College of Humanities and Social Science, University of Edinburgh - Economics

Economics funding at the University of Edinburgh

The School of Economics at the University of Edinburgh offers several separate scholarships. Each of these covers your full tuition fees and provides a monthly living allowance at the rate set by the UK Research Council. Most scholarships cover the full duration of a PhD programme, i.e. up to four years. One scholarship, however, covers a one-year Master’s programme. As these are different programmes with different rules, you should check which one is suitable for you before applying.

Who can apply

• Widening Participation Scholarship (for a Master's): You must be eligible for an SGPE Master’s programme in Economics, pay the tuition fees applicable to domestic students, and have been living in Scotland for at least five years. You must also be able to demonstrate at least one indicator of a disadvantaged background. Examples of this include: a maintenance grant for students on low incomes during your undergraduate degree, a grant for former children in care, a residential address in a deprived area, or unpaid care responsibilities.
• College Research Awards and Doctoral College Scholarships (for a PhD): The programme is open to students of all nationalities who are commencing their first year of a PhD programme in Economics. You must hold a UK first-class honours degree or 2:1, or an equivalent international qualification, and demonstrate strong research potential. An MSc by Research is not considered a qualifying qualification.
• Minto Scholarships (for a PhD): For PhD students from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Scandinavia. You must hold a Master’s degree with a ‘Distinction’ and have research interests that align with the research priorities of at least two academics in the faculty.
• No existing doctorate: You cannot apply if you have already completed a PhD.

How to apply

First, apply for admission to your degree programme in Edinburgh. You should then complete a separate online scholarship application. Shortlisted applicants for a PhD programme will be invited to an interview. Before applying, please contact the faculty’s Graduate Research Office to ensure that your research proposal is a good fit for the potential supervisors.

How realistic are your chances?

These scholarships are awarded to students with outstanding academic achievements. The ‘College Research Awards’, in particular, attract many strong applicants for a limited number of places, meaning that competition is very fierce. The scholarships under the ‘Widening Participation’ and ‘Minto’ programmes are far more strictly limited by background, place of residence or country of origin. This means a smaller pool of eligible applicants and better prospects if you clearly meet the criteria. It is helpful to get in touch with your academic advisers at an early stage and to submit your application well in advance of the deadline.