University of St Andrews

At a glance

The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) is one of the ‘Ivy Leagues’ in the USA and is based in the heart of Philadelphia, a dynamic and multi-cultural city. Founded in 1740, the picturesque campus spans three main streets in downtown Philadelphia and has a student population of 20,000 (10,000 undergraduates). The campus buildings are all within walking distance of each other as are all activities relating to student life, while the wider opportunities of a large city are also to be enjoyed. In the QS World University Rankings 2024: Top 100 US Universities, UPenn ranked as the 6th best university in the nation. The Robert Lincoln McNeil Scholarship, provided by the McNeil family, gives a generous scholarship of $35,000 to the nominated St Andrews student. The grant awarded covers most of the academic and board expenses at the University of Pennsylvania. To meet the eligibility criteria applicants must have grown up in a Scottish cultural background.
Established : 1740
Student Population : 22400

Website and links

Website : UPenn Homepage

Study abroad page : Exchange at Penn

Who can go

Students on degree programmes in the following subject areas may apply to study abroad during their Junior Honours year at University of Pennsylvania:

Please note the following restrictions when considering the list below: Arabic - Joint Hons only; Chemistry - not available on programmes which already contain an External Placement; Geography and Sustainable Development - only available to Sustainable Development students; History - History; Mediaeval History (Single and Joint Hons); Modern History (Single Hons and Joint Hons).

• Arabic and Persian
• Art History
• Biology
• Economics (Business School)
• Chemistry
• Chinese
• Classics
• Divinity
• English
• Film Studies
• French
• German
• Geography and Sustainable Devt
• History
• International Relations
• Mathematics and Statistics
• Neuroscience
• Persian
• Physics and Astronomy
• Philosophy
• Psychology and Neuroscience
• Spanish

Semesters Available

• Full Year

Note: Joint Honours students may only apply for a full year abroad if BOTH subjects are listed above. Joint Honours students applying for one semester must seek permission from both Schools.

Study abroad coordinator

Each School has a designated Study Abroad Coordinator.

Semester dates

Semester dates are as follows

2023/4
Semester 1 Aug 2023 to Dec 2023
Semester 2 Jan 2024 to May 2024
2024/5
Semester 1 Aug 2024 to Dec 2024
Semester 2 Jan 2025 to May 2025

Your studies abroad

St Andrews academic requirements

• Minimum Credit in Academic year : 8
• Minimum Credit in Semester : -
• Maximum Credit in Academic year : 9
• Maximum Credit in Semester: -
• Module Weighting : 1

Partner Course Catalogue : Course catalogue

Course registration is gained through an online process which requires a Penn password. Your acceptance letter will name your academic adviser. You can contact the adviser for advice on how to register for classes before you arrive, or wait until you arrive in Philadelphia.

Final course selection is determined on arrival at Penn.

See our Credits and Modules Abroad webpage for information on the number of credits we expect students to take at our partner institutions. St Andrews expects students to attend all classes as part of their programme abroad. Assessment methods may vary across partners and could include class participation, continuous assessment in the form of homework and final exams. All courses must be agreed with your Study Abroad Coordinator. See our academic information webpage for further details, as well as information about credit and grade conversion.

Application and selection

This institution is part of the programme. .

Places available

Places available : There will be two full year places available at Pennsylvania in the academic year 2025-2026.

However, please note that one place is restricted to a Scottish student due to the attached funding, The McNeil Scholarship, provided by the McNeil family, gives a scholarship of $25,000 to the nominated St Andrews student. In accordance with the McNeil family’s wishes, the recipient of the scholarship should either be Scottish or have been brought up in the Scottish culture. If you wish to apply for this scholarship, please note this in the 'Other supporting information' section on your application.

Places available may vary from year to year depending on the exchange balance. Numbers for the following academic year will be confirmed at the information meeting.

Getting there and getting around

Students should fly to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). You will not be met but there are many options to travel from the airport into the city and onto campus. Details are in the Student Handbook.

Within the city of Philadelphia, there are great public transportation links – bus/subway/train/air – which allows students to not only travel around the city, but also to venture around the country.

Accommodation

Housing is normally offered to exchange students and UPenn offers 11 College ‘Houses’, some of which are in dorm style while others are in apartment style (in skyscrapers).

The Houses offer both shared and private bathroom facilities and students can apply to the one that best suits their interests. Students can and should list up to 8 choices on the application form.

Dorms in the Quad and Hill House are mainly for Freshmen. The Quad is triangular shaped, built in the old red brick style and looking onto a green lawn with lots of trees. There is a squirrel problem in the Quad and students have to use screens if they open windows!

Single rooms can be booked in Stouffer House.

UPenn has a policy that all undergraduate students in their first year at Penn must live in Penn housing and purchase a Penn dining plan. This policy also applies to exchange students at UPenn. The University implemented this policy to ensure that the newest members of the Penn community will have the greatest opportunity to integrate fully into campus life. Students who are over the age of 23 are exempt from the policy.

Please note that St Andrews is unable to guarantee housing at any of our partner institutions. Guidance on finding accommodation abroad is available on the Global Office webpage.

Student services and orientation

Student Services at Penn can be contacted through UPenn's dedicated web pages

Please be aware that student support services will be different across all of our partner universities.