Entry routes
Physics and Astronomy degrees at St Andrews offer you choice and flexibility. There are two main entry points available: the traditional entry to first year and the accelerated entry point to second year.
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This can give you the broadest range of programme choices.
First-year entry students have the opportunity to choose from a broad range of modules in subjects from across the University. Entry at level one also allows a wider choice of degree intention, including the joint degrees with chemistry, computer science or philosophy.
Level-one physics and astronomy modules are designed to be accessible to students joining directly from SQA Highers. Some material may be familiar to students who have successfully completed an Advanced Higher, A-level, or IB course in the topic. These students may still appreciate the revision of core concepts and the emphasis on seeing how the various ideas and equations are determined.
Level-one entry normally takes four years to reach the BSc Honours degree and five years for the Integrated Masters Honours degree.
Level-one entry is required for some of the joint degree programmes, where the requirements of the other subject mean that an accelerated entry cannot be accommodated.
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Students with outstanding qualifications could be taking an accelerated route.
The School has an accelerated entry scheme where some students can enter directly into second year of a Physics and Astronomy degree programme and can obtain a BSc Honours degree in three years and an Integrated Masters Honours degree in four years.
Students on this route must have good qualifications at Advanced Highers, A-level, or IB (or equivalent) in both physics and mathematics, and must be aiming for a degree intention within the School or one of the two joint degrees with Mathematics.
In their year of entry these accelerated-entry students take two level-two physics modules, at least two level-two mathematics modules, and other level-one or two modules (which would be astronomy and astrophysics for those students wishing to study for a degree in this area). At the end of their entry year, these students progress to Junior Honours (level three).
The level-two physics modules are designed to be accessible for those who join straight from Advanced Higher, A-level, or IB, although the entry year is likely to be more demanding for level-two entrants than for level-one entrants. The level-two mathematics modules have also been designed to be accessible to those joining with appropriate qualifications. The advantage of direct entry is that you may shorten the length of your degree programme by a year.
In recent years between about a quarter and a half of the School's entrant students took the level-two entry option.
In appropriate circumstances, students may change their level of entry in the first weeks of study at St Andrews.
Direct entry is available for the School's joint degrees with mathematics. Direct entry to second year is not available for the School's joint degrees with chemistry or philosophy.
Find out more about direct entry to second year.