Access Edinburgh Scholarship (for students commencing from Sept 2020)
The Access Edinburgh Scholarship is for full-time undergraduate students who live in the UK and are commencing their studies from Sept 2020 onwards. The Access Edinburgh Scholarships are funded by the University and the generosity of our supporters.
This is money to help you make the most of student life, and is on top of any other funding you are entitled to receive.
How you spend your scholarship is up to you, and you don’t have to pay it back.
There is an unlimited number of scholarships available. If you meet the criteria, you will receive a scholarship. You will receive a letter confirming your entitlement after matriculation and two payments are made by the 31st of October and January.
This table shows what you can get for each year of your degree.
Household breakdown
| Household Income | Amount per Year |
|---|---|
| Care experienced or estranged students | £5,000 |
| Below £20,999 | £3,000 |
| £21,000 - £23,999 | £2,000 |
| £24,000 - £33,999 | £1,000 |
If you are entitled to the scholarship in your first year with us, you may receive at least that amount for every year of your PRESCRIBED DEGREE PROGRAMME (e.g 4 years or 5 year programme) even if your household’s financial circumstances improve in subsequent years. We will however, increase your scholarship if you become entitled to more.
If you become entitled to a scholarship during your degree, you will receive one from that point onwards.
We will assess your eligibility once a year at the end of semester one in December and any changes will be reflected in your semester two payment.
In order to be eligible for this scholarship you must be fully matriculated (annual registration completed and attendance confirmed by your Personal Tutor/local student support) onto a full-time, on campus, undergraduate programme of study commencing from Sept 2020 onwards.
The following undergraduate programmes are not covered by the Access Edinburgh Scholarship as they may be covered by other financial support sources:
- Nursing (BN)
- Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE)
- LLB (Graduate Entry)
- Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (4 year degree)
You must live in the UK and receive funding from the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) or Student Finance England, Student Finance Wales, or Student Finance Northern Ireland. Students domiciled in Scotland need to be in receipt of either a Young Students' Bursary (YSB), an Independent Students' Bursary (ISB) or a Care Experienced Student Bursary (CESB) (from SAAS).
- The award cannot be paid to those on interruptions of study or studying part time.
- One repeat year may considered where special circumstances apply.
- Students studying a second first degree are not eligible to receive this scholarship.
- If you are an overseas student you are not eligible to receive this award.
- Settled Students - For EU students who commenced study from 20/21 and have met the requirements to receive tuition fee and living cost support by a UK funding body, you will now be required to have settled status
Additional Deadline Information:
We are unable to backdate any missed payments for previous academic years. All payments are made for the current academic year. Please see section on Deadlines
There is no separate application for this scholarship.
When you apply for funding from SAAS or Student Finance England, Student Finance Wales, or Student Finance Northern Ireland, tick the box to agree to share your household income figure with the University. For new students, we will begin to assess household income information from August each year and notify you with an entitlement letter confirming your award, payment dates and a request to provide your bank details securely by the start of the semester.
If you are assessed as care experienced or estranged, you will automatically receive the maximum scholarship. You may be interested in addition support information available at:
All matriculated students will be paid in two instalments each year: once in semester 1 by the end of October, and once in semester 2 by the end of January. For students who are funded by Student Finance England/Wales and Northern Ireland, the payment will be paid directly into the bank account you hold on file with them. For students who are funded by SAAS, the payment will be paid directly to the bank details you have provided. We will review your assessment in December each year and adjust your second semester payment. Your payment can only go up and will not be reduced.
If you do not provide bank details when you receive your first award letter, your payment will be delayed.
If you have not already done so you can add your bank details here.
We must have received your financial information from your funding body by the 31st of March in the second semester of the academic year in order for you to be considered for an award that year.
E.g. for an award to be made for the 2021-2022 academic session, financial information must be received by the 31st March 2022.
Additional Deadline Information:
We are unable to backdate any missed payments for previous academic years. All payments are made for the current academic year and must be claimed by the deadline of 31 March.
If you are funded by Student Funding England/Wales or Northern Ireland then confirmation of this award will come directly from them. Please ensure that you have bank details on file with them as your payment will be made direct into that bank account you hold on file with them.
If you are a SAAS funded student then you will receive an email directly from us with details on how to submit your bank details. Please ensure that you submit bank details in time to ensure that there are no delays to your payment.
What happens if I change programme, withdraw from or interrupt my studies?
Your entitlement for the award may change. Please contact here for further information.
I receive my maintenance loan from SAAS but I do not have a SAAS Bursary, am I eligible?
No, you must be in receipt of a SAAS Bursary to receive the award
Do I need to give consent to share my information with the University?
Yes, we can only assess you for a bursary if you have given consent to share this information for us. Please contact your Student Finance
I do not know if I have given consent to share my information with the University, what should I do?
Get in touch with your government funding body to make sure this consent has been given.
I am studying for a second degree, am I eligible?
No, the Access Edinburgh Scholarship is available for first degree only.
My household income has changed, what happens?
Your funding body shares household income which we use to access your award in July/August and December each year. Your award can only increase and would remain in place so long as you remain fully matriculated on your eligible degree programme.
My mode of study is part-time, am I eligible for this award?
No, only students who are full-time and in receipt of funding from SAAS or Student Finance England, Wales or Northern Ireland can receive this award.
My programme includes a year abroad. Am I eligible for the scholarship during this year?
Yes, if you are spending a year abroad as part of your studies, you will be eligible for a scholarship providing that you meet all the other eligibility criteria.
If I have to repeat a year of study, will I be eligible to receive the scholarship?
Eligible students are entitled to one additional year of scholarship support during their programme of study, known as a +1 year. Any further additional repeat years would not be covered.
I was on interruption of studies last year, am I still eligible
Yes as long as you are progressing and you follow the matriculation and registration process.
I received this award last year, do I need to reapply?
No, you do not need to reapply, but you must ensure you have confirmed with your funding body that you agree to share your household income
I am an EU student, am I eligible to receive this award?
For EU students who commenced study from 20/21 and have met the requirements to receive tuition fee and living cost support by a UK funding body, you will now be required to have settled status. Students with pre settled status are not eligible.