Taught programmes
Before applying to study for a taught programme at the University, ensure that you can meet all of the University’s minimum entry requirements. The information below includes details on how and when to apply for our taught programmes.
Please note that in order for us to begin processing your application, payment of an application fee of £50 (pounds sterling) is required. You will need to complete the payment process before you submit your application. In some circumstances students may be considered for an application fee waiver.
If you are interested in studying a research programme, visit the research programmes page for details on how to apply.
Application information
-
You can apply online, save your progress and continue working on your application before you submit it.
When to apply
Applications open in August each year and close at different points depending on the course. Check your course page for the deadline.
You should apply as early as possible. This will give you time to apply for scholarships, accommodation, and a visa (if applicable).
You can apply before you have been awarded your undergraduate degree. The University can make you a conditional offer based on receiving a specific mark for your degree.
Application deadlines
Most taught Masters programmes:
- start in September of each year, with the exception of some online programmes
- close for applications on 7 August 2025.
Some programmes have different application deadlines. Visit the subjects page to find the application deadline for your course.
Your application
When reviewing your application, the University will consider:
- any modules you have studied
- any extracurricular activities that may be relevant to your intended postgraduate degree
- your personal statement (this is an opportunity to present any experience that may be relevant to the course you want to study and how your previous academic studies support your application)
- your academic references
- your writing sample (if applicable)
- any extenuating circumstances.
If you have not yet applied, ask your referee to include information about these circumstances in their reference, and include any documentation you may have in your application. After you have applied, you can email documentation to pgt.application@st-andrews.ac.uk.
Notification
The University will notify you when there is a decision on your application. This may take four to six weeks after your application is complete.
Decisions on applications for programmes such as Psychology and MSc Marine Mammal Science will be made after the application deadline. This is because these programmes use a gathered field approach, where all applications are collected before being assessed.
An incomplete application or missing required documents will delay the decision.
Multiple courses
You can apply for multiple courses, but you cannot specify if you prefer one course or another.
If you want to apply for more than one course, you must complete a separate application form for each course.
It is not possible to study two courses at the same time and it is unlikely that you could take a class from another course and have it count towards your credit load.
Students can sometimes audit classes from another course with approval from the course coordinator.
Problems when applying
Contact pgt.application@st-andrews.ac.uk if you have a problem when you apply. If you can’t upload your documents, email them to pgt.application@st-andrews.ac.uk quoting your application ID number.
If you make a mistake in your application, do not withdraw it. Email pgt.application@st-andrews.ac.uk and explain what you would like to change.
-
To study a taught programme you’ll normally need a good first degree with Honours from a UK university (or its overseas equivalent).
Not all degree programmes require prior experience. Some require you to have studied a certain subject or range of subjects, so it is important that you check your individual course page.
Read the entry requirements and country information for more details.
You must provide your qualification documents in their original language, and a translated copy of each. The translation needs verification that it is certified by a qualified individual or organisation. This must include the full name and contact details of the individual or organisation who made the translation.
We do not require the GMAT or the GRE.
In more complex cases we cannot assess qualifications in full before you submit your application. If you are unsure whether your qualifications meet the entry requirements, or if you think you do not have the grades specified, we encourage you to apply. All applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis taking into account all information provided to us, not just your grades.
English language requirements
Applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of English proficiency.
An English language test result is not required when you first apply. We will review your background to see if you meet our English language requirements. If you do not meet these requirements, your offer may include a condition for you to achieve a specific score in your English language test.
Read the English language requirements page for full details.
-
Applicants to the following programmes must also complete a supplementary application form. Read the application requirements on your course page:
- Animal Behaviour (MSc)
- Astrophysics (MSc)
- Marine Ecosystem Management (MSc)
- Marine Mammal Science (MSc)
- Creative Writing (MLitt)
- Medieval English (MLitt)
- Medieval Studies (MLitt)
- Modern and Contemporary Literature and Culture
- Playwriting and Screenwriting
- Romantic and Victorian Studies
- Shakespeare and Renaissance Literary Culture
- Women, Writing and Gender
-
Check the course page for all the documents you’ll need when you apply.
You must submit your documents using the applicant portal. You may need to submit some of the required documents before your application can be considered.
Required documents for most courses
- an up-to-date academic transcript and your degree certificates with an explanation of the grading scale and Honours classification at the awarding institution. Please only upload certified copies with official English translations, if applicable. Do not send original transcripts or degree certificates as they cannot be returned.
- a CV or resumé, including your personal details with a history of your education and employment to date.
