How to Apply for Economics at the University of St Andrews: Four-Year BSc and MA in the Business School with the Same Grades and No Required Subject, Plus Other Subjects in First Year, for UK, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

The University of St Andrews is in Scotland, and undergraduate economics is taught by the University of St Andrews Business School. Economics is offered both as a Bachelor of Science (BSc, Faculty of Science) and a Master of Arts (MA, Faculty of Arts). Scottish degrees usually take four years: the first two (sub-honours) include other subjects alongside your main one, and the last two are the Honours years. This guide follows the St Andrews website for 2027 entry and covers UK applicants, international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students.

1. Which economics degrees you can apply for

• Economics BSc (Honours): UCAS code L102, four years full time, Faculty of Science.
• Economics MA (Honours): UCAS code L100, four years full time, Faculty of Arts. St Andrews says Economics and Financial Economics are available as both BSc and MA and that the content is the same; apply for the BSc if you want to combine economics with Science subjects and for the MA to combine it with Arts subjects. The entry requirements and the chance of an offer are the same for all single Honours degrees.
• Financial Economics BSc (Honours): UCAS code L161, four years; there is also a Financial Economics MA (its code was not read for this guide; check the website). In the Honours years of Financial Economics you must take four compulsory modules: Econometrics, Asset Pricing, Corporate Finance and Portfolio Management.
• Economics BA (International Honours): the subject page lists this degree, and the fees page describes the BA International Honours as joint with the College of William & Mary. Its requirements, length and application route were not read for this guide; check its course page.
• Joint degrees: economics can be combined with other subjects. Examples on the course page (UCAS codes): BSc—Economics and Mathematics GLC1, Computer Science and Economics GL41, Economics and Statistics GL31, Economics and Management LNC2, Economics and Psychology LC18, Biology and Economics CL11, Financial Economics and Management NL23, Financial Economics and Mathematics L114; MA—Economics and Mathematics GL11, Economics and International Relations LL12, Economics and Philosophy LV15, Economics and Management NL21, Economics and Statistics GLH1, Economics and Psychology CL81, Financial Economics and Management NL22, Financial Economics and Mathematics L113. Many more Arts combinations are listed on the course page.
• Management and computer science have their own degrees at St Andrews and appear here only through the joint degrees. Postgraduate courses are not covered.
• Choosing a subject: you apply directly to a specific degree and UCAS code; in first year you take economics plus two other subjects, not a general intake sorted later.

2. Course structure

• First year: Macroeconomics and Microeconomics, plus two other subjects.
• Second year: Intermediate Macroeconomics, Intermediate Microeconomics, Mathematics for Economists (calculus and algebra) and Statistics for Economists (statistical methods and regression); you usually continue at least one other subject, sometimes two.
• Honours years (3 and 4): single Honours students must take Econometrics; options include behavioural economics, game theory, development economics, health economics, international trade, public economics, mathematical economics and economics of the environment. In fourth year you may also do a dissertation or research project.
• Teaching and assessment: first- and second-year lectures run to about 100 to 500 students, with laboratories and small-group tutorials of 15 to 20; at Honours level lectures have 10 to 170 students, with about six hours of lectures a week and three hours of tutorials or labs fortnightly. Almost all modules are assessed by at least 50% written exams, the rest by essays, presentations and group projects; the School aims to give feedback within three weeks.
• Overseas study: economics students can apply to the University-wide St Andrews Abroad programme and may also join the School Abroad exchange programme. The course pages do not mention a placement year.

