University of St Andrews offers 260+ scholarships in its funding catalogue, of which 8+ are directly accessible to Indian applicants.
Two undergraduate awards, three postgraduate schemes and external UK Government routes cover Indian students at entry. The rest are ring-fenced for UK, EU or specific Commonwealth-country streams.
- Standard UG tuition (Arts, Divinity, Science): £33,250/year (INR 42.56 Lakhs).
- With International Excellence Scholarship: £0 tuition for full programme duration.
- With International UG Scholarship + Accommodation Award stack: Net cost around £21,500 (INR 27.52 Lakhs).
- Next major UG deadline: Wednesday, 27 January 2027 (both International Excellence and International Undergraduate).
Currency Note: All INR conversions use the live rate of 1 GBP = INR 128 as of August 2026. Where scholarships are quoted in USD (Inlaks Shivdasani), a rate of 1 USD = INR 88 applies.
Table of Contents
- University of St Andrews Scholarships for UG Students
- University of St Andrews Scholarships for PG / Master’s Students
- India-Specific Scholarships at University of St Andrews
- University of St Andrews PhD Scholarships
- External Government Scholarships for University of St Andrews
- University of St Andrews Scholarships: Frequently Asked Questions
University of St Andrews Scholarships for UG Students
Two entry scholarships and one accommodation award serve Indian undergraduates at University of St Andrews. All three route through the same "My application" portal used for admission.
| Scholarship | Value | Type | Deadline (2027 entry) |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Excellence Scholarship | Full tuition, all years (worth £33,250/year or INR 42.56 Lakhs/year) | Merit | Wednesday, 27 January 2027 |
| International Undergraduate Scholarship | Up to £10,000/year (INR 12.80 Lakhs); 2027-28 exact value confirmed by December 2026 | Financial need | Wednesday, 27 January 2027 |
| International Accommodation Award | Minimum £1,750/year (INR 2.24 Lakhs) | Financial need | Wednesday, 27 January 2027 |
How Indian applicants apply: First submit your UCAS course application to University of St Andrews. Two working days later, log in to the "My application" portal. All three UG awards are accessed through that single portal.
The International Excellence Scholarship is the deepest UG award. It funds full tuition for every year of the programme. Only one recipient is selected annually across all eligible schools.
Eligible schools cover most sciences, arts, humanities and the Business School. That includes Computer Science, International Relations, Modern Languages, Philosophy, Physics and Psychology. Medicine and the William and Mary joint honours streams are excluded.
Notification for both January-deadline schemes falls in the week of Wednesday, 17 March 2027. The recipient serves as a Student Ambassador during the programme.
Reddit Insight: Only one International Excellence award is granted each year, so most Indian applicants also file the need-based International Undergraduate Scholarship as a backup. Successful need-based awards typically land in the £5,000 to £10,000 band (INR 6.40 Lakhs to INR 12.80 Lakhs). Full £10,000 offers are rare.
Explore More: University of St Andrews Admissions | Fees and Programs
University of St Andrews Scholarships for PG / Master’s Students
Master’s-level funding at University of St Andrews clusters around three schemes for Indians. Standard PG taught tuition sits at £22,000 to £36,000 (INR 28.16 Lakhs to INR 46.08 Lakhs) depending on programme.
| Scholarship | Value (per year) | Applies to | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Leonards International: Global Widening Participation tier | Full tuition + £18,000 maintenance (INR 23.04 Lakhs) + guaranteed standard room | MLitt, MSc, MRes, MPP, MSc(Res), MSt(Res), MPhil, MFA | Tentative early February 2027 (2026 cycle closed 4 February 2026) |
| St Leonards International: Leadership tier | 75% tuition reduction + up to £2,000 (INR 2.56 Lakhs) accommodation | Same programmes as above | Tentative early February 2027 |
| St Leonards International: Excellence tier | 25% tuition reduction | Same programmes as above | Tentative early February 2027 |
| Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship (FCDO-funded) | Full tuition + monthly stipend £1,378 to £1,690 (INR 1.76 Lakhs to INR 2.16 Lakhs) + airfare + visa | One-year taught Master’s | Tentative Tuesday, 20 October 2026 (2027 entry) |
India is one of the five preferred residency regions for the St Leonards International award. The others are China, USA, Africa and Europe. That preference sharpens Indian odds within the ranked pool but does not guarantee an outcome.
All three St Leonards tiers require two of these criteria: financial need, academic excellence or non-academic achievement (leadership, volunteering, sport). Applications route through the same portal used for course admission.
