The Darlington Scholarship

The Darlington Scholarship is a new scholarship programme established especially for University of Edinburgh graduates. Launching for 2025-2026 entry, the scholarship aims to widen access to eligible full-time on campus postgraduate taught Masters and Masters by Research programmes at the University of Edinburgh.

Who this is for

The scholarship is designed specifically for those who had Scotland domiciled fee status and benefited from an Access Edinburgh scholarship or Scotland Scholarship during their undergraduate study.

 

This opportunity is open to students transitioning directly from undergraduate study at The University of Edinburgh to postgraduate Masters study at the University in 2025-2026 academic year. This is part of our ongoing commitment to support our students’ achievements and help them thrive beyond graduation.

Joyce Blow Darlington

The Darlington Scholarship is made possible through an extraordinary legacy donation made by alumna Joyce Blow Darlington (History, 1950). Joyce wished to make higher education more accessible to those who might otherwise be unable to afford it. Thanks to Joyce's kindness and profound commitment, Darlington Scholars will have the opportunity to pursue their academic and future aspirations with less financial constraint.

 

To learn more about Joyce Blow Darlington, please visit our dedicated page: Inspiring Legacy: Honouring Joyce Darlington's Lifelong Impact | Giving

The University of Edinburgh will award up to 25 scholarships for eligible full-time on campus Masters students beginning their study in September 2025. Each Darlington Scholarship includes: 

  • An award of £16,000
  • A fee reduction of 40% on eligible programmes.  
  • For programmes that cost above £18,000, fees will be capped at £18,000 and will recieve a 40% fee reduction.

Candidates must ensure their full tuition fee is paid and are encouraged to apply for postgraduate funding from SAAS (up to £13,900 in tuition and living costs), with the Darlington Scholarship designed to contribute to the outstanding costs of postgraduate study. The award will be paid in three equal instalments, throughout the 2025-26 academic year. 


The Darlington Scholarship is for students committed to continuing their education at the University of Edinburgh. To be eligible for this award, candidates must meet the following criteria:

  • Must complete an undergraduate degree at University of Edinburgh in the 2024-2025 academic year. 
  • Must have been in receipt of Access Edinburgh or Scotland Scholarship. 
  • Must have Scotland domiciled fee status (were eligible to receive SAAS funding) at undergraduate and postgraduate level. 
  • Must have applied for admission for an eligible 1-year full-time on-campus postgraduate taught Masters (PGT) or Masters by Research (MScR) programme for 2025-2026 academic year. A list of eligible programmes can be found here: The Darlington Scholarship - Eligible programmes (357.71 KB / PDF)

Candidates will not be eligible for the scholarship if:

  • The candidate is already in receipt of, or later awarded, a full scholarship. 
  • The candidate has accepted, or subsequently accepts, another University of Edinburgh scholarship (must inform the scholarship office if another scholarship is accepted later).  
  • The candidate is fully sponsored by an employer. 

Once an offer of study has been made, Darlington Scholarships will be awarded based on the annual level of support provided under the Access Edinburgh scholarship or Scotland Scholarship:

Top priority: Care experienced or estranged students, currently receiving £5,000 Access Edinburgh award.  

Second priority: Applicants from the lowest household income band, currently receiving £3,000 Access Edinburgh award or £3000 Enhanced Scotland Scholarship. 

Third priority: Applicants currently receiving £2,000 Access Edinburgh award or £2,000 Scotland Scholarship. 

Fourth priority: Applicants currently receiving £1,000 Access Edinburgh award or £1,000 Scotland Scholarship. 

Fifth priority: Applicants currently receiving £500 Scotland Scholarship. 

If the number of eligible applicants exceeds the available scholarships, candidates’ application statements will be carefully reviewed by a selection panel. Please see the 'How to Apply' section below for details of what to include. The final decision is at the discretion of the panel.  


  • Application Deadline: 31 March 2025, 5pm (BST). 
  • Provisional award notification: End of May 2025.
  • Scholarship award confirmation: September to October 2025, upon matriculation.  

1. Apply for your degree programme

  • You must apply for your chosen eligible programme before you apply for this scholarship.
  • Deadlines for degree programmes vary, so please check the deadline for your chosen programme here: Postgraduate Degree Finder

2. Apply for the Scholarship

  • Complete the scholarship application form: [Link to follow shortly]
  • You will be asked to submit an application statement of 600 words explaining: 

1. Why the scholarship would be beneficial to your studies and how it would help you achieve your academic and personal goals.

2. Describe how your education could benefit your community and/or society in the future. 

3. Share the achievements, academic or personal, that you are most proud of. We want to hear your story. 

You can only apply for the scholarship after you have applied to one of the eligible programmes. You will only be considered for the scholarship after you have received an offer (conditional or unconditional). 

 


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