- a personal statement
- two original signed academic references. If you can’t provide two academic references, you can upload one employment reference and one academic reference.
- a sample of academic written work. Not all programmes require this. For more information, contact the School that delivers your programme. The sample:
- can be an extract from a previous project or essay, or part of your undergraduate dissertation
- must be written in English
- must be written by you. If you want to include a piece of work with more than one author, you should include a section that only you wrote.
- does not need to include notes from being marked
- does not need to have been published
- should be as close to 2000 words as possible. You can use a few more words to provide context if you need to, but if the sample is considerably longer the School may only consider a sample that approximates 2000 words. The sample is used to assess your writing style. The 2000-word limit does not include bibliography, reference list or footnotes.
- evidence of English language proficiency (required if English is not your first language). If you haven’t taken an English language test, you can submit your result after you apply. Any University offer will be conditional on you providing evidence of the required English language score for your programme.
To meet the conditions of your offer, you should submit your undergraduate degree certificate by 21 August in the year of entry. If you require a visa to study in the UK you must provide evidence to meet the conditions of your offer before this deadline, so that you can start your course in September.
References
You must provide two references with your application. If you can’t provide two academic references, you can upload one employment reference and one academic reference.
If you cannot provide any academic references, please contact the School you are applying to.
Your references must include your full name and proposed programme of study.
The University cannot make a decision on your application until the two references have been submitted.
Your referees
When you apply, the University will normally email your referees to request an academic reference. You are responsible for making sure that your referees send their references to the University.
Your referees can either:
- upload their references using our online system
- email them to pgt.application@st-andrews.ac.uk from their own email address.
Referees may use their own headed paper.
If you are applying for more than one programme
Each application must contain a copy of your supporting documents.
References are required for each programme application.
-
The majority of taught Masters programmes will start in September of each year with the exception of some online courses.
Application closing dates vary depending on the programme you are applying for and whether you are applying for scholarship funding. Please refer to the appropriate subject page for these deadlines. Some programmes will close before the deadline if the course is full. In all cases, early application is advisable. This is to allow sufficient time to process our decision and, importantly, to give you time to obtain visas, apply for scholarships and organise travel arrangements, if needed.
Decisions normally take around four to six weeks once all supporting documents and references have been received and the application is complete with the exception of the MSc Psychology (Conversion) and MSc Marine Mammal Science when decisions will be sent out after the closing date.
-
Tuition fees will vary depending on what programme you are studying and where you are from. You may be able to apply for help with funding your studies at the University.
Early application is strongly advised if you are applying for a tuition fees. Many have an early closing date (often between December and February) and most scholarships require you to be holding an offer in order to be considered for funding.
We continue to accept self-funded applications even after scholarship deadlines have passed. If you need further guidance on this, please contact the School that you are applying to.
For more advice on scholarships and funding, please go to postgraduate scholarships. You can also find out more about our current scholarship.
-
In order for us to begin processing your application, payment of an application fee of £50 (pounds sterling) is required. You will need to complete the payment process before you submit your application. You can make this payment through the University's online shop. Please provide the order number given to your purchase on your application form so that we can match the payment to your application. Applications for the University's online postgraduate programmes are exempt from this application fee.
Application fee waivers
The application fee can be waived in the following circumstances.
- UK-domiciled applicants
The application fee will be waived for applicants:
-
- In receipt of means-tested scholarship or maintenance grant as an undergraduate student.
- Who are first generation in family to pursue undergraduate study.
- Have been in local authority care.
- Have been involved in national widening access schemes.
- Have caring responsibilities.
- Applicants with asylum seeker, refugee, or humanitarian protection status
The application fee will be waived for applicants who have a valid Asylum Registration Card or relevant Biometric Residence Permit.
- International applicants domiciled in low-income countries
The application fee will be waived for applicants who are domiciled in low-income countries as defined by the OECD least-developed and low-income country and World Bank low-income country lists.
Requests for the application fee to be waived in any of the circumstances above can me made through the application form or by emailing admissions@st-andrews.ac.uk.
-
Applicants can disclose the details of any disabilities or specific learning needs that they have in the relevant section of the application form. The University’s Disability team will review this information.
You can declare a disability or long-term medical condition before or after starting your course, but the University cannot guarantee that resources will be available when you arrive if you don’t declare before you start. Email the Advice and Support Centre (ASC) at theasc@st-andrews.ac.uk as soon as you can to ensure the University will have enough time to make reasonable adjustments.
Applications are assessed purely on academic merit. The impact of a disability will be considered only after a final decision has been made on your application.