Saints Abroad

The Saints Abroad programme gives eligible students the opportunity to study at a partner university overseas for credit as part of their degree.

Students may spend one semester or a full academic year abroad, usually during Junior Honours year. The options available to you depend on your degree programme, School requirements and the places available.

Where can I go?

Study abroad options

Through Saints Abroad, you can apply for opportunities to study in over 70 countries and territories around the world.

Study abroad opportunities are not available to students studying Medicine.

What options are available

You may be able to study abroad for:

one semester
a full academic year

The options available to you will depend on your degree programme.

Some exchange programmes are open to students across the University. Others are only available to students in specific subjects.

When you can study abroad

Study abroad usually takes place during Junior Honours.

Some degree programmes in the Faculty of Science may have different arrangements.

Availability by subject

Study abroad options vary by subject.

Schools and departments decide which opportunities are suitable for their students, based on how well the study abroad programme fits with the 精东传媒 curriculum.

This means some subjects will have more study abroad options than others.

Find out more

Students interested in the 精东传媒 Abroad programme should attend the annual Study Abroad event in October.

The Global Office will email more details to all second-year students at the start of Semester 1.

You can also check the for updates in October.

Investigate subject and partner university restrictions

If you are applying for the University of California, please ensure that you read the programme page carefully.

You cannot apply if you are Joint Honours and both of your subjects are impacted.

Ensure you read all of the information below carefully to ensure that you are aware of any restrictions for your degree programme.

精东传媒 Abroad programmes are available to both Joint and Single Honours students.

However, Single Honours students who wish to apply to the University of California are unable to select UCLA or Berkley when shortlisting campuses.

Financial Economics degrees

For students on the
- Financial Economics degree
- Financial Economics and Mathematics degree
participation at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology is subject to identifying suitable Finance modules that can replace core compulsory requirements.

If this is not possible, you may need to plan your exchange so that these modules can be taken at St Andrews. For example, by going abroad for one semester only.
Geography and Sustainable Development students are encouraged to speak to the School’s Study Abroad Adviser before applying.

Study abroad is open to both Single Honours and Joint Honours students.
- Single Honours students planning to go abroad for one semester, please note that you may miss required elements of your degree, so early and careful planning is essential.
- Joint Honours students often have greater flexibility, but your third-year module choices can affect what is available to you in fourth year.
All students should choose their modules carefully to ensure they are well prepared for their final year and should liaise with the School when planning their studies.
Four-year, fast-track MMath

Study abroad is not available to students on the four-year fast-track MMath programme.

Five-year MMath

Students on five-year MMath programmes may undertake a study abroad period in their first Honours year (third year).

Direct entry MMath

Direct entry MMath students may study abroad in their third year only and must discuss their plans with the School’s Study Abroad Adviser before applying.

Direct entry

Direct entry applicants should note the following requirements:
- passes at first attempt in any module from MT2501 to MT2508, with the average of the best four grades of those taken being 15 or higher and no more than two grades of those taken below 11
- students applying to the University of California should note that Berkeley is not available as a campus choice
- Purdue University is only open to Joint Honours students
Modern Languages programmes

Modern Languages students applying to Modern Languages programmes are not required to meet the standard 13.5 grade threshold. However, all students must make Honours entry and meet the conditions set out in their offer letter.

University-wide exchange programmes

Students applying to university-wide exchange programmes, or those offered through other academic Schools, must meet the 13.5 grade requirement. At present, Persian students only have access to university-wide exchange options.

Five-year Modern Languages WIYA

Students on a five-year Modern Languages WIYA (With Integrated Year Abroad) programme will complete a work placement as part of their degree.

Those studying two languages may also have the opportunity to undertake a study abroad placement in their second language during Semester 2 of fourth year. For example, a joint French and Italian WIYA student might undertake a British Council placement in France in third year, followed by a semester of study at a university in Italy in Semester 2 of fourth year.
Grade requirements

Physics and Astronomy students should note that all study abroad offers are conditional on meeting the relevant grade requirements.

For Level 2 students applying to study abroad in Junior Honours:
- passes at a mean grade of 15 or better in PH2011 and PH2012
- passes at a mean grade of 15 or better in MT2501 and MT2503
For Junior Honours students applying to study abroad in Senior Honours, you must maintain a credit-weighted mean of 15 or better.

All Semester 1 grades from the academic year within which you apply for study abroad will be reviewed by the Physics Study Abroad Adviser. Offers will be withdrawn for students who don’t meet these minimum grade standards, whether in January or in June.

These requirements are intended to ensure that you have the best chance of success at our partner institutions where teaching styles and expectations can vary.

Partner-specific requirements

National University of Singapore

Students wishing to study at the National University of Singapore may do so in Semester 2 of Junior Honours or Semester 1 of Senior Honours only.

You are advised to discuss the most suitable option with your Study Abroad Adviser before applying.

Macquarie University and the University of Melbourne

BSc and MPhys Physics students applying to Macquarie University and the University of Melbourne must study abroad for the full academic year.

This placement will take place across Semester 2 of Junior Honours and Semester 1 of Senior Honours.

Junior Honours students must either have completed MT2506 (Vector Calculus) at sub-honours level or be willing to undertake preparatory study over the summer before departure (with support from the School, if required).

