St Andrews – William & Mary joint degree
The University of St Andrews has partnered with William & Mary in Virginia, USA, to offer a truly global undergraduate degree. The Bachelor of Arts (International Honours) degree combines the best of both historic universities to create this exciting international programme.
The joint degree allows you to spend two years at each institution for a total of four years, after which you will be awarded the BA (International Honours) degree by both universities.
For more information, join us for our upcoming virtual events on the BA International Honours programme.
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You will study for two years at each of the participating institutions, applying to the university where you intend to spend your first year. The first year of the programme will be at one institution and the second year at the other. Thereafter you can choose how to allocate your third and fourth years of study. You will be able to graduate from either university.
From the outset, you will choose to specialise in one of the six subject areas offered by the BA (International Honours):
The BA (International Honours) is a broadly based degree, and other combinations – such as joint Honours degrees – are not available with this programme. However, during the programme you will have opportunities to study a range of other subjects offered by both institutions.
Once you have enrolled on the joint degree through St Andrews, it is not usually possible to transfer to a regular degree programme at the University, though exceptional cases may be considered.
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If you apply for the BA (International Honours) you will apply to study one of six subjects:
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Admission to the BA (International Honours) is highly competitive.
St Andrews uses a contextual admissions process, including a tiered approach to our entry requirements. UK-based students should use our entry qualification indicator to see whether you will be required to meet our standard or minimum academic entry requirements. Students based outside of the UK will be required to meet the standard academic entry requirements.
Standard
AAAAB at SQA Higher
AAA at A-Levels
38 (HL 6,6,6) IB pointsMinimum
AABB at SQA Higher
ABB at A-Levels
36 (HL 6,5,5) IB pointsFind our more our tiered academic entry requirements.
We accept a wide range of qualifications from around the world. To find out what you will need to achieve, please look at our entry requirements by country.
BA International Honours History students must successfully complete at least four modules in a single language during the first two years of their degree. This language cannot be the student’s native language. Two language modules must be completed in year 1 of the programme, and two language modules must be completed in year 2 at the partner institution. Language courses taken prior to matriculation into the Joint Degree Programme will not count toward this requirement. Modules must build on each other and, if students are continuing with a language studied in high school, they must begin at/above the level completed prior to matriculation into the Joint Degree Programme. Students can choose between modules in Arabic, French, German, Latin, Italian, Russian and Spanish. Please be aware that French is not taught at beginners level.
Applicants will be asked to attend an interview as part of the admission process. Interviews will be conducted virtually and arranged at a time to suit the candidate.
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The tuition fee for all students on the BA (International Honours) is the same regardless of domicile, and will always be the pound sterling equivalent of the US dollar amount per year, as converted on 1 June preceding the start of each academic year.
If you commence your studies at the University of St Andrews, you will pay your tuition each year to the University regardless of which institution you are studying at for that year. You should think about the payment options and arrangements available to you before taking up your study.
It is important to remember that the tuition fee covers tuition only, and does not cover accommodation, travel, books and printing, fines and other penalty fees, use of the sports centre, personal expenses, special instructional fees (for example, evening language courses) and the General Council and Graduation or Completion fee.
Cost of attendance
The US dollar tuition fee amount for 2020-2021 is £32,020 ($40,990).
The tuition fee figure in GBP is calculated on an annual basis on 1 June preceding the start of each academic year.
The cost of attendance in 2020-2021 can be found in the table below. Please be aware that most of these figures are estimates, and the precise cost of your living expenses will depend on many factors.Element GBP sterling (2020-2021) US dollars (2020-2021) Tuition fees 32,020 40,990 Catered residence fees 9,084 12,263 Travel (based on two trips per year) 2,000 2,700 Personal living expenses (based on 37 weeks) 1,200 1,620 General Council and Graduation or Completion fee 50 68 Total 44,354 57,641 (1 GBP = 1.28 US Dollars)
Fees for 2021 entry will be confirmed in early 2021. They are not expected to increase beyond
3% of the 2020 entry fee ($40,990). Funding
Applications are invited to the BA International Honours Scholarship when available, other needs-based funding options can be found on our scholarships pages.
Students from the US are not eligible for federal funding but can apply for a private loan through Sallie Mae. Please note that the BA International Honours programme is not eligible for Veteran Affairs funding through the GI Bill.
The BA International Honours is a unique programme and students are not eligible for tuition fee funding or loans or maintenance loans from either the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) or the Student Loans Company (SLC).
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Applications for the BA (International Honours) are not sent through UCAS. The application cycle runs from September to the end of June in the year of entry, and prospective students should apply to the institution where they intend to begin their studies.
You can apply for the programme to one institution only, and each institution will honour the admissions decisions of the other. You must specify which subject area you wish to apply for on your application form.
If you wish to begin your studies at the University of St Andrews, you can apply through the St Andrews direct application form or the Common Application form.
If you wish to begin your study at the College of William & Mary, you should apply through the William & Mary Common Application form.
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Lincoln (New Hampshire, USA)
"I’ve found that the programme’s greatest challenge is also its greatest opportunity: changing places. As students of a joint degree, we have the difficult task of locating ourselves in two distinctly different environments and ways of life. We must learn to become comfortable with foreign experiences and to grow from them. But by the end of these four years, with considerable effort and help along the way, we leave knowing how to assess new scenarios and adjust accordingly—knowledge that will surely serve us well, wherever we go next."
Mariana (Belo Horizonte, Brazil)
"The most important thing about the program is going into it open-mined. At first, it can be hard to transition back and forth between schools, leave your friends, your favorite professors, the cozy spots on campus and the life you have created there. But if you embrace all of the opportunities and new horizons that studying at both schools opens up, you will find that this unique experience will shape you in ways that are otherwise unimaginable. Just let yourself adapt, learn, and enjoy!"
Layal (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia)
"I spent the summer of 2018 before my arrival in St Andrews reminiscing on fleeting memories from my year spent at William and Mary and experiencing waves of excitement, longing, and fear. Looking back now, having spent an exhilarating semester in St Andrews, I would welcome those moments of nervousness and fear all over again. The duality of this program is truly remarkable in that it pushes you to leave behind the comfort of a familiar academic system and group of friends only to encourage you to adapt to a new academic environment and to forge new, genuine friendships."