St Andrews Access Award
- Application period opens
- Friday 6 September 2024
- Application period closes
- Wednesday 9 April 2025
- Entry
- 2025
- Scholarships collections
- St Andrews Access Scholarship
The St Andrews Access Award was established to provide financial assistance with the cost of studying at the University of St Andrews.
Depending on your household income, you could be eligible for a non-repayable guaranteed award for the duration of your Undergraduate course.
The Access Awards are based on financial need. Students should demonstrate a below-average household income and a need for funding in their application.
Applicants with a household income less than £34,000 can apply once to be considered for various awards, including a monthly maintenance allowance, a contribution towards university or private accommodation and a sports membership discount as detailed above.
Applicants with a Home or RUK fee status with a household income greater than £34,000 may still apply and be considered for a Wardlaw or other non-guaranteed Scholarship, provided they meet the criteria and funding is available.
Widening participation applicants
Scholarship applications are particularly welcome from applicants who meet any of the following widening participation criteria:
- Live in a SIMD decile 1-4 (Scottish postcode area checker)
- Are care experienced
- Are estranged from family and living without family support
- Are seeking asylum or have refugee status in the UK
- Are a Carer (providing unpaid care)
If you meet these criteria, please go to “How to Apply ” and complete the short application form.
Value of award (per year)
Guaranteed and non-guaranteed award values:
| Eligible (Household income) | Maintenance | Accommodation | Sports membership | Total possible award value (annual) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Care experienced | £2,900 (guaranteed) | £1,750 (guaranteed) | 100% reduction (£205) | £4,855 |
| £0 - £20,999 | £2,000 (guaranteed) | £1,750 (guaranteed) | 100% reduction (£205) | £3,955 |
| £21,000 - £23,999 | £1,750 (guaranteed) | £1,750 (guaranteed) | 50% reduction (£102.50) | £3,602.50 |
| £24,000 - £33,999 | £1,500 (guaranteed) | £1,750 (eligible, not guaranteed) | 25% reduction (£51.25) | £3,301.25 |
| £34,000 and above | £700 (eligible, not guaranteed) | £1,750 (eligible not guaranteed) | 25% reduction (£51.25) | £2,501.25 |
Award values are based on evidenced household income at the time of application.
Payment terms: £1,750 paid directly towards university accommodation; private accommodation is paid as monthly maintenance. Maintenance is paid in ten monthly instalments directly to your bank account (BACS) from September to May, with a double payment in February.
Where maintenance is payable on an award, you can offset all or part of your maintenance towards university accommodation during matriculation (registration).
Duration of award
The Access Award is paid annually for the duration of the undergraduate programme. Please refer to the specific criteria for all other funding awarded as part of this scholarship.
Wardlaw Scholarships
Access Awards under this scheme may be funded from University, donor or external sources, inclusive of the following:
St Andrews Wardlaw Scholarships
For entrant undergraduate students, the Wardlaw scholarship scheme groups various Wardlaw scholarships available each year with values ranging from £1,000 to £4,400 per year; most are awarded for a student's course duration.
- Students Association Bursary
For entrant undergraduate students domiciled in the UK. - The Robertson Trust Scholarship
For entrant undergraduate students domiciled in Scotland.
Some Wardlaw scholarships have more specific eligibility criteria, usually relating to the subject of study or where the student comes from, although additional criteria may also apply.
Duration of award
The Access Award is paid annually for the duration of the undergraduate programme. Please refer to the specific criteria for all other funding awarded as part of this award.
At what stage of my course application can I apply for this scholarship?
You can apply for the scholarship after you have submitted your course application for a place at the University of St Andrews. You do not need to wait until you have received an offer of a place before applying for the scholarship.
Application restrictions
Study level
Available to students studying at:
Subjects
Available to students studying:
Domicile for fee status
Schools
Available to faculty members from:
Application assessment
Available to
Mode of study
Geographical criteria
Additional criteria
Selection is based on financial need and donor-specific criteria.
As part of the application, you will be asked to upload the following document:
Household Income: Evidence of the income stated in your scholarship application as total household income. Provide all relevant forms of income for the current or most recent full year: employment/wage/salary statements (most recent three months), tax certificates or returns, confirmation letters from Department of Work and Pensions, award letters from Social Security Scotland, letters from local government, Tax credits, DLA, dividends, pension, annuity, where evidence is not available please provide bank statements/E-statements (most recent three months) to show receipt of income. Preferably pdf or similar small file size format and in English.
If you are care experienced and are unable to provide household evidence please upload a local council confirmation letter.
If you are an asylum seeker and are unable to provide household evidence please upload evidence confirming your official Home Office Status.
You must apply to us for funding, giving complete and accurate information before the deadline; late applications will not be considered.
How to apply
After you have applied to a new course beginning in academic year 2025, you will be provided with login details for the My application portal.
If you meet the general criteria, you will receive an email to apply to the St Andrews Access Award. Please follow the instructions to apply for the award. This scholarship is available to complete and submit through 'View my funding applications' in the Scholarships and Funding section of My application.
You do not need to wait until you have received an offer of a place before applying for the scholarship.
Scholarship application form guidance
Terms and conditions
Applicants will be guaranteed the above funding in line with their declared household income, supporting evidence is required, where evidence is not provided or does not support the declared amount the committee reserves the right to amend or reject the application.
Non guaranteed funding will be awarded where funds are available, the award value will be at the discretion of the committee.
Where the Wardlaw or Robertson Trust Award exceeds the guaranteed value of the Access Award, the student will rescind the Access Award.
Where the Wardlaw or Robertson Trust Award is less than the guaranteed value of the Access Award, the Access Award will make up the difference.
Where applicants have been nominated externally for the Robertson Trust Award and are also awarded a Wardlaw by the committee, the Wardlaw will be rescinded, and only the Robertson Trust funding will remain.
Applicants will be asked to consent to sharing specified details with the Robertson Trust, and separately with Donors (including the annual donor report). If they decline this, they will only be considered for the Access Award.
The Access Award may be funded from a combination of University, donor or external sources to the value represented in the table above.
Distance learning (digital) courses are not eligible.
Sports membership discount will be applied directly and is not transferable (non-cash).
If awarded, data (student ID and discount amount) will be passed to the University Sports Centre.
When will I know the outcome?
The outcome of your scholarship application will be available in My Application, Scholarships and Funding, View my funding applications by the end of May 2025.