Course type
International Year Zero
This is the University’s own intensive pre-degree programme which prepares international students for undergraduate study in the UK and at the University of St Andrews in particular. Students who complete the programme successfully, progress to the first year of an undergraduate degree.
Additional information on course dates
The schedule for this programme differs slightly from the standard University semester dates. All weeks from the programme start date to end date are teaching or assessment weeks, other than the following:
- February vacation: Monday 3 March to Friday 7 March 2025
Dates may be subject to change.
This course is for
International students who are academically able, but whose high school qualification is not recognised for application to an undergraduate degree at the University of St Andrews.
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
See typical academic requirements for the Science (International Year Zero) - Intensive Study programme. If your qualification is not shown, email ifp@st-andrews.ac.uk about the grades needed from your high school system.
You can demonstrate that you have met the academic requirements with a high school transcript from your final year at school. Any high school qualification you use as evidence of your academic ability should be from the last year you attended high school and dated within the previous three years.
You should apply before your final results are available, as the University can make you a conditional offer based on your past exam performance and predicted grades.
English language requirement
All International Foundation offer-holders must submit a Secure English Test (SELT) as evidence of their English language ability, unless they have a UK passport.
See a list of approved English language tests and required scores for this programme.
You do not need to have your result when you apply, as this can be a condition of an offer made by the University.
Do I need to have studied this subject before?
You need to have studied sciences at school. Strong grades in relevant subjects like mathematics or integrated sciences would make your application more competitive.
Application requirements
The University will ask you to provide the following documents as part of your application:
- your most recent high school transcript
- a personal statement
- an academic reference from your high school on their letterhead or from a school email
- an English language test result.
Application deadline
The deadline for applications is Friday 29 November 2024. You only need to provide your high school transcript and personal statement when you submit your application. You can provide your academic reference and your English language evidence later.
Course details
This programme is designed to help international students succeed as undergraduates in scientific disciplines.
The course aims to ensure that you develop analytical, communication and research skills, and the study techniques needed for your degree. The structure of the programme provides dedicated support in the first semester, when it is most needed, and will progressively encourage you to work independently and collaboratively.
The programme's modules will prepare you for your future degree subject, and train you to research and communicate your ideas effectively.
In this programme, you will:
- look at different academic texts, including research papers, textbooks, webpages and essays, and you will be asked to write some of these too
- consider how convincing arguments in science are constructed and will discuss the ethical issues involved, including the use of artificial intelligence
- learn how to present and discuss ideas with other students to improve your confidence in academic tutorials and seminars.
Modules
All students will study the same compulsory modules:
- Communicating in Academic Contexts 2: helps you further develop and practise productive and receptive academic oral communication skills that you will need in your degree programme.
- Research and Writing for Humanities and Science 2: builds on the skills, strategies and language introduced and developed in Research and Writing in Humanities and Science 1. There will be a focus on building critical reading skills. You will also be guided in the formation of a subject-based and level-appropriate research question or hypothesis.
- Foundation Mathematics: aims to introduce students to basic mathematical techniques and methods that they require for further study of mathematics and other subjects, with an emphasis on differential and integral calculus.
- Foundation Statistics: provides an introduction to statistical methods for students who may be choosing maths, business or other science subjects, or who have an interest in how data is presented in the media. It uses real-life examples to better understand descriptive statistics, probability theory, hypothesis testing and inferential statistics.
- Foundation Organic Chemistry: introduces you to the key concepts of organic chemistry. The course will develop students' existing understanding of structure and bonding of covalently bonded molecules, and introduce them to a range of spectroscopic methods for determining the structure of organic compounds.
- Foundation Inorganic and Physical Chemistry: develops students' existing knowledge and understanding of inorganic and physical chemistry. It also provides a useful introduction to many of the chemical concepts used in organic and biological chemistry courses.
The modules listed here are indicative, and there is no guarantee they will run for 2025 entry. Module content is subject to change. Take a look at the most up-to-date modules in the module catalogue.
Teaching
Classes take place Monday to Friday between 9am and 6pm. You will spend approximately 16 hours per week on focused learning activities like live lectures, laboratory practicals, seminars or tutorials. Seminar classes are typically scheduled in groups of no more than 16 students.
As well as your timetabled classes, you will be expected to complete approximately 20 to 25 hours of independent study each week. As a fully matriculated student, you have access to the University’s libraries and study areas, but you will also work with the University's online learning tools (Moodle and Microsoft Teams).
