University of Glasgow - Carnegie Trust

What the Carnegie Trust tuition fee grant gives you

For a full-time bachelor’s degree programme in Scotland, you will receive your tuition fees paid, up to about 2,100 EUR per year (£1,820). The grant covers tuition fees only; it does not cover living costs. You must submit a new application for each academic year you undertake. The grant is provided by the Carnegie Education Fund, a Scottish charity founded in 1901, which enables people from low-income households to access university education.

Who can apply

• Where you study: You have an unconditional offer of a place on a bachelor’s degree programme (Bachelor’s, MA and similar) at an eligible Scottish university, such as Glasgow, Edinburgh, St Andrews, Strathclyde or Dundee. HNC/HND qualifications, foundation courses, Open University courses and postgraduate programmes are not eligible for funding.
• Connection to Scotland: At the time of applying, you must be living in Scotland. You must also have either completed at least two full years of secondary school or college there, or be able to demonstrate a genuine, current connection to Scotland through residence, upbringing or school attendance. A university degree alone is not sufficient.
• Right to stay: You may be staying in the United Kingdom indefinitely, hold a visa that is valid for the entire duration of your course, or be an asylum seeker.
• No state fee support: You are not entitled to state grants or loans to cover your tuition fees, either in Scotland, the rest of the United Kingdom or abroad.
• Financial need: Your household income is low. As a guide, single applicants without children earn around £30,000 or less; if you have a partner or children, the income limits are higher. Most beneficiaries have a significantly lower income.
• First degree: You do not yet hold a university degree. Funding for a second degree is only available in fields experiencing a shortage of skilled workers, such as medicine, computer science, engineering or social work.
• Field of study: Open to all subjects.
• Nationality: Applicants of any nationality may apply, provided they meet the above requirements regarding their connection to Scotland and their right of residence.

How to apply

Use the eligibility check on the Carnegie Trust website and then complete the online application form. You will need to upload proof of identity, your offer of a place from the university, proof of your household income and a letter of recommendation. The portal opens on 1. June and closes on 1 December at 17:00. There is no interview: the decision will be made on the basis of your application documents, usually within two to three weeks of receipt of the complete application.

How realistic are your chances?

This grant is aimed at a small target group: you must have a connection to Scotland, be on a low income and be ineligible for standard government tuition fee support. If you clearly meet these criteria and can provide evidence of your income, your chances are good, and there is no need to attend an interview. Submit your application in good time before the December deadline, as late applications are only accepted in exceptional circumstances.