The R&A Foundation - The Royal and Ancient Golf Club Scholarship

What the R&A Golf Club Scholarship gives you

You get up to about 11,600 EUR per year (£10,000) towards your tuition or training fees. On top of that, you get up to about 5,800 EUR per year (£5,000) for golf-related career development, such as hands-on placements alongside your studies. The funding runs for the full length of your study or training programme, as long as you keep making good progress. You also get a personal mentor (an experienced adviser who guides you) from The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. You join a global network of current and former scholars and take part in a year of online leadership workshops. The year ends with a week-long Scholars Conference in St Andrews. The scholarship is run by The R&A Foundation, a golf charity based in St Andrews, Scotland.

Who can apply

• Age: You are 18 to 29 years old on 1 September of the funding year.
• Study: You are enrolled in, or about to start, a nationally recognised academic or vocational qualification. It usually lasts 2 to 4 years and does not have to be golf-related.
• Field of study: Any subject is fine. Past scholars studied greenkeeping, club management, coaching, sports medicine, agronomy, marketing, course design, sustainability and data science.
• Nationality: You can apply from anywhere in the world.
• Golf commitment: You are already active in golf and can show real dedication to the sport, plus the potential to lead and shape its future.
• Conference: You are willing to attend the Scholars Conference in St Andrews.
• Preferred: Applicants from underrepresented or non-traditional golf backgrounds, and those with fewer opportunities in the sport, are especially encouraged to apply.
• Who cannot apply: Staff of The R&A and close relatives of Royal and Ancient Golf Club members cannot apply.

How to apply

You apply through an online form. You send a CV, a short personal statement and two references. If you are shortlisted, you submit a short video and then attend an online interview with the selection panel. Applications open once a year. You can register your interest by email with the foundation to be told when the next round opens.

How realistic are your chances?

This is a single global scholarship open to young people worldwide, so it draws a large field: over 500 applications in its first two years, with only 21 scholars chosen. Grades matter less than a genuine, well-evidenced track record in golf and clear leadership potential. Your best shot is to show a real contribution to the sport, especially from an underrepresented golf background, and to apply as soon as the round opens.