Scotland Scholarships Guide: Fully Funded BS, MS & PhD Opportunities, Costs & How to Apply

Why Study in Scotland?

Scotland is home to world-renowned institutions like the University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, and the University of St Andrews. While tuition fees for international students can be steep, several major funding schemes—ranging from government awards like Chevening to university-led studentships—help offset tuition and living expenses.

Real Costs for International Students

Unlike Scottish-domiciled students, international applicants are subject to overseas tuition rates:

Study Level	Average Annual Tuition	Typical Duration
Bachelor’s (BS)	£20,000 – £35,000+	4 Years
Master’s (MS/MSc)	£18,000 – £35,000+	1 Year
PhD (Doctorate)	£25,000 – £35,000+ (clinical £50,000+)	3–4 Years

Cost of Living & Visa Requirement:

• General living expenses outside London average £900 to £1,300 per month (higher in Edinburgh).
• For the UK Student visa, applicants must prove financial maintenance of £1,171 per month (for up to 9 months, or £10,539 total) plus any unpaid course fees.

(Note: The historical Scottish Government Saltire Scholarship is currently not confirmed; avoid basing financial plans on it until a fresh official call is announced.)

Top Scholarships by Degree Level

1. Master’s Degree Programs (Highest Funding Availability)

• Chevening Scholarships: Fully funded UK government award covering full tuition, monthly stipend, and travel costs.
• Commonwealth Master’s & Shared Scholarships: Full tuition and living allowances for candidates from eligible low- and middle-income Commonwealth nations.
• Mastercard Foundation (University of Edinburgh): Full support for eligible African students (requires attendance at an official information session prior to applying).
• Heriot-Watt Hoogenboom Scholarship: Fully funded awards for selected postgraduate programs.

2. PhD Programs (Target “Studentships”)

Doctoral funding often comes attached to funded research projects rather than generic scholarships:

• UKRI & Doctoral Training Partnerships: Covers full international tuition plus standard UKRI living stipends (~£22,400+/year).
• Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships: Comprehensive tuition and living allowance.
• St Andrews World-Leading Doctoral Scholarships: Covers full fees plus stipend for selected research disciplines.

3. Bachelor’s Degree Programs

While fully funded undergraduate awards are rare, several notable options exist:

• St Andrews International Excellence Scholarship: Full-tuition coverage for the entire degree.
• Robert Gordon University (RGU): Vice-Chancellor’s Award covering full first-year tuition.
• Partial Fee Reductions: University of Dundee (£7,500/year) and University of Stirling (£2,500/year).

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

For PhD Applicants: Search departmental vacancies for funded studentships first. Identify and secure agreement from a faculty supervisor before submitting formal doctoral applications.

For Undergraduate (BS) Applicants: Apply through the central UCAS system (standard equal-consideration deadline is mid-January). Once offers arrive, submit separate scholarship applications where required.

For Master’s (MS) Applicants: Check deadlines early. Schemes like Chevening and Commonwealth require applying nearly a year in advance, often running concurrently with or before individual university admissions.