Computer Science (International Year One)

Program Overview

Computer Science (International Year One) September 2025 entry

Overview

This programme will introduce you to university teaching and research, with the aim of preparing you for an undergraduate degree in computer science and potential career options such as business analysis, software development and project management.

Entry Requirements

Academic Requirements

• See typical academic requirements for this programme.
• You can demonstrate that you have met the academic requirements with a high school transcript from your final year at school.
• Any high school qualification you use as evidence of your academic ability should be from the last year you attended high school 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 do not need a student visa to study in the UK.
• See a list of approved English language tests and required scores for this programme.

Do I Need to Have Studied This Subject Before?

• You need to have studied sciences at school.
• Strong grades in mathematics, computer science or integrated sciences would make your application more competitive.

Application Requirements

• The University will ask you to provide the following documents as part of your application:
  • Your most recent high school transcript
  • A personal statement
  • An academic reference from your high school on their letterhead or from a school email
  • Your official English language test result

Application Deadline

• The deadline for applications is Monday 14 July 2025.
• You only need to provide your high school transcript and personal statement when you submit your application.
• You can provide your academic reference and your English language evidence later.

Course Details

Course Type: International Year One

• This is the University’s own pre-degree programme which prepares international students for undergraduate study in the UK and at the University of St Andrews in particular.
• Upon successful completion, students progress onto the second year of an eligible undergraduate degree.

Course Dates

• The schedule for this programme differs slightly from the standard University semester dates.
• From the programme start date to end date there will be teaching, in-class revision or assessment weeks, and independent learning weeks.
• There will also be winter vacation and inter-semester weeks, and a Spring vacation week in Semester 2.
• Detailed information is provided in programme handbook, and may be subject to change.

Who is This Course For?

• International students who are academically able, but whose high school qualification is not recognised for application to an undergraduate degree at the University of St Andrews.

Modules

Semester 1

• Mathematics A: introduces you to key concepts and methods that will be required for further study in mathematics and other sciences.
• Object-Oriented Programming: includes problem-solving skills, programming basics and object-oriented concepts, modelling and programming.
• Communicating in Academic Contexts 1: helps you develop and practise productive and receptive academic spoken communication skills to use within the International Foundation programme and in your undergraduate programme.
• Research and Writing for Science A: explores a range of academic functions, including features of academic style and organisation, academic grammar and vocabulary.

Semester 2

• Mathematics B: following on from Mathematics A in the first semester, this module will cover matrices, limits, vectors, and sequences and series.
• Programming with Data: explores various aspects of data storage, processing and analysis.
• 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 Science B: further develops the skills introduced in Research and Writing Skills for Science A in Semester 1.

Teaching

• Classes take place Monday to Friday between 9am and 6pm.
• You will spend approximately 16 hours per week on focused learning activities.
• As well as your timetabled classes, you will be expected to complete approximately 20 to 25 hours of independent study each week.

Fees

• The tuition fee for 2025 entry is £26,380.
• 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

Your Future

Studying Your Degree at the University of St Andrews

• Students who meet the requirements for second year entry in the Faculty of Science have the option to progress onto a single Honours degree.
• Students on this programme can progress onto the following degrees:
  • BSc (Honours) Computer Science
  • MSci (Honours) Computer Science

Your Undergraduate Offer

• Students entering the Computer Science (International Year One) programme in September 2025 will receive a conditional offer in Semester 1 for a place on their intended degree programme at the University of St Andrews starting in September 2026.
• When you successfully complete the programme with the required grades, your offer to enter the degree programme at St Andrews will become unconditional.