Management, Economics and Finance (International Foundation) September 2019 entry

Course type

International Foundation programme

This is the University's own pre-degree programme which prepares international students for undergraduate study in the UK, and at the University of St Andrews in particular.

Course duration

Nine months full time

Course dates

Start date: 9 September 2019
End date: 29 May 2020

This course is for:

International students (not from the UK or EU) who are academically able but whose high school qualifications are not recognised for application to an undergraduate degree at St Andrews. Applicants should be due to leave school soon or should have left school within the past 18 months and have not yet studied at college or university.

Do I need to have studied this subject before?

No, but candidates aiming at a degree in Economics should have grades in Mathematics or related subjects that demonstrate a secure grasp of numeracy.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements
Typical academic requirements (PDF) are listed alphabetically by country. If your qualification is not shown here, please email ifp@st-andrews.ac.uk for details about the grades needed from your high school system.

You can demonstrate that you have met the academic requirements with a high school transcript from your final year at school. Any high school qualification you use as evidence of your academic ability should be dated within the previous two years.

You should apply before your final results are available, as the University can make you a conditional offer based on your past exam performance and predicted grades.

English language requirement
An IELTS (Academic) test report form with a minimum of 5.5 overall and no component score below 5.0.

If you require a visa, your IELTS test must be for UKVI purposes. See an overview of the English language requirements for foundation applicants.

You do not need to have your result when you apply, as this can be a condition of any offer made by the University.

Application requirements
The University requires you to provide the following documents as part of your application:

• your most recent high school transcript
• a personal statement outlining why you wish to study Management, Economics and Finance at St Andrews and reflecting on your life and learning experiences to explain why you feel you would be successful on this programme
• an academic reference from your high school on their letterhead, or from a school email
• your IELTS (Academic) test report form.

Application deadline

The deadline for applications is Sunday 30 June 2019. You must provide your high school transcript and personal statement when you first apply so that the University can consider your application. Your academic reference and your English language evidence can be provided later.

Teaching format

Classes take place Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm. You will spend approximately 18 to 20 hours per week in class. During this time, you will experience a mixture of lectures, seminars, tutorials, and classes, with your maximum class size likely to be between 14 and 16 students.

As well as your timetabled classes, you will be expected to complete a further 20 hours of independent study each week. As a fully matriculated student, you have access to the University’s libraries and study areas, but you will also work within the University's online learning environment (known as Moodle).

Students are expected to do the following to prepare for classes and consolidate their learning:

• read and take notes from textbooks, articles, and online sources as required
• undertake additional research and self-study in the University library and online
• complete a range of homework tasks, individually and in groups
• engage with feedback on both formative and summative assessments.

The University’s student services team can help students who have additional needs resulting from disabilities, long-term medical conditions or learning disabilities. More information can be found on the students with disabilities web page.

Assessment

The programme includes a variety of types of assessment to give you experience of different ways of being examined, such as:

• essays
• multiple choice tests
• interviews
• presentations
• formal examinations.

You will have regular coursework assignments throughout both semesters, and some of these will contribute towards your final grade. You will also have two sets of examinations, one set at the end of each semester. You will be given feedback on practice tasks and tests to help to prepare for the assessments. 

Combined fee

The International Foundation programme offers an all-inclusive fee package which covers all the major costs of the foundation year so that there are no hidden extra costs. 

2019-entry fees: £27,300 

The all-inclusive fee package includes:

• tuition
• accommodation, including a bedding pack
• a catered meal plan with 14 meals per week
• access to all University facilities
• a transfer from Edinburgh or Glasgow airport, or Leuchars train station, when you first arrive
• the use of course books, handouts and other course materials
• 24-hour emergency phone number
• programme-led and seasonal social events.

Scholarships

Kinnessburn Scholarship
For students moving from a foundation programme to a degree at St Andrews.

Students who successfully complete the International Foundation programme with a distinction grade and move onto a degree at the University of St Andrews are eligible to apply for the Kinnessburn Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to one student annually in June and provides a partial fee waiver for each year of study on an undergraduate programme at the University.