Scholarships

There are scholarships and grants for international students who wish to study in Britain. There is a lot of competition for a limited number of awards but it is worthwhile applying for the ones relevant to you. You should begin your research early as some scholarships require you to apply at least a year before your course starts.

The University of Aberdeen Alumni Discount Scheme

The University of Aberdeen is very pleased to offer a 20% discount in postgraduate tuition fees for all alumni who have graduated with a degree from the University of Aberdeen. The Alumni Discount Scheme applies to both home and overseas students, and applies to the self-funding element of the postgraduate tuition fee. This is the element of tuition fee which you are personally paying yourself and does not cover the element of tuition fee which is covered by a scholarship, funding body, your employer, a company, or any another source of funding. The Alumni Discount applies only to the tuition fee element and does not apply to any additional costs such as additional programme costs or research costs.

The British Council

In the absence of a local British Council office, consult the nearest British Embassy or High Commission. It may also be useful to visit the Education UK Scotland website and the UK Council for International Student Affairs

Charities, Organisations and Companies

A number of governmental and non governmental bodies, including educational charities, provide financial assistance to a diversity of students seeking education overseas. Approaches can also be made to commercial and industrial companies in the fields related to your specialisation, eg in the medical field to pharmaceutical companies, in engineering to construction or electronics firms. Generally, apply to the Managing Director in the first instance. Note that certain bodies such as banks may specialise in student loans.

Your Country’s Ministry of Education

Scholarships, grants and student loans could be available from your local government. Enquire with the Ministry of Education within your own country to find out what is available.

Other Sources of Funding Information

Useful Contacts

Educational Grants Advisory Service (EGAS)
Tel: +44 (0)207 254 6251
http://www.egas-online.org/

UKCOSA, The Council for International Education
Tel: +44 (0)297 288 4330
http://www.ukcosa.org.uk/

International scholarships & bursaries

The University of Aberdeen offers scholarships and bursaries within a number of areas. Further opportunities can be found on the college websites of Arts and Social Sciences, Life Sciences and Medicine and Physical Sciences.

General Scholarship Schemes

Chevening Scholarships

(http://www.chevening.com/)

Chevening Scholarships are prestigious awards which are funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and administered by the British Council. Scholarships are offered in over 150 countries and enable talented graduates and young professionals to study in and become familiar with the UK, gaining skills, which will benefit their countries. The Chevening programme currently provides around 2,300 new scholarships each year for postgraduate studies or research at UK Institutions of Higher Education. The majority of Scholarships are for one year Masters courses or equivalent.

Scotland's Saltire Scholarships

(http://www.scotlandscholarship.com/)

This exciting scholarship opportunity is open to Canadian, Chinese, Indian and US nationals. Awards worth £2000 each are available towards the cost of tuition fees for full time Masters Programmes in a wide range of subject areas.

These scholarships are supported and funded by the Scottish Government in partnership with University of Aberdeen.

The closing date is 11 June 2010. In addition to your completed application you must also submit a reference and academic transcript. Further guidance can be found at the link provided below.

Click here to learn what some of our previous scholarship winners have to say about University of Aberdeen.

St Andrew's Society Scholarships

The Saint Andrew's Society of Washington, D.C., accepts applications for US students of Scottish descent wishing to study in the UK to be awarded from its Washington Scots Charity and Education Fund Scholarship Program. Please see www.saintandrewsociety.org/scholarships.htm for further details.

Financial Aid for US students

The University of Aberdeen is recognised by the US Federal Government as one of the foreign institutions that US students can come to study at and use their financial aid in the UK. You will need to apply for your Financial Aid in the US. On your application you should list the University of Aberdeen as one of your choices of institutions you want to study at (you can list more than one). The code for the US Financial Aid application for the University of Aberdeen is G09368. Further information and guidance regarding how to apply can be found here.

