International Foundation programmes
An academic and supportive pre-degree route, preparing international students for undergraduate study in the UK.
The International Foundation Programme
Our in-house International Foundation programmes are pathway courses providing eligible overseas students with a route onto their undergraduate degree at St Andrews. The foundation programmes are open to overseas students with a high school qualification that is not recognised for direct entry to our degree programmes.
When you study your foundation with us you will:
- receive an offer of a place on an undergraduate degree at St Andrews
- get personal one-to-one tutoring during the programme to help you succeed
- learn from experienced, accredited and award-winning teachers
- choose your preferred type of accommodation but know your place is guaranteed
- be part of the University of St Andrews from day one.
"St Andrews has been an established institution for hundreds of years and is amongst the most prestigious universities in the country making it amongst my top options academically speaking. My interest in experiencing new culture is what compelled me to ultimately choose studying in St Andrews, Scotland over England or elsewhere as it provided me with a unique balance of both strong academics and a unique setting."
- Egypt, Medical Sciences (International Pre-Med)
Am I eligible for the foundation at St Andrews?
The International Foundation programmes at St Andrews are open to overseas students with a high school qualification that is not recognised for application to our degree programmes. Applicants will need to be:
- Designated as ‘overseas’ for fee purposes by the University.
- Due to leave school or have achieved high school qualification within the last three year that meets the academic requirements for the programme
You should not apply if you are studying or have achieved a qualification that we recognise for degree entry, irrespective of the grades achieved. This includes A Levels, US High School, full IB Diploma, any qualification from the EU (excluding Greece and South Cyprus) or a foundation at another UK University.
If you are not eligible for an International Foundation programme, you may be interested in exploring direct entry to our undergraduate degrees. Our Admissions team can offer advice on your individual circumstances - contact them by emailing admissions@st-andrews.ac.uk.
Next Steps:
Are you eligible for our foundation? Find out here.
Explore our international year zero, international year one and pre-med programmes
Get help with your application and find out more about what we need to see when you apply to get you a quick decision.
High success rate
Our International Foundation programmes have a high success rate and our foundation qualification is also accepted for entry to other UK universities. For those of you looking to study a degree we don’t offer at St Andrews you can still experience St Andrews but study your degree elsewhere. In the past, students have gone on to institutions including Warwick, Southampton, Leeds, UCL, and Manchester to study subjects including engineering, journalism, veterinary medicine and accountancy.