Science (International Foundation) January 2020 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

Seven months full time

Course dates

Start date: 16 January 2020
End date: 14 August 2020

This course is for:

International students who are academically able, but whose high school qualification is not recognised for application to an undergraduate degree at St Andrews. Foundation students typically use English as an additional language. 

Applicants will normally meet the following criteria:

• be designated 'overseas' for fees purposes by the University (not 'Home/EU' or 'Rest of the UK')
• have a national high school qualification or mixed-curricula qualifications not recognised for application to an undergraduate degree at the University of St Andrews. If you have three A Levels, the HKDSE, a full IB Diploma or any qualification type that is recognised for degree entry, you will not be eligible for an International Foundation programme, irrespective of the grades you have achieved.
• be due to leave school soon or have left school within the past three years
• have not previously studied on a foundation programme in the UK
• have not previously studied at university.

Do I need to have studied this subject before?

Applicants must have studied sciences at school and be able to offer strong grades in any subjects that are relevant to their intended degree. For example, Maths if you wish to study Computer Science.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements
You should have good school leaving qualifications from your home country with an A grade average, or more than 85%, or a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (depending on your curriculum). 

Typical IFP academic requirements - 2020-2021 entry (PDF)  for this programme are listed alphabetically by country. If your qualification is not shown here, please email ifp@st-andrews.ac.uk about the grades needed from your high school system.

You can demonstrate that you have met the academic requirement 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 6.0 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 our 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 Science 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 30 November 2019. You must provide your most recent 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.

How to apply

Teaching format

Classes take place from Monday to Friday between 9am and 5.30pm. You will spend approximately 18 to 20 hours per week in class.

Students will experience a mixture of lectures, seminars, tutorials, classes and practicals (including in laboratories), with your maximum class size likely to be between 14 and 16 students.

Students will benefit from different teaching methods:

• lectures and seminars
• small group discussions or tutorials
• independent study activities
• project work and group work
• guided instruction, coaching, or both
• workshops
• presentations
• practice exercises
• reflective practice
• technology enhanced learning.

Assessment

The programme includes a variety of types of assessment to give students experience of different ways of being tested:

• presentations
• podcasts
• videos
• essays
• conducting a seminar
• reports and written examinations.

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. 

2020-entry fees: £26,250 

The all-inclusive fee package includes:

• tuition
• accommodation, including a bedding pack
• a 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
• laboratory coats and dissection kits, if required
• 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 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 St Andrews.