3. Entry requirements and prerequisites (2027 entry)

• Standard (international applicants use this): SQA Highers AAAAB; A-levels AAA; IB 38 points (HL 6,6,6). The Economics BSc, Economics MA and Financial Economics BSc pages show the same Standard grades; the pages list no specific required subject.
• Minimum (widening access applicants, Economics BSc page): Highers AABB; A-levels ABB; IB 36 (HL 6,5,5).
• Prior study: no previous experience in economics is required, but advanced school mathematics is an advantage and an ability to learn mathematical skills is essential.
• General requirements: SQA National 5 (B) in English and one of Biology, Chemistry, Computing Science, Geography, Applications of Mathematics, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology; or GCSE (5) in English language or literature and one of Biology, Chemistry, Computing Science, Geography, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology; or equivalent.
• Admissions tests and interviews: the economics course pages read for this guide do not mention an admissions test or interview; the application page says most applicants are not interviewed and economics is not among the exceptions.
• Direct entry to second year: economics does not appear on the University’s list of courses that allow direct entry to second year.
• English profile: the BSc is in the Faculty of Science (profile 7-D) and the MA in the Faculty of Arts (profile 3-D), with different scores; see the English section below.

UK applicants (A-levels, SQA Highers and Advanced Highers, IB)

• Every course page lists requirements for SQA Highers, GCE A-levels and the IB, and St Andrews accepts a broad range of other qualifications; check the entry requirements page by country.
• UK applicants use the University’s qualification indicator to see whether Standard, Minimum or Gateway applies. The course pages do not give separate grades for England, Wales and Northern Ireland; they distinguish only qualification type and entry level.
• General requirements (all programmes): SQA National 5 (B) in English plus one subject from the list on the course page, or GCSE (5) in English language or literature plus one subject from the list on the course page, or equivalent.
• Fee status is Scottish, RUK (England, Wales, Northern Ireland) or Overseas; see the fees section below. Scottish undergraduate degrees take four years: the first two (sub-honours) let you take other subjects alongside your main one, and the last two are the Honours years.

International applicants

• Use the Standard requirements: the UCAS page says applicants from other countries and territories should use the Standard entry requirements. St Andrews always lists SQA Highers, A-levels and the IB, and accepts a broad range of other qualifications; check its entry requirements page for your country.
• English: see the English language section below.
• Proof of funds: St Andrews says international students must show sufficient funds for their studies when applying for a student visa. The amount and documents are not given on the pages used for this guide; check the UK visa website and St Andrews’ visa pages.
• Qualification verification: St Andrews may request supporting documents at any stage of the process. Beyond the China page and what is written here, any verification-agency requirement is not given on the pages used for this guide.

Applicants from China

• What the China page says: if you have graduated from a high school with a national school leaving certificate, St Andrews also expects one of the following: the University’s own International Foundation Programme certificate; a US curriculum profile (one form of standardised testing plus a transcript with A to B+ grades: AP three subjects at 4+ and 5 in required subjects; SAT Subject Tests three subjects at 650+ with 700+ in required subjects; ACT 28+; redesigned SAT 1320); IB 36 (HL 6,6,5) to 38 (HL 6,6,6 plus SL 6,6,6); A-levels AAB to A*A*A; or SQA Highers AAAB to AAAAB. You must also meet the requirements on the course page of your chosen programme.
• Gaokao: the China page lists no Gaokao score or percentage, and whether the Gaokao can be used on its own is not published. The page also says each application is considered on its own merit; email the China team (china@st-andrews.ac.uk) to ask.
• The China page gives University-wide ranges; for a specific programme, follow the grades on its course page below rather than applying the ranges to it.
• International Foundation Programmes: the course pages say these prepare international students from many countries for undergraduate study, and reaching the threshold score gives entry to a degree. The Foundation Programmes’ own entry requirements, fees and threshold scores are not given on the pages used for this guide; check the Foundation Programme pages on the St Andrews website. Completing the programme with the threshold score also exempts you from an English test (see the English section).
• English and pre-sessional courses: your offer may require a 10-week or 4-week pre-sessional course. For a student visa you need a UKVI-approved Secure English Language Test (SELT); some tests St Andrews accepts may not be accepted by UKVI.
• Contacts and agents: the page lists agents in mainland China (IDP, ISA, JESIE, Liu Cheng and UKEC) and the China representatives’ contact details; the China team’s email is china@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Routes, deadlines and documents (September 2027 entry)

