University of Edinburgh (United Kingdom) - The Silber Bequest

What the Silber Bequest gives you

Your tuition fees will be covered in full at the ‘home’ rate for Scotland. In addition, you will receive a living costs allowance of approximately 24,500 EUR per year (around £21,000). The University of Edinburgh has set up this scheme to facilitate access to higher education for asylum seekers. Since 2019, funding has been provided through the ‘University of Edinburgh Asylum Seeker Scholarship’, which is now responsible for disbursing the funds. For the period from 2026 to 2027, the University is awarding two of these scholarships.

Who can apply

• Where you study: You have applied for a Bachelor’s degree programme at the University of Edinburgh, which starts between 2026 and 2027.
• Asylum status: The university department responsible for tuition fees has confirmed your fee status as ‘Domestic student – Scottish fee rate (asylum seeker)’. In short: you are applying for asylum in the United Kingdom.
• First degree: You do not yet hold a first bachelor’s degree.
• Field of study: Any topic is fine.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply. What matters is your status as an asylum seeker, not your country of origin.

How to apply

First, ask the university to confirm that you have asylum-seeker status. The university will then contact eligible applicants and ask them to complete an online form. The deadline is 31 July. A panel will review all eligible applications, and successful applicants will receive a response by the beginning of June 2026.

How realistic are your chances?

This funding is very limited. Only two places are available, and you must be admitted to the University of Edinburgh and hold asylum seeker status with confirmed tuition fee relief. Very few people meet all these criteria. If you clearly meet these conditions, you will be competing with a small group of applicants for a well-funded place on the course. You will only stand a chance if you have your status as an asylum seeker confirmed at an early stage.