Academic entry requirements for International Year Zero programmes - January 2025 entry

This page includes a list of approved qualifications and required grades for students applying for an International Year Zero - Intensive Study programme starting in January 2025.

The University makes offers on a holistic basis looking at your whole application and not only your academic results. Where your grades are slightly below our requirement, please address this in your personal statement.

We may require higher grades when competition for places is particularly strong and we typically require higher grades in subjects that are relevant to your intended degree. For example, you should be able to demonstrate your ability in Mathematics if you intend to study Economics.

The grades shown in the table below are a guide only.

Country	Academic qualification	Typical required grades
Afghanistan	Graduation certificate / Baccalauria	80% overall and 80% in relevant subjects
Algeria	Baccalauréat de l'Enseignement Secondaire	15 overall, 16 in relevant subjects
Angola	Habilitação Literárias	16 overall, 17 in relevant subjects
Argentina	Titulo de Bachiller	8.0/10 overall and 8.0 in relevant subjects
Azerbaijan	Attestat	5.0 in relevant subjects and 4.5/5 overall
Bahrain	GED/Thanawiya	85% overall, 90% in relevant subjects
Bangladesh	High School Certificate or Alim (SSC or Dakhil not accepted)	4.0 overall and in relevant subjects
Belarus	Attestat	8.0/10
Bolivia	Diploma de Bachiller en Humanidades	85/100 overall and 85 in relevant subjects
Botswana	BGCSE	Min 8 subjects, A in 4 relevant subjects
Brazil	Ensino Medio	7.5/10
Chile	Enseñanza Media/Licencia de Educación	6.0 overall and 6.0 in relevant subjects
China	High School	Min. 2 years: 85% overall, 85% in relevant subjects
Colombia	Bachillerato	4.0/5.0 or 85% overall and in relevant subjects
Costa Rica	Titulo de Bachiller	85% overall and 85% in relevant subjects
Cyprus	Apolytírio Lykeíou	17 overall, 18 in relevant subjects
Ecuador	Titulo de Bachiller Académico	8.5/10 or 17/20 overall and in relevant subjects
Egypt	GED/ Thanawiya	85% overall, 95% in relevant subjects
Georgia	Atestati	5.5/7 or 3.0/4 or 7.5/10
Ghana	WASSCE	B3 overall, B3 in relevant subjects
Greece	Apolytírio Genikoú Lykeíou	17 overall, 17 in relevant subjects
Hong Kong	High school Form 5 ONLY	65% overall and in relevant subjects
India	Qualifications certified by the Education Boards in India are recognised for our undergraduate programmes and are therefore not eligible for foundation, irrespective of grades achieved.	Apply directly to our undergraduate programmes.
Indonesia	STTB SMA	7 or 70% overall, and in relevant subjects
Iran	High School Diploma	Apply to our undergraduate programmes
Iraq	Secondary School Certificate	85% overall, 85% in relevant subjects
Japan	Year 2 or Year 3 of Senior High School	4.0/5 or 7.0/10 (Year 2 considered case by-case)
Jordan	GED/GSE Tawjihi	4.0/5 or 80%
Kazakhstan	Attestat	4.5/5.0 overall and in relevant subjects
Korea	Year 2 or Year 3 of Senior High School	3.5 or B+ or 70% (Year 2 considered case by-case)
Kuwait	GED/Thanawiya	85% overall and in relevant subjects
Lebanon	Baccalaureate	15 overall and in relevant subjects
Malaysia	SPM UEC	A in 5 subjects, A+ in relevant subjects A2 overall, A2 in relevant subjects
Mexico	Bachillerato	4.0/5 or 7 or 70% in relevant subjects
Morocco	Baccalauréat	15/20 overall and 15.0 in relevant subjects
Myanmar	HS Education Certificate	85% overall and in relevant subjects
Nigeria	WASSCE	B3 overall and in relevant subjects
Oman	GED/Thanawiya	85% overall, 85% in relevant subjects
Pakistan	High School Certificate	70% overall, 75% in relevant subjects
Peru	Certificate of Secondary Education	16 overall and 17 in relevant subjects
Philippines	High School Diploma	From Form 6 (Grade 12), 3.2/4 or 80% overall and 3.2 or 80% in relevant subjects
Qatar	GED/Thanawiya	85% overall, 85% in relevant subjects
Russia	Attestat	4.5/5.0 overall and in relevant subjects
Saudi Arabia	GED/Thanawiya	85% overall, 85% in relevant subjects
Taiwan	Senior High School Certificate (SHS3) SH2	75% overall, 75% in sciences 75% overall, 75% in sciences
Tajikistan	Certificate of Completed Education	4.5 overall and 4.5 in relevant subjects
Thailand	Matthayom 6 only	3.0 overall with 3.0 in relevant subjects
Tunisia	Examen National du Baccalauréat	14 overall, 15 in relevant subjects (bien)
Turkey	Diplomasi	70% overall, 75% in relevant subjects
United Arab Emirates	GED/Thanawiya	85% overall, 90% in relevant subjects
Ukraine	Certificate of Completed Education	8 overall and 9 in relevant subjects
Uruguay	Titulo de Bachillerato	9 overall and 9 in relevant subjects
Uzbekistan	O'rta Ma'lumot To'g'risida Shahodatnoma	4.5 overall and in relevant subjects
Venezuela	Titulo de Bachiller	16 overall and 17 in relevant subjects
Vietnam	Graduation Diploma	7.5/8 overall and in relevant subjects
Zambia	Zambia GCE	2 overall and in relevant subjects

EU, UK or USA qualifications

If you have a school qualification that is recognised for undergraduate entry and your country is not listed in the table above, we are unlikely to consider you for an International Year Zero - Intensive Study programme at St Andrews. For example, irrespective of the grades you have achieved, you will not be eligible for an International Year Zero - Intensive Study programme if you have taken any of the following qualifications:

Three A Levels
HKDSE
French Baccalaureate
The full IB Diploma.

If you have been educated in a high school system based on the American curriculum, see USA academic requirements.

You will need to contact us to see if you are eligible for an International Year Zero - Intensive Study programme, if you:

do not have the required combination of a US High School Diploma with ACT/SAT/APs required for undergraduate study.
have studied a mixed curriculum, such as your national qualification plus A Levels or APs.

If you have IGCSEs, you are eligible for an International Year Zero - Intensive Study programme. We typically require six IGCSEs, with A grades in relevant subjects.