Savanna Hoffman
Postgraduate fees in Scotland vary depending on the university and programme, as well as the student's fee status. Scottish students pursuing postgraduate studies are eligible for various funds and support towards tuition fees and living costs. Postgraduate students from Scotland and the rest of the UK will need to pay a tuition fee, which is set by the individual institution. Students from England, Northern Ireland, and Wales studying in Scotland can apply for living cost grants and student loans from their home funding body. Postgraduate students from the EU have to pay international fees, while international students from outside the UK and EU usually have to pay higher tuition fees.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Postgraduate fees in Scotland | Paid by the student |
| Scottish students | Entitled to various funds and support towards tuition fees and living costs |
| Postgraduate funding | Postgraduate Masters Loan of up to £10,609 or £10,280 |
| Postgraduate Doctoral Loan of up to £25,000 | |
| SAAS loan | Up to £7,000 |
| Living cost loan | £4,500 or £6,900 |
| International students | Pay higher tuition fees |
| EU students | Pay international fees since 2021-22 |
| Scottish students at UWS | Postgraduate Social Work courses funded by SSSC |
| Graduate Teaching Assistantships | Offered by some departments to postgraduate research students |
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What You'll Learn
Postgraduate fees for Scottish students
Students from Scotland and the rest of the UK will need to pay a tuition fee set by the individual institution. The University of Glasgow, for example, offers Postgraduate Masters Loans of up to £10,280 or £10,609 to help with course fees and living costs. For doctoral degrees starting on or after 1 August 2018, a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan of up to £25,000 is available. Additionally, some departments at the University of Glasgow offer Graduate Teaching Assistantships to postgraduate research students, providing valuable work experience and supplemental income.
It is important to note that the cost of university education in Scotland depends on the student's fee status and the level of study. EU students usually pay less than non-EU international students. As a result of Brexit, EU students starting their studies in the academic year 2021/2022 or later may be treated as international students and charged higher fees. However, the Scottish government confirmed that EU students starting before the 2021/2022 academic year would pay the same fees as Scottish students for the duration of their course.
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Postgraduate fees for international students
International students are required to pay tuition fees for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Scotland. The fees for postgraduate courses vary depending on the university and programme, as well as the fee status of the student. EU students, for instance, usually pay less than non-EU international students.
As a rule of thumb, the more prestigious the university, the higher the tuition cost. For instance, the University of Edinburgh and the University of Glasgow are likely to be more expensive than other Scottish universities. The University of Glasgow offers a tuition fee loan of up to £7,000 for eligible taught postgraduate students, as well as scholarships for students entering any of its colleges.
Students from England, Northern Ireland, and Wales can apply for living cost grants and student loans from their home funding body and will receive the same level of funding as they would if studying in their home country. Northern Irish students can apply for non-means-tested tuition fee loans of up to £5,500, while Welsh students can apply for a Postgraduate Masters Loan of up to £10,280. English students can apply for a Postgraduate Masters Loan of up to £10,609.
In April 2019, the Scottish government confirmed that EU students starting their studies before the 2020/21 academic year would pay the same fees as Scottish students for the duration of their course. However, starting in the 2021/22 academic year, EU students are now charged international fees.
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Postgraduate loans
Postgraduate students in Scotland typically have to pay tuition fees. The cost of tuition depends on the university, programme, and fee status. EU students usually pay less than non-EU international students, and Scottish universities do not differentiate between Scottish and Rest of UK (RUK) students.
The Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) provides funding for postgraduate students in Scotland. In 2025/26, Scottish postgraduate loans are worth £13,900 in total, divided into two parts: a tuition fee loan of up to £7,000 and a living cost loan of up to £6,900 for full-time students. The tuition fee loan has no age restrictions, but students must be under 61 at the start of the course to receive the living cost loan. These loans are not means-tested, so a student's financial background does not affect the amount they can borrow.
To be eligible for a SAAS Postgraduate Loan, students must have ordinarily resided in the UK, Channel Islands, or Isle of Man for three years before the course start date. They must also be ordinarily resident in Scotland on the relevant date. If students do not meet these residence conditions, there are exceptions that may still make them eligible for a loan, including EEA and Swiss nationals granted permanent residence in the UK.
