrews next semester will be a blend of traditional, in-person classes, pre-recorded content and live, interactive online provision. This means that you will be able to start your studies online and receive the same high standard of teaching wherever you are in the world and then travel to St Andrews to commence face-to-face teaching as soon as you are able to.

• I got my entry visa, how long is this valid for?

  The visa you received in your passport is a single-entry visa, allowing you to enter the UK before your course start date so you can collect your BRP card (your Tier 4 visa). This visa validity has been extended to 90 days, allowing you more time to enter the UK if you have suffered a delay.

• I received a visa but my CAS had a latest entry date of 7th October, what if I can only arrive after this date?

  If you have experienced delays in securing your visa due to the current pandemic and can only arrive after 7 October 2020, do not worry. Please contact visas@st-andrews.ac.uk to notify them of your new arrival date and we will make sure the UKVI are aware that you will be arriving after the stated latest entry date.

• I’ve been told that I need to pick up a BRP card within 10 days of my arrival, how will this work if I have to quarantine?

  The UKVI have introduced some flexibility to this rule and they are not enforcing it in the current circumstances. We will therefore not return your BRP card if you are not able to pick  it up within 10 days of your arrival. 

  You will be given an appointment to complete the required document checks and pick up your BRP card when you complete online matriculation. Further information about this can be found on the matriculation web page.

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I am the parent or family member of a prospective student - what should I do?

You are supporting someone to make an informed decision on university. You and your family may have planned to spend the spring visiting some college and universities. The coronavirus has made this whole process a bit chaotic. We know this is not a normal year. There's never a good time for a pandemic. 

We are here to help.  

We know you may not be able to visit us (just yet). We are working hard to make sure that even if you can't visit us in person, you can still meet us and get a sense of the university and town. 

We have adapted all our visiting options (visiting days and the daily talk and tour) to be delivered virtually. Online, you will meet with experienced staff who will answer any questions you have about the application process and life in St Andrews. 

We want to offer you a variety of sources to make an informed decision by connecting you with current students and our alumni. 

Our incredible alumni and current students across the globe have offered to help by sharing their own personal experiences of studying and at living in St Andrews. If you are interested in virtually meeting alumni or a student ambassador, please email admissions@st-andrews.ac.uk.