St Andrews, Scotland

University of St Andrews Partnership

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University of St Andrews Partnership

Program Overview

TRADITION RUNS DEEP AT THE UK’S NUMBER ONE UNIVERSITY

With a history that began in 1413, it’s no wonder Scotland’s oldest university is big on traditions, like donning red academic gowns and plunging into the North Sea before exams in May. With 8,000 students, St Andrews is smaller than many UK universities, allowing for both individual attention and academics that rival Oxford and Cambridge, in everything from International Relations to Computer and Environmental Science.

Themes—like Scotland, Sustainability, Travel and Exploration, Science for Arts Majors, Unique to St Andrews and Community—help visiting students find interesting classes. Plus, your Advisor of Studies will explain the academic system and help you choose your modules (classes). The school has its own marine lab (check out Aquatic Ecology, Biology and Marine Science classes) and is home to the Scottish Oceans Institute.

When it’s time for a break, meet friends on Market Street or hang out on one of the town’s three gorgeous beaches. To see more of Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh is one hour by train and Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow, is two hours by train or bus.

You can’t leave Scotland without exploring more of its raw natural beauty. Your IFSA Highland excursion makes it easy, with no extra fees. Explore icons like the Three Sisters peaks, Loch Ness, and Dunnottar Castle, as you share an insider’s view of the historical events that shaped this country’s history and culture. Special activities give you an insider’s view of the city that many tourists miss.

Looking for a scholarship? Special University of St Andrews scholarships are available. See IFSA Scholarships, Grants, and Financial Aid for more information.

Details at a Glance

Application deadline

Fall: April 1

Academic Year: April 1

Spring: Oct. 15

Minimum GPA

3.20

Credit load

12–18

Housing

Apartment/Flat, Residence Hall/Dormitory, Single Room Option

Instruction language

English

Language prerequisites

None

Visa required?

Not in most cases. Learn more.

Apply Now

Academics

CHART Your Course
Find the classes you need fast with CHART. Our easy-to-use tool shows you classes recently taken by IFSA students.

Search for classes on the University of St Andrews online course catalog.

Credit Conversions
At the University of St Andrews, a full course load consists of 60 SCQF units per semester, equivalent to 15 U.S. semester credit hours.

1 SCQF credit = .25 U.S. semester credit hours

The University of St Andrews allows students to enroll in a minimum of 50 SCQF credits, but this is at the discretion of the Associate Deans at St Andrews.

The maximum credit load allowed is 70 SCQF credits = 17.5 U.S. credits, and students must discuss with the St Andrews Associate Deans for approval on a case-by-case basis.

You must comply with your home university requirement if the minimum credit load (50 SCQF credits = 12.5 U.S. credits) falls below your home school minimum requirement and you must obtain an authorization in writing.

Lab & Field Trip Fees
Please review syllabi and course materials when registering for direct-enroll classes. Certain classes may have a one-off lab or field trip fee disclosed in the syllabus or during the first meeting of the class. These fees are not included in your IFSA program fee. You will be responsible for these fees, whether they are billed and paid by IFSA or billed to you.

Classes in the Lifelong Learning or Distance Learning programs are not available to study abroad students.

New country, new way of learning!

Here’s what to expect at the University of St Andrews:

More emphasis on independent learning. The university recommends completing ten hours of independent study for each academic credit you seek.
More advanced instruction and material than you’d find in a class at the same level in the United States. Scottish students specialize earlier and have extensive background in that area before university studies.
Less personal access to professors. Instead, it’s common to connect with more junior faculty members.
Lecture-style classes supplemented with smaller tutorial classes when you can engage with peers and tutors. Assignments are often rewarded for broad reading and ability to analyze and demonstrate understanding of different arguments and perspectives.
Final grades are often based on a final exam or paper, or on a small number of assignments.
Full access to the university’s robust academic support system and resources, including an assigned advisor of studies who will provide academic guidance and advocate on your behalf. IFSA local staff are also available for individual help.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years of age. Students under 18 may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
You must be currently attending or recently graduated from a U.S. or Canadian community college, technical college, two-year college, four-year college, or four-year university.
You must have completed at least one (1) full-time semester of study at your home institution before the beginning of the semester program or one (1) full-time year of study at your home institution before the beginning of the year program.
Eligibility requirements can vary among host institutions. Please ask your IFSA Enrollment Counselor for specific information.

