carnegie phd scholarships edinburgh

• Schools & departments

Carnegie PhD Scholarships

The Carnegie Trust offers a number of scholarships each year to academically excellent candidates who are intending to study on a PhD programme at any University in Scotland.

The scholarships cover tuition fees, a maintenance allowance and a research expenses allowance. The awards are tenable for three years for full-time study and up to six years for part-time study.

Any subject area will be considered for Carnegie PhD Scholarships.

The Carnegie Trust hopes to fund a minimum of 15 scholarships, across all the Scottish Universities, for doctoral studies starting in 2021-2022.

Full eligibility and application details available on the dedicated webpage

Scholarships and funding

A number of scholarships and funded projects for new students beginning their PhD programme are available.

For those looking to join our research programmes from September 2024, details of our scholarship opportunities, along with application deadlines, can be found below.

We seek to award scholarships to the best applicants, based primarily on academic merit. All scholarship applicants must follow the instructions on how to apply for each scholarship.

Awardees of external scholarships which cover tuition fees may not be considered for the scholarships we offer.

Please note: For all scholarships, we strongly advise that you submit your programme application at least 2 weeks before the scholarship closing date . If applying for the scholarship requires you to submit an application using the University of Edinburgh Scholarship Portal, you will not be able to access this until you have applied for our doctoral programme.

University of Edinburgh Business School Doctoral Access Scholarship

Available for students who are UK nationals and domiciled in the UK, the Business School will offer one scholarship to cover full tuition fees and an annual stipend for one of their Doctoral programmes for entry in September 2024. This scholarship will support those who may face barriers in accessing postgraduate research study and are evidentially underrepresented in postgraduate research study. The scholarship is for students who meet at least one of our widening participation criteria.

Doctoral Access Scholarship

College Research Awards

The Business School will be offering a College Research Scholarship for students joining in September 2024.

Edinburgh Doctoral College and Business School Scholarships

A number of fully funded scholarships are available for any area of study within the doctoral programme.

EDC and Business School Scholarships

University of Edinburgh Business School Doctoral Scholarship

A number of fully-funded scholarships are available for study within the Business School doctoral programmes.

Doctoral Scholarship

ESRC Open Competition

We welcome applications from students interested in joining us on a PhD (3 year) or a Masters by Research and PhD (1+3 year) programme.

The Trudeau Scholarship

The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation are offering doctoral scholarships to Canadian citizens who are full-time first or second year students registered (or in the process of registering) in a doctoral programme outside Canada.

Trudeau Scholarship

Carnegie PhD Scholarships

The Carnegie Trust offers a number of scholarships each year to academically excellent candidates who are intending to study on a PhD programme at any University in Scotland.

Carnegie Scholarship

University of Edinburgh tuition fee alumni scholarships

The University of Edinburgh offers two tuition fee scholarship schemes for alumni of the University.

Graduate scholarship scheme

The University is currently offering a 10% scholarship in postgraduate degree tuition fees for all alumni who have graduated with an undergraduate degree from the University of Edinburgh.

Alumni (visiting undergraduate) scholarship scheme

The University of Edinburgh offers a 10% scholarship in postgraduate degree tuition fees for all students who have previously matriculated on a "Visiting Programme" as an undergraduate student and completed a minimum of one semester of study at the University of Edinburgh.

Tuition fee alumni scholarships

Student loans

A number of options are available for student loan funding, for both UK, EU, and international students. A range of options can be found on the University's Financial Support site . In addition, a new postgraduate doctoral loan has been announced by the UK government.

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• Schools & departments

Carnegie PhD Scholarships

The Carnegie Trust offers a number of scholarships each year to academically excellent candidates who are intending to study on a PhD programme at any University in Scotland

Due to the challenging economic environment in the recent years, the Board of Trustees of the Carnegie Trust has decided to pause its current PhD Scholarship scheme for the time being. Please read the information published in October 2023 on  the Carnegie Trust website .

This article was published on 2024-05-29

Carnegie PhD Scholarships

The mission of the Carnegie Trust is to support students enrolled on an undergraduate degree course at a Scottish Institute of Higher Education who are not eligible for government funding for their tuition fees, aiming to aid those whose financial circumstances prevent them from covering the cost of education. By extending grants, the Trust seeks to alleviate the financial burdens of students facing hardships, including those with prior study attempts interrupted by various challenges, and aspiring students from displaced or disadvantaged backgrounds.

