UKSt Andrews Doctoral Scholarship 2027 is a University of St Andrews doctoral award that funds full tuition and an annual stipend for exceptional PhD researchers contributing to the university’s world-leading research theme. The focus is on supporting doctoral research that aligns with the World-Leading theme of the University Strategy.
The scholarship is funded by The Graduate School at St Leonard’s College and administered by the University of St Andrews. The Graduate School supports postgraduate community life, research training, and career development through GRADskills and the Careers Centre, providing support and training opportunities throughout the doctoral studies.
St Andrews Doctoral Scholarship Benefits
- The scholarships will comprise a full tuition fee award and an annual stipend paid at a rate set by the University of St Andrews.
- For 2026-2027 the stipend rate will be £20,467.
- The stipend will be paid pro-rata to part-time students.
- The scholarships do not cover any continuation, extension, or resubmission fees, Visa fees, Immigration Health Surcharge, IELTS fees, costs for travel to and from the UK or research training grant or another equivalent award for research expenses.
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St Andrews Doctoral Scholarship Eligibility Criteria
- You must have applied for a doctoral or PhD programme at St Andrews.
- You must not already (i) hold a doctoral degree; or (ii) be matriculated for a doctoral degree at the University of St Andrews or another institution.
- Your programme start date must be one of the following: August 2027, September 2027, October 2027, January 2028, May 2028.
- Available to students studying: Postgraduate research.
- Domicile for fee status: Scotland home, Rest of UK, Overseas.
- 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, History, International Relations, Mathematics and Statistics, Medicine, Modern Languages, Philosophy, Physics and Astronomy, Psychology and Neuroscience, Social Anthropology, Business School.
- Application assessment: Academic merit.
- Available to: Prospective students.
- Mode of study: Full time, Part time – daytime.
- Geographical criteria: No restrictions.
- 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.
How to Apply for St Andrews Doctoral Scholarship
- Apply for your chosen course at the University St Andrews: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/study/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 http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/study/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.
- By completing University of St Andrews Postgraduate Research Scholarships application form, you will be automatically considered for the World-Leading Doctoral Scholarships if you meet the criteria.
- For this scholarship, you do not need to provide details about your household income or financial circumstances (and you can choose to opt out of that section of the application form), unless you wish to also be considered for other scholarships based on financial need.
- Please note that there is a separate application form for the supervisor-led World Leading Scholarships, which fund specific research projects.
- Scholarship application form guidance: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/assets/university/study-at-st-andrews/documents/fees-and-funding/application-form-guidance-notes.pdf
Don’t miss this deadline
Applications close on Wednesday, 20 January 2027. We’ll email you 7, 3 and 1 days before.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are the most frequently asked questions about the St Andrews Doctoral Scholarship. These answers cover eligibility, benefits, deadlines, application steps, and outcome notifications based on the University of St Andrews official information.
What does the St Andrews Doctoral Scholarship cover?
The St Andrews Doctoral Scholarship comprise a full tuition fee award and an annual stipend paid at a rate set by the University of St Andrews. For 2026-2027 the stipend rate will be £20,467. The scholarships do not cover continuation or extension fees, visa fees, the Immigration Health Surcharge, IELTS fees, travel costs, or research training grants.
Who is eligible to apply for the St Andrews Doctoral Scholarship?
You must have applied for a doctoral or PhD programme at St Andrews and must not already hold a doctoral degree or be matriculated for a doctoral degree at St Andrews or another institution. The scholarship is available to prospective postgraduate research students across listed Schools and Departments.
What are the application opening and closing dates?
The application period opens on Wednesday 19 August 2026 and closes on Wednesday 20 January 2027. Applicants should submit their course application first and then apply for the scholarship via the My Application portal.
When will I be notified of the outcome?
The notification date is the week commencing Monday 29 March 2027, and the outcome will be available on the My Application portal by late March 2027. Successful applicants will also receive an award letter.
What documents do I need to upload with my application?
You will be asked to upload university transcript(s) including interim transcripts for any pending degrees, a research proposal, and a CV or résumé. If your course application already included a proposal, you may upload the same proposal for the scholarship.
Can I apply before receiving an offer for a place at St Andrews?
Yes. You should apply for the scholarship 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 scholarship.
What start dates are acceptable for the programme?
Your programme start date must be one of the following: August 2027, September 2027, October 2027, January 2028, or May 2028. Scholarship holders will be expected to have submitted their thesis within the award duration.
How long is the St Andrews Doctoral Scholarship awarded for?
The duration of the St Andrews Doctoral Scholarship is 3.5 years full-time or 7.0 years part-time. Scholarship holders are expected to submit their thesis for examination by the end of that period; the award term excludes continuation and extension periods.
Are there any restrictions on domicile or subject?
There are no subject restrictions and the St Andrews Doctoral Scholarship is open to candidates with Scotland home, Rest of UK, or Overseas fee status. The listed Schools and Departments eligible are set out on the scholarship page.
How is the application assessed and what are the terms?
Application assessment is based on academic merit. Terms and conditions include not applying for a joint degree with another institution, not already holding a doctoral degree, and declining the award if you are later awarded a fully-funded external scholarship. Full terms are linked on the scholarship page.
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