First Chances Fife at St Andrews: eligibility, deadline and what it gives you
First Chances Fife is a widening access programme run by the University of St Andrews with Fife College for pupils in Fife schools from P7 to S6. Senior pupils get campus days, a tutorial and lab day, online taster lectures and skills academies, UCAS workshops in S6 and encouragement to apply for the Sutton Trust Summer School. St Andrews lists it among the widening access programmes that make you eligible for its minimum entry grades.
- Closes
- Not published
- For
- S3 to S6 students, medicine
- Where
- Scotland
- Gives you
- Contextual flag, then AAABB instead of AAAAB at Higher
What you get
Completing First Chances Fife gives you a contextual flag and an offer of AAABB instead of AAAAB at Higher for medicine at St Andrews.
- St Andrews counts First Chances Fife as a widening access programme, which brings the minimum entry grades (AAABB plus BB at Advanced Higher, or AAB at A-level)
- The Medicine entry page lists only SIMD40, care, young carer, estranged and refugee status for minimum entry, so check with Medical Admissions that the programme counts for A100
- UCAT uplift of 10% applies to SIMD40, care-experienced, estranged and refugee applicants, not to programme participation
- S5 pupils are encouraged to apply for the free Sutton Trust Summer School at St Andrews
Who can apply
You need to
- Attend a state school in Fife
- Be nominated by your school coordinator, or sign up online for the S4 to S6 programmes
- Being Lift Off or Reach eligible, or from a Forces family, also qualifies
Plus at least one of
- Deprived postcode
- First in family to university
- Young carer
- Care-experienced
- Free school meals
What it involves
- Complete each year's participation requirements to progress to the next stage
Dates
- Applications open
- S4 to S6 sign-up forms open now, no dates published
- Applications close
- No deadline published, schools nominate annually
- Programme runs
- Through the school year, with campus days, online lectures and summer schools
- Apply to university
- UCAS deadline 15 October 2027 for 2028 entry
How to apply
Apply through the Experience University (S5 to S6) page. It is run by St Andrews Access team with Fife College. Questions go to first.chances@st-andrews.ac.uk.
Frequently asked questions
Does First Chances Fife guarantee an interview?
No. First Chances Fife gives a contextual flag rather than a guaranteed interview. St Andrews counts First Chances Fife as a widening access programme, which brings the minimum entry grades (AAABB plus BB at Advanced Higher, or AAB at A-level).
Who is eligible for First Chances Fife?
Attend a state school in Fife. You need to be nominated by your school coordinator, or sign up online for the S4 to S6 programmes, being Lift Off or Reach eligible, or from a Forces family, also qualifies, and meet at least one of its widening participation criteria, such as deprived postcode, first in family to university, young carer.
When is the First Chances Fife deadline?
This cycle's closing date has not been published. No deadline published, schools nominate annually. Applications s4 to S6 sign-up forms open now, no dates published.
What offer do First Chances Fife students get?
Students who complete the programme are made an offer of AAABB instead of AAAAB at Higher. The Medicine entry page lists only SIMD40, care, young carer, estranged and refugee status for minimum entry, so check with Medical Admissions that the programme counts for A100
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