Type of Support

The Carnegie PhD Scholarships program is designed to fund postgraduate research leading to a Ph.D. at eligible institutions in Scotland. This program supports candidates who demonstrate academic excellence by achieving, or being on track to achieve, a first-class Honours undergraduate degree from a Scottish institution of higher education. The grant is inclusive, open to students of all nationalities who meet the academic criterion. The program covers a broad range of disciplines, offering several types of scholarships under this scheme, including general scholarships open for doctoral study in any field, specific scholarships for study in the Life Sciences and Arts and Humanities (administered on behalf of the Royal Society of Edinburgh through the Caledonian Research Foundation), and a scholarship in Botany/Plant Science funded by a legacy. Each scholarship offers a comprehensive funding package, which includes a stipend, tuition fees coverage, and a research allowance, typically for a duration of 36 months, extendable to 42 months in specific cases. Annually, between 15 and 18 PhD Scholarships are awarded, underlining the program's commitment to fostering academic and research excellence in Scotland.

Eligibility

• Must hold or be on track to graduate with a First Class Honours degree from Scottish universities or eligible host organizations
• Undergraduate degree must be in a subject related to the academic field of the proposed doctoral research
• Must have been accepted on a doctoral programme at one of the Scottish universities or eligible host organizations
• The doctoral programme must start in the academic year 2021-22
• Open to students of any nationality who meet the above criteria
• For faculties that do not award Honours, such as Medicine, the equivalent standard to a First Class Honours is expected
• Scholarship tenable at specified institutions including Universities of Aberdeen, Abertay, Dundee, Edinburgh, and others, Glasgow School of Art, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
• Must show outstanding ability and potential for research at postgraduate level
• Must demonstrate academic excellence, strong performance in final year dissertation, evidence of consistency and/or increasing levels of achievement throughout studies
• Must submit a research proposal that demonstrates excellence, originality, and significance
• Must provide a good fit between the proposed research and the university environment and facilities
• Must identify high-quality supervision arrangements

Ineligibility

School of Engineering

> schools & departments, search form.

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

PhD Scholarships

The School of Engineering offers several PhD studentships and scholarships for excellent students.  These are competitive studentships, with an annual call for applications. The deadlines for our studentships are given below.

Calls for applications for 2024/25 studentships are now open, please see below for details.

Home Students (UK and EU with settled/pre-settled status and who meet residency requirements)

• EPSRC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) awards .  Full studentship funding (tuition + living stipend + research costs) or in combination with industry funding. A small number available to international students. Contact potential academic supervisors to discuss potential projects and to apply for the award. Deadline: 29th Feb 2024
• Carnegie PhD Scholarships .  Not being offered for 2024/25
• Other Home/EU Scholarships

All students (UK, EU and International)

• Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarship . One full studentship is offered in the School of Engineering (although this may be increased with industry/other match funding), covering tuition fees (Home or Overseas), stipend and research costs. Deadline: 7th Mar 2024. More information on applying is given  here .

International Students

• China Scholarship Council / University of Edinburgh Scholarships .  A full scholarship only applicable to citizens and permanent residents of the People's Republic of China. Tuition fees and Additional Programme Costs are provided by the University while the China Scholarship Council provides living allowance, return airfare and visa application fees. Deadline: 16th Feb 2024.
• Full list (including country-specific) of scholarships

Self or Int/EU Government-Funded

• Period of study (3 to 4 years)
• If arranging funding yourself – recommend to negotiate 3.5 - 4 years of funding (greater than 3 years)
• Any terms and conditions on your funding must be discussed with the funding body and School before accepting your offer.

Funded PhD positions

PhD positions that have other sources of funding (such as industry funding) are advertised within our PhD Opportunities .

THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH

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Carnegie PhD Scholarships: What You Need to Know to Increase Your Chances

Scholarship Snapshot Amount: £3,000 Scope: Hybrid Target Country: Scotland Number of awards: 12–15 PhD Scholarships Target Audience: First-class students from any background Deadline: February 28, 2023

The Carnegie Trust is an organisation that offers a range of scholarships annually to candidates who have demonstrated exceptional academic ability and who wish to undertake a PhD programme at a Scottish university or higher education institution. The scholarships are open to applicants of any nationality, and any research field is eligible for consideration.

