AD Links Foundation Postgraduate Research Scholarship (UK)

Application period opens
Thursday 2 October 2025
Application period closes
Wednesday 21 January 2026
Notification date
The week commencing Monday 30 March 2026
Entry
2026
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Full-time Postgraduate research (PhD) students from the UK (with Home fee status), starting a new course in the next Academic Year can apply. The scholarship is open to all areas of study and is based on academic merit. An interest in sport (particularly golf) is preferred, although not essential.

This scholarship is generously supported by the AD Links Foundation.

Value of award (per year)

One award of £10,000 per annum, paid towards tuition fees first.

Duration of award

Three years of full time postgraduate study

At what stage of my course application can I apply for this scholarship?

Please apply for the award after you have submitted your application for a place at St Andrews. You do not need to wait until you have received an offer of a place before applying for the award.

Application restrictions

Study level

Available to students studying at:

Postgraduate

Subjects

Available to students studying:

No restrictions

Domicile for fee status

Scotland home, Rest of UK

Schools

Available to students in the following Schools and Departments:

Art History, Biology, Chemistry, Classics, Computer Science, Divinity, Earth and Environmental Sciences, English, Film Studies, Geography and Sustainable Development, History, International Relations, Mathematics and Statistics, Medicine, Modern Languages, Philosophy, Physics and Astronomy, Psychology and Neuroscience, Social Anthropology, University of St Andrews Business School, International Education and Lifelong Learning Institute

Application assessment

Academic merit

Available to

Prospective students

Mode of study

Full time

Geographical criteria

Scotland (UK/Home), England (UK), Northern Ireland (UK), Wales (UK)

Additional criteria

You must have applied for a doctoral/PhD programme at St Andrews.

You must not already (i) hold a doctoral degree; or (ii) be matriculated for a doctoral degree at the University of St Andrews or another institution.

Your programme start date must be one of the following:

  • August 2026
  • September 2026
  • October 2026
  • January 2027
  • May 2027

In support of your application, you will be asked to upload the following supporting documents:

  • University transcript(s), including interim transcripts for any degrees pending.
  • Research proposal
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV) or resumé.

Student financial information

For this scholarship, you do not need to provide details about your household income and financial circumstances (and you can choose to opt out of that section of the application form), unless you wish to also be considered for other scholarships based on financial need.

How to apply

  1. Apply for your chosen course at the University St Andrews: Postgraduate research. Your course should meet the eligibility criteria for this scholarship (see above). After submitting your course application, you must allow up to three working days to receive login details for the My Application portal.
  2. When you have received your login details, apply for the scholarship by logging into My Application, follow the links to Scholarships and Funding and then search for University of St Andrews Postgraduate Research Scholarships in the Scholarships and funding catalogue.

By completing University of St Andrews Postgraduate Research Scholarships application form, you will be automatically considered for the AD Links Foundation Postgraduate Research Scholarship (UK) if you meet the criteria. Please bear in the mind the following:

  • For this scholarship, you do not need to provide details about your household income and financial circumstances (and you can choose to opt out of that section of the application form), unless you wish to also be considered for other scholarships based on financial need.
  • We recommend paying particular attention to the following question:
    • Please list any non-academic or professional qualifications or achievements.

Scholarship application form guidance

Terms and conditions

  • If full funding for tuition fees has been secured through alternate means, all or part of the AD Links award may be converted to maintenance in some circumstances.

Please read the University of St Andrews scholarships terms and conditions

If applying to this scholarship, please be aware of the following requirements:

  • Core personal details may be passed to the benefactors of your scholarship. Your name, the name of your town of origin, school/college and subject of study will be passed to the donor of the scholarship with your consent.
  • Attendance at Development related scholarship events (including invitations to meet the donors) is strongly encouraged. You will be invited to these as appropriate by the Development Office.
  • Submission of reports throughout the period of scholarship support. You are required to submit an Introductory Biography at the start of your award period and the Development Office will contact you towards the end of the academic session for a report on your time at St Andrews to share with the donors of your award. This will be an annual cycle for the duration of your award.

When will I know the outcome?

The outcome of your scholarship application will be available on the My Application portal by late March 2026. Follow the links to Scholarships and Funding and go to View or continue my funding applications to see your application status.

If you are successful, you will also receive an award letter.

Contact

pgscholarships@st-andrews.ac.uk