Social Sciences and Humanities (International Foundation) September 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

Nine months, full time

Course dates

Start date: 7 September 2020
End date: 28 May 2021

The schedule for this programme differs slightly from the standard University semester dates. All weeks from the programme start date to end date are teaching or assessment weeks, other than the following:

• independent learning week: 19 to 23 October 2020
• winter vacation and inter-semester weeks: 21 December 2020 to 15 January 2021
• spring vacation: 22 March to 2 April 2021.

Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the archive.

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?

No, but candidates should have strong grades in any subjects relevant to their intended degree subject.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

Typical IFP academic requirements - 2020-2021 entry (PDF) 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 requirements with a high school transcript. Any high school qualification you use as evidence of your academic ability should be from the last year you attended high school and dated within the previous three 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 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 Social Sciences and Humanities 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 Wednesday 15 July 2020. You only need to 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 from Monday to Friday between 9am and 6pm. You will spend approximately 16 hours per week on focused learning activities. During this time, you will experience a mixture of recorded lectures, live online or face to face seminars or tutorials 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 approximately 20 to 25 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 with the University's online learning tools (Moodle and Microsoft Teams).

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

• read and take notes from online textbooks, articles, and other online sources as required
• undertake additional research and self-study through 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. These may include: 

• 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 receive feedback on practice tasks and tests to help you 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. 

2020-entry fees: £29,200

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 an International Foundation programme to a degree at the University of 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.