Blue Carbon Summer Programme
Applications opening soon! Register your interest for this course to be notified when applications open.
29 June - 12 July 2025
A new two-week international summer programme in the Science and Policy of Blue Carbon offered through the University’s Blue Carbon Academy. The programme is suitable for Undergraduate students seeking training in the theory, field and analytical methods of blue carbon research, as well as postgraduates and career professionals seeking to strengthen their overall understanding of blue carbon science and policy frameworks.
The Blue Carbon Academy is aligned with the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, and the course content and delivery will be supported by leading international blue carbon researchers and policymakers.
Blue Carbon Science & Policy
Students will follow a course programme that builds a strong theoretical framework for blue carbon science, giving them an opportunity to design field sampling strategies, carry out fieldwork, and follow their own sampling back to the laboratory for hands-on analytical work and data analyses; the course culminates in a coursework assessment.
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The course fee for this programme is £2950.
St Andrews Summer Study course fees are inclusive of the following:
- Tuition fee
- Accommodation in our residences, en-suite in shared five-person apartments (sharing with other Summer School students
- A number of catered meals including:
- Breakfast 7 days a week (Monday – Sunday)
- Lunch 5 days a week (Monday – Friday)
- Dinner 5 days a week (Monday – Friday)
- Access to Sports Centre for the duration of the summer school
- Access to University services as a registered student of St Andrews, including the Library, IT Services, Student Services
The Fee does not include airfare or getting to St Andrews, personal expenditure such as snacks and laundry.
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Blue Carbon Science & Policy
The course will offer a mix of morning lectures and afternoon practical classes that cover the following topics.
Week 1
Day 1 – Introduction, sampling design
Introduction to the theories and concepts of Blue Carbon
Introduction to sampling design and sampling techniques
Day 2 – Fieldtrip (River Forth)
The students in groups will undertake their sampling plans and collect samples to be analysed during the week.Day 3 – Ecosystems, sediments and stratigraphy
Introduction to common sedimentological approaches and descriptive methods
Creation of stratigraphic understanding of the intertidal environment.Day 4 – Carbon in coastal environments
Introduction to the standard methodologies for the quantification of organic matter and carbon in coastal soils and sediments.
Tour of analytical laboratories.
Quantify organic matter and carbon in the sub-samples collected from the cores and vegetation in the field.
Sample processing and elemental analysis.Day 5 – Blue Carbon stocks
Students will be introduced to a range of approaches used to determine the quantity of carbon held within a natural environment.
Week 2
Day 6 – Blue Carbon and Data Methods
Advanced analytical approaches discussed including stable isotopes and radiocarbon.
Thermogravimetric and ramped thermal methodsDay 7 – Blue Carbon Stocks and Burial Calculators
Introduction to analytical methods used to date and a create age-depth models for sediments.
Radiometric dating approaches and radiocarbon
Organic carbon accumulation rates
Using age depth models.
Day 8 – Blue Carbon Policy I and Data Lab
Introduction to policy frameworks and levers
Introduction to best practices for presenting data
Day 9 – Blue Carbon Policy II and Data Visualization
Examples of blue carbon projects, policy interventions and introduction to blue carbon financing;
Work on final assessment
Day 10 – Final Preparation and Assessed Presentations
Work on their final assessment (group presentation and policy summary).
Presentation of approach, findings and results from the Blue Carbon assessment -
The University of St Andrews is fully accredited by the Scottish Qualifications Authority and recognised in the United States as a Title IV institution. Blue Carbon students earn credit under the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF).
This programme is are granted at 10 SCQF credits.
Each SCQF credit is rated 10 hours of work (roughly 1/3 contact hours and 2/3 self-directed study). You will complete work for graded assessment and receive a University of St Andrews transcript and certificate.
Please check with your home institution about credit transfer arrangements.
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Students will be assessed by submitting work during their course. Coursework will include an individual policy report and group presentation which will take place on the final day and be graded by University of St Andrews academics.
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You must meet the following criteria for St Andrews Summer Study:
- have completed your first year of university study (at least two semesters in full-time higher education) or equivalent at the point of arrival in St Andrews.
- a minimum average grade of 3.2 (on a USA 4.0 GPA scale) or equivalent
English Language Requirements
You must provide evidence that you can use English well enough to study effectively at St Andrews. The University accepts a wide range of language tests and qualifications as proof of English language proficiency. If you are from a non-English speaking country or use English as an additional language, you should include information about your English language proficiency with your application.
For information on the language tests and qualifications which the University accepts, see the following:
- undergraduate English Language requirements (follow the information for the Faculty of Science and Profile 7-D)
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You will be housed in one of our student residences, David Russell Apartments (DRA). They are located on the western edge of town, about a 20-minute walk to the centre of town and local amenities, and a ten-minute walk from the Sports Centre. There are regular bus routes between DRA and the town centre.
You will have a private bedroom with a double bed (four foot six inches wide), individual climate control and an en-suite shower room. There are five bedrooms per apartment, which includes a kitchen with a soft seating area, breakfast bar, oven, microwave, fridge freezer, tv and a dishwasher. There is basic cooking equipment and kitchenware, and an iron and ironing board. Wifi is free and available throughout the residence.
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If you are coming to the UK for study for fewer than six months this means you are visiting the UK as a Standard Visitor. Check on the UK government visa pages whether you need a Standard Visitor Visa, and what you will need to show at the border. See support for international students.
The closest international airports to St Andrews are Edinburgh Airport and Glasgow Airport. If flying to London, you also have the option of taking the Caledonian Sleeper service, an overnight train (London Euston to Leuchars). Leuchars is the closest railway station to St Andrews, situated approx. 6 miles outside the town. From Leuchars, St Andrews is easily reached by bus or taxi.
See more details on how to get to St Andrews.
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Any queries prior to the summer school should be directed to shortcourses@st-andrews.ac.uk.
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Depending on demand, certain courses may not be available in 2025. If this happens, we will clearly communicate this to offer holders by late April.
Students taking part in the Blue Carbon summer programme will be registered as “summer visiting students”. All students are obliged to adhere to the University’s code of conduct.
Admission and registration is governed by the policy on the admission and registration of exchange and study abroad students.
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We recommend that you first check the entry requirements and discuss your application with your home institution, in particular if you want to transfer back credit from this summer school. Please note the Terms and Conditions in the section above.
Once applications open, you will be able to complete the online MS application form.
After completing the form. You will need to send us the following documents:
Official Academic Transcript
The transcript must be official and up-to-date, and you should include transcripts for time spent at other universities if relevant. Transcripts cannot be accepted that are marked as unofficial. Upload your official transcripts directly to your application, or ask your home institution to email it to shortcourses@st-andrews.ac.uk.
Academic reference
Your reference must be written by an academic member of staff at your current home institution. It must be signed and written on official headed letter paper and can be submitted by the referee after you submit your application and the deadline.
Professional reference
If you are in full-time work (not currently a full-time student in higher education) and are unable to provide an academic reference, you can submit a professional reference from your current/recent workplace instead.
English Language Certificate - if applicable
If your first language is not English, you will need to provide an English language certificate showing you meet the university's proficiency standards. You can find more information on our language requirements in the 'Entry Requirements' section above.
After submitting your application
Applications are considered continually on a rolling basis from the application opening date until the application deadline therefore we'd recommend you submit your application as soon as possible before places fill up. Applicants will usually receive an answer within four weeks of submitting a complete application, though review may take longer depending on module choice and other circumstances.