Reddit Insight: The Global Widening Participation tier funds only a handful of Indian applicants each cycle. Most Indians who succeed at St Leonards land the Excellence tier (25% off tuition) rather than the top tiers. Plan tuition finances around a 25% discount, not full funding.
The Commonwealth Master’s route needs India-side nomination. See the External Government Scholarships section below for the two-portal application steps.
Explore More: St Andrews Profile Overview | Rankings and Subject Ranks
India-Specific Scholarships at University of St Andrews
Two funding routes are ring-fenced for Indian nationals studying at University of St Andrews. Both are external awards, not administered by the university, but hold at St Andrews for the full programme.
| Scholarship | Value | Eligibility | Deadline (2027 entry) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarship | Up to USD 120,000 (INR 105.60 Lakhs) covering tuition, living costs, one-way airfare, health allowance and visa | Indian passport holder, resident in India, born on or after 1 January 1996; minimum 65% (humanities) or 70% (sciences) in bachelor’s | Tentative Tuesday, 31 March 2027 |
| St Leonards International (India-preference stream) | See PG section above | Indian residency preferred within international pool | Tentative early February 2027 |
The Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarship is the single highest-value award available to Indian St Andrews applicants. Its scope, however, is narrow.
Inlaks subject coverage at St Andrews splits sharply between allowed and excluded fields:
- Eligible: humanities, social sciences (International Relations, Sustainable Development, Social Anthropology), law, fine arts, film studies, architecture.
- Excluded: business, finance, computer science, engineering (except Imperial College London), medicine, management studies.
Selection runs in three stages: written application, online preliminary interview, then final in-person interview in Mumbai (usually May to June). Applicants must hold a St Andrews offer letter before final selection.
Applications are submitted directly at inlaksfoundation.org, not through University of St Andrews. Around 8 to 12 scholarships are awarded each cycle across all Inlaks partner universities globally, so effective odds are tight.
University of St Andrews PhD Scholarships
PhD funding at St Andrews for Indian applicants runs mainly through the World-Leading Doctoral Scholarships programme. Individual schools such as Computer Science, Modern Languages and Physics also list annual PhD studentships.
| Scheme | Value | Duration | Deadline (2027 entry) |
|---|---|---|---|
| World-Leading Doctoral Scholarships | Full tuition + stipend £19,775/year (INR 25.31 Lakhs, 2025-26 rate; annual uplift tentative for 2026-27) | Up to 3.5 years | Tentative 31 October 2026 (supervisor-led); 21 January 2027 (student-led) |
| School of Computer Science PhD Studentships | Full tuition + UKRI-equivalent stipend | 3.5 years | Tentative early January 2027 |
| Discipline-specific research awards (Physics, Modern Languages, others) | Varies; often full tuition + stipend | 3 to 4 years | Rolling; check individual school pages |
World-Leading Doctoral Scholarships fund both UK and international students, so Indians compete in the same pool. Applicants must hold a PhD offer from a St Andrews School before the scholarship application closes.
Two routes exist. Supervisor-led means the project is defined by a University of St Andrews faculty member. Student-led means you propose your own project and secure a supervisor first.
Alignment with the University’s research strategy is a hard filter at shortlisting. Applicants pushing outside those research areas rarely progress even with strong metrics.
External Government Scholarships for University of St Andrews
Indian students admitted to University of St Andrews can layer three UK Government or Commonwealth-funded awards on top of university offers. All three are administered outside the university.
| Scholarship | Value | Programme Level | Deadline (2027 entry) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevening Scholarship (UK FCDO) | Full tuition + monthly stipend + return airfare; package worth £50,000+ (INR 64 Lakhs+) | One-year Master’s | Tuesday, 6 October 2026 (confirmed) |
| Commonwealth Shared Scholarship (CSC UK, university-nominated) | Full tuition + monthly stipend £1,781 (INR 2.28 Lakhs) + airfare + visa + thesis grant | One-year Master’s | Tentative Tuesday, 20 October 2026 |
| Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship (CSC UK, agency-nominated) | Full tuition + stipend + airfare + visa | One-year Master’s | Tentative Tuesday, 20 October 2026 |
Chevening is the flagship UK Government award for Indian mid-career applicants. It requires 2,800 hours of post-graduation work experience and a bachelor’s equivalent to a UK upper-second-class (2:1) honours (broadly 60-65% aggregate).
