Gibson-Sykora Postgraduate Research Scholarship

Application period opens
Monday 16 September 2024
Application period closes
This scholarship deadline has now passed (Wednesday 22 January 2025)
Notification date
The week commencing Monday 31 March 2025
Entry
2025

This scholarship is available to entrant postgraduate research students with Polish nationality. The Gibson-Sykora Trust was established in 1988 to support Polish students at the University of St Andrews. This scholarship is based partly on financial need.

Value of award (per year)

Full tuition fees.

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

Duration of award

Full duration of the postgraduate research course during which tuition fees are applicable. The award term excludes the continuation period and any extension periods.

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

No restrictions

Schools

Available to students in the following Schools and Departments:

Art History, Biology, Chemistry, Classics, Computer Science, Divinity, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Economics and Finance, English, Film Studies, Geography and Sustainable Development, Graduate School, History, International Education Institute, International Relations, Management, 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

Financial need (Hardship, means tested), Academic merit

Available to

Prospective students

Mode of study

Full time, Part time - daytime

Geographical criteria

Poland (EU)

Additional criteria

You must have applied for a postgraduate research programme: MPhil, PhD, MSc(Res), MSt(Res), EngD or MFA.

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

We recommend using the funding financial profile to help calculate your household income before you apply. You can find the funding financial profile in Scholarships and Funding, "Create my funding financial profile". Applicants must also articulate a need for support through a personal financial statement.

"Household income" refers to your total annual income for the most recent full financial year. This figure must be annual (not monthly), in Pounds Sterling (GBP) and gross (without tax deducted). If you are living with your parents/guardians, the figure provided must be their combined income rather than your own. Income details must reflect your current/recent situation and not your expected future income after starting your intended programme.

If you would prefer not to disclose any information about your income or financial circumstances, please see the advice in the application form. You will not be eligible for any financial needs-based scholarships if you do not provide this information.

Sources for socio-economically disadvantaged areas for developing nations.

How to apply

This scholarship is available through the University of St Andrews Postgraduate Research Scholarships application in the Scholarships and Funding catalogue, in the Scholarships and Funding section of My Application. Please note there is not a separate Gibson-Sykora application form.

After submitting this application, you will be considered automatically for any scholarships under this scheme for which you are eligible, based on your answers in the application form.

  • After you have applied for your chosen postgraduate course beginning in the 2025-2026 academic year, you must allow at least three working days for processing and issue of your log in details before you can apply for this scholarship.
  • Please note that in order to be considered for this scholarship, you must complete the scholarship application form questions about your household income and financial circumstances.
  • If you are a current student at St Andrews, you can access Scholarships and Funding through MySaint. However, you should wait until after you have applied for your intended postgraduate programme before doing so, to ensure that the scholarship application is linked to the correct course.

Scholarship application form guidance

Terms and conditions

Please read the University of St Andrews scholarships terms and conditions (opens in new tab)

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.
  • Your scholarship award in subsequent years of study is conditional upon your successful completion of the academic requirements to progress in your proposed subject of study at the University of St Andrews. If your scholarship is subject-related then your award is usually also conditional upon your continuing to study that specific subject.
  • 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.
  • If you apply to this scholarship, details from your course application may be passed to the selection panel solely for the purpose of merit-based assessment.

When will I know the outcome?

The outcome of your scholarship application will be available on "View my applications" in the Scholarships and Funding section of My Application by late March 2025.

If you are successful, you will also receive an award letter with full details of the scholarship you have been offered.