Are you planning to study in Scotland in 2027 or 2028 but worried about the cost of tuition and living expenses?
There are several fully funded and partially funded scholarships for international students at Scottish universities, covering undergraduate, Master’s and PhD programmes.
Major funding routes include Chevening Scholarships, Commonwealth Scholarships, university-funded scholarships and fully funded PhD studentships. However, the level of funding varies considerably. Some scholarships cover tuition and living expenses, while others provide only tuition support or a fixed fee reduction.
This guide highlights some of the major Scotland scholarship opportunities for international students planning to study in 2027–2028.
Scotland Scholarships 2027–2028: Quick Overview
Some of the major funding opportunities include:
| Scholarship | Degree | Funding |
| Chevening Scholarship | Master’s | Fully funded |
| Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship | Master’s | Fully funded |
| Commonwealth PhD Scholarship | PhD | Full/major funding |
| Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Scholarship | Master’s | Fully funded |
| St Andrews International Excellence Scholarship | Bachelor’s | Full tuition |
| St Andrews World-Leading Doctoral Scholarship | PhD | Full tuition + stipend |
| Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships | PhD | Tuition + UKRI-level stipend |
| Glasgow Computing PhD Studentships | PhD | Tuition + stipend |
| Heriot-Watt Hoogenboom Scholarship | Selected Master’s | Fully funded |
| RGU Vice-Chancellor Undergraduate Scholarship | Bachelor’s | Full first-year tuition |
| Dundee Global Excellence Scholarship | Bachelor’s/Master’s | Partial funding |
| Stirling International Scholarship | Bachelor’s | Partial funding |
Fully Funded Master’s Scholarships in Scotland
Master’s students have access to some of the strongest fully funded scholarship opportunities in Scotland.
The Chevening Scholarship is one of the UK’s major fully funded scholarships for international students and can be used to study eligible Master’s programmes at Scottish universities.
For the 2027–2028 academic year, applications close on 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC.
Successful applicants must later obtain at least one unconditional offer from an eligible UK university by the required deadline.
Funding: Fully funded
Degree: Master’s
Application deadline: 6 October 2026
2. Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship
The Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship supports talented students from eligible low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries who would otherwise struggle to finance postgraduate study in the UK.
The 2027–2028 application cycle opens on 8 September 2026 and closes on 20 October 2026, according to the information provided.
Funding: Fully funded
Degree: Master’s
Eligible applicants: Citizens of eligible Commonwealth countries
Deadline: 20 October 2026
3. University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Scholarship
The University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Scholarship provides a fully funded pathway for eligible African students pursuing postgraduate study.
For the 2027–2028 cycle, applicants are required to attend a mandatory virtual information session between 15 and 24 September 2026 before receiving access to the scholarship application.
The main scholarship application deadline is 19 November 2026.
Funding: Fully funded
University: University of Edinburgh
Degree: Master’s
Eligible applicants: Eligible African students
Deadline: 19 November 2026
Undergraduate Scholarships in Scotland
Fully funded undergraduate scholarships are much less common than Master’s and PhD funding.
However, international students can still find significant scholarship opportunities.
4. St Andrews International Excellence Scholarship
The University of St Andrews International Excellence Scholarship includes a full-tuition award for an international student entering an undergraduate programme in 2027.
Degree: Bachelor’s
Funding: Full tuition
Deadline: 27 January 2027
Because the scholarship is highly competitive, students should also check the university’s admission requirements and apply for admission separately.
5. Robert Gordon University Vice-Chancellor’s Undergraduate Scholarship
Robert Gordon University offers the Vice-Chancellor’s Undergraduate Scholarship for eligible international students.
The award covers the full first-year tuition fee.
Degree: Bachelor’s
Funding: Full first-year tuition
Deadline: June 2027
This is a significant award, although it should not be confused with a scholarship covering the entire cost of a multi-year degree.
Other Undergraduate Funding
Other Scottish universities also provide partial scholarships for international students.
Examples include:
- University of Stirling International Scholarship: £2,500 per year, with up to £10,000 in total funding
- University of Dundee Global Excellence Undergraduate Scholarship: £7,500 per year for eligible students
- Heriot-Watt Americas & Europe Scholarship: £3,000–£5,000 depending on eligibility and programme
These awards can reduce tuition costs but are not fully funded scholarships.
