Funding and scholarships
The University of St Andrews is committed to attracting and supporting exceptional students to undertake postgraduate studies and research and offers a range of scholarships. Some of these scholarships are directly funded by the University, others through external bodies such as funding councils, charities and other organisations.
In addition the Graduate School provides funding for current students to support events, networks and opportunities to help you make the most of your time at St Andrews. Previous recipients have used the funding to organise conferences, reading groups, travel to archives and carry out fieldwork.
St Leonard's Masters Scholarships
Our flagship St Leonard's Scholarships are available for Masters students in all faculties across the University.
When applying, you will be asked to draw on your academic, professional and life experiences to demonstrate resilience, resourcefulness and commitment. This may include excellence and leadership in areas such as sport, music, theatre or civic duty as well as in academic work.
World-Leading Doctoral Scholarships
The Graduate School provides fully-funded (tuition and stipend) scholarships to new UK, EU, or international doctoral students through the St Leonard’s College World-Leading Doctoral Scholarships scheme. These scholarships are intended to attract students of exceptional ability to work in research areas of strategic significance for the University. For 2027-2028 entry, six scholarships are available for specific research projects defined by supervisors and six scholarships for students to propose their own research project.
Applications for the student-led St Leonard’s College World-Leading Scholarships (entry 2027-2028) are now open, with a deadline of Wednesday 20 January 2027.
Further details can be found on the World-Leading Doctoral Scholarships page.
Information on scholarships available for supervisor-led projects will be published early in 2027.
Global St Andrews Doctoral scholarships
Global doctoral scholarships are supported by funding from the University of St Andrews and co-funded through relationships with our partner universities at the University of Bonn in Germany and Macquarie University in Australia.
These Global doctoral scholarships are for specific doctoral research projects, or broader themes in which a student may create their project, defined by co-supervisors working at St Andrews and a partner institution.
Further scholarship opportunities
- Postgraduate Research Scholarships: a range of scholarships for new postgraduate research students, based on academic merit and financial need.
- Global Scholarship Partners: postgraduate scholarship opportunities through prestigious international partner organisations including the British Council, China Scholarship Council (CSC), US-UK Fulbright Commission, Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission (MACC), Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes and others.
- St Leonard's Widening Access PhD Scholarship: a fully funded scholarship for doctoral (PhD) applicants from the UK.
- FindAPhD.com: many funded PhD projects at St Andrews are advertised here.
- St Andrews Sanctuary Scholarship: scholarships for Masters and PhD applicants who are seeking sanctuary in the UK.
Funding opportunities for current students
- St Leonard’s College Postgraduate Travel Award: supports postgraduate students with any travel that would benefit their research and development.
- Russell Trust Awards (Postgraduate Research): for postgraduate research students who need to travel to further a project connected with their studies.
- Graduate Discount: a 15% discount on postgraduate tuition fees for students who have graduated or are eligible to graduate from St Andrews.
- Saints Abroad Scholarship: supports students who will be studying or working abroad as part of their degree programme through the Saints Abroad scholarship portfolio.
- Community and Development Fund: funds new student-led academic initiatives that will benefit St Andrews postgraduates, and contribute to the University’s postgraduate community.
- Interdisciplary PhD Research and Travel Fund: provides funding for PhD students for an activity or initiative to advance interdisciplinary research.
- Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) project fund: supports projects and other activities that enhance equality and inclusivity within and beyond the institution.
- University Community Fund: supports grassroots organisations and projects in the community.
- Employability Bursary: supports activities that enhance a student’s employability.
