Student Financial Support Data

Each year, Scholarships and Student Funding receives hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of applications for financial support from students. Every application is recorded, regardless of outcome, enabling us to support planning, monitoring, and reporting activities.

Our Financial Support service operates continuously throughout the academic year, including during the University’s winter closure period. During this time, short-term emergency cash advances may be arranged through the University Security team, with full financial assessments completed once the University reopens.

Further information about Scholarships and Student Funding can be found on our main webpages:

Scholarships and Student Funding

We have elected to publish financial support data from the 2020/21 academic year onwards.

Readers should note that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, additional temporary support funds were introduced in response to the exceptional circumstances faced by students at that time. These funds have since closed.

The data published here reflects the information currently held by Scholarships and Student Funding. In some cases, more detailed requests cannot be fulfilled because we only collect and retain data necessary for assessing eligibility and administering awards.

For example, we do not routinely hold financial support data categorised by:

• fee status;
• programme of study;
• protected characteristics (such as gender, race, age, or sexual orientation); or
• geographic location.

While we recognise that such information may be of interest, it is not required for the assessment or administration of financial support awards. In line with data minimisation principles and good data management practice, unnecessary personal data is not collected. This also helps ensure that the application process remains as clear and straightforward as possible for students.

We welcome all Freedom of Information requests. Further information about FOI requests, including how to contact the Information Compliance team, can be found here:

Freedom of Information – Information Compliance

We have elected to publish financial support data from the 2020/21 academic year onwards.

Readers should note that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, additional temporary support funds were introduced in response to the exceptional circumstances faced by students at that time. These funds have since closed.

Our Funds

The table below outlines the various funding streams across multiple academic years, including:

• the number of applications received;
• the number of awards made; and
• the total value of funding awarded. 

University Financial Support Funds

The Financial Support Funds are provided by the University of Edinburgh and are made possible through the generosity of donors. These funds are available to all students across all levels of study.

Discretionary and Childcare Funds

The Discretionary and Childcare Funds are annual allocations provided by the Scottish Government through the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS). These funds are available to eligible UK students, including students from Northern Ireland, across all levels of study.

Funding allocations may vary annually, and transfers between funds can occur where permitted. For example, any unspent balance from the International Fund may be transferred into the larger Discretionary Fund at the end of the financial year.

International Fund

The International Fund is an annual allocation provided by the Scottish Government. Eligibility criteria for this fund are more restrictive. Further information is available from SAAS.

PG Support Fund

The PG Support Fund was previously a postgraduate-specific fund. It has since been incorporated into the wider Financial Support Fund structure.

To view summaries of fund allocations or access the Discretionary Fund guidance, please visit:

Student Information Scotland – Extra Financial Support

*Full figures will be published in late summer/autumn annually once year end reconciliation and reporting processes have concluded.