After successfully completing your first year, you will be able to progress from the Gateway programme to the second year of one of the degree programmes in physics and related subjects. This programme is designed to be part of a four-year BSc or five-year MPhys programme; the Gateway year is an integrated part of this and not a separate one-year programme.
Eligibility
Typically, candidates for Gateway to Physics and Astronomy live in Scotland and meet one or more of the following contextual criteria:
- live in an area of deprivation as defined by the Scottish Government as SIMD20
- attend a low progression school
- are care experienced as defined by the local authority
- are a registered young carer.
Students who are not applying directly from school should contact gatewayto@st-andrews.ac.uk to discuss the available options.
Find out more about Standard, Minimum and Gateway entry requirements using academic entry explained and see which entry requirements you need to look at using the entry requirements indicator.
Entry requirements
Typical academic entry requirements are the following:
- SQA Highers: ABBB, including A in Mathematics and B in Physics (or vice versa)
Minimum grades can be achieved over more than one sitting.
Do I need to have studied this subject before?
You must have studied both Physics and Mathematics at SQA Higher.
Potential applicants should first email the Admissions team at gatewayto@st-andrews.ac.uk who will confirm if you are eligible for the Gateway to Physics and Astronomy programme.
You should then apply through UCAS.
Course details
The Gateway to Physics and Astronomy is the first year of a four or five-year course run by the School of Physics and Astronomy. After the Gateway entry year, students will have the opportunity to progress into the second year of one of:
- BSc or MPhys Physics
- BSc or MPhys Astrophysics
- BSc Mathematics and Physics
- MPhys Mathematics and Theoretical Physics.
The Gateway programme provides a highly supported and interactive first year. About half of your modules are from existing St Andrews physics and mathematics modules where you will be taught alongside other first-year students. Your other modules are usually specially designed modules for the Gateway cohort.
The Gateway-only modules introduce and reinforce relevant physics, mathematics and study skills. Students in the Gateway-only modules will benefit from a highly supportive learning environment and small class sizes (typically no more than 15 students). These modules have been designed to encourage group work and will provide a forum for student-led exploration of a variety of physics topics.
Modules
To pass the first year of the Gateway to Physics and Astronomy programme, you must take the following compulsory modules.
- Mathematics for Physicists 1A: provides a secure base in elementary calculus and other mathematical tools to enable Gateway students to access the mathematics modules needed for progression into physics and astronomy degrees.
- Physics Skills 1A: develops academic and transferable skills in problem-solving, team-working, information retrieval and analysis, and study skills, while strengthening physics knowledge and understanding.
- Physics Skills 1B: develops academic and transferable skills in problem-solving and communicating in physics, and introduces core aspects of astrophysics.
- Physics 1A: covers the core subjects of mechanics, waves and optics, and the physical properties of matter, including laboratory skills.
- Physics 1B: covers an introduction to quantum physics, the mechanics of rotation and gravity, and lasers, including laboratory skills.
- Mathematics: introduces the ideas and techniques required for further study of mathematics or applications to other sciences.
Teaching
Physics and astronomy modules are taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, workshops and laboratory work.
Physics 1A and Physics 1B typically consist of four or five lectures per week (around 120 to 150 students), along with one problem-solving workshop, one small group tutorial (around 8 students), and 2.5 hours in the teaching laboratory. Laboratory work is usually undertaken in pairs in first year.
The Gateway-specific modules typically have no more than 15 students working with an instructor. These sessions take a variety of forms, most of which are highly interactive workshops and laboratory sessions. There is a mix of direct instruction, individual and group-based problem solving with feedback, development of experimental investigation and reporting skills, and private study with tutor support.
When not attending lectures, tutorials and labs, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve:
- working on individual and group projects
- undertaking research in the library
- preparing for laboratory work
- preparing coursework assignments and presentations
- preparing for examinations.
You will be taught by an experienced teaching team with expertise and knowledge of physics and astronomy, and will have significant interaction with staff within the School. Postgraduate research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of laboratory classes and tutorials under the supervision of the module leader.
Academic staff from the School who are teaching on the Gateway programme provide support and advise on a wide range of matters. Students on this Gateway programme benefit from significantly more contact hours per week than most other students in the School.
You can find contact information for staff on the School of Physics and Astronomy website.
Most modules are assessed by a mix of coursework and written examinations. Most modules give a higher weighting to written examinations, but some are assessed solely through coursework.
Coursework includes:
- laboratory work
- classroom tests
- presentations
- reviews of research papers
- tutorial participation.
Most examinations are held at the end of the semester during a dedicated exam diet, and revision time is provided beforehand.
The School aims to provide feedback on assessments and coursework within a time specified for the assignment – in some cases two days, in some cases two weeks. Feedback is given with a view to improving your performance in the future.
Undergraduates at the University of St Andrews must achieve at least 7.0 on the St Andrews 20-point grade scale to pass a module. To gain access to Honours-level modules, students must achieve the relevant requisites as specified in the policy on entry to Honours and in the relevant programme requirements.
For further information on the University's grading procedure, see the common reporting scale.
In addition to your studies, optional academic support is available through practical study skills courses and workshops hosted within the University.
The University’s Student Services team can help students with additional needs resulting from disabilities, long-term medical conditions or learning disabilities. More information can be found on the students with disabilities web page.
Fees
Tuition fees for 2024 entry
Tuition fees for 2024 have not yet been set. For fees for the current year of entry, see the undergraduate fees and funding page.
More information on tuition fees can be found on the undergraduate fees and funding page.
Accommodation fees
Find out about accommodation fees for University accommodation.
Funding and scholarships
The University of St Andrews offers a number of scholarships and support packages to undergraduate students each year, including a number of scholarships reserved for students entering this Gateway programme.
Careers
At the end of the degree, graduates should be equipped with the following skills that are valued in a wide range of occupations:
- the ability to determine what information is needed to solve a problem, and a knowledge of where to find or generate such information
- applicable mathematical and computational techniques and where to use them
- knowledge and understanding of fundamental physical laws and principles
- the ability to analyse data and evaluate the level of uncertainty in results
- skills to identify relevant principles and laws of physics when dealing with problems
- communication skills, including the ability to present complex information clearly and concisely.
Graduates from the School of Physics and Astronomy have found employment in fields including:
- banking and commerce
- biophysics
- computing
- geophysics
- meteorology
- research and development in industry and in government agencies
- software development.
The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.
What to do next
Online information events
Join us for one of our information events where you can find out about different levels of study and specific courses we run. There are also sessions available for parents and college counsellors.
Undergraduate visiting days
We encourage all students who are thinking of applying to the University to attend one of our online or in-person visiting days.
Contact us
- Phone
- Physics and Astronomy - +44 (0)1334 46 3111 Admissions - +44 (0)1334 46 2346
- Physics - physugadmiss@st-andrews.ac.uk Admissions - gatewayto@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Address
- School of Physics and Astronomy
University of St Andrews
North Haugh
St Andrews, Fife
KY16 9SS