Full-time students can apply for a tuition fee loan of up to £7,000 from SAAS to cover their postgraduate course's tuition fees. However, with many full-time master's courses in Scotland costing between £10,000 and £12,000, the loan may not be sufficient. Students are advised to check with their university or SAAS for details on fees and funding.
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Postgraduate scholarships
Generally, students pursuing postgraduate programmes in Scotland have to pay tuition fees. The fees depend on the university and programme, as well as the student's fee status. Scottish universities do not differentiate between Scottish and Rest of UK (RUK) students when it comes to postgraduate fees. International students, including those from outside the EU, usually have to pay higher tuition fees.
There are several scholarship opportunities for postgraduate students in Scotland, offered by individual universities as well as national schemes. Here are some examples:
University of Stirling
The University of Stirling offers a range of scholarships for postgraduate students:
- EU Postgraduate Scholarship: provides a £5,000 tuition fee discount for EU students.
- The Data Lab Scholarships: fully funded places on selected Masters courses in partnership with The Data Lab and the Scottish Funding Council.
- Commonwealth Shared Scholarships: for candidates from developing Commonwealth countries to study selected Masters courses.
- Stirling Alumni Scholarship: for students who have completed their undergraduate degree at Stirling.
- GREAT Scholarship China: a £10,000 scholarship for a Chinese student studying any postgraduate taught degree.
- Saint Andrew's Society of the State of New York Scholarship: for Scottish students wishing to study a postgraduate master's in the United States in the academic year 2025-2026.
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh is part of a consortium of universities in Scotland that have received funding from the Economics & Social Research Council (ESRC) to support postgraduate studentships and training. They also offer subject-specific funding schemes and are offering five scholarships to students from Thailand, India, Spain, Mexico and Nigeria applying for one-year master's programmes.
National Scholarships
There are also several national scholarships available for postgraduate students in Scotland, including:
- British Chevening Scholarships: the UK government's global scholarship programme, offering full financial support for any eligible master's degree at any UK university.
- Commonwealth Scholarship Fellowship Plan (CSFP): offers scholarships for citizens of Commonwealth countries to study in the UK, including PhD positions, Masters programmes, and undergraduate study.
- Fulbright Awards programme: provides awards for US citizens to study in the UK, including postgraduate awards.
It is recommended to check the websites of individual institutions and organisations for the most up-to-date and accurate information on postgraduate scholarships and fees.
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Postgraduate funding for social work courses
Generally, students pursuing postgraduate programmes in Scotland have to pay tuition fees. The cost of a university education in Scotland depends on the student's fee status and their chosen level of study. Scottish universities differentiate between "home", RUK (rest of the UK), and international students. International students, including those from outside the UK and the EU, usually have to pay higher tuition fees.
There are over 175 postgraduate courses in social work across UK universities, including postgraduate short courses, MA and MSc degrees, and doctoral research qualifications. Most universities offering these courses require applicants to have a relevant undergraduate degree, and some also ask for work experience in social work or a related field.
Scottish students studying at the postgraduate level at UWS are entitled to various funds and support toward tuition fees and living costs. SAAS will provide funding for taught postgraduate studies up to Masters level, provided that the student has not already used UK or EU funds to study at this level. Student funding packages for full-time students comprise a tuition fee loan and living costs loan. Postgraduate bursaries are available for nominated and eligible students studying the MSc Social Work at UWS. The maximum contribution the postgraduate bursary scheme is approved to pay toward course fees in 2024/25 is £3,415.
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Frequently asked questions
Scottish students are usually required to pay tuition fees for postgraduate courses. The Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) offers funding and support to eligible students.
The tuition fees for postgraduate courses in Scotland vary depending on the university and programme. The Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) offers a universal student loan entitlement of £11,500 for eligible taught postgraduate students.
No, international students usually pay higher tuition fees than Scottish students. EU students starting their studies before the 2021/22 academic year paid the same fees as Scottish students. However, since the 2021/22 academic year, EU students have been paying international fees.
