Collaborative programmes

The University is committed to the development and enhancement of strategic alliances that enrich the academic life of the institution and further cultivate the University’s ‘internationally Scottish’ dimension. Strategic partnerships are driven by strong synergies in teaching and research expertise, and operate successfully on multiple levels, reflecting academic priorities in research and curriculum development and providing the foundation for strong, multi-faceted and long-term collaborations.

Collaborative degrees

Each collaborative programme is unique and reflects the specific arrangements agreed between St Andrews and the partners involved.

Many of our programmes are joint degrees, ensuring a fully integrated collaborative programme which offers students a unique learning experience and a single award reflecting the joint nature of the programme.

As each programme is unique, it is important to look at the specific study pathways of the programmes.

Undergraduate programmes

The University of St Andrews has partnered with the College of William & Mary in Virginia, USA, to offer a truly global undergraduate degree: the BA (International Honours).

Students spend two years in St Andrews and two years in the USA and can study the following subjects on the programme:
- Classical Studies
- Economics
- English
- Film Studies
- History
- International Relations.
Find out more about choosing the BA (International Honours) joint degree. Current students who are part of the BA International Honours programme can find additional information in the current students section.
ScotGEM is a four-year graduate entry undergraduate programme run by the universities of St Andrews and Dundee and health boards in Fife and Tayside, in collaboration with NHS Highland, NHS Dumfries and Galloway, and the University of the Highlands and Islands.

ScotGEM is a graduate entry programme which focuses on enthusing graduates to become generalist practitioners (not necessarily GPs), with experience in rural health care. It is designed to develop doctors interested in a career as a generalist practitioner within NHS Scotland.

Find out more about ScotGEM MBChB.

Taught postgraduate programmes

The University of St Andrews has partnered with the University of Bonn, Germany, to offer students the MLitt in German and Comparative Literature.

This collaborative degree leads to a Scottish Master of Letters (MLitt) and a German Master of Arts (MA). The programme aims to deepen students' knowledge of the latest thinking in literary and comparative studies and give them the research, communication and writing skills needed to embark on a PhD or top-level graduate career.
The University of St Andrews has partnered with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, to offer students the MLitt in The Study of Judaism and Christianity.

This two-year collaborative degree leads to a Scottish Master of Letters (MLitt) and an Israeli Master of Arts (MA). The programme offers a unique opportunity to gain comparative and cross-cultural perspectives on these two religious traditions. Students spend a year in Jerusalem before coming to St Andrews for their second year.
The University of St Andrews has partnered with the University of Stirling to offer students the St Andrews and Stirling Graduate Programme in Philosophy (SASP). This programme offers the following degrees in Philosophy:
- Philosophy (MLitt)
ScotGEM is a four-year graduate entry undergraduate programme run by the universities of St Andrews and Dundee and health boards in Fife and Tayside, in collaboration with NHS Highland, NHS Dumfries and Galloway, and the University of the Highlands and Islands.

ScotGEM is a graduate entry programme which focuses on enthusing graduates to become generalist practitioners (not necessarily GPs), with experience in rural health care. It is designed to develop doctors interested in a career as a generalist practitioner within NHS Scotland.

Find out more about ScotGEM MBChB.

Student experience

Collaborative programmes offer students innovative and enhanced learning experiences.

Students on many of our collaborative programmes will divide their time between study at St Andrews and study at a partner institution, either in the UK or overseas. Consequently, students may experience a number of transitions throughout their degree programme, which help to develop agility and adaptability, a confident and flexible approach to learning, and a broad and international perspective, all of which prepare students well for employment in a global market.

The Global Office team offer a range of services to students on collaborative programmes to support their transitions and help them to make the most of their time at St Andrews.

Principles of collaborative provision

The framework within which collaborative provision is developed and managed at St Andrews is laid out in the Policy on Collaborative provision of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

This policy sets out the University’s principles and responsibilities relating to collaborative provision, explains the different types of programme and degree, and details the monitoring and review process we follow.

Where academic Schools at St Andrews are interested in establishing a new collaborative project or exchange programme, they are invited to contact the Global Office (partnerships@st-andrews.ac.uk) as early as possible to discuss projects.

The Global Office is there to advise and facilitate the process. It will carry out all necessary risk assessments and due diligence checks and will negotiate the required institutional Agreements with the partner following relevant proposal and approval processes managed in collaboration with an academic or academic School/s at St Andrews. Details of due diligence checks and related processes can be found here (PDF).

Quality

All of our partners are carefully selected, and the University works closely with them to offer high-quality programmes. All of our collaborative programmes are reviewed regularly, a process that includes evaluation of student feedback.

