FE-HE Pathway to Science 2022 entry

The FE-HE Pathway to Science provides a supported entry into degree-level study at St Andrews for students studying alternative qualifications at further education colleges across Scotland.

Our flexible degree structure allows students to benefit from a supported transition to university for their first two years of study before progressing into year three of a degree programme offered in the Faculty of Science.

This programme is only open to those who meet at least one of the specific entry criteria below, as well as the academic entry requirements.

How to apply Register your interest

UCAS code

CFG1

Course type

An integrated pathway into year three of a full degree programme

Course duration

Two years full time

Start date: 5 September 2022

After successfully completing year two, students will progress directly into year three of one of our named degree programmes within the Faculty of Science.

Do I need to have studied this subject before?

Some subjects may require specific subject knowledge.

How to apply

Eligibility

Typically, candidates for FE-HE Pathways are those who have not progressed to higher education directly from school and meet some, if not all, of the following contextual criteria:

live in Scotland in an area of deprivation as defined by the Scottish Government as SIMD20
have attended a low progression school
are care experienced as defined by the local authority
were a registered young carer
are currently studying at a further education college
have family or caring commitments which limit their higher education choices.

Students from outside of Scotland should apply directly to the course of their choice.

Typical entry requirements

Typical academic entry requirements could be one of the following:

SWAP Access to Sciences: AAA Profile
HNC Applied Science: B in graded units
SQA Highers: BBBB in relevant subjects

Direct entry into second year

HNC Applied Science: Completion of HNC with 15 Credits and A in the Graded Unit.

Offers will be determined on individual applications and the course being studied. Offers will take into consideration contextual admissions information as well as academic performance.

Applicants under serious consideration for this route will be required to attend an informal meeting with a member of the Admissions team and a member of academic staff to discuss their application and particular circumstances in more detail.

Reputation

The University of St Andrews as a whole was voted top in the UK for student academic experience in The National Student Survey 2021. More than 93% of St Andrews final-year students gave the University top marks for the quality of the learning and teaching experience.

Video transcript

- If you're thinking of applying to St Andrews, you definitely should.

It's so rewarding. There are so many things you can do here.

Although it's a small town, the opportunities are completely endless.

>>FIONA: St Andrew's location is stunning. A small seaside town on the east coast of Scotland.

>>PROFESSOR JUDITH WOLFE: Close enough to places like Edinburgh, and frankly to all of Europe. We are connected while also being our own place.

>>HENRY: For me, the best thing about St Andrews is the fact that it's such a small town, but yet it's got so many different opportunities within it.

>>THOMAS: Whether it's the societies or the sports clubs that you can get involved with. It's so much more than just academia.

>>DR JAMES RAE: St Andrews is a fantastic place to study because you get a university that has a strong research focus, but it's also a university that really values its teaching. We do that through having small class sizes, and through, I think, a really, a kind of strong community feel.

>>AABIYAH: The lecturers are really, really helpful. There's not this kind of hierarchy or anything. Everyone's really, really friendly and everyone's really trying to help out.

>>PROFESSOR KISHAN DHOLAKIA: Why does a person go to University? They want to expand their mind. They want to push the boundaries of what they know from a personal level and an academic level. It's not just education, it's research. Because they want to go to a place that is pushing the frontiers of human knowledge.

>>DR DHARINI BALASUBRAMANIAM: We look for people who are willing to question what they are taught and willing to explore their subject in depth.

- We want people who are curious, who are motivated, who want to understand the world around them, and then apply that to make ideally the world a better place.

>>PROFESSOR CLARE PEDDIE: The University degree at St Andrews reflects the Scottish degree system. Students coming into first and second year can take subjects outside their intended degree specialisation and then specialise in their degree subjects in third, and fourth, and possibly fifth year.

- It just offers an opportunity to explore new subjects and it's kind of changed my way of thinking.

>>MARKUS: It really helped me to just explore different things and try out everything.

- St Andrews has a really big feel.

-You really get to know everyone. You see a lot of people that you know and you recognise.

>>RACHEL: Hall life plays such a big part in St Andrews. Living in halls has such a wonderful atmosphere.

