How to apply - School Abroad programmes
These are programmes specific to a certain School or Department. A number of Schools offer opportunities, and several of our exchange partners offer courses in English as well as the host language. Options exist for a semester or a full year abroad, depending on the partnership and the student’s degree pathway. Find out more about School Study Abroad opportunities.
If you are a Modern Languages student wishing to study abroad or to undertake a WIYA placement, you must also complete the Outbound Study Abroad application. Please see below for full application details.
You should follow the below steps in order to apply.
Contact your School's Study Abroad Coordinator
Before you begin your application, please ensure that you have researched the options available to you on your degree programme, and the eligibility criteria. In particular, if you are a Joint Honours student applying for a School Abroad programme, you must seek permission from your other School. You may also wish to consult with your Study Abroad Co-ordinator if you have any questions about studying abroad.
If you intend to pursue Joint Honours, you should discuss your intention to apply for a School Abroad programme with your other School’s Study Abroad Coordinator before submitting an application.
Permission
You should ask your Study Abroad Coordinator for permission to study abroad. Most Coordinators will send this to us directly.
Investigate the university you're thinking of applying to
Consult the website and module catalogue for the university you are interested in, and take time to research your options carefully, in the context of your degree programme.
Your GPA
The application system will calculate your first year GPA for you. For all St Andrews Abroad options and most School Abroad options, you must have an average of 13.5 in the subject(s) you intend to take to Honours. NB: the system will count all modules within a particular subject area and not only core requirements. For example, if your degree intention is Sustainable Development but you have also taken Geography modules in first year, these will be taken into consideration as part of the GPA calculation. However, all applications will be considered by the Pro Deans who will look at your academic record to determine your GPA.
Submit your application via MySaint
Complete the Outbound Study Abroad application through My Applications in MySaint.
Applications will open on 1 October. Please do not apply before this date or your application will not be considered.
The deadline for students wishing to study abroad in the academic year 2025-2026 will be 1 November 2024. Applications submitted after this deadline will not be considered.
Please refer to our Study Abroad and WIYA application user guide (PDF, 871 KB) before applying.
You can submit your application before receiving permission from your Study Abroad Coordinator(s).
You will be informed of the outcome of your application early in semester two.
You cannot click ‘back’ in the application so please ensure you are happy with your answers before proceeding to the next section.
Before submitting your application, please ensure that you take note of the restrictions and additional information below:
Art History Abroad programme
Art History programmes are open to Single Honours and Joint Honours students. Application to Art History Abroad programmes is competitive. The most important criterion is a strong academic background, with a minimum entry requirement of 13.5 in Art History (and your other intended Honours subject if Joint Honours) in first year. Participation in Art History Abroad programmes takes place during Junior Honours year.
Biology Abroad programme
Biology Abroad programmes are open to Single Honours and Joint Honours students. Application to Biology Abroad programmes is competitive.
The most important criterion is a strong academic background, with a minimum entry requirement of 13.5 in Biology (and your other intended Honours subject if Joint Honours) in first year.
Participation in Biology Abroad programmes takes place during Junior Honours year. The James Cook exchange is available in semester two only.
Chemistry External placements
External Placements are co-ordinated through the School of Chemistry.
Classics Abroad programme
The most important criterion is the strength of academic background; we require an average of 13.5 or better in the subjects to be taken in Honours. Further information is available from the Classics Study Abroad Coordinator.
Divinity Abroad programme
Divinity programmes are open to Single Honours and Joint Honours students. Application to Divinity Abroad programmes is competitive. The most important criterion is a strong academic background, with a minimum entry requirement of 13.5 in Divinity (and your other intended Honours subject if Joint Honours) in first year.
Participation in Divinity Abroad programmes takes place during Junior Honours year.
English Abroad programme
Students may participate in English Abroad for a full academic year only.
English Abroad is open to Single Honours and Joint Honours students. As a guideline, applicants should have an average grade of 13.5 in First Year English modules, though students with slightly lower averages may also be considered.
Participation in English Abroad takes place during Junior Honours year.
Geography and Sustainable Development Abroad programme
Geography and Sustainable Development students should speak to the School’s Study Abroad Coordinator before applying to Study Abroad. Study abroad programmes are open to Single Honours and Joint Honours students. Single Honours Students intending to take one semester abroad should be aware that in doing so they may be missing required elements of their programme of study. We would encourage you to plan carefully and early. Joint Honours students have more flexibility but module choices in 3rd year may affect available 4th year modules. All students must carefully select their module choices to adequately prepare them for their studies in 4th year. They should liaise carefully with SGSD on their module choices.
History Abroad programme
Participation in History Abroad programme is restricted to specific St Andrews History degree programmes; further information is available from the History Study Abroad Coordinator.
The Universiteit Leiden and Keio University are only open to Modern History students.
You may apply for either semester one, semester two or a full academic year on all History Abroad programmes.
Application to History Abroad programmes is competitive. The most important criterion is a strong academic background, with normally a minimum entry requirement of 13.5 in History (and your other intended Honours subject if Joint Honours) in first year. Your grade(s) in your second-year first-semester History module(s) will also be taken into account.
IR Abroad programme
You may apply for either semester one, semester two or a full academic year on all IR Abroad programmes.
IR Abroad programmes are open to Single Honours and Joint Honours students. Joint Honours students who wish to apply to Renmin may apply for one semester only.
Application to IR Abroad programmes is competitive, but some exchanges are more competitive than others. The most important criterion is a strong academic background, with a minimum entry requirement of 13.5 in IR (and your other intended Honours subject if Joint Honours) in first year.
Participation in IR Abroad programmes takes place during Junior Honours year.
Modern Languages Study Abroad programme
You may apply for either semester one, semester two or a full academic year on Modern Languages School Abroad programmes.
Modern Languages students do not have to meet the 13.5 grade requirements to go on a School Abroad programme. However, you must make Honours Entry and meet the terms and conditions.
If you are applying to a St Andrews Abroad programme, you must meet the 13.5 grade requirement. Currently, Persian and Comparative Literature students only have access to St Andrews Abroad options.
If you are on a five year Modern Languages WIYA degree, you will take a work placement. If you are on a WIYA degree and studying two languages, it is possible to apply to study abroad in your other language in the second semester of your fourth year. For example, a joint French and Italian WIYA student could do a British Council placement in France in the third year of their programme, and then study at a university in Italy in the second semester of their fourth year.
Philosophy Abroad programme
You may participate in Philosophy Abroad for one semester, or a full academic year.
Application to Philosophy Abroad programmes is competitive. The most important criterion is a strong academic background, with a minimum entry requirement of 13.5 in Philosophy in first year.
Participation in Philosophy Abroad takes place during Junior Honours year.
Social Anthropology Abroad programme
Most students participate in Social Anthropology Abroad for one semester. If you wish to spend a full year abroad, please consult with the Study Abroad Coordinator before you apply.
Social Anthropology Abroad programmes are open to Single Honours and Joint Honours students.
Application to Social Anthropology Abroad programmes is competitive. The most important criterion is a strong academic background, with a minimum entry requirement of 13.5 in Social Anthropology (and your other intended Honours subject if Joint Honours) in first year.
Participation in Social Anthropology Abroad programmes takes place during Junior Honours year.
Students wishing to SA4099 Fieldwork Based Dissertation on return to St Andrews following their study abroad placement should note that the requirement to take a methods course will not be waived. Students should discuss this with the School’s Study Abroad Coordinator prior to application and again when selecting modules at the partner university.