However, to qualify for the scholarship, the prospective PhD student must have obtained a first-class honours degree from a Scottish university or HEI (higher education institution) that is recognised by the Carnegie Trust. Additionally, the first-class honours degree must be in a subject that is closely related to the field of study that the student intends to pursue at the doctoral level.

The length of the scholarship differs based on whether the student is studying full-time or part-time. For full-time students, the standard duration of the scholarship is 36 months, with the possibility of an extension of up to 42 months in certain circumstances. On the other hand, for part-time students, the scholarship’s standard duration is 72 months, with the option of an extension of up to 84 months in specific cases.

Eligible Host Institutions

The Scottish institutions listed below are eligible to hold the Carnegie PhD Scholarships:

• Universities: Aberdeen, Abertay, Dundee, Edinburgh, Edinburgh Napier, Glasgow, Glasgow Caledonian, Heriot-Watt, Highlands and Islands, Queen Margaret, Robert Gordon, St Andrews, Stirling, Strathclyde, West of Scotland;
• Higher Education Institutes: Glasgow School of Art; Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

Scholarship Benefits

The Carnegie PhD Scholarship funding package includes:

Annual stipend: currently £17,904 for AY 2022–23, adjusted annually.

Tuition Fees: The Trust will cover tuition fees at the Research Councils UK (RCUK) indicative fee level for the relevant academic year (universities are expected to waive any outstanding balance).

Research allowance: £3,000 for the whole tenure.

Scholarship Types

All the awards listed are managed under one scheme. Eligible candidates who succeed in their application will be granted the most suitable scholarship based on their area of study. The scholarships are granted and maintained under identical terms and conditions.

Carnegie PhD Scholarships

These scholarships are available for students to pursue a doctoral degree in any field, and they are funded by the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland.

Caledonian Research Foundation (CRF) Scholarships

The administration of the CRF Scholarships is overseen by the Trust, acting on behalf of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. These scholarships were funded by the Caledonian Research Foundation. In general, one scholarship is awarded for doctoral research in Life Sciences, while another is offered for research in Arts and Humanities.

Carnegie-Cant-Morgan PhD Scholarship in Botany/Plant Science

Funded by a legacy from Mr. Keith Morgan, this scholarship in plant science is awarded every three years. It will next be offered for a PhD starting in 2023–24.

Eligibility Requirements for Carnegie PhD scholarships

Meeting all the criteria outlined below will enhance your likelihood of being considered for this prize.

•  You already hold or are on track to graduate with a First Class Honours degree from one of the eligible host organisations in Scotland;
• This undergraduate degree is in a subject related to the academic field of your proposed doctoral research.
• You have been accepted to a doctoral programme at one of the eligible host organisations.

Who can’t apply?

You are not eligible for nomination if:

• Your undergraduate degree is not from an eligible host organisation in Scotland.
• You came to Scotland to study for a postgraduate master’s but completed your undergraduate degree in a different country.
• Your first-class honours degree is in a discipline unrelated to the academic field of your PhD.
• You have already started a PhD or will be starting before the academic year 2023–24.

Application Process

To be considered for a Carnegie PhD Scholarship, you need to be nominated by one of the 17 eligible host organizations. Since each institution has a limited quota of nominations, they each have their own selection process for candidates.

As a starting point, it is advisable to contact the Scottish institution where you plan to pursue your PhD to learn about their selection process for candidates. Subsequently, candidates and potential supervisors should begin preparing their applications for the internal competition in advance of the internal deadline. The previous year’s internal application and process may be used as a guide to anticipate what may be expected for the current year’s call, typically announced in November or December.

Following the nomination, applicants will receive access to the Carnegie Trust’s application portal to submit their final application, along with an endorsement from their prospective supervisor. Furthermore, the prospective supervisor must provide an institutional statement of support.

The deadline for internal applications is usually in January or early February of each year. Successful candidates and their potential supervisors will then collaborate to create the final full application to be submitted to The Carnegie Trust in late February for the commencement of studies in the following academic year.

• Internal Selection Application Process for 2023/24

Please refer to the “Downloadable Documents” tab on the Carnegie PhD Scholarships webpage for the application form template.

