Physics and Astronomy (Gateway) MPhys (Hons)

This programme aims to provide opportunities to study at St Andrews for those from Scotland who have have talent but who have experienced disadvantage such that they have not been able to obtain the straight A grades that we normally require. Those from secondary schools with low progression rates to Higher Education and those living in places recognised as having a particular Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation are amongst the groups targeted.

Demand for the traditiional programmes is so high that our asking rates have had to rise to a level that means that even very talented pupils in many parts of the country may find it difficult to gain entry (eg AAAA has been the published typical asking rate at Higher for entry to the traditional physics and astronomy programmes at St Andrews for a number of years). To address this issue, we offer a “Gateway” entry programme that will provide a highly-interactive first year university education in physics, maths and study skills for suitably qualified students. At the end of first year this will open up progression to second-year in degree programme here. These can range from “pure” theoretical physics to “applied” physics as appropriate. The Gateway-only modules in first year have had around 15 students in them.

The sister programme "International Gateway to Physics and Astronomy" provides a route in to our degree programmes for talented people wishing to join us from some countries which have less physics and maths in school than in the UK. We have been pleased to welcome a number of students from the USA to this programme in recent years, for example. We recommend our Gateway programme for students from the USA who are not completing AP in maths and physics. The two versions of our Gateway programmes follow on from the "Gateway to Physics and Engineering" that ran 2010-2013.