Students are expected to do the following to prepare for classes and consolidate their learning:
- read and take notes from online or hard copy textbooks, articles, and other online sources as required
- undertake additional research and self-study through the University library and online
- complete a range of homework tasks, individually and in groups
- engage with feedback on both formative and summative assessments.
There are assessments as part of each module. These may include:
- academic essays
- end-of-module examinations (in-person or online)
- tests
- speaking and listening exam
- integrated skills exams (which include reading and writing on a topic)
- leading and participating in seminars
- a presentation
- research projects
- lab/practical or field trip reports
The grade from each module contributes to the final programme grade. Your course handbook will include further information on assessment.
Undergraduates at the University of St Andrews must achieve at least 7.0 on the St Andrews 20-point grade scale to pass a module. To gain access to Honours-level modules, students must achieve the relevant requisites as specified in the policy on entry to Honours and in the relevant programme requirements.
To find out the classification equivalent of points, please see the common reporting scale.
The University’s Student Services team can help students with additional needs resulting from disabilities, long-term medical conditions or learning disabilities. More information can be found on the students with disabilities web page.
Fees
The tuition fee for 2025 entry is £18,840. This fee includes:
- access to all University facilities
- a transfer from Edinburgh or Glasgow airport, or Leuchars train station, when you first arrive
- the use of course books, handouts and other course materials.
See further information on how to pay your International Foundation fees.
Accommodation
The International Education Institute recommends that you request an en suite single room with either a self-catered or catered package as this ensures you have a place close to your classes and with other International Foundation students.
University accommodation is guaranteed for International Foundation students.
See further information on the International Foundation accommodation web page.
Scholarships
Next-Step International Foundation programme (IFP) scholarship
Applicants to this programme can apply for a Next-Step IFP scholarship. We offer one individual award for January-entry students. The award is paid in two payments, one at the start of the foundation programme and another one on progression to a qualifying undergraduate degree at the University of St Andrews.
For students on this programme, the qualifying undergraduate degrees are: BSc Chemistry, MGeol Earth Sciences, BSc Environmental Sciences.
Email ifp@st-andrews.ac.uk for more information.
Kinnessburn Scholarship
Students who successfully complete their International Foundation programme and move onto an undergraduate degree at the University of St Andrews, may be eligible to apply for the Kinnessburn Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to two students annually in July. It provides a partial fee waiver for each year of study on an undergraduate programme at the University of St Andrews, and an Ambassador's role.
Undergraduate scholarships
During their first semester, students on the International Foundation programme will receive a conditional offer for a relevant undergraduate degree programme at St Andrews. With this offer, students can apply to any of the undergraduate scholarships for which they are eligible.
The University of St Andrews offers a number of scholarships and support packages to students each year.
Your future
Studying your degree at the University of St Andrews
Students can progress onto the first year of an undergraduate degree programme in:
To progress onto a degree at the University of St Andrews, students must achieve the required grades for their chosen subject.
The requirements are:
- an overall GPA of 11.0
- a minimum of 7.0 in each module
- a minimum of 11.0 in English for Academic Purposes (EAP) modules.
Individual degree programmes will have module-specific requirements. These will be provided in your course handbook at the start of the programme.
All grades on the programmes are calculated using the University's 20-point scale.
Students have the potential to progress onto a single or joint (two subjects) Honours degree programme.
Your undergraduate offer
Students entering the Science (International Year Zero) programme in January 2025 will receive a conditional offer for a place on their intended degree programme at the University of St Andrews starting in September 2025.
When you successfully complete the programme with the required grade listed above, your offer to enter the degree programme at St Andrews will become unconditional.
Join a live question and answer session
The International Education Institute offers question and answer sessions to prospective International Foundation students who would like more information about St Andrews, university life and the application process at the University.
Meet us in your country
Staff of the University of St Andrews are always pleased to meet prospective students in person. We visit many schools, colleges and higher education fairs to talk about the University and provide support and information for those thinking about applying.
Find out how you can meet us in your country.
Online information events
Join us for one of our information events where you can find out about different levels of study and specific courses we run.
The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.
Contact us
- ifp@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Address
- International Education Institute
University of St Andrews
Kinnessburn
Kennedy Gardens
St Andrews
KY16 9DJ