India’s applicant pool for Chevening is the largest globally. Around 65 to 70 Indian Chevening scholars are selected each year, so the effective acceptance rate sits under 3%.
The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship differs from the Master’s Scholarship in the nomination route. Shared awards route through the university itself (St Andrews nominates you). The Master’s Scholarship routes through the Ministry of Human Resource Development in New Delhi.
Reddit Insight: Indian Chevening applicants targeting St Andrews typically also file the St Leonards International award as a backup. The two decision timelines do not conflict, so no acceptance is sacrificed by stacking applications.
Note on terms: "FCDO" is the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. "CSC UK" is the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission that administers awards under FCDO funding.
University of St Andrews Scholarships: Frequently Asked Questions
Ques. What is the maximum scholarship stack an Indian student can secure at University of St Andrews?
Ans. The Chevening Scholarship covers the highest total value at over £50,000 (INR 64 Lakhs+) for a one-year Master’s. At UG level, the International Excellence Scholarship funds full tuition (£33,250/year, INR 42.56 Lakhs) for the whole programme duration. Applicants who miss Excellence commonly stack the International Undergraduate Scholarship with the Accommodation Award, worth up to £11,750 (INR 15.04 Lakhs) combined.
Ques. When do University of St Andrews scholarship applications open and close for 2027 entry?
Ans. UG awards (International Excellence, International Undergraduate, Accommodation) close Wednesday, 27 January 2027, with notification the week of 17 March 2027. St Leonards International closes tentatively early February 2027. Chevening for 2027 entry closes Tuesday, 6 October 2026, and Commonwealth schemes close tentatively Tuesday, 20 October 2026.
Ques. Do I apply for St Andrews scholarships before or after receiving an admission offer?
Ans. You apply after submitting your course application, but you do not need to wait for an offer. Two working days after your course submission, the "My application" portal opens for scholarship forms. This portal covers all internal University of St Andrews awards; external schemes like Chevening and Inlaks run their own applications separately.
Ques. What academic score do Indian applicants need for the International Excellence Scholarship?
Ans. University of St Andrews does not publish a fixed GPA threshold for this award. Selection weighs "academic merit and giftedness" alongside two references and a 2,000-character motivation statement. Indian recipients typically hold 90%+ in CBSE or ISC Class 12, or 38+ in International Baccalaureate, with subject strength in the applied school.
Ques. Does the Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarship cover St Andrews Master’s in Computer Science or Business?
Ans. No. Inlaks excludes computer science, engineering (except Imperial College London), business, finance, medicine and management studies from funding. Eligible subjects at University of St Andrews include humanities, social sciences (International Relations, Sustainable Development), law, fine arts and film studies.
Ques. Does the St Leonards International scholarship cover living costs in St Andrews town?
Ans. Only the Global Widening Participation tier fully covers living costs, providing £18,000 (INR 23.04 Lakhs) maintenance plus a guaranteed standard room in University accommodation. Weekly rents in St Andrews sit at £150 to £220 for standard student rooms. The Leadership tier covers up to £2,000 (INR 2.56 Lakhs) accommodation only, and the Excellence tier offers no maintenance component.
Scholarships offered
St. Andrews International Undergraduate Scholarship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: $13,504
- Type: College-Specific
- Level of Study: Bachelor
- Number of Scholarships: N/A
St. Andrews International Excellence Scholarship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: Variable Amount
- Type: College-Specific
- Level of Study: Bachelor
- Number of Scholarships: 1
Bharat Petroleum Scholarship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: Variable Amount
- Type: Merit-Based
- Level of Study: Master
- Number of Scholarships: N/A
Commonwealth Rutherford Fellowship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: $3,105
- Type: Merit-Based
- Level of Study: Doctorate
- Number of Scholarships: 50
Forktip Women’s- Innovation Scholarship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: Variable Amount
- Type: College-Specific
- Level of Study: Bachelor
- Number of Scholarships: 10
India Postgraduate Taught Master’s Scholarship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: $3,555
- Type: College-Specific
- Level of Study: Master
- Number of Scholarships: 5
Reviews
5 Reviews Found
Likes
- Research facilities (Highly sophisticated synthesis and instrumentation labs for air-sensitive chemistry, NMR, XRD, LCMS, Fluorescence, and Radiolabeling)
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
- Work-life balance
Dislikes
- To be honest, I am very happy in St Andrews, but a couple of things I did not fancy are: 1. Student accommodations are costly (But this is not a concern for funded students as the funding is sufficient to cover this but is a concern for self-funded students)
- It has an open campus, so you miss campus life.
