Our Undergraduate Tuition Fee Grants have been part of our offering since 1901 and are designed to help people in Scotland to access higher education, who otherwise couldn’t afford it
They are available for students from low-income households who are ineligible for tuition fee support from the Scottish Government.
You might have attended university previously, but didn’t complete your studies due to ill health, financial problems, personal circumstances or because the course wasn’t right for you. Or you might already have an undergraduate degree and are looking for another chance. If so, we might be able to help.
We provide grants of up to £1,820 per person towards the cost of undergraduate tuition fees. We do not currently offer grants for living costs. We normally fund around 300 students per year.
Our grants can also apply for those claiming asylum or who don’t meet residency requirements. If you would like to apply on these grounds, please contact us first to discuss your situation further at
How does it work?
Carnegie Masters Grants provide additional support to students in receipt of a postgraduate loan to cover the cost of courses with high tuition fees.
As an example, you might wish to undertake a MSc in Computational Geoscience, where the fee for study is £12,960.
After applying for, and receiving, the maximum SAAS postgraduate loan of £7,000, they could then apply for a Carnegie Masters Grant. Their successful application would then meet the difference of £5,960 and would be paid direct to their university
Before you apply
Before applying, it is important to make sure that you meet each of the eligibility criteria below:
How to apply
For the current year, the portal will open on :
1st June 2026
and close on :
1st Dec 2026
To complete your application, you will be required to submit evidence to show that you meet the eligibility criteria. This includes being able to demonstrate that your financial circumstances do now allow you to cover the cost of tuition fees.
More Information
Sometimes putting this evidence together can take a while so we recommend that you factor this in when applying. To find out more about eligibility, evidence and how to write a successful application, please see our Application Guide. Please note that applications received after the closing date will generally not be accepted.
After applying
You will be notified of the outcome within three weeks of submitting your application, provided that you have supplied all the necessary evidence.
If your application is successful, the grant will be paid directly to your university, once you have successfully enrolled on the course.
If you choose not to take up your university place, or if you withdraw from your studies, then you must let us know immediately.
Should you have any questions about the application process, please contact grants@carnegie-edfund.scot