Summer Academic Experience Courses
Course dates
Friday 5 July 2019 to Saturday 27 July 2019
Ages 15 to 18 (Students must be 16 years old by 31 December 2019.)
Applications for all SAEC 2019 courses are now closed
Applications will open again in early autumn. Please submit your details below if you would like to register your interest for summer 2020.
The Summer Academic Experience Courses offers pupils from around the world the unique opportunity to experience courses taught in the Scottish academic tradition by current academic staff. Students will get to study an academic subject of their choice, whilst also developing their academic research and writing skills. Students on these courses must have a good level of English.
Students will receive a student ID card and will have free access to our world-class facilities, including the library and newly redeveloped sports centre.
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All of the courses on offer feature teaching from current academic staff (faculty) from the University and offer students the opportunity to experience academic life in one of the UK’s oldest and highest-ranking institutions.
Academic courses:
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The University of St Andrews was founded in 1413 and has established a reputation as one of the world’s leading research and teaching centres: an environment which nurtures inquisitive minds and a culture of shared learning. Our consistently high rankings in both global and national league tables place us within the top 100 of world universities and the top three in the UK.
The town of St Andrews provides a unique and picturesque location for our very special university. Situated on the east coast of Scotland, it is about an hour north of Edinburgh.
Wherever you walk, you are reminded of St Andrews' rich and colourful history, with buildings both ancient and modern. The town’s population is approximately 20,000 people, including a diverse mix of locals, students, University staff and tourists. The town also boasts beautiful sandy beaches for a contemplative stroll or beach sports, as well as a vibrant centre home to cafés and independent boutique shops.
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St Andrews is approximately one hour from the capital city, Edinburgh. It is easy to access by both road and rail, with the nearest train station – Leuchars – approximately 10 minutes from the town. There are regular direct buses and trains from central Edinburgh and Glasgow to St Andrews. Many airlines operate direct flights from international destinations to Edinburgh or Glasgow, or a connection to Edinburgh from another major city such as London or New York.
Students arriving at Edinburgh or Glasgow international airports are met on arrival by our staff and transported to St Andrews – this service is included in the programme fee.Find out more about getting to St Andrews.
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Students are housed in the newly renovated Andrew Melville Hall, named after the 16th-century Scottish scholar, theologian and religious reformer who was a graduate of the University, and who later became its rector and dean of theology. Designed in the New Brutalist style by the renowned architect James Stirling, the hall resembles passing ships, a common theme of the architect's style. Andrew Melville Hall is less than a five minute walk from the Sports Centre and Science buildings, and a 15 minute walk to the centre of town.
Students will have their own room and shared bathrooms. Boys and girls are grouped, usually on separate floors within the building and dedicated staff are on duty day and night to provide pastoral care and emergency first aid response, and to ensure students’ safety and well-being. All meals are provided by the University catering team, with breakfast and dinner in the hall and a packed lunch daily so that students may choose to be flexible at lunchtime. -
Breakfast: 8.15am to 9am
Lectures or tutorials: 9.30am to 12 noon
Lunch: 12.45pm to 1.30pm
Lectures or tutorials: 2pm to 5pm
Dinner: 6.45pm to 7.15pm
Evening activities: from 8pm
Check in and roll call: 10pm
Students in their own rooms: by 11pm
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All courses are complemented by a vast array of extracurricular activities. Students can participate in a number of cultural excursions to places of historic importance or scientific interest, including a full day trip to the city of Edinburgh. Other optional excursions may include, but are not limited to:
- castle visits (Glamis, Stirling, Falkland)
- the Cupar Deer Centre
- various art galleries
- Dundee and the famous RRS Discovery
- Byre Theatre evenings.
There is also an ongoing programme of informal activities provided in the evening and on weekends:
- a talent show
- quiz nights
- movie nights
- slam poetry evening
- readings by famous Scottish poets
- ceilidh (traditional Scottish dancing)
- disco.
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In general, we expect students to behave appropriately and have consideration for others. St Andrews is a small and safe town. Our staff are well trained and will make every effort to ensure students’ well-being; however, students are expected to follow the rules, the directions of staff and take sensible precautions. Students are also obliged to adhere to the University’s code of conduct and the SAEC Mutual Responsibilities Agreement (PDF) which accepted students and their parent or guardian will be asked to sign before attending. Please see the SAEC terms and conditions that relate to the application process.
Any behaviour deemed unacceptable, that puts any person at risk, or any direct violation of explicit rules in the University’s code of conduct or the SAEC MRA will result in a student being sent home and the cost will be borne by the student’s parent or guardian.
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Applications for SAEC 2019 courses are now closed. Register your interest for SAEC courses taking place in the summer of 2020.
The Summer Academic Experience Courses 2019 entry fee is £3,570.