• Three routes: UCAS (St Andrews’ UCAS name is STA, institution code S36); overseas students may also use the Common Application or St Andrews’ direct application, and each counts as one of your five UK choices. The transfer page adds that the direct application can be used if you are classed as Overseas and St Andrews is the only UK university you apply to; applying to more than one UK university means using UCAS. For UCAS fees and procedure, check the UCAS website.
• Equal consideration deadline: the UCAS page gives 6pm (GMT) on 13 January 2027 (Medicine has a separate deadline of 15 October 2026). It adds that international applications after that date may still be considered where places remain, depending on subject and course availability. Another page (Academic entry explained) lists 14 January for other UK applicants and 30 June for other international applicants, which differs from the UCAS page; both are given here, so check the course page and the UCAS page when you apply and confirm with Admissions.
• Documents: grades achieved or predicted, a personal statement and a reference (required; an application without one is incomplete). The UCAS personal statement answers three questions. For the 2027 cycle, documents uploaded to UCAS are not an official submission route to St Andrews, so the University may ask you to upload them to the ‘my application’ portal or email myapplication@st-andrews.ac.uk. If St Andrews contacts you about SAT, ACT or AP scores, unofficial score reports are accepted.
• Interviews: most applicants are not interviewed; the exceptions are Medicine, supported pathway programmes and part-time study.
• Decisions: applicants who apply by the relevant equal consideration deadline receive a decision by May of the year of application.
• Deferred entry: St Andrews expects you to apply in the academic year immediately before you intend to start; if you take a gap year, it recommends applying during the gap year and explaining the gap in your personal statement.

How to read the three entry levels

• Each course page lists Standard, Minimum and Gateway entry grades: Standard is what most applicants need; Minimum is for applicants who qualify as widening access students; Gateway is a bridging programme for applicants who narrowly miss the Minimum grades but meet contextual criteria.
• Applicants from other countries and transfer applicants use the Standard requirements, as both the UCAS page and the transfer page state.
• Widening access criteria include living in an area under-represented at St Andrews by postcode, attending a school or college with low progression to St Andrews, taking part in the listed widening access programmes, being care experienced, or having caring responsibilities. The guaranteed offer scheme applies only to applicants who declare a care-experienced background, or who live in the 20% most deprived areas of Scotland (SIMD20) and attend a school with 30% or lower progression to higher education, provided the subject’s minimum requirements are met and any test or interview is passed. Use the University’s qualification indicator to see whether this applies to you.
• St Andrews stresses that grades alone do not guarantee admission; it also considers context, the personal statement and the reference.

English language requirements

• You may not need a test score (Faculties of Science, Arts and Divinity) if you are a national of the UK or of a country on the UKVI list of majority English-speaking countries; if you hold an English-medium secondary school leaving qualification taken at a school with a substantial English-language environment where you were registered for at least the final two years, including at least one subject with a substantial component of writing in English; or if you completed a St Andrews International Foundation Programme with the threshold score. Otherwise you must submit a valid test score, and St Andrews may ask for further evidence.
• Test scores are normally accepted only if obtained within two years of the start date. Evidence can be sent after you apply; if you do not have it yet, English will be part of any conditional offer, and you may be required to take a pre-sessional course.
• Faculty of Science (English language profile 7-D): IELTS Academic (including One Skill Retake) 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each component; TOEFL iBT from 2026 4.5 overall with 4.0 in each, earlier tests 81 overall with Reading 16, Writing 19, Listening 16, Speaking 19; Duolingo English Test 130 (115 in each); PTE Academic 70 (64 in each); Cambridge English 176 (169 in each); LanguageCert Academic 70 (65 in each).
• Faculty of Arts (English language profile 3-D, all Schools except the School of English): IELTS Academic 7.0 overall with 6.5 in each component; TOEFL iBT from 2026 5.0 overall with 4.5 in each, earlier tests 91 overall with Reading 19, Writing 23, Listening 19, Speaking 22; Duolingo English Test 140 (130 in each); PTE Academic 79 (76 in each); Cambridge English 185 (176 in each).
• A student visa needs a UKVI-approved Secure English Language Test (SELT); some tests St Andrews accepts may not be accepted by UKVI.

