The scheme derives from the intention of the Trust Founder, Andrew Carnegie,
“to render attendance at the Universities of Scotland and the enjoyment of their advantages more available to the deserving and qualified youth of Scotland to whom the payment of fees might act as a barrier”.
The scheme aims to support students who do not receive government funding towards the costs of their studies and is not intended as a substitute to government funding schemes. Applicants must demonstrate that their financial circumstances will hinder access to their chosen course of study when making a request for funding to the Carnegie Trust.
Eligibility Criteria
A. Course eligibility
- Application can be made only in respect of study at one of the following universities in Scotland: Aberdeen, Abertay Dundee, Dundee, Edinburgh, Edinburgh Napier, Glasgow, Glasgow Caledonian, Heriot-Watt, Highlands and Islands, Queen Margaret, Robert Gordon, St Andrews, Stirling, Strathclyde and West of Scotland. Students enrolled on a course validated by one of these universities but delivered at a different institution located in Scotland are also eligible for support.
- No restriction is placed on the subject or mode of study, and students can be enrolled on any full-time, part-time or distance learning undergraduate degree courses offered by one of the Scottish universities listed above.
- In all cases, courses of study acceptable for Trust support must be directly connected with the acquisition of a first degree from a Scottish university. Access courses and those for second first degrees, postgraduate qualifications, and sub-degree qualifications cannot be supported.
B. Applicant eligibility
- Applicants must be of Scottish birth or descent (at least one parent born in Scotland