Selection Criteria

The selection criteria are:

• Academic ability and research potential 
• Project originality, significance, and feasibility
• Fit between the candidate, project, and research environment
• Overall quality

Terms and Conditions

• The applicant must hold an offer of study with GCU before applying, or the application will be rejected.
•  The absence of a First Class Honours degree from a Scottish university cannot be compensated for by a postgraduate master’s degree undertaken in Scotland.
• Awards are not transferable to any other programme or academic session.
• Funding is not available for part-time or distance-learning versions of these programmes.
• Display outstanding potential for research at the postgraduate level.
• Demonstrate academic excellence and a strong performance in their final year dissertation project, as well as evidence of consistency and/or increasing levels of achievement throughout their studies.
• Submit a research proposal that exhibits excellence, originality, and significance.
• Ensure a good fit between the proposed research and the environment and facilities offered by the institution at which the PhD will be undertaken.
• Seek out high-quality supervisory arrangements.

Overall, the Carnegie PhD scholarships are highly competitive. The average success rate over the past few years for students nominated by their university has been 25%, and these scholarships are awarded only to the most outstanding candidates who meet the organization’s rigorous selection criteria.

Successful recipients of the scholarship will benefit from full financial support to cover tuition fees, living expenses, and research costs, as well as opportunities for networking and career development.

At Scholarship Monitor, we are committed to providing you with up-to-date information on scholarship opportunities. Make sure to always check back for more updates and take advantage of the resources we have provided to help you achieve your academic and career goals.

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Key Details

Deadline: January

Amount Available: £16,200

• Fees and Funding
• Scholarships and Bursaries
• Carnegie Trust PhD Scholarship

The Carnegie Trust - Postgraduate

Queen Margaret University has the opportunity to nominate two individuals for the prestigious Carnegie Trust PhD scholarship scheme for study commencing in September 2023. The prospective candidates must hold, or expect to gain, a first class Honours undergraduate degree from a Scottish University and wish to complete the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programme at Queen Margaret University.

The Carnegie Trust makes no restriction on the subject or field. However, in order to be supported by QMU, the PhD topic must be in an area that is aligned with one of the University’s Research Centres .

Overview on the scholarship

A First-Class Honours degree from a Scottish university is a pre-requisite for consideration for Scholarships. Alongside existing graduates, final year undergraduate students expecting to achieve a First-Class Honours degree are also eligible for nomination. The First-Class Honours degree must be in a subject related to the proposed doctoral studies.

A candidate who has already commenced study on the PhD Programme is not eligible.

The candidate must be nominated by the prospective supervisor of the PhD project and can only be nominated for a Carnegie or Caledonian PhD Scholarship by one university.

The number of nominations per Scottish university is subject to a quota (announced annually by the Carnegie Trust). QMU has been granted two nominations for applications by students starting in September 2018. QMU will manage the selection process and will provide a statement of institutional support to two candidates only.

What's Included in the Scholarship

The stipend value for academic year 2022-23 was £17,904, and the value normally rises in line with awards funded by Research Councils. Payment of the Scholarship stipends will be made monthly, in advance, and will normally start on 1 st October in each year.

Tuition fees

In addition, the Carnegie Trust will meet the cost of tuition fees for the successful candidates up to the RCUK rate with the University waiving the remainder of the fee.

Research expenses and costs

The Trust will support the Scholars with expenses incurred in connection with their study or research up to £3,000 during the tenure of the PhD Scholarship. Scholars can apply for this funding using the Carnegie Trust’s research allowance form, which will be emailed to them in advance.

How to Apply

Applicants should download the PhD Scholarship Nomination Form and complete Part 1 of the form, relating to academic achievements to date and the project he or she proposes to undertake. The Guide to the Trust’s online application portal provides clarification on how best to approach each section of the form.

Applicants should also develop a research proposal and case for support in line with the guidance provided on the first page of the nomination form, and must include details on:

• Issue, problem or topic the research seeks to address;
• Background or rationale behind the proposed research;
• Aims and objectives of the proposed research;
• Research hypotheses or questions;
• Methodology; and
• Feasibility, significance and potential for innovation.

The prospective supervisor must complete Part 2 of the form, providing information on the supervisory arrangements which will be put in place, including co-supervision if relevant to the proposal, and information on specialist and/or transferable skills training. The supervisor should also explain what particular expertise they will offer in support of the candidate’s research, why the research question is important and worth investigating and what impact it might have. Any ethical issues attached to the research and what arrangements will be put in place to address these should also be addressed in this section.

