Undergraduate degree programmes

• BSc and Integrated Masters degrees

  What is the difference between a BSc degree and an Integrated Masters degree?

  The University provides both BSc Honours and Integrated Masters Honours degree programmes. Both are classified first degrees with Honours, but the Integrated Masters is a more advanced degree than the BSc.

  Students who have done sufficiently well in their assessments at the end their second year are given the option to aim towards an Integrated Masters or a BSc Honours degree. Successful BSc Honours students graduate at the end of year four, whereas Integrated Masters students study in St Andrews for a further year. In the additional year, these students take a number of advanced modules as well as undertake a more ambitious project than the BSc students.

  The requirements for both degrees are the same in first and second year. You can choose to apply for the Integrated Masters directly when you apply to the University of St Andrews.

• Flexible degrees

  Changing your degree intention.

  The School offers a number of degree programmes, and students can easily change from one degree intention to another as long as they have taken the appropriate prerequisite modules.

  For example, a first-year student taking physics, mathematics, and chemistry may be able to choose modules in their second year that could lead to a degree in any one of these subjects (or some combinations).

  It is often possible for students to postpone a final decision between (for instance) physics and mathematics until the start of third year.

  Within a degree programme, you will still have some choice of modules at Honours levels (third year and beyond).

  Find out about entry routes and degree structure.

• Joint degrees

  Joint degrees with Mathematics, Chemistry or Philosophy.

  You can apply for a joint degree programme at the outset, or you can switch into a joint degree programme provided you have taken the appropriate modules in both subjects in years one and two.

  Both the BSc and Integrated Masters Honours degree programmes can start with a broad range of subjects in year one, which maximises students' choices for their final degree subject. A student taking an appropriate mix of physics, mathematics, and either chemistry or philosophy modules in year one, may be able to choose at the start of year two to take level-two modules leading to a degree in any of these subjects, or a joint degree.

  Joint degrees available with physics are:

  • Physics and Mathematics BSc
  • Physics and Philosophy BSc
  • Physics and Chemistry MSci
  • Theoretical Physics and Mathematics MPhys. 

  For the joint degrees with Mathematics, students with good Advanced Highers,  A-level, or IB results are given the choice of entering at year one or directly into year two for accelerated entry.

  Year one entry is the only entry route available for the joint degree programmes with Chemistry or Philosophy, because of the requirements of the other subject.

  Find out more about applying for a joint degree.