Students Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) - Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loans (PTFL)

What the Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loan gives you

You will receive a government loan of up to about 4,270 EUR (7,000 GBP) to cover all or part of the tuition fees for a full-time postgraduate programme. The amount will be spread evenly across the individual years. For a one-year Master’s or diploma programme, the full amount will be paid out in one go. For a two-year programme, you will receive approximately half per year. The money will be paid directly to your university, not to you. This is a loan, not a grant, so you will need to repay it later on the same terms as a student loan. It is provided by the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS), the government body that provides financial support to Scottish students. If you are studying full-time and meet the eligibility criteria, you can also apply for a living costs loan of up to approximately 4,210 EUR (6,900 GBP) per year.

Who can apply

• Residence: You are ordinarily resident in Scotland and meet the SAAS residence requirements. Nationals of the United Kingdom, the EU, the EEA, Switzerland, Ireland, Gibraltar and Turkey may be eligible, provided they meet these conditions.
• Level of study: You are studying for a postgraduate diploma or a Master’s degree. Postgraduate certificates, PhDs and doctorates are not eligible for funding.
• Field of study: All degree programmes are open. If you are studying social work, please check with the Scottish Social Services Council first, as its funding guidelines exclude support from the SAAS.
• Where you study: You are studying at a publicly funded higher education institution or with a recognised private education provider, whether in Scotland or elsewhere in the United Kingdom.
• Course length: Your full-time bachelor’s degree programme lasts up to 1 years, and your full-time master’s degree programme up to 2 years.
• No earlier postgraduate funding: You have not yet received any public funding from the United Kingdom or the EU for postgraduate study.

How to apply

You apply directly to SAAS, not to the university. The application period for the coming academic year begins in April. To be eligible for a fee waiver, you must be enrolled and attending your course by a specified deadline. For degree programmes starting between August and December 2026, this deadline is 1 December 2026.

How realistic are your chances?

This is a grant-based loan rather than a competitive scholarship, so your application will not be assessed by a panel against those of other applicants. If you meet the residence requirements, are enrolled on an eligible diploma or Master’s programme, and have not yet received any public funding for postgraduate study, you should meet the eligibility criteria. Apply from April onwards and ensure you remain enrolled beyond the deadline so that the fee is actually paid.