Fully Funded PhD Scholarships in Scotland
PhD applicants often have access to funding through doctoral studentships, which can be more comprehensive than traditional scholarships.
6. Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships
The University of Edinburgh offers Doctoral College Scholarships that can provide tuition support together with a UKRI-level stipend for eligible doctoral students.
International applicants may be eligible, depending on the specific scholarship and programme.
Applicants should monitor individual schools and departments for the relevant 2027 deadlines.
Degree: PhD
Funding: Tuition + UKRI-level stipend
Eligibility: Varies by programme
7. Glasgow Computing PhD Studentships
The University of Glasgow offers funded PhD opportunities, including studentships in computing-related fields.
According to the information provided, many 2027–2028 opportunities can include international tuition support and a living stipend of around £22,437 per year.
The listed application deadline is 31 January 2027.
Degree: PhD
Field: Computing and related areas
Funding: Tuition + stipend
Listed stipend: £22,437 per year
Deadline: 31 January 2027
8. St Andrews World-Leading Doctoral Scholarship
The University of St Andrews also offers World-Leading Doctoral Scholarships for selected PhD applicants.
The scholarship combines full tuition coverage with a stipend.
Degree: PhD
Funding: Full tuition + stipend
Deadline: 20 January 2027
Other Scholarships to Consider
Not every scholarship requires you to receive full funding to make studying in Scotland more affordable.
Other opportunities include:
Dundee Global Excellence Postgraduate Scholarship
- Degree: Master’s
- Funding: £8,000
- Intake: January 2027
University of Stirling International Scholarship
- Degree: Bachelor’s
- Funding: £2,500 per year
- Total: Up to £10,000
- Deadline: 15 December 2026 for the first batch, with additional batches expected during 2027
Stirling Pakistan Postgraduate Scholarship
- Degree: Master’s
- Funding: £4,000
- Eligible intakes: September 2027/January 2028
RGU International Merit Scholarship
- Degree: Master’s
- Funding: £5,000
- 2027 applications: Expected to reopen
Heriot-Watt Hoogenboom Scholarship
- Degree: Selected Master’s programmes
- Funding: Fully funded
- Programme: Multi-year funding opportunity
Who Can Apply?
Eligibility depends on the individual scholarship and university.
Applicants may need to meet requirements relating to:
- Academic qualifications
- Nationality
- Degree level
- Proposed field of study
- English-language ability
- Professional experience
- University admission requirements
- Financial circumstances
- Leadership or community involvement
- Specific scholarship conditions
English-language requirements also vary between universities and programmes. Many undergraduate programmes may require IELTS scores around 6.0–6.5, while postgraduate programmes commonly require around 6.5–7.0. However, some programmes may have higher requirements or specific minimum scores for individual bands.
Always check the requirements for your specific programme.
How to Apply for Scholarships in Scotland
The application process depends on the university and scholarship.
For undergraduate applicants:
- Choose a Scottish university and degree programme.
- Check the academic requirements.
- Check the English-language requirements.
- Prepare your transcripts and other supporting documents.
- Apply for admission, usually through UCAS where applicable.
- Apply for scholarships separately if required.
- Meet any conditions attached to your university offer.
- Begin the visa process after receiving the necessary documents.
For Master’s and PhD applicants:
The process may involve applying directly to the university and then submitting a separate scholarship application.
Some scholarships require applicants to have an offer before applying, while others allow you to apply for funding during the university admission process.
Final Thoughts
There are several ways for international students to secure funding to study in Scotland in 2027–2028.
The strongest fully funded opportunities are generally concentrated at the Master’s and PhD levels, particularly through programmes such as Chevening, Commonwealth Scholarships, Mastercard Foundation scholarships and university-funded doctoral studentships.
Undergraduate students can also find scholarships, but full funding is considerably more limited.
Most importantly, do not assume that every scholarship listed online is fully funded. Some cover full tuition and living expenses, while others only reduce tuition fees.
Before applying, check the official scholarship or university website for the latest eligibility requirements, application deadlines and funding details.
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