University of St Andrews Postgraduate Research Scholarships

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

The University of St Andrews is pleased to offer a range of scholarships for new postgraduate research students, based on academic merit and financial need. Many of these scholarships are made possible through generous donations from alumni and friends of the University.

The value of individual scholarships will vary, and will usually be paid annually for the duration of the student's research programme, excluding continuation and any extension periods. The scholarships are all based on academic merit, and some also on financial need.

Various scholarships are available through the same application form. Research applicants of any fee status (Home or International) are welcome to apply, although geography, subject and level of study criteria will vary between the scholarships that are available. Full details about each scholarship are provided on the individual webpages:

After completing and submitting the form (full details below), you will be considered automatically for any of the above scholarships for which you are eligible. You can only apply once for the above scholarships. If further scholarships become available in this scheme after you have applied, you will automatically be considered for all scholarships for which you are eligible, without having to apply again.

Value of award (per year)

Up to full tuition fees and an annual stipend paid at a rate set by the University of St Andrews. For 2025-2026, the stipend is £19,775 p.a., with an annual uplift published by the University each academic year.

Award amounts will vary depending on which scholarship is awarded; see individual scholarship webpages (listed above) for full details.

Duration of award

Most awards are for the duration of your research programme, excluding continuation 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 research

Subjects

Available to students studying:

Subject criteria will vary; see individual scholarship webpages (listed above) for full details.

Domicile for fee status

Scotland home, Rest of UK, Overseas

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, Graduate School, 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

Financial need (Hardship, means tested), Academic merit

Available to

Prospective students

Mode of study

Full time, Part time - daytime

Geographical criteria

No restrictions

Additional criteria

You must have applied for a postgraduate research programme: MPhil, PhD, MSc(Res), MSt(Res), EngD or MFA. Some scholarships may only be available to specific programmes (e.g. doctoral/PhD level).

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

If you wish to be considered for scholarships based on financial need, 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). 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

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.
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.

Scholarship application form guidance

Terms and conditions

Please read the University of St Andrews scholarships terms and conditions

If you wish to be considered for donor-funded awards, 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