Recommendation Letter
Your application to this program will require one (1) academic letter of recommendation.

TRANSCRIPT
Upon completion of your program, IFSA will send an official Butler University transcript to your home university with your coursework converted to the U.S. semester credit hour system. You will also have access to an unofficial transcript in your IFSA Student Portal. The transcript reflects classes taken, credits attempted, and grades earned during your term abroad. This service is included in your study abroad program at no additional cost. See our Transcripts page for more information.

Excursions

Activities and excursions are designed to pull you into the communities you visit and encourage cultural connections of every kind. There’s no extra fee to participate in these optional outings—everything is included in your program fee.

Below are a selection of activities and excursions from previous terms; options may vary for your program. Due to the seasonal nature of many of program activities, we cannot guarantee a specific activity or excursion will be available in a given term or program.

Activities

City Walking Tour: During IFSA Orientation, learn about the city on foot and attend a walking tour of the social, cultural, and historical sites of St Andrews.
Scottish Parliament Tour: See behind the scenes on a guided tour through the chambers of the Scottish Parliament, how the Scottish Government makes new laws on devolved matters, and how it debates the issues of the day.
Glasgow Mural and Street Art Walking-Tour: Glasgow has created a Mural Trail featuring the diverse range of art within easy walking distance of the city center. Follow the trail of a huge range of artwork on display which has something to suit all tastes, from conservative to radical, quirky to bizarre. Enjoy discovering the hidden public art, with assistance from digital resources, with this self-paced walking tour.
Ceilidh Dancing to Scottish Folk Music: A Ceilidh is a fun-filled night of wild dancing, good music, and Scottish culture! A live Scottish folk band plays through traditional music as one of the band members calls out the dance steps to the group, teaching how the dance goes. As the music takes off, the fun begins.

Excursion

Highlands Trip: On your first day of the Highland’s excursion, delve into the past and discover how Scottish Highland ancestors lived, how they built their homes, how they tilled the soil, and how they dressed. Then visit the Culloden Battlefield, location of the final Jacobite Rising. It was the last and most harrowing battle to be fought on British soil and its impact ripples into present day Scotland. On day two, sail across the waters of the legendary Loch Ness to learn about the history of the renowned loch and what makes it so famous. Perhaps have a look for the Loch Ness Montser yourself! Immersed yourself in the verdant and impressive rolling hills and mountains of the highlands with spectacular views of the Three Sisters Mountains in Glencoe. Also experience the poignant history of Stirling at the Wallace Monument and learn about the history of the battles fought at this strategically located city.

Housing and Meals

Housing

Apartment/Flat, Residence Hall/Dormitory, Single Room Option

Meals

Self-Catering

Details

St Andrews has a wide variety of student housing, ranging from traditional residence halls with shared bedrooms, shared bathrooms, and dining halls, to modern buildings divided into apartments for groups of five, where each student has their own bedroom and bathroom.

Students choose between housing with meals in the dining hall—called catered accommodation—or housing where you prepare or purchase your own meals—called self-catered accommodation. If you choose self-catered, your housing will have a shared kitchen with a stove, microwave, refrigerator, kettle, pans, and storage. There are also cafés, grab-and-gos, and more options for food on campus.

Because the campus is compact and spread throughout the town of St Andrews, you won’t be far from key university buildings or the best of this beautiful town, no matter where you live.

Sample housing

Explore David Russell Apartments (also known as DRA) to see what your home away might be like:

Location: 0.5 miles from the University Sports Center, 1.2 miles from the main library and science buildings in the North Haugh site.
Living space: Most students live in single rooms with double beds and private, individual bathrooms. There are some double rooms with two twin beds. Students provide bedding, and our team will share options to order inexpensive kits. Students share common living space and kitchens.
Meals: No meal plan included. Students prepare and eat their own meals, and often say cooking and sharing meals is a fun, social part of their day. Students may opt for a catered meal plan for a supplemental fee.
Additional details: 24/7 security. Reception. Laundry facilities. Computer room, game room, music room, social room.
Nearby: Shops, cafes, restaurants. St Andrews Cathedral. St Andrews Castle. West Sands Beach. The Old Course.