Robertson Trust Scholarship (Journey to Success)

What you get

You get up to about 4,900 EUR per academic year (up to £4,250, or up to £4,400 at some universities like St Andrews). You receive it for the whole length of your undergraduate degree, as long as you keep meeting the criteria. This is a bursary you do not pay back, given by The Robertson Trust, Scotland's largest charitable foundation. On top of the money you join the 'Journey to Success' programme. It includes a welcome event, leadership and personal-development training, paid internships during and after your studies, wellbeing and mental-health support, and mentoring (regular guidance from former scholars). Around 700 students are supported each year.

Who can apply

• Where you study: You have applied for an undergraduate degree at a Scottish university.
• Where you live: You have lived in Scotland for at least one year when you apply.
• First degree: This is your first time at university and you do not already hold a degree.
• Student support: You qualify for funding from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS), such as the Young Student Bursary or Independent Student Bursary.
• Financial need: You can show real money problems, for example parents on low pay or out of work, or your household receiving income-based benefits like Universal Credit or the Scottish Child Payment.
• Extra barrier: At least one applies to you, such as very low income, care experience, caring for a family member, disability or long-term illness, being cut off from your family, or belonging to an ethnic minority or the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community.
• Age: Four packages cover different groups: ages 16 to 25, ages 26 to 45, student parents aged 16 to 45, and students moving up from college.

How to apply

You cannot apply on your own. A school, college, university or partner organisation must nominate you first. If your nomination succeeds, you fill in an application form about your circumstances, financial barriers and what you have overcome. Selection is based on these written forms. You hear the result between late May and early August, depending on your university.

How realistic are your chances?

There are around 160 places across the four packages each year, and you must be nominated rather than apply directly, so the pool is filtered before it reaches the Trust. The eligibility is cut narrowly around financial need plus a specific extra barrier, which keeps the field smaller than an open scholarship. If you clearly fit those conditions and a partner organisation puts you forward, your prospects are solid.