Further particulars of offers

• Further particulars of offers

  Once you have accepted your offer to study at the University of St Andrews, you enter into a contractual agreement with the University which is set out in the University Terms and Conditions of Study. This agreement includes:  

  • Conditions relating to your degree programme
  • the expectations of students whilst studying in the University of St Andrews community
  • the University’s approach to delivering a quality learning experience.  

  The University aims to ensure that students are aware of the main provisions of the agreement, and this document offers further information on key aspects of your offer. 

• Learning and teaching at St Andrews

  Our approach to learning and teaching is a little like the University itself: a mix of very traditional and very new. In every subject, we take care to cover all the bases, on the one hand familiarising our students with the knowledge and theories that are essential to understanding the discipline; and on the other, giving them a chance wherever possible to develop practical uses for the expertise they acquire. From this starting point, we expect our students increasingly to design their own studies, by selecting options and undertaking research-based activities that they devise by themselves, with support from academic staff.  

  All teaching and learning is organised through one of the University’s Schools, each of which has a director of teaching who oversees the delivery and development of teaching and learning. These work with the coordinators of individual modules and with programme or year coordinators (where appropriate) to ensure that teaching and learning provision is carefully planned and delivered, and that new developments and changes are channeled for approval to the appropriate committees. Directors of teaching, programme, year 
  and module coordinators are all established members of academic staff – such as professors and lecturers.  Students put together their programme of studies in consultation with and with the approval of their Adviser of Studies by selecting a combination of compulsory and optional modules described in the programme requirements. From here there are links to the online module catalogue which describes each module and gives information about the learning, teaching and assessment methods used.  

  We know that every student has a slightly different way of learning so, while we make use of some tried and-tested methods that we believe should be part of any good university education, we also have a wide variety of complementary approaches that will enrich your experience and ensure there is an approach that works.

• Degree and module information statement

  Information about the University’s curriculum (modules and degree programmes) can be found in several places on the University’s website depending on the level of detail you are looking for. The undergraduate programme requirements and the postgraduate programme requirements are the primary sources of information if you want to learn about the modules that may be available to you in the academic year and the combination of modules that are required to progress from year to year on your chosen degree programme.   

  Each degree programme requires certain combinations of modules to be taken in each academic year of study for you to progress from year to year on your way to your final assessments and ultimately graduation. These requirements are published alphabetically by award name under each subject area. The University’s advising process will help ensure that you are on track to meet the requirements that are necessary to complete your degree programme.   The programme requirements are updated and published online each summer for the coming academic year. It may be necessary to update the module or programme catalogue after it is published, and these updates are published on the web page. 

• Modules

  In the module catalogue, you will find information about all the modules that are available in the current academic year. The list of available modules can be sorted and filtered by a variety of criteria including subject, level, semester and credit load. There may be constraints on a module such as a pre-requisite that could restrict the modules available to you. Some modules are available to any student who has passed the pre-requisite (if any) and others are restricted in their availability. For example, some may be available to 
  students only in a particular faculty, year, programme, programme type or mode of study (e.g. part-time). 

  Some may also be restricted by a limit on numbers or by selection criteria (e.g. interview). It may be necessary to restrict access to a module in the event that demand exceeds the number of students that can be accommodated. While the University offers wide variety and a great deal of choice and flexibility, students are only guaranteed access to modules that are compulsory for their degree programme.   

• Senate Regulations

  The University Senate oversees the awarding of degrees to students upon successful completion of a programme of study and the regulations that govern the requirements for success are laid out in the Undergraduate Senate Regulations and Postgraduate Senate Regulations. You can also access these regulations as printed copies in the University Library.  

  Your Advisers of Studies and the University’s advising system will guide you in relation to the requirements for successful completion of your programme.  

  The Senate Regulations are published annually in advance of the beginning of the academic year, though changes to the Regulations during an academic year may be necessary from time to time.  

• Curriculum revision

  The main aims of the curriculum at the University of St Andrews are to foster flexible, independent thinkers who have both subject-related and generic skills in readiness for work or further study. The curriculum portfolio is developed on the basis that teaching is research-led, guided by cutting-edge researchers and delivered by outstanding teachers from around the world. Embedded in the curriculum as appropriate to the subject area, are principles of research methodology, ethics and responsibility as well as insight into global and cultural issues. The University teaches skills and flexible thinking, and also a belief in the ability to use these beyond graduation.  

  The University provides a breadth and opportunity of choice, with a large range of subjects that can lead to joint degrees – you will be encouraged to try new disciplines while following your own established academic interests. The University will ensure that relevant information and advice is available when students are making such choices: to complement the key information contained in the programme requirements, each student has a dedicated Adviser of Studies who is available for consultation in a process overseen by 
  Associate Deans (Students)/ Associate Provost Students, who can also provide expert guidance to students.  

  In order to achieve this, and to ensure that its teaching incorporates the research interests of its staff, the University reviews its curriculum portfolio on a regular basis. Changes are made with due consideration to minimising impact, safeguarding academic standards and assuring the quality of the learning experience. 

  Changes may include any of the following:  

  • Changes to the timetable, location, number of classes and method of delivery of modules and programmes of study where specific circumstances require this. Significant changes will only be proposed in exceptional circumstances.  
  • Reasonable variations to the content and syllabus of modules and programmes of study (including in relation to placements or study abroad) to ensure that teaching is research-led, current and relevant.  
  • Suspension, discontinuation or combining of modules or programmes of study (for example, because a key member of staff is unwell or leaves the University, because too few students are admitted to them to provide the required learning experience, or due to a Force Majeure event).  
  • Changes to ordinances, regulations, policies and procedures which the University reasonably considers necessary (for example, in the light of changes in the law, as a result of governmental order, or the requirements of the University's regulators, or for the benefit of its students and staff, or due to a Force Majeure event).   

  As part of any such changes the University will:  

  • Endeavour to minimise impact for current students and applicants by communicating at the earliest opportunity, offering reasonable alternative options or cancellation with no detriment and timing the changes sensitively.
  • Normally introduce major changes in such a way that these come into force at the beginning of the following academic year (if fundamental to the programme, major changes will normally come into force with effect from the next cohort of students). In exceptional circumstances, changes may be required during an academic year, but will be managed to minimise disruption to students where possible.  
  • Always seek to avoid academic or financial detriment to current students when applying changes to policies, regulations and procedures.  
  • Be cognisant of students on leave of absence and ensure that any changes to the curriculum are communicated clearly and suitable pathway options are available on return to study.  Ensure that the portfolio of modules available for students to choose from delivers the published learning aims and outcomes of the programme for which students are enrolled.  

• Fee Setting

  The University reviews its fees and charges annually and communicates this information to all applicants and students (see approach to fee setting in the University’s Fee Setting Protocol). This leads to the publication of a list of approved fees for all cohorts in early September for the following academic year.