1. What are the Saltire Scholarships?
Scotland’s Saltire Scholarships (SSS) is a programme of scholarships run by the Scottish Government. The scheme offers up to 100 awards, each worth £4,000 towards the tuition fees of successful applicants.
2. What level of study are the scholarships available for?
Scholarships are available for a one year full time Undergraduate, Masters or PhD course at any of Scotland’s higher education institutions. Please click here to see Scotland's higher education institutions.
Please note, Saltire Scholarships are not available for students of The Open University in Scotland.
3. What subjects can I study?
The scholarships are designed to support the promotion of Scotland as a learning nation and a science nation and are therefore targeted at the priority sectors of:
- Creative industries
- Life sciences
- Technology
- Financial services
- Renewable and clean energy
This list is not exclusive and applications for courses in broader subject areas will be considered. Please check with your institution to see what courses are covered. Examples on the list of subjects that can be studied can be found here.
4. Are the scholarships limited to specific countries?
Yes, the priority countries are:
- Canada
- China
- India
- Pakistan
- United States of America
(Hong Kong is also eligible as it is a Special Administrative Region of China)
5. I come from a country not mentioned above, can I still apply?
Unfortunately, at this time Scotland’s Saltire Scholarships (SSS) are only available to citizens and permanent residents of Canada, China, Pakistan, India and North America.
6. What does ‘Citizen’ mean?
A citizen is defined as being entitled by birth or naturalization to the protection of a state or nation. A native, inhabitant, or denizen of a particular place. A native registered or naturalized member of a state, nation, or other political community
7. What does ‘permanent resident’ mean?
A permanent resident is someone who has acquired permanent resident status by immigrating to a country, but is not yet a full citizen of that country. Permanent residents have certain rights and privileges in that country even though they remain citizens of their home country. A person in a country temporarily, such as an international student or a temporary foreign worker, is not a permanent resident.
Please note that each of the eligible countries will set their own criteria for permanent residency. For further information on this please check the website of the immigration agency in these countries.
8. Can I apply for a Saltire Scholarship at another UK institution?
No, the Scottish Government funds the Saltire Scholarship programme and you would need to study at a Scottish institution.
9. What does the Scholarship award cover?
The scheme offers up to 100 awards, each worth £4,000, towards the cost of tuition fees of a one-year full time Undergraduate, Masters or PhD course at any of Scotland’s higher education institutions.
10. What about the remainder of the tuition fee cost and other living expenses?
Any additional costs and expenses are the responsibility of the student
11. Can I study part time or by distance learning from home?
No, courses must be full time and delivered in Scotland. Not online or by distance learning.
12. How do I apply?
You should complete the application form which is available from Monday 1st February 2016. The application process for 2016 will close on May 1st 2016.
13. Do I need to apply to my university before hand?
Yes, you need an unconditional or conditional offer from your university before your application can be considered.
14. Do I need to supply any other documentation with my application?
No, but your university may ask for further documentation at a later date.
15. I have previously been awarded the Saltire Scholarship, can I apply again?
No, the scholarship can only be awarded once.
16. I have been awarded a scholarship from my university and or other source, can I also apply for the Saltire Scholarship?
Yes, but it would be at the discretion of the university whether you would be awarded more than one.
17. The course I am taking lasts for 2 years, would I get the scholarship for both years?
No, the scholarship is for 1 year only.
18. I am currently studying at a Scottish Institution can I apply for the scholarship?
No, the scholarship is to encourage new international students to come to Scotland and you must not have studied undergraduate or postgraduate in Scotland before.
19. How do I find out about Visa / Immigration arrangements?
The Study in Scotland website has a lot of information on the procedures and criteria on immigration arrangements for foreign students. This information can be found here.
20. Is there a closing date for applications?
Yes, the closing date for applications is Sunday 1st May 2016 at Midnight GMT.
21. When will I be informed of the decision?
Your university will inform you shortly after the closing date.
22. If I have more questions, whom should I contact?
In the first instance, you should contact the university you are applying to. You can also email the Saltire Scholarship mailbox: ScotlandsSaltireScholarships@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
