University of Edinburgh Scholarships for International Students 2026

Yes. Edinburgh has funding options specifically for online/distance programmes, and recipients on Global Scholarships have won fully funded online awards. For example, Dickstein Mukaria studied “MSc Carbon Management (Online)” and described receiving “a fully funded online scholarship” through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. Euphrasia Atieno also highlighted the lifestyle benefit of online study, saying the online programme “offered the flexibility” to keep up with family responsibilities.

Edinburgh scholarships span a wide range of subjects, including STEM, humanities, social sciences, business, and (at postgraduate level) medicine/health-related programmes, depending on the specific award and degree.

• STEM & environment: Enogba Ende (MSc Climate Change Finance and Investment) and Dickstein Mukaria (MSc Carbon Management Online) are examples of climate-focused funding paths.
• Agriculture/food systems: Kengran Liza Vernyuy (MSc Food Security) and Nyingilayefa Gift Ernest (Master’s in Food Security) show scholarship outcomes in food/agriculture policy and resilience.
• Humanities & social sciences: Euphrasia Atieno (MSc International Development) and Tyrell Naidoo (MSc Africa & International Development) are examples in development/social science fields.
• Business: Some scholarships are open across “all full-time postgraduate taught master’s programmes” (including business fields), and certain Business degrees also carry higher English test thresholds (see language FAQ below).
• Engineering: Edinburgh advertises engineering-specific Masters scholarships (availability and eligibility depend on the school/programme).
• Medicine/health: International students can apply for Medicine (MBChB), but it is a “controlled subject” with a strict cap; for 2025 entry, Edinburgh listed 21 places for EU/Overseas (International) fee status. Postgraduate/online health programmes may also advertise their own scholarships (e.g., Internal Medicine online).

It depends on the scholarship. Some are open to many (or all) nationalities, while others are restricted by region/country.

• Africa-focused funding: In Global Scholarships recipient stories, multiple Mastercard Foundation Scholars at Edinburgh are from African countries—e.g., Enogba Ende (Nigeria), Nyingilayefa Gift Ernest (Nigeria), Dickstein Mukaria (Kenya), Euphrasia Atieno (Kenya), and Kengran Liza Vernyuy (Cameroon).
• Country-specific examples: The British Council lists University of Edinburgh GREAT Scholarships (2026–27) for students from Ghana, Mexico, and Thailand.

If you’re browsing options, start by checking whether a scholarship is (1) open worldwide, (2) restricted to certain regions/countries, or (3) tied to a specific school/degree.

Often, yes, especially if English is not your first language and you don’t meet an exemption route. Edinburgh Medical School is explicit for Medicine applicants: “All students whose first language is not English will have to provide proof of English language proficiency.”

Requirements vary by programme, but Edinburgh (for many CAHSS programmes) lists common accepted tests such as IELTS and TOEFL (e.g., IELTS overall 6.5 with minimum component scores; and higher thresholds for some degrees like Business). In recipient stories, Euphrasia Atieno lists IELTS, and Kengran Liza Vernyuy shared, “My preparation for the TOEFL was self-guided,” describing how she built her plan using free resources.

Yes, minimum academic entry requirements exist, but they are programme-specific (and can differ by country/qualification type). For highly competitive programmes like Medicine (MBChB), Edinburgh stresses you “must meet the standard entry requirements,” and notes how competitive it is (for 2025 entry, it reported 21 Overseas/International/EU places).

For scholarships and competitive programmes, strong grades help. In Global Scholarships recipient examples at Edinburgh, Nyingilayefa Gift Ernest reported a BSc GPA of 4.23/5.00, Enogba Ende reported a CGPA of 4.15/5.00, and Kengran Liza Vernyuy reported a GPA of 3.43/4, illustrating the kind of academic strength commonly seen in fully funded outcomes.

“Minimum eligibility” depends on the scholarship, but common patterns include: meeting the degree entry requirements, fitting the scholarship’s target group (country/region, fee status, etc.), and demonstrating strong academic merit plus a compelling story and goals.

Recipient advice repeatedly emphasizes authenticity and clarity of purpose. Enogba Ende advises applicants to “Be authentic. Own your story,” and Tyrell Naidoo echoes this with “Tell your story,” not what you think a committee wants. Nyingilayefa Gift Ernest also frames it simply: “Your story is your strength.”

Practically, a “good background” usually means: strong grades in a relevant prior degree (or equivalent), evidence of impact/leadership (work, research, community work), and a focused study plan that matches the scholarship’s mission (e.g., development, climate, equity, etc.).

Document checklists vary by degree and scholarship, but you can usually expect: academic transcripts (and degree certificates if already graduated), CV/resume, personal statement/statement of purpose, references/recommendation letters, proof of English (IELTS/TOEFL or approved alternative), and passport/ID.

Recipients consistently mention the essay and references combo. Nyingilayefa Gift Ernest recommends applicants “refine your essays,” and Tyrell Naidoo shared that having “multiple people review my essays” helped. Kengran Liza Vernyuy described building a timeline for “gathering recommendation letters” and preparing essays, while Enogba Ende highlights the basics: “get your relevant academic documents intact!”

Sometimes. It depends on the level and programme.

• Undergraduate: If you apply via UCAS, UCAS charges an application fee
• Postgraduate: Some programmes charge an application fee. For example, the University of Edinburgh Business School lists a non-refundable £60 application fee for certain MSc applications (e.g., MSc Management), payable after you submit your application and receive your university username details.