If you wish to apply to the University via the Common Application, this checklist will help you through the application process.

1. Take a look at the at the University of St Andrews.
2. Check the entry requirements and any subject-specific prerequisites for your programme.
   • International students should meet the Standard entry requirements listed on the course pages.
   • We always list the requirements for SQA Highers, GCE A-Levels and the International Baccalaureate, but accept a broad range of qualifications from around the world, find out what we accept from your country on the entry requirements page.
3. You should also check the General entry requirements for the course you are interested in (listed on the course page).
4. If there is a choice of course between the Faculties of Arts (MA) and Science (BSc), you must decide which Faculty is for you. If you are applying for a course in one Faculty which is also offered in another Faculty, great care should be taken to cite the UCAS code numbers correctly; for example, the course code for the Psychology (MA) degree differs from the Psychology (BSc) degree.
5. Once you have decided which course and Faculty are the most appropriate, note the UCAS course code of your chosen course. This is the four-digit code which can be found under the key information for your course.
6. Draft your writing supplement carefully so that it reflects your choice of course.
7. Pay the required application fee through the Common Application website. The fee is currently $75 for all applicants.
8. Submit your application by the appropriate deadline. The current Common Application deadlines can be found below.

   Essential Information

   Students who apply to the University of St Andrews through the Common Application website should not have also applied or be planning to apply through either UCAS or the direct application.

   Our Common Application ID number is 2880.

   Answers to many questions about the Common Application process can be found in the Applicant Solutions Centre.

   After submitting your application, if you are contacted by us regarding SAT, ACT or AP test scores, unofficial score reports are accepted.

   Deadlines

   The final dates for the receipt of applications to St Andrews to qualify for full and equal consideration are:

   • Medicine: 6pm (GMT) 15 October 2022 for all applicants applying to study Medicine.
   • All other undergraduate courses: 6pm (GMT) 25 January 2023 for all other MA or BSc undergraduate applications.

   Your application, including all supporting information, should be submitted by this date. It is rare that places are available on our programmes after the 25 January deadline. International applicants (Overseas Fee Status) should apply by the 25 January deadline. 

   We will only consider international applications submitted after the 25 January 2023 deadline if there are places still available and will be considered on a subject and course availability basis.

   International applications received after 25 January 2023 may be placed on a waiting list.

   How to Submit Your Application

   All applications through the Common Application should be submitted via the Common Application website. Further information on this process can be found in the Common Application Applicant Solutions Centre.

    

Most students who apply to the University will not be required to attend an interview. The exceptions to this will be if you are applying for:

• Medicine
• Supported pathway programmes
• Part-time study
• BA International Honours

  Personal Statement

  Your personal statement provides you with an invaluable opportunity to tell us your personal reasons for studying your chosen subject at the University of St Andrews. This is a very important part of your application. Most of the students who apply to the University will be well qualified, so decisions on who will receive offers will often be determined by the quality of the personal statement. You are encouraged to spend time drafting and re-writing your statement so that it is organised and well-written.

  It is a good idea to give some relevant background information about yourself, your interests, and especially your reasons for your choice of course. You might want to highlight any relevant work experience or voluntary work you have done. If you have an idea of what your career choice might be, and how your studies at St Andrews would support that, you may wish to include this as well.

  In summary, your personal statement should give the admissions officers a picture of you: someone who is interested in the subject area for which you have applied and who has the motivation and potential to do well in a university environment.

  Referees Support

  If you are at school, your principal or head of year will generally write your referee’s report. If you are not at school, you will need to supply a reference from a responsible person who knows you well enough to write about you and state if you are suitable for higher education. References from family members or close friends are not normally acceptable.

  Students applying through UCAS should submit their referee’s report to the UCAS online application process.

  We ask that students applying directly send us the name and details of the person who will provide your reference. This could be a teacher, college counsellor or someone who knows your academic capabilities well. The reference should be written in the direct application referee report (PDF) , clearly marked with your name. This can be included with your application, sent separately, or we can email the referee directly if that is more convenient.

  What St Andrews is Looking For

  All applicants for a course are assessed against the same entrance criteria, which can be found in full in the admissions policy. In brief, we offer places to the students who meet our academic requirements and who are judged by our academic admissions officers to have the most potential to benefit from their course and to contribute to the academic School and University. Your grades – both already gained and predicted – are the first area of consideration, and you should be aware of the entry requirements before you apply.

  The academic admissions officers work in conjunction with Schools during the selection and decision-making process. Together, they consider the following areas when looking at all applications:

  • the grades and qualifications that you have already achieved, or are predicted to achieve
  • the context in which your qualifications have been, or will be achieved; this could include your location, age, whether any resit exams were taken, and other extenuating factors
  • your personal statement.
  • your academic references
  • performance at interview, where appropriate
  • relevant work or other experience, where appropriate
  • English language ability, where appropriate.

  Academic decision making and criteria setting is at the heart of the selection and decision-making processes. UK and EU applications are assessed by academic admissions officers within the academic Schools. International applications are assessed by admissions officers within the international admissions team, guided by academic School admissions officers. Where appropriate, the admissions officers are supported by staff from Registry, who are experienced in processing applications and other relevant information.