This all-inclusive fee covers:
- tuition and instruction
- reading material
- lab equipment and sports equipment
- accommodation
- breakfast, lunch and dinner daily
- transportation to and from the airport on arrival and departure
- the extracurricular programme including guest presentations
- field trips
- all cultural and social activities organised
- Sports Centre membership.
It does not include airfare or personal expenditure such as snacks and laundry.
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Scholarship applications are now closed.
The University of St Andrews aims to be a beacon for diversity and social responsibility, and to pursue the most effective ways to make a St Andrews education accesible to all who may benefit from it. In support of this strategy, the Summer Academic Experience Courses offered a number of scholarships for 2019 entry.
The Worldwide Scholarship
The University offers one fully funded place on the Summer Academic Experience Courses (SAEC) in 2019. This scholarship covers the entire all-inclusive fee of £3,570 for the duration of the SAEC but does not cover pocket money or the cost of travel. The Worldwide Scholarship is awarded to a deserving student who is academically excellent and who can show financial need for the award.
Eligibility
- Geographical criteria: none.
- Year of course: 2019.
- Academic criteria: excellent academic grades in high school (e.g. strong GCSE grades, A grades, or a minimum 3.6 GPA or equivalent).
- Proof of English language proficiency may be requested where appropriate.
- Other criteria: selection is also on the basis of financial need.
The Europe Scholarships, major and minor
The University offers two part-funded places on the Summer Academic Experience Courses (SAEC) in 2019 for students from high schools in Europe. These two scholarships cover 50% and 25%, respectively, of the all-inclusive fee of £3,570 for the duration of the SAEC but do not cover pocket money or the cost of travel. The Europe Scholarships are awarded to two deserving students who have shown themselves to be of commendable academic merit.
Eligibility
• Geographical criteria: High school in Europe (including Russia)
• Year of course: 2019.
• Academic criteria: commendable academic grades in high school (e.g. strong GCSE grades, A or B grades, or a minimum 3.2 GPA or equivalent).
• Proof of English language proficiency may be requested where appropriate.The Africa and Middle East Scholarships, major and minor
The University offers two part-funded places on the Summer Academic Experience Courses (SAEC) in 2019 for students from high schools in Africa or the Middle East. These two scholarships cover 50% and 25%, respectively, of the all-inclusive fee of £3,570 for the duration of the SAEC but do not cover pocket money or the cost of travel. The Africa and Middle East Scholarships are awarded to two deserving students who have shown themselves to be of commendable academic merit.
Eligibility
• Geographical criteria: High school in Africa or in the Middle East.
• Year of course: 2019.
• Academic criteria: commendable academic grades in high school (e.g. strong GCSE grades, A or B grades, or a minimum 3.2 GPA or equivalent).
• Proof of English language proficiency may be requested where appropriate.The Asia and Australasia Scholarships, major and minor
The University offers four part-funded places on the Summer Academic Experience Courses (SAEC) in 2019 for students from high schools in Asia or Australasia. These four scholarships cover 50% (two scholarships) and 25% (two scholarships), respectively, of the all-inclusive fee of £3,570 for the duration of the SAEC but do not cover pocket money or the cost of travel. The Asia and Australasia Scholarships are awarded to two deserving students who have shown themselves to be of commendable academic merit.
Eligibility
• Geographical criteria: High school in Asia or Australasia (including Turkey, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Georgia).
• Year of course: 2019.
• Academic criteria: commendable academic grades in high school (e.g. strong GCSE grades, A or B grades, or a minimum 3.2 GPA or equivalent).
• Proof of English language proficiency may be requested where appropriate.The Americas Scholarships, major and minor
The University offers two part-funded places on the Summer Academic Experience Courses (SAEC) in 2019 for students from high schools in North, Central or South America (including Hawaii). These two scholarships cover 50% and 25%, respectively, of the all-inclusive fee of £3,570 for the duration of the SAEC but do not cover pocket money or the cost of travel. The Americas Scholarships are awarded to two deserving students who have shown themselves to be of commendable academic merit.
Eligibility
• Geographical criteria: High school in North, Central or South America.
• Year of course: 2019.
• Academic criteria: commendable academic grades in high school (e.g. strong GCSE grades, A or B grades, or a minimum 3.2 GPA or equivalent).
• Proof of English language proficiency may be requested where appropriate. -
The courses are designed for students who have a good level of English. If English is not your first language and you are uncertain as to what this means, please refer to the global CEFR scale – on this scale we would be looking for applicants to be at B2 level. You may also wish to refer to this self-evaluation PDF to help you understand if you are indeed at B2 level.
As your application progresses we will request further documentation and be able to assess your English language proficiency. If suitable evidence of your English language ability is not available or difficult to determine then we may schedule a Skype interview or similar to check that you are of a sufficient level, in order to ensure that you will benefit from participation in the course.