Fees and scholarships

• Overseas (international) students: each course page lists “EU and overseas” at £34,910 a year. The international students’ fees page says tuition for 2026-2027 in the Faculties of Arts, Divinity and Science is £33,250, and that fees are adjusted annually, typically by 3% to 5%. The two figures differ, so check the latest figure on the website when you apply.
• Students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland (RUK): course pages list £10,050 (“yet to be confirmed by the UK Government”); the English students’ page says 2026-2027 fees are expected to be £9,790. Eligible English students can apply for a tuition fee loan (full-time, normally living in England, first degree).
• Scottish students: course pages say fees are yet to be confirmed by the Scottish Government; the Scottish students’ page gives £1,820 for 2025-2026 and says the 2026-2027 fee will be published when confirmed. Eligible Scottish students (normally living in Scotland, full-time, first degree) may have fees paid by the Scottish Government through SAAS. The exact 2027 entry figure is not published on the pages used for this guide; check the University’s fees page.
• Scholarships: St Andrews lists international scholarships covering full or partial tuition and funding for UK students; what you can get depends on programme, residence, household income, academic record and fee status. It advises not to wait for an offer before applying; after you apply, use ‘My Scholarships and Funding’ in the my application portal. Individual award names and amounts are in the scholarships catalogue and were not checked one by one for this guide.
• Other costs: accommodation and living costs are your own; international students must show sufficient funds for their studies when applying for a student visa.

Transfer students

• St Andrews accepts only a small number of transfer applications each year; places are limited and entry is competitive. Transfer students usually need an exceptional academic record and a valid reason for moving, and must already hold the minimum grades and subject prerequisites for the programme. Applicants from other countries use the Standard requirements.
• You cannot transfer into the final year of a four-year degree, and transfer into the Faculty of Medicine is not possible.
• The routes are the same as for first-year entry (UK applicants use UCAS; overseas-fee applicants whose only UK choice is St Andrews can use the direct application). Your personal statement should say you are applying to transfer and why, and your current institution goes in the ‘Your education so far’ section.
• Supplementary documents to send directly: a second academic reference or referee’s report; a detailed transcript from your current university (with an explanation of any non-standard grading); for international students, a high school transcript with final-year grades; and your syllabus, so that St Andrews can establish which of your courses are common to its degree. It will transfer credits where possible; how many is not published on the pages used for this guide, so ask Admissions.
• The deadline is also 6pm (GMT) on 13 January 2027; places are rarely available after January, and international transfer applications after that date may be waitlisted.

Checklist

UK applicants:

• Decide between the BSc (L102), MA (L100) and Financial Economics (L161 and others) and copy the UCAS code correctly; use the Highers, A-level or IB line that applies to you, and build a solid school mathematics base
• Submit by 6pm (GMT) on 13 January 2027; a reference is required

International applicants (including China):

• AAA at A-level or IB 38 (HL 6,6,6), or another qualification St Andrews accepts; applicants from China should first email china@st-andrews.ac.uk about the Gaokao, or consider the International Foundation Programmes
• An English test score (BSc: IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 in each component; MA: IELTS 7.0 with 6.5 in each) or a qualifying exemption
• Apply through UCAS, the Common App or the direct application; do not wait for an offer to apply for scholarships

Transfer students:

• Relevant results; apply by 13 January with a second reference, university transcript and syllabus

Sources: University of St Andrews, Economics BSc; Economics MA; Financial Economics BSc; Economics and finance subject page; How to apply; Applying through UCAS; Academic entry explained; Entry requirements: China; Undergraduate English language requirements; International students: fees; English students: fees; Scottish students: fees; Scholarships; Transfer students; Direct entry into second year. Information is for September 2027 entry; where a page prints no year, check that the date applies to 2027 entry. Check St Andrews for the latest details.