Scholarship
- Of course, most PhD programs are funded by UKRI, and some students bring their funding from their country. In my case, I am funded by East of Scotland Industrial Catalysis (UKRI). The eligibility is first-class BSc (Honours) or MSc.
- The award amount approx is £45000 per year (this increases every year). In this stipend is approx £ 19000 and £26000 is for tuition fees.
- Yes, most in my group and batch have received funding.
- In my department, roughly every year, 15-20 new students start with this fellowship with full awards.
- In my first year, I opted to stay at university accommodation, and in my second year, I moved to private accommodation. Here, I am living as a lodger.
- I found my accommodation through online website called spare room.
- The rent is 500 pounds, and I have access to the kitchen, wifi, hall, attached washroom and shower.
- Finding accommodation was very straightforward.
- For future students, speak with your landlord, agree on terms and conditions, and sign a detailed contract.
- My accommodation is 11 miles, I travel by bus and bus services are quite good and regular. Most of Indian students prefer to stay near by to universities in radius of 10-13 miles.
Likes
- Teaching is really good - great support systems if someone is struggling.
- The societies and traditions of St Andrews are great and everyone can find something for themselves.
- St Andrews is extremely safe - never have to worry at any point of time.
Dislikes
- It's a very small town so student life can be monotonous at times as there's limited places to go to.
- Proximity to a train station and airport.
- Rental prices and accommodation crisis.
- So, for your first year, you'll be able to get university accommodation in dorms. But after that, you are not guaranteed university accommodation.
- There is an accommodation crisis in St Andrews with the uni hasn't been able to help much. Private rentals are hard to get as there is a lot of competition and the prices are also extremely high. Because of this, some students have to live in nearby towns and commute.
- Best way to get private housing is to contact the agent companies, registering with them early enough in your first year would be best. Approaching seniors who are graduating to ask about housing is also smart. 55rent is a good company that does rentals.
Likes
- Great location of the university in a small beachside town.
- The size of the class is small so the sessions feel personal.
- Very helpful staff and faculty who respond fast to your every need.
Dislikes
- Difficulty in finding student accommodation in the town.
- Will need to travel to the nearest city which is Dundee if you need to visit malls etc.
- Climate is generally cold all year round, high levels of wind.
Scholarship
- I did not receive any scholarships as I was past the deadline for scholarships.
- Nobody in my batch requested financial aid. Every classmate was from well-to-do elite families in different parts of the world.
- Usually, 50% of tuition is the typical award amount, and everyone who applies before the deadline is considered. I am not sure about the averages.
- The college arranged accommodation for some post graduation students outside the town, hence I was in uni accommodation.
- My monthly rent was around ?575 per month. This was for a single room in an apartment with 5 bedrooms, one shared bath, one shared toilet and a shared living cum kitchen area. It was located in the centre of the city and was very convieniently placed near shopping places.
- I did not have to face any challenges as I got approved for uni accommodation.
- For st andrews, it is always better to go for the uni accommodation because external accommodation can be difficult to find and you will also lose out on the full uni experience.
- The accommodation was 45 mins away from the university by bus. Most Indian students stayed in St. Andrews itself.
Likes
- Amazing student satisfaction scores, great school of CS (especially for HCI), beautiful place.
- St Andrews not just as a university but also as a place has a lot to offer. People did say its small but within its small area it encompasses the first time meridian, 7 golf courses, the place of the discovery of calculus, beautiful walks, a 600 year old castle. The university itself offers immense facilities such as a prompt student helpline, supportive and motivating professors, cozy library and study areas etc.
Dislikes
- Lack of halal food options in catered halls, more copies of updated editions of some books in the library, more scholarship opportunities and the fact that The university has not taken credit for the work it has produced.
My time at the University of St Andrews was truly remarkable. The School of Computer Science boasted an outstanding faculty who not only excelled in their fields but also ignited our passion for learning. The diverse array of learning opportunities extended far beyond classrooms, with research projects and tech-focused clubs enriching our academic journey. Beyond academics, the town's rich history and stunning landscapes provided a captivating backdrop to our studies. St Andrews is more than a university; it's an inspiring blend of history, learning, and natural beauty that makes for an unforgettable educational experience.
Scholarship
No
I got accepted for my dream course, St. Andrews offers a campus life, instead of city life, it is a stunning town with travel places around, very diverse, closer to home, a lot of extra curricular opportunities
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