In establishing and operating institutional collaborations, the University is committed to the principles of good practice defined by the UK Quality code for Higher Education.

The University is a participant in the Quality Evaluation and Enhancement of UK Transnational Higher Education (QE-TNE) programme coordinated by the UK Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA).

Monitoring collaborative provision

The University has a clear set of principles for monitoring and reviewing all collaborative provision.

Collaborative degrees, validation and articulation collaborations will be monitored and reviewed following a five-stage review process.
Study abroad and exchange programmes are subject to annual mobility reviews.

Five-stage review process

The five points of academic review for all collaborative programmes are:

Approval
Implementation
First review
Annual monitoring and review
Agreement renewal review

1. Approval

The approval process ensures thorough review of collaborative proposals and due diligence at the outset. This covers, for example, existing links with the partner, status of partner, arrangements for partnership operation including lead institution (rules and regulations), partner’s procedures for module approval and review, partner’s strategies for enhancement, and agreeing to a structure and membership of the programme's Joint Board. It is also at this stage that the School will put forward an Academic Co-ordinator, a role which is usually held by the programme proposer.

2. Implementation

This stage involves a light-touch and relatively informal review at the commencement of the programme. It primarily involves the School, Global Office, and Registry, and is intended to iron out any issues with the initial programme establishment. A summary report of Implementation reviews is collated annually by the Global Office for consideration by the AMG (Collaborations and Partnerships).

3. First review

The first review provides an early opportunity to monitor progress, and ensure any problems are identified and resolved at an early stage in the life cycle of the programme. This comprehensive initial review normally takes place in the academic year after the first cohort of students has been admitted (irrespective of location of study in the first year). There is an emphasis on self-evaluation, but the review should include external examiner feedback and student feedback as well. First review reports are submitted to AMG (Collaborations and Partnerships) for consideration.

4. Annual monitoring and review

The Joint Board, via the Academic Co-ordinator at St Andrews, is expected to provide an annual report to AMG (Collaborations and Partnerships) on programme matters, issues, trends and student feedback. This report should include an overview of applications and entrants to the programme, a summary of student progression and outcomes, a summary of the key issues discussed at the joint committee over the last year and a note of any other concerns or issues which the Co-ordinator wishes to highlight.

Where appropriate, collaborative programmes will also form part of the University-led reviews of learning and teaching.

5. Agreement renewal review

This stage is a full review of all aspects of the collaborative programme and takes place around 15-18 months prior to the end of the Agreement period. The review provides an opportunity for the University, School/Department, collaborative partner, and review team to reflect on the operation, management, development, and future of the programme.

A strong emphasis on self-evaluation is complemented by feedback from students and External Examiners. Review reports are submitted to Academic Monitoring Group (Collaborations & Partnerships) for consideration. Thereafter, an institutional decision is made as to whether to renew, amend or terminate the collaborative Agreement. For further information please see Handbook: Agreement renewal review for collaborative programmes.

Annual mobility reviews

At the outset of each academic year, the Global Office will send academic Schools, through their Study Abroad Co-ordinators a Study Abroad Mobility Review (SAMR), along with electronic copies of relevant Student Report forms from the previous year and a copy of the Co-ordinator's existing bilateral Agreement.

The SAMR will be pre-populated by the Global Office with incoming and outgoing numbers for the past two years, and Co-ordinators will be asked to comment on balance, and any other issues pertinent to the exchange. The Study Abroad Co-ordinator will be asked to raise any School or Departmental mobility programmes at a Teaching Committee for discussion.

The review process allows the Global Office and Co-ordinators to monitor closely all existing bilateral Agreements and their success, and provide a regular opportunity to update existing Agreements. The Global Office will report the results of the SAMR review to the Proctor's Office through the AMG Collaborations and Partnerships, and, in consultation with Co-ordinators, proceed with renewals, amendments or terminations thereafter.

Renewal, amendments and termination

The Global Office will proceed with the renewal/amendment of successful bilateral Agreements every year (as relevant) following review, its submission to AMG Collaborations and Partnership and after approval of any changes.

The outcome of this process may include suspension or termination of an Agreement should that be deemed appropriate, but is more typically a process by which amendments may be made to improve processes and programmes, and by which renewal is approved.

Your data

If you are interested in participating in a collaborative programme, you should read the Student personal data privacy notice (PDF) ‌which outlines the University’s policy in relation to the transfer of personal data to collaborative partnerships in the UK and overseas.

Collaborative programmes

Collaborative degrees

Undergraduate programmes

BA International Honours

Scottish Graduate Entry to Medicine (ScotGEM) MBChB