University of St Andrews Direct Enroll

More Information on the University of St Andrews Direct Enroll Program

The University of St Andrews is a highly ranked institution steeped in tradition and with a global outlook, offering students a flexible degree structure in a historic, safe and welcoming setting.

St Andrews offers a unique experience for international students. With a reputation for world-class teaching, your academic studies will be both rigorous and rewarding. You will have the opportunity to embrace new perspectives and challenge your own ideas while exploring a wide range of subjects.

Studying abroad also offers a wonderful opportunity to experience different cultures in a new setting. Nestled on the east coast of Scotland, St Andrews provides an intimate and friendly environment for your study abroad adventures. With historic buildings juxtaposed against modern facilities, along with the many student traditions, St Andrews offers a truly unforgettable way to experience Scotland.

Read more about studying abroad at St Andrews here, or check out their study abroad brochure.

International students are welcome to study at St Andrews for a semester or the full academic year.

Semester 1 (or Martinmas): September to December

Exams – December

Semester 2 (or Candlemas): Late January to May (includes two-week Spring vacation)

Exams – April and May

Verify the exact term dates here.

You must meet the admissions standards outlined by the program to which you are applying. Requirements vary; review St Andrews' requirements to ensure that you meet them before applying.

MISTI applicants need to:

Have a GPA of 4.0 or above
In good academic standing
In good judicial standing
Up to date with the Communication Requirement
Up to date with HASS courses

Contact MISTI if you have questions about your particular situation.

Application process is a two-part process:

Apply through MISTI for approval to study abroad. Apply by the deadline for the term in which you plan to study abroad.
Apply directly to St Andrews by the stated deadline for the program/term you wish to study abroad.

Study Options

Read this overview of the way that course loads and module selection operates at St Andrews.

Students apply for one of the 3 Faculties at St Andrews: Arts, Divinity, or Sciences. Once you apply to a faculty, however, you are not tied to that faculty. You should apply to the faculty that you hope to take the majority of your credits in but a student can take an arts, a divinity, and a science module if that fits your requirements.

See the Module Catalogue for a full list of the courses available to you.

A full course load is 60 credits (30 European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) per semester or 120 credits per academic year. This translates to around three to four modules per semester, depending on the weighting of each module. As an exchange or study abroad student, you can take modules from Faculties other than your own (except Medicine) where the timetable allows and where you have the appropriate background.

Transfer Credit

Information on the transfer credit process at MIT can be found here.

Grades are usually released approximately 4 weeks after the exam period. Transcripts are usually available in late June/July.

For this program, you will pay for tuition, accommodation, and other living expenses directly to the University of St Andrews or in-country (depending on the category of expense) and not to MIT.

Financial aid is portable for this program. A few months before departure, SFS and MISTI will share with students the most up-to-date budget for participation on the program based on an agreement with the University of St Andrews.

Admitted students who receive financial aid should make an appointment with the financial aid representative to whom they are assigned to discuss the particulars.

Undergraduate exchange and study abroad students are guaranteed University accommodation if they apply by Accommodation Service deadlines.

Confirmation of allocated accommodation is sent to incoming students throughout the summer period (for semester one or full year entry) and January (for semester two entry).

You can also try to find your own private accommodation in St Andrews.

UK Visa

More information about the visa requirements can be found here: UK Visa Information.

UK ETA

Starting January 8th 2025, US passport holders (and many other nations) will need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation in order to enter the UK. It typically takes 3 business days to process (but be prepared in advance, because it occasionally takes longer).

Do not simply google “UK ETA” and click on the first sponsored link, as this will take you to third party services which will charge you an exorbitant and unnecessary fee to process. Rather, please visit this UK government website, download the UK ETA app on your smartphone, and follow the instructions. The cost is $13/£10.

Once approved, you will get an email confirming you have got an ETA. It will be linked to the passport you applied with. Your ETA lasts for 2 years. You can enter the UK as many times as you want during that time, up to 6 months stay.