Commonwealth Scholarships

Commonwealth Scholarships are awarded to students from countries of the British Commonwealth. Applications should be made to the Commonwealth Scholarship Agency in the student's own country. For further information please visit http://www.acu.ac.uk/

Overseas Research Student Awards Scheme

For further information on the Overseas Research Scholarships please visit http://www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/sorsas.shtml

Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme

The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme (formerly known as the Department for International Development Scholarship Scheme) is open to students from East African countries intending to take a Masters course at the University of Aberdeen.  The University works in partnership with Windle Trust International to fund this award and applicants should contact the Windle Trust in the first instance.  

Windle Trust International
Oxford Road
Cowley
Oxford OX4 2EN

web http://www.windle.org.uk/
e:mail info@windle.org.uk
Or contact the British Council

Internal Scholarships by Subject Area:

Agriculture

  • The Elizabeth Wilson and Charles Sutherland Scholarships are open to both undergraduate and postgraduate students of Agriculture.
  • The David Stewart Scholarship is open to Agriculture students registering for a PhD
  • The Fraser Joseph Scholarship is open to postgraduate research students but preference will be given to Sri Lankan nationals.
  • E-mail mailto:e.watt@abdn.ac.uk for further details about any of the above scholarships.
  • For further information on scholarships, visit http://www.abdn.ac.uk/biologicalsci/students/funding/

Chemistry

  • The department has many endowments, which are used to assist postgraduate students. E-mail chemistry@abdn.ac.uk

Mathematics

  • Milner Scholarships are available to postgraduate research students in the field of mathematics, as well as research in bacteriology or pathology. For more information, contact maths@maths.abdn.ac.uk

Music

  • There are scholarships available for musicians including the Ogston Postgraduate Scholarship (click here for further details), Nora Bently Scholarship, the Scottish Students' Songbook Award, 5 Principal's Scholarships and 10 Chapel Choir Scholarships. For further details, visit www.abdn.ac.uk/music/scholarships.shtml

Plant & Soil Science

The Robert Carrick Memorial Trust provides sources of funding for Zulu students to study Environmental Sciences. Available for taught Masters courses only, not research. Awards are not necessarily made every year, and benficiaries should be of the Zulu race, be domiciled in Kwa Zulu, and be likely to make a distinct contribution to the development of the Zulu lands.

Sports Scholarships

There are a number of Sports Scholarships available annually for postgraduate and undergraduate students from any discipline, who show outstanding sporting ability. For further details, visit http://www.abdn.ac.uk/sportandexercise/performance/.

Country Specific Scholarships

David Stewart Awards

Malaysian nationals, who are normally resident in Malaysia, commencing full time postgraduate Masters programme at the University of Aberdeen in September 2009 are eligible to apply for David Stewart Scholarship. 2 scholarships valued at approximately £2000 each will be awarded. The closing date is 30 July 2010.

For further details and an application form please use the links provided below.

Fulbright Commission

The Fulbright Scholarship program aims to promote mutual understanding between the peoples of the United States and the UK. Three scholarships are available to US students pursuing any taught masters programme at the University in 2010/2011. The award covers all expenses including tuition fees and general maintenance costs while staying in the UK. For further information about the scholarship and for details on how to apply visit http://www.fulbright.co.uk/

James Henry Scott Scholarship

Applications are invited for the James Henry Scott Scholarship, funded by The Swire Educational Trust.  The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of academic merit and is open to candidates commencing a one year MSc in Environmental Science from the People’s Republic of China, or Hong Kong. The scholarship will cover International Postgraduate Tuition Fees for the 2010/11 academic year (£12,075) and will provide a maintenance award of £13,000. The recipient will also receive one economy airfare from their place of residence to the University of Aberdeen. The closing date for applications is 30th April 2010.

OMV New Zealand Ltd. Scholarship

This scholarship was established in August 2009 and is funded by OMV NZ Ltd. The scholarship is available to students from New Zealand pursuing a postgraduate degree in disciplines relevant to the energy industry including Engineering, Environmental and Earth Sciences. Applications must be submitted by 15 December 2009 and further guidance is available here.