An academic referee, familiar with the student's academic record to date and potential for postgraduate research should provide a reference, on letter headed paper or electronic equivalent, that comments on the applicants academic ability as evidenced by their academic record and their suitability for doctoral study. The referee cannot be a prospective supervisor.

The completed nomination form, research proposal and case for support, and academic reference should be sent to the relevant Research Centre Director.

Research Centre Directors will then complete Section 1 of the Statement of Institutional Support Form and submit all application documents to [email protected] .

A Review Panel will then meet to decide which two candidates will be selected to receive institutional support, and become eligible for application to the scholarship competition. The Graduate School Team will complete Section 2 of the Statement of Institutional Support Form and notify the candidates of the Review Panel’s decision

Selection Process

Text related to selection process for this scholarship

How this scholarship has helped others

• Schools & departments

Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships

The University will offer PhD scholarships for students starting their PhD research at the University in the 2024-2025 academic session.

In order to attract the best and brightest PhD students, the University seeks to offer not only unparalleled research facilities and superb supervision, but also to provide development opportunities which will support our research students as they progress beyond their PhD, through an exciting scholarship scheme.

The University of Edinburgh has been working for some time to embed equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in its activities and to widen participation (WP) for students from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds . The Doctoral College is committed to embedding EDI in all of its policies and processes, and by widening access to postgraduate study to traditionally underrepresented groups, including BAME students and those from the most deprived communities in Scotland and the rest of the world. The Doctoral College wishes to attract the greatest diversity of applications to this scheme and will ensure that recruitment processes are robust and unbiased.

Each scholarship covers the University tuition fee as well as a stipend of £ 18,622p.a.  Subject to satisfactory progress, the scholarships are awarded for between three and four years as agreed by the School/Deanery (or pro-rata for part time).

** For the Business School only : Four year EDCS funding is only available for applicants to the 4 year integrated PhD programmes. Applicants on 3 year PhD programmes are eligible for 3.5 years of EDCS funding but the award holder would be funded by the Business School for an additional 6 months.***

Eligibility

The awards are open to UK and overseas students applying to start their first year of study for an on-campus research degree in 2024-2025.

Applicants must have already applied for admission to a full-time or part-time on campus PhD research programme of study at the University. We encourage applicants who wish to apply for this scholarship to make contact with their academic school regarding any admission deadlines.

Please check the Entry Requirements for your proposed programme of study for details of other acceptable English language qualifications. 

You may apply for the scholarship prior to obtaining the necessary English language test results but the results should be uploaded as soon as possible.

These awards cannot be held concurrently with fully-funded scholarships but can be held with partially-funded scholarships and will be reduced pro-rata.

Applicants must be of outstanding academic merit and research potential. Candidates must have, or expect to obtain, a UK first class or 2:1 honours degree at undergraduate level or the international equivalent.

Other factors such as financial status, nationality and the proposed field of study are not taken into account.

The University will not generally consider candidates who have already obtained a PhD, or formal equivalent, as a result of direct research training.

Undertake a package of training and development which will help them to develop the necessary skills required to meet their career choices and offer them a breadth of development opportunities in areas such as teaching, public engagement, entrepreneurship, data science, and research.

Terms and Conditions

Applications are no closed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Applications deadlines will vary by School/Deanery and will be linked to the application deadline for programmes.

Further information about each school can be found by clicking on the specific school link below table.

Selection Procedure

The University will use the information you provide on your scholarship application form together with the information contained in the supporting documentation (reference and academic transcript) which you submitted as part of your application for admission to administer and assess your scholarship application and to select successful applicants.

Shortlisted candidates should expect to be invited to attend an interview which will take place either in person or by telephone.

Notifications

All applicants will be notified of the outcome by the relevant school.   For further information, please contact the school directly.

This article was published on 2024-07-29

• Schools & departments

Carnegie Vacation Scholarships

Prestigious award for undergraduate students

Ella Ogilvy, an undergraduate student currently studying in the School of Chemistry, has been awarded a Carnegie Vacation Scholarship.

