Flexible degree structure

The University of St Andrews operates on a modular degree system by which degrees are obtained through the accumulation of credits. The University's modular degree system makes undergraduate study here very flexible, and our module requirements are the same whether you are studying full time or part time.

A module is a self-contained unit of teaching, learning and assessment which is worth a fixed amount of credit. Most modules run for just one semester, and every module passed will gain you a set number of credits that will count towards your degree.

To gain an Honours degree, you will need to obtain 480 credits; to gain a General degree, you will need 360 credits. Full-time students will usually take 120 credits' worth of modules per year, which is typically 60 credits per semester. Part-time students will study half this number of credits per year.

You will be required to take a number of specified modules to gain a specialised Honours degree, but students in the Faculties of Arts, Divinity and Science will have opportunities during their study to take subjects outside of their own Faculty. There are, however, sometimes restrictions for very popular subjects because priority is always given to students already within that Faculty. Students who are not in the Faculty of Medicine will be unable to study any element of the Medicine programme. Students who are in the Faculty of Medicine are unable to take modules from outside of the Medicine programme.

Video transcript

>> CLARE: The University degree at St Andrews reflects the Scottish degree system in that students coming into first and second year can take subjects outside their intended degree specialisation.

>> Stephen: The ability to change subject choices and to put together combinations allows students really to put together quite an individual programme of study.

>> MARKUS: It really helped me to just explore different things.

>> CLARE: Our students get to widen their education at first and second year and then specialise in their degree subjects in their honours years.

>> AABIYAH: One of the best things about studying in St Andrews is the small class sizes. So you really get to know everyone really well. Everyone is so friendly and so understanding.

>> STEPHEN: It's important to think of the St Andrews education as something which teaches students to become experts in a subject, but also it teaches lots of really important transferable skills which are vital for employability.

>> JUDITH: We hand pick our students. We pick the students that we think will flourish here. And we pick few enough students that we can make sure that they do flourish here when they come.

All modules in the module catalogue have an accreditation in the ECTS. The University operates on an annual load of 120 credits, while the ECTS operates on one of 60 credits. For this reason, credits transferred to other institutions within the ECTS will be worth precisely half the number of credits shown for each module within the University of St Andrews. As the grade for each module will then be calculated according to ECTS procedures, it may not be the same grade awarded for the module by the University.

Flexible degree structure

Scottish Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme (ScotCATS)

European Credit Transfer Accumulation Systems (ECTS)