Academic Policy & Governance

Saint Andrew's Society of the State of New York Scholarship Fund

Particulars of Scholarships to be awarded for Academic Year 2027

For the academic year 2027, the Society will offer up to two Scholarships valued at $45,000 to enable Scottish graduates to study for a year in the United States towards a Master's degree.

Preference will be given to candidates who have no previous experience of the United States and for whom a period of study there can be expected to be a life-changing experience. Selection will be based on an all-round assessment, including character, experience, academic achievement, and need.

The selection process is conducted by the Scholarship Committee of the Saint Andrew's Society of the State of New York.

Eligibility
1.	Candidates must be Scottish by birth or descent and will be expected to have current knowledge of Scotland and Scottish current affairs, and of the Scottish tradition generally. The Society expects its scholars to be good ambassadors for Scotland.
2.	Candidates must also be:
	either graduates of a Scottish university, or of Oxford or Cambridge, who have completed their first degree (so as to be qualified to graduate) not earlier than 2026;
	or students of a Scottish university, or of Oxford or Cambridge, who expect to complete their first degree (so as to be qualified to graduate) in 2026.
The Grant
3.	The monetary value of each Scholarship will be $45,000, to be applied in the first instance to payment of qualified education expenses including tuition fees, required books, supplies, and equipment needed for classes.
4.	If they are satisfied that tuition fees will be paid (or waived) by the host university or by another grant-giving party, the Scholarship Committee will allow the grant to be applied wholly or partially towards the costs for housing accommodations, boarding or travel ('unqualified expenses'). Unqualified expenses are subject to the statutory withholding rate on the non-qualified taxable portion of the award. The final award amount on these expenses will reflect the net of any required withholding.
5.	There is no formal means test, but account will be taken of any other scholarship, bursary, grant or waiver of fees awarded in connection with the candidate’s proposed course of study in the United States.
6.	It is the responsibility of candidates to ensure that they have fully researched the total likely cost of studying in their chosen university, as well as the cost of travel and accommodation. The Society cannot offer further financial assistance beyond the amount of the Scholarship.
7.	Applicants are advised that once an application has been accepted by an American university, a deposit will need to be paid to the university to secure the place offered. The payment of the deposit may be required before the final outcome of the selection process for the Saint Andrew’s scholarships is known.
8.	Information about other possible sources of funding can be found at: www.fundingusstudy.org/
Tenure
9.	The Scholarship will be tenable from August 2027 to May 2028 at a university in the state of New York, or within 250 miles of its boundary, or within the area of Washington DC.
10.	Where a student cannot find a course for their special subject of study within the geographical area indicated above, the Society may consider allowing the Scholarship to be held at another University in the United States.
11.	Candidates are strongly advised to apply to more than one university. In previous years, highly qualified candidates have failed to gain a place at the university of their choice and have then found it difficult or impossible to find a place elsewhere.
Scholars’ involvement with the Society
12.	The Society will invite its scholars to attend its annual Saint Andrew’s Day Banquet in New York City in November.
13.	Scholars are expected to send to the Society at least two informal reports, one in the first semester and the other in the second, addressing their personal and educational experiences during their time in the United States. Scholars are encouraged to submit their reports in the form of a blog-post so that the Society may share the scholars' experiences with its members and on its website.
14.	The scholars will be asked to stay in contact with the Society, so that they may continue to receive information about the Society and Society events, and so that the Society may learn of their progress as they advance their careers. Additionally, Society Scholars will be given an automatic five year complimentary membership in the Society following completion of their year as a SAS scholar.
Application Process
15.	Closing date for applications to the University is Monday 25 January 2027 and interviews will be held soon afterwards (these will be held in the University and are separate to the main interviews arranged by the Society).
16.	Applicants should complete the application form and email this to apg-administrative-assistant@glasgow.ac.uk.
17.	Applications should NOT be submitted directly to the Saint Andrew’s Society.
Endorsement and References
18.	Applications must be accompanied by an endorsement letter from the Principal or Vice Chancellor of the University. The endorsement letter should clearly state support for the candidate and provide specific examples of their qualifications, skills, and achievements. It should detail why they are a good fit for the St. Andrew's Society Scholarship Award. [NB. This is for the University to provide, not the applicant/student.]
19.	Applications must be accompanied by reference letters from two of the candidate's undergraduate institution academic referees written on, or annexed to, the form entitled 'Confidential Report by Referee'. The form must be signed and dated by the applicant and the referee and emailed to apg-administrative-assistant@glasgow.ac.uk
Interviews
20.	Candidates will be informed by 31 March 2027 whether they have been selected for interview.
21.	Interviews will take place in mid-April 2027, via in-person or Zoom calls scheduled by the Society. Candidates will be informed whether they have been successful as soon as possible thereafter.