Carnegie Vacation Scholarships enable undergraduate students to develop their independent research skills through a summer project. Ella's project will be on "Development of UV-NMR for Kinetic Monitoring of Organic Photo-switches” in collaboration with Yael Ben-Tal, a first-year PhD student in the  Lloyd-Jones  group. As part of the award Ella will also present a poster on her project at the Vacation Scholarship Poster Competition which will take place on 3rd September 2019, at the Technology and Innovation Centre at the University of Strathclyde.

Gulsevim Adyin, who is also an undergraduate from the School of Chemistry, has also been awarded a Carnegie Vacation Scholarship. She will work in the School of Biosciences at the University of Edinburgh on a project to “arm” bacterial cells against chemical catalysts as a strategy to create chemo-compatible organisms for synthetic chemistry.

Justinas Sakas has also been awarded a Carnegie Vacation Scholarship to conduct a research project in the  Bell research group  this summer. Justinas’s project will involve the creation of hyphenated nD NMR experiments for complex mixture elucidation. These experiments will be created using tea samples but ultimately will be aimed for any complex natural mixture.

Congratulations to Ella, Gulsevim and Justinas!

This article was published on 2024-07-26

On the basis of your answers, you appear to be eligible. Click on the link below to access the application process.

Unfortunately you are not eligible

Based on your answers you do not appear to be eligible. Check the Useful links section for similar schemes which may be available to you.

Vacation Scholarships

©Kallum Corke

Vacation Scholarships enable undergraduate students to develop their research skills through a summer project

The Carnegie Vacation Scholarships aim to encourage undergraduates to develop their independent research skills. The Scheme is open to students enrolled on an undergraduate degree course at an eligible Scottish institution. Awards enable them to learn how to design and manage a research project and prepare for postgraduate study. Students often see their research results published in academic journals or reported in conference presentations. Each year, the Trust organises a poster competition for Vacation Scholarship recipients to allow them to meet and network with each other.

Applicant eligibility

You are eligible to apply for this Scholarship scheme if you:

• universities: Aberdeen, Abertay, Dundee, Edinburgh, Edinburgh Napier, Glasgow, Glasgow Caledonian, Heriot-Watt, Highlands and Islands, Queen Margaret, Robert Gordon, St Andrews, Stirling, Strathclyde, West of Scotland;
• Glasgow School of Art
• Royal Conservatoire of Scotland;
• are enrolled at that institution for the full length of your degree, or transferred to that HEI after an HNC/HND from a Scottish college;
• are in the 3rd year of a 4 year degree, OR in the 3rd or 4th year of a 5 year degree (part-time students must be at an equivalent stage), OR in the 2nd year of a 3 year degree (for example Nursing, BA Acting/Ballet etc.)
• are entitled to live and work in the UK. Students with Limited Leave to Remain, Pre-settled or Settled Status, or students on a Tier 4 Visa, must be able to prove that they are eligible to work full-time in the UK in the period between May and August 2024.
• are on track to achieve a 2:1 (or higher) degree classification;
• have never held a Carnegie Vacation Scholarship.

Who can’t apply

You are not eligible for this award if:

• you are only studying for part of your degree in Scotland. For example, if you are an exchange student studying in Scotland.
• you are on course to graduate in summer 2024
• you have held a Carnegie Vacation Scholarship in the past
• your migration status does not entitle you to work in the UK.

Note: If you are unsure about your eligibility, contact the Trust .

Project suitability

• Your project must be a minimum of 2 weeks and a maximum of 12 weeks in duration.
• The project must address a clearly specified research question or hypothesis and will engage you in full-time personal research .
• The project should give you sufficient scope to develop your ideas, use your initiative and build your research and analytical skills.
• The project can be undertaken either at your home university or anywhere else in the world, provided the host organisation has suitable facilities and appropriate supervision is in place both at your home university and where the research is to be conducted. The supervisor at your host organisation must also be an established researcher or academic.
• You must write your own project proposal and will be disqualified if the application and/or case for support appear to have been written by your supervisor or any other person.

Activities that are not eligible:

• The scholarships can’t be used for language study or for participating in summer schools, or group expeditions.
• Projects that consist solely of a literature review.
• The Scheme does not support work placements or volunteering activities.
• The project cannot form part of your assessed course work : e.g. it cannot be on the same topic as your final year dissertation, although it could address a sub-set of issues or questions that could be expanded into a thesis.
• It cannot be the continuation of an existing project or study.

