Program Overview

---

Business - Management, Economics and Finance (International Year Zero)

January 2026 entry

Overview

This intensive programme allows highly qualified applicants to complete their foundation studies in a single semester, facilitating the transition from high school to the first year of undergraduate study in a range of academic disciplines including management, economics, and financial economics.

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.

Who is the course aimed at?

This course is for international students who are academically ambitious, but whose high school qualification is not recognised for application to an undergraduate degree at St Andrews.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

Typical academic requirements for an International Year Zero - Intensive Study programme include a high school transcript from the final year at school. Any high school qualification used as evidence of academic ability should be from the last year attended and dated within the previous three years.

English language requirement

All International Foundation applicants must submit a Secure English Test (SELT) as evidence of their English language ability, unless they have a UK passport.

Do I need to have studied this subject before?

No, but candidates aiming at a degree in economics should have grades in mathematics or related subjects that demonstrate a secure grasp of numeracy.

Application requirements

The University will ask for the following documents as part of the application:

• Most recent high school transcript
• Personal statement outlining why you wish to study Business - Management, Economics and Finance at St Andrews and reflecting on your life and learning experiences to explain why you feel you would be successful on this programme
• Academic reference from your high school on their letterhead or from a school email
• English language test result

Application deadline

The deadline for applications is Monday 24 November 2025.

Course details

This intensive one-semester programme will introduce you to management and economics, giving you an opportunity to explore your strengths and interests in these fields.

Modules

The modules listed here are indicative, and there is no guarantee they will run for 2026 entry. Take a look at the most up-to-date modules in the module catalogue.

• Semester 1
  • Foundation Academic Thought in Arts and Science: enhances understanding of the key philosophical and analytical principles underpinning academic study.
  • Communicating in Academic Contexts 2: helps you further develop and practise productive and receptive academic oral communication skills that you will need to draw on in your degree programme.
  • Research and Writing for Business 2: builds on the key academic subject knowledge, skills and strategies covered in 'Research and Writing for Business 1', but with an increased focus on learner independence.
  • In addition, you will take four introductory academic modules from the following list which covers subject areas that are available to study at undergraduate level:
    • Foundation Art History
    • Foundation Economics
    • Foundation English Literature
    • Foundation International Relations
    • Foundation Management
    • Foundation Mathematics
    • Foundation Medieval History
    • Foundation Philosophy
    • Foundation Psychology 2
    • Foundation Statistics

Teaching

• Teaching format
• Assessment
• Support

You will spend approximately 16 hours per week on focused learning activities. During this time, you will experience a mixture of lectures, seminars and 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 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

The programme includes a variety of types of assessment to give you the experience of different ways of being tested such as:

• Academic essays
• End of module examinations
• Multiple-choice tests
• Presentations
• Group projects
• Leading and participating in seminars
• Research report

You will have regular coursework assignments throughout the programme, and some of these will contribute towards your final grade. Students will also have one set of examinations at the end of the programme.

You will receive feedback on practice tasks and tests to help you prepare for your assessments.

All students will receive a course handbook at the beginning of their programme. The handbook contains all relevant information on assessments, including dates, formats, and grades required.

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 2026 entry is £19,785. 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

Accommodation fees

The International Education and Lifelong Learning Institute recommends that you request an en suite single room with either a self-catered or catered package. We aim to place you close to your classes and with other International Foundation students, but will always guarantee you a place in accommodation as long as you apply before the deadline.

University accommodation is guaranteed for International Foundation students who apply by the deadline.

Students will be able to apply for accommodation from 1 September 2025. Accommodation fees for this programme will be confirmed by early July 2025.

Funding and scholarships

Kinnessburn Scholarship

Students who successfully complete an 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 scholarship

During their first semester of the International Foundation programme, students 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

There are many degree and post-study options available to successful International Foundation students.

To progress onto a degree at the University of St Andrews, students must achieve a minimum grade of 11.0 in English for Academic Purposes (EAP) modules, and a minimum grade of 7.0 in all other modules. Modules are marked according to the University’s 20-point scale.

Other specific progression requirements are provided in the course handbook at the start of the programme.

Previous International Foundation students have stayed at St Andrews to study subjects such as:

• Economics and Financial Economics
• Management
• BA International Honours

Your undergraduate offer

Students on this programme will meet with Admissions staff to confirm their degree choice and receive a conditional offer for their intended degree starting in September 2026.

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.

Studying your degree at another university

Previous International Foundation students have used their International Foundation qualification to study degrees at other universities, in subjects such as:

• Accountancy
• Business studies
• Finance
• Marketing

Start date

22 January 2026

End date

May 2026

Duration

Four months full time

School

International Education and Lifelong Learning Institute (IELLI)