<p>Hi,</p>
<p>How exactly do U.S. students choose a major at a Scottish university? British students have to apply for several degrees, and they are accepted or rejected. On the American application, it simply says to list three courses that I am interested in. So how do I find out what my major will be? Do I just choose when I get there?</p>
<p>What university is this for? That will help answer any questions.</p>
<p>Oh sorry, I forgot to say. St Andrews?</p>
<p>Well, I applied and got an offer from St. Andrews, though I applied through UCAS, which it doesn’t sound like you are doing.</p>
<p>Basically, what do you want to study? It’s not really called a major over there, it’s just your course of study. I applied for theoretical physics. Being interested in physics, I could also have applied for straight physics, or any number of courses involving physics and computer science or physics and mathematics. </p>
<p>You should search around St. Andrews website to see what courses they offer, and then put down the three that interest you most, I think. I’m not sure what happens after that, as I didn’t apply with the direct application, but I would assume they allocate you to one of the courses.</p>
<p>I’m at an English university and we just do one degree i.e Fine Art or Physics although one can do joint honours such as me with English and Creative Writing.
Scotland however have a slightly different way of doing things. I’m not too sure and I’d advise calling the admissions office for St. Andrews as to be honest Universities will always give you a proper answer as opposed to speculation here BUT I think in one’s first year in a Scottish uni, you DO take modules in 3 degrees, then at the end of your first year, you chose which degree you want to continue with and then 2nd year onwards just do that one.
Seems like a good idea to me, would stop people dropping out so much.</p>
<p>Umm Scotland is in Britain and therefore go through the British system UCAS. British student don’t apply for several degrees. They apply for 1 or a few that are basically the same just has differnt names iew international relations and international studies. This is because they send the same essay off to ALL their universities. </p>
<p>you choose your major when you apply. It’ll ask you for a university choice then a course choice. The UCAS system is VERY self explanatory.</p>