British Council

Founded in 1934, the British Council first overseas offices opened in 1938, making it the oldest cultural relations organisation in the world. The aim for creating the British Council was:

‘To create in a country overseas a basis of friendly knowledge and understanding of the people of this country, of their philosophy and way of life, which will lead to a sympathetic appreciation of British foreign policy, whatever for the moment that policy may be and from whatever political conviction it may spring.’

British Council work has evolved but continues to make a positive contribution to the countries they work with. In doing so, it improves the UK’s international standing, prosperity and security. The British Council sets out their aims as: ‘promoting a wider knowledge of [the UK] and the English language abroad and developing closer cultural relations between [the UK] and other countries.’

The University of St Andrews has collaborative agreements with the British Council to offer a range of scholarships including GREAT Scholarships and Scholarships for Women in STEM for postgraduate taught degrees.

St Andrews also works with the British Council to support the Higher Education Scholarships for Palestinians (HESPAL) programme.

The Higher Education Scholarships for Palestinians (HESPAL) is a UK scholarship programme developed in partnership with Palestinian universities to strengthen the Palestinian higher education (HE) sector, responding to its needs and priorities.

Given the challenging circumstances in Palestine, particularly in Gaza, the need for support for Palestinian academics is more critical than ever. This scholarship initiative aims to foster enduring collaborations between the University of St Andrews and Palestinian universities, further contributing to academic advancement and cooperation.

Full details can be found on the British Council website.

The purpose of the Project is to develop:
- Palestine’s next generation of senior academics, expert professionals and thought leaders
- sustainable institutional links between Palestinian and UK universities
- a vibrant HESPAL alumni network, to sustain scholars’ longer-term careers.
The British Council Palestine and the University of St Andrews have an agreement to jointly support up to two postgraduate taught degree HESPAL scholarships per year for three years starting from 2024.

The HESPAL Scholarship is centred on building capacity in Palestinian universities by providing young Palestinian academics with an English Masters in a subject that will benefit their home institution and surrounding Palestinian Territories.

Funding

Two postgraduate taught degrees awards will be offered, effective from the 2024-2025 academic year.

The University of St Andrews will cover: the cost of tuition fees for programme.

The British Council will cover:
- Arrival allowances.
- Thesis allowances.
- Bench fees if required.
- Monthly allowance to cover living expenses
The Scholarship does not cover visa fees, English language testing costs and airfare ticket to and from the UK. Full details can be found on the British Council website.

Eiligibility

To be eligible for this scholarship, students must:
- be a resident citizen of the Palestinian Territories.
- be currently employed by a Palestinian university and nominated by this university.
- hold a Bachelor’s degree from a Palestinian university with a minimum grade of very good (and equivalent to at least a 2:1 Bachelor’s degree from the UK).
- sign a written undertaking to return to Palestine and work in their university on completion of their degree.
Full details of the eligibility criteria can be found on the British Council website.

How to apply

Students should apply for both a full-time masters degree at St Andrews and a HESPAL Scholarship. Candidates for a Scholarship at the University of St Andrews should complete the university's application form for postgraduate taught course, and provide the necessary additional documentation. Please see our Postgraduate Taught Programmes webpage for further information.

Applicants must complete the HESPAL application form in collaboration with their Palestinian university. Palestinian universities will then nominate their selected candidates and send all nominee applications to the British Council Palestine. The British Council Palestine will check applications for eligibility and co-ordinate the selection of applications with the University of St Andrews. They will also be responsible for the final placement of scholars.

For full details of how to apply, please visit the British Council website.
In partnership with the British Council and the GREAT Britain Campaign, University of St Andrews is offering five scholarships to students from Ghana, Mexico, Thailand, India, Malaysia, Greece, applying for one-year Masters programmes.

The GREAT Scholarship programme supports postgraduate students to access world class UK higher education opportunities. The scholarship programme offers financial support to students pursuing one-year postgraduate study in the UK.

For more information on the GREAT Scholarships, please visit Study UK.
The British Council and the University of St Andrews are jointly offering five full scholarships for applicants from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Uzbekistan a chance to pursue their postgraduate taught in the UK.

According to data from the UN Scientific Education and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), less than 30% of the world’s researchers are women and only 30% of female students select STEM-related fields in higher education.

Globally, female students’ enrolment is particularly low in Information and Communications Technology (3%), natural science, mathematics and statistics (5%), and engineering, manufacturing and construction (8%).

Educating, training, and hiring more women in STEM can lead to better scientific and financial outcomes, increasing diversity in the workforce, bringing variety in perspectives and ideas and giving organizations a competitive edge.

Further information can be found on the British Council Women In Stem webpage.
The University is delighted to welcome British Council students to St Andrews. Some of our students have shared their experiences of studying at St Andrews through the British Council collaboration; below are some of their statements.

Pursuing a Masters degree at the University of St Andrews has been a truly enchanting experience. Nestled in the serene Scottish countryside, St Andrews is not just historic but breathtakingly beautiful, offering an ideal setting for academic pursuits. The university has brought together an incredible community of students from around the globe, enriching my education with diverse perspectives and cultivating my sense of global citizenship. Moreover, the warmth and support of the staff have been remarkable. I am immensely thankful for this unforgettable journey at St Andrews, a chapter of my life I will always cherish.

Nathanael Christianto, GREAT Scholar, MSc Finance and Management

British Council

Higher Education Scholarships for Palestinians (HESPAL)

British Council GREAT

British Council scholarships for women in STEM

Student experience