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

At the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, most Junior Honours BSc and MPhys students are required to study abroad for the full academic year, while Senior Honours MPhys students may study in Semester 2 only.

Junior Honours students must have completed MT2506 (Vector Calculus), or be willing to undertake summer preparation (with School support, up to a maximum of five 精东传媒 credits’ effort).

Discuss your options

All applicants should consult the School’s Study Abroad Adviser to discuss their options and ensure appropriate preparation.

Tuition fees

If you take part in an approved Saints Abroad programme, you will normally pay your usual 精东传媒 tuition fee for the full academic year.

You will not usually pay tuition fees to your host university.

Find out more on the funding and scholarships page.

Exception

Students taking part in the Russian Language Undergraduate Studies (RLUS) programme are required to pay tuition fees to their host university. However, students in this category will pay a reduced tuition fee to St Andrews while on placement.

Choosing the right opportunity

Use the where can I go? search to check the study abroad options available for your subject.

You should also contact your School's Study Abroad Adviser to discuss how studying abroad may affect your degree.

Where can I go?

How to apply

You must complete the Outbound Study Abroad application form in if you want to:

study abroad
undertake a With Integrated Year Abroad (WIYA) placement in Modern Languages

Choosing your subject in the application

Joint Honours students

If you are on a Joint Honours programme but wish to study only one subject abroad, please select this subject from the list on the first page of the application.

This will not change your degree to Single Honours.

Please note that this would be for one semester only.

Changing your degree programme

If you intend to change your degree programme, select your new degree intention from the list on the first page of the application.

You should also contact your Adviser regarding a change of degree programme.

Before you continue

You cannot click ‘back’ in the application.

Make sure you are happy with your answers before you continue to the next section.

Before you apply

Before you complete the form, you must:

read the application guidance
wait until the application system opens on 1 October

Do not submit your application before the application system opens.

Minimum GPA requirement

You must have an average grade point average (GPA) of 13.5 from first year in the subject you intend to take to Honours.

Please note that this minimum grade requirement does not apply for Modern Languages study abroad programmes.

If your GPA is below 13.5

If your GPA is below 13.5 and you have extenuating circumstances, contact your Study Abroad Adviser before you apply.

How your GPA is calculated

The application system will count all modules within a particular subject area and not only core requirements.

For example:

if your degree intention is in Sustainable Development
and you also took Geography modules in first year
these modules will be taken into consideration in the GPA calculation

The Associate Deans and Global Office will review all applications and consider your full academic record when determining your GPA.

Choosing your preferences

You can refer to your top choices in your application form.

Your application should show that you have researched the academic opportunities available at your preferred host institution or institutions.

Application deadline

The deadline for applications to study abroad in the academic year 2027–2028 will be Friday 30 October at 11.59pm.

Late applications

Check the application guidance for the deadline before you apply.

The Global Office will not consider applications submitted after the deadline.

What the selection panel considers

Study Abroad offers valuable academic and personal opportunities. It can also be challenging, so the University looks for students who can manage the demands of studying or working abroad.

Personal qualities

Selection is competitive. The selection panel looks for students who are independent, highly motivated, responsible and mature.

The panel also looks for students who will represent St Andrews well, make the most of opportunities at their host institution and take part in the host student community.

Academic motivation

Study Abroad is an academic experience. Strong applications often show clear interest in the academic opportunities available at a host institution.

Selection criteria

The selection panel will assess your application using several criteria:

academic grades
knowledge and research of the partner university
academic motivation

The selection panel will also consider any disciplinary action that you have been subject to while studying at St Andrews.

Application feedback

The Global Office cannot provide feedback on individual applications because it receives a high number of applications.

Saints Abroad offer conditions

If your application is successful, please note that all offers will be conditional upon the following:

Students must pass all modules in the academic year immediately preceding the study abroad period at the first sitting (that is without resits). In addition, all Modern Languages students studying abroad in Semester 2 of Junior Honours must pass all modules taken at 精东传媒 in Semester 1.
Students must achieve an average grade of at least 11 in Semester 1 of the academic year in which the study abroad interview takes place. This is a condition applied to all offers of a study abroad place. An offer may therefore be withdrawn following publication of the Semester 1 results in January.

Exceptions

There are some exceptions to this requirement:

Direct entry applicants must pass, at the first attempt, any modules they take from MT2501 to MT2508.

They must also meet both of the following requirements:
- the average of their best four grades from these modules must be 15 or higher
- no more than two of their grades from these modules can be below 11
Academic requirements

Higher grade requirements apply for Physics and Astronomy students.

Level 2 students applying for Junior Honours study abroad must achieve:
- a mean grade of 15 or better in PH2011 and PH2012
- a mean grade of 15 or better in MT2501 and MT2503
Junior Honours students applying for Senior Honours study abroad must maintain a credit-weighted mean of 15 or better.

Outstanding deferrals

Students with outstanding deferrals must have these completed by the end of the May exam diet prior to departure.

Pre-departure requirements

Students must:
- attend the Study Abroad pre-departure briefing session in April. 鈥疶his will take place on the Wednesday of Week 11 or 12
- sign a pre-departure agreement, confirming your acceptance of the University’s Study Abroad terms and conditions.

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