>>SHUTONG: It is a really tight community.

- You get a lot of different students, you get to meet a lot of different people which you normally wouldn't meet.

- We come from very different educational backgrounds, so, therefore, we're all gonna have a different point of view. So, you know, you're not gonna have people that agree with you all the time or they're gonna pick up on things that you don't necessarily pick up on.

>>DR STEPHEN TYRE: With a St Andrews degree you can almost do anything because the skills that you learn here are attractive to employers.

>>PROFESSOR FRANK LORENZ MULLER: Our students go into all kinds of professional careers, whether that's the law, whether that's financial services, whether that's civil service or government. Many of them also go into further study.

- Our students tend to be in great demand from employers. We have companies that see character in graduates.

- The skills that students get here allow our students to be successful at getting jobs, and they seem to be equipped very well for a wide range of jobs.

- If you're thinking of applying, do it. Absolutely do it. It's been one of the best decisions that I've made.

>>SARA: St Andrews really isn't a place to be afraid of, but going to college is scary, because you don't know what you're gonna have when you get there, but it's really great here because it's so easy to feel like you have everything.

Course information

The FE-HE Pathway to Science BSc (General) is a supported entry pathway coordinated by the Admissions department. This is an initial two-year programme with possible progression to an Honours programme.

Students enter the programme with a specific Honours degree route in mind and during the first two years of study the will take all modules required for their intended Honours. Students will have a designated Adviser of Studies who will provide support and guidance for academic matters over the first two years of study, as well as a single point of contact within Admissions for signposting and guidance on where and when to seek help should issues arise.

At the end of the second year, if students have met all academic requirements for their chosen Honours route, they will progress to junior Honours (typically the third year of a four-year Honours course). Students who have not met the requirements will progress as per current Senate Regulations for progression

Modules

In the first two years of the programme, students will undertake the standard compulsory sub-honours modules for the degree they intend to complete, as well as additional subjects from the full range of modules offered by the University.

See module information, teaching format and assessment for different Honours degrees on the course pages.

For students successfully progressing to the Honours programme of their choice, the full range of third and fourth-year modules are available to them. Fifth-year modules will be available for those progressing to an Integrated Masters programme.

For students progressing to a General degree route, the modules will be chosen from the third and fourth-year modules for which they meet the prerequisites.

Meet us online

If you're interested in studying at St Andrews, join us on a visiting day or online information session to find out about our courses, how to apply, and to meet current students.

Virtual visiting days

Fees

Tuition fees for 2022 entry

Tuition fees for 2022 have not yet been set. For fees for the current year of entry, see the undergraduate fees and funding page.

Accommodation fees

Find out about accommodation fees for University accommodation.

Funding and scholarships

The University of St Andrews offers a number of scholarships and support packages to undergraduate students each year.

Student life

The University of St Andrews offers an array of events and opportunities which result in a truly unique student experience. Students participate in a range of traditions, notably, the red academic gown and the academic family, where older students adopt first-year students as ‘children’ and help guide them in a system of mentoring. These traditions, and the choice of over 150 sports clubs and student societies to choose from, ensure a community feel amongst students from first year onwards.

The town of St Andrews itself has lots to offer. As University buildings are located throughout the town, walking around you encounter ancient and modern buildings, parks and beaches, providing a rich, beautiful backdrop to learning. Find out more about the town of St Andrews.

Find out more about student life at the University of St Andrews.

Contact

Admissions
University of St Andrews
St Katharine's West
The Scores
St Andrews
KY16 9AX

Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 2346
Email: lifelonglearning@st-andrews.ac.uk

Policies

Admission to the University of St Andrews is governed by our admissions policy.

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

Curriculum development

As a research intensive institution, the University ensures that its teaching references the research interests of its staff, which may change from time to time. As a result, programmes are regularly reviewed with the aim of enhancing students' learning experience. Our approach to course revision is described online.

Tuition fees

The University will clarify compulsory fees and charges it requires any student to pay at the time of offer. The offer will also clarify conditions for any variation of fees. The University’s approach to fee setting is described online.