Project supervisor

• The project must be supervised by an academic member of staff at your university. The supervisor can be a (senior) lecturer, reader or professor but not a graduate teaching assistant and/or an hourly paid tutor. Additional supervision can be provided by post-docs or PhD students.
• Supervisors may only nominate one student each year.
• Supervisors will be asked in the application form to confirm their own availability and willingness to supervise your progress during the period of award.
• It is the supervisor’s responsibility to ensure that the project is completed within the agreed timescale.
• The project supervisor is also expected to liaise with their department to ensure that processes are put in place for the timely distribution of the stipend to the student.
• The supervisor must ensure that: you receive adequate training, all statutory requirements are met (including ethics committee approval, animal licenses and requirements of regulatory authorities where applicable), and the relevant health and safety policies are followed.
• If the project is to be conducted at a different organisation than your own university, the supervisor at the student’s home institution must ensure that a suitably qualified supervisor is available to supervise you, and that health & safety and any other statutory requirements are met by your host.

What does the Trust look for in applications

When selecting applications, the reviewers and the Trust’s Selection Committee will look at evidence of the following:

Academic standing of student

• Academic record to date, expected to achieve Honours 2:1 or higher
• Suitable experience, knowledge and skills for the project
• Likely to benefit from project by developing existing and/or acquiring new skills

Motivation of the student

• Evidence that the student conceived the project and has taken a lead role in developing it
• Career intentions and motivations for undertaking the proposed research

Quality of the project

• Novelty and originality of the proposed research
• Clear hypothesis or research question
• Clear description of the research activities to be undertaken by the student
• Robust methodology suitable for the proposed research
• Opportunities for dissemination and impact
• Achievable within the time constraints

Supervision and Environment

• Appropriate level of support provided by supervisor for the type of research and proposed topic
• A suitable research environment and access to necessary facilities

What's included

The scholarship includes a weekly stipend which will be the equivalent of the current Scottish Living Wage rate (£12 per hour in 2024).

The Scholarships is intended to cover your living and accommodation costs while undertaking the research.

The stipend will be paid to you by your university at regular intervals during the scholarship.

NOTE: There is no additional funding for consumables, equipment, overheads etc. Host organisations are responsible for ensuring the student has access to all the necessary equipment and consumables to undertake their project.

How to Apply

Before you apply, go through the eligibility checker to make sure you are eligible. Based on your answers, if you appear to be eligible the link to the online application portal will appear.

The online application form opens approximately 8 weeks before the closing date.

We recommend reading the scheme’s regulations and guidelines thoroughly and discussing your project in detail with your supervisor before applying.

After you submit your application, an email will be sent to your supervisor with a request for them to complete the rest of the application and write a reference on your behalf. Your supervisor will then submit the complete application to the Trust. Please ensure that you allow your supervisor sufficient time before the deadline to complete their part of the application .

You will receive a confirmation email when you submit your application and when your supervisor completes their part of the process. The Guide for applicants under Downloadable documents explains the application process in full detail.

Downloadable documents

Regulations

Terms and Conditions of Award

Quick Guide to Vacation Scholarships

Applying for a Vacation Scholarship

Useful links

Below are links to a number of organisations running similar schemes.

Note:  The Carnegie Trust is not responsible for the content of external websites. Please read the guidance and eligibility criteria provided by each organisation before making an application.

Anatomical Society

The British Lichen Society

British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy

The Cross Trust (Medical Electives, Arts & Humanities)

Gilchrist Educational Trust  (overseas trips and medical electives)

Medical Research Scotland

Royal Society of Biology

Society for Reproduction and Fertility

Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

Wellcome Trust Biomedical Vacation Scholarships

Award Timeline

Eligibility checker.

Check your eligibility by selecting all the options that apply to you. The outcome is indicative only and eligibility will be determined once we review the full application.

Are you entitled to live and work in the UK?

Are you enrolled on an undergraduate degree at an eligible institution in Scotland?

Are you in the penultimate year of your degree or in year 3/4 of a 5 year degree?

Are you on track to achieve a 2:1 or higher?

Case Studies

Presentations by 2022 Vacation Scholars, All Scottish HEIs

Any academic field

Karin Bakardjian, University of Stirling

Neuroscience

Martin Damyanov, Heriot-Watt University

Mathematical Physics