So I’m applying to the William and Mary joint degree program with the University of St. Andrews, but I don’t know if I should apply to St As separately as well or not. I don’t know much about international admissions. I’ve been told that Americans have higher chances of getting in, but is that because of sky-high tuition fees? Does anyone know the average cost of a year at St As as an American or if they have financial aid or not? I’ve never researched international schools before and this is the first one that his interested me so I don’t know very much at all. I’m interested in International Relations and I’ve always wanted to study abroad in Europe, but actually going to school there is different. Has anyone actually gone to St As or studied abroad there?
This link should answer many of your questions re: tuition, aid, etc. https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/study/international/
I know several young people who attend and they have been very happy. Great IR (more competitive admissions than other majors) and beautiful location and campus. I know one person in the joint program and he prefers St. Andrews to W&M. There is very little FA/scholarship money available, though.
I think you’ll find that the full tuition on St. Andrews is comparable to the tuition to William and Mary. St Andrews is roughly $23,000 plus rm and board which is about $10,000. It is significantly less if you are having to pay out of state tuition at Wm and Mary unless you are offered scholarships. I don’t believe there is much scholarship money available for SA but you can get student loans but I’m not familiar with that. The joint program is very highly thought of and International Relations is a very popular major. I know a couple of students who started with the joint program but reapplied for second year to stay at SA only, they didn’t want to leave. I also know of a guy who first went to Wm and Mary and didn’t like the set up of SA and wanted to go back to Wm and Mary and I think he also applied to leave the program and graduate from William and Mary. It seems that the place where you start you get connected so that is something to consider. Also, you should know that there are a lot of Americans attending SA so it doesn’t feel so foreign. My daughter is a current student at St. Andrews and she is American. She loves it, loves her friends and the curriculum. She’s studying English Lit. and isn’t part of the William and Mary joint degree but did consider it. Good luck with your decision and your applications.
As @doschicos points out, there is very little finaid. In general, there is no meaningful financial aid for US students in the UK, so goings straight to StAs is really only an option if you are effectively full pay.
If you are in-state and qualify (ie, are eligible for financial aid under the usual rules) and apply through W&M, the full costs of the joint W&M/StAs program will be underwritten by W&M
If you are out of state and qualify, and apply through W&M up to 25% of the costs will be underwritten by grants by W&M.
The only loans you can get are the usual ~$5K/pa; any others your parents have to sign for.
If it helps, I am applying to both courses. As @keldipow says, the tuition for IR is about $23,000 per year. Now that’s pretty good for Americans who are used to seeing $50,000+ figures, but for British and EU peeps who pay almost nothing, $23,000 is a bit unthinkable. I visited over my spring break last year and I absolutely loved the town and the University. One website I looked at so that the average cost for everything flights, accomodation, clothes, and other essentials per year was about $40,000, and depending on your extravagance or thrift. There are scholarships that Americans undergraduate can apply for but they’re not large grants. My advice is that if you’re looking for more scholarships look at UKCISA’s website, underneath fees and funding, there’s a place where you can get a list of scholarship opportunities for international students. And UKCISA is a good resource to keep in mind, as well as the British Council for Education’s website. PM me if you have anymore questions!
Just to clarify, @AceofallTrades, Americans aren’t used to seeing $50K+ for tuition- $50 is usually tuition + room/board. Also, UK students do not pay $23K for tuition- Scottish students pay about $2300 and non-Scottish Brits /EU pay a little less than $12K. International students do pay about $26K. All of those prices are for tuition only.
You are right that on average it works out to ~$40+K for US students- which is more than W&M is for an in-state student (about $33K, though $55K for out of state).
How would you compare Beliot College to St Andrews? Any views?
I’ve estimated our first year, tuition room and board costs in US dollars as the below to compare to our US in state options:
Durham $36,668.75
St. Andrews $33,590.00
UCSB $28,431.09
Cal Poly $25,467
living costs in scotland are far better for students than in london or dublin or new york. better to be a student in scotland
Thanks to everyone who’s posted on this thread. I just received an unconditional for IR last month and am very excited. I will be applying for the international honors scholarship which I believe is full tuition, but I don’t expect to get it. Would definitely choose St. Andrews over W&M… W&M is one of my safety schools and it just doesn’t attract as much diversity as SA which is an amazing international hub
I have also been told by a W&M admissions officer that I would not be eligible for in-state tuition for the two years I would attend the college if I did the dual-degree program. It really sucks and I don’t think it’s worth it.
St. Andrews housing:
Best residence Hall for Chemistry looks to be Blackadder or University, yes?
How is the walk to St. Leonard’s School for swim practice?
@VickiSoCal - we stayed in University Hall this summer while visiting St. Andrews. It is very close to the science buildings and a short walk into the main part of town. We stayed in an older castle looking hall(dorm) with high ceilings, big windows and a view of turrets- very fun and Harry Potter looking. The common room in our building was beautiful. University hall seemed to be a mix of old and “newer” buildings. We didn’t have a chance to check out the other buildings at this location. We did have breakfast in the cafeteria each day, and it was only so-so. But it did have lots of options, and the university was not in session, so I can’t say how it would be during the school year.
Thanks, we did a day trip form Edinburgh, so were not there at night. I imagine it is very safe, but swim practice ends at 9:45 pm so she doesn’t want to walk too far at night. Google pegs it as a 13 minute walk.
@VickiSoCal Check out Mackintosh Hall…its a little more central, less of a walk from St Leonards and closer to the Union, Library and amenities in town. Abit more of a walk to the chemistry building though.
If you are in a catered hall do you have to head back there for lunch? That’s her main concern as it looks like she’ll be in lectures right up to noon then in lab most afternoons, so goign back to the hall could be a hassle if not Blackadder or University or maybe John Burnett.
Also, housing applications open April 1, is it advantageous to apply early to get first choice?
I think you have the option (at least at Mackintosh) to request a bagged lunch if you don’t want to go back for lunch, and yes its to your advantage to apply for housing early. You have 3 choices i believe so the sooner you apply there is a better chance for your first choice…
Also, housing applications open April 1, is it advantageous to apply early to get first choice?
I’m curious about this also.
@KaffeineKitty- absolutely
So to accept St. Andrews and apply for housing, my kid would have to withdraw Bath and then accept St. A? I think we are getting close to making that decision.