Scholarships & funding

Carnegie Masters Grants

If you have any questions about the scheme or would like to discuss your eligibility before applying, please contact: grants@carnegie-trust.org, the Scholarship team at the University of Glasgow will not be able to provide further information on this scheme. 

Postgraduate study can open doors to better careers, new opportunities and higher earning potential, however cost can be a major barrier. Funding options for study at this level in Scotland are limited, but the new Carnegie Masters Grant from Carnegie Education Fund (CEF) help to address this problem.

This new scheme helps students from low-income Scottish households undertake masterʼs programmes of study at Scottish universities. It helps to cover the cost of tuition fees and, in some cases, will offer additional support for study costs.

The scheme aims to:

• Support people from low-income backgrounds who want to return to higher education to upskill or reskill to change career.
• Increase the numbers of low-income students undertaking postgraduate study in Scotland
• Equip graduates with the skills and expertise to meet current and emerging skills gaps in Scotland.

About Carnegie Education Fund Carnegie Education Fund is an independent charitable trust that aims to support participation in and improvement of Scotlandʼs higher education system through grants and research. It was established in 1901 as the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland (SC015600).

All eligibility for this scholarship can be found directly in Carnegie's applicant guide- Carnegie Masters Grant - Applicant Guide - 2026/27

Number of Scholarships

Variable

Value

What does a Carnegie Masters Grant provide?

Support for tuition fees- A Carnegie Masters Grant will provide a contribution towards the cost of Home-rate tuition fees for masterʼs programmes up to a maximum of £10,000 (full-time) or £5,000 per year (part-time).

To apply for a Carnegie Masters Grant, you will first need to apply for a postgraduate tuition fee loan, worth up to £7,000, through the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). You can then apply to Carnegie Education Fund for the remaining costs of your tuition fee.

For example, if you wish to study an MSc in City Planning where the full time tuition fee is £11,943, after using the £7,000 allocation from SAAS you could apply for a Carnegie Masters Grant worth £4,943 to cover the remaining fees. The payment will go directly to your university.

If the amount of fee remaining after securing your SAAS loan is more than the maximum award available, then you will be required to show you can cover the difference.

If you arenʼt eligible for SAAS funding due to residency, but meet all other criteria set out , please contact Carnegie directly. However, the grant can only be used to cover Home-rate fees.

Study-cost stipend- In some cases, a Carnegie Masters Grant can also help with the additional costs of study, such as travel, childcare, or equipment costs.

Applicants whose circumstances meet the eligibility threshold will be awarded up to £5,000 (full-time) or £2,500 per year (part-time).

The information you submit in your application will be used to determine eligibility. Stipends will be awarded based on:

• Financial need
• Personal circumstances
• Available budget

If you are awarded a study-cost stipend, you will receive it across three installments across the academic year and it will be paid directly to your bank

How to apply

You can apply using an online application form on their website. This will ask you for information about you, your financial circumstances, education and work history and your chosen course of study.

The scheme will open for applications on 1 May 2026. The closing date for applications is 31 July 2026. Decisions will be issued following assessment in August 2026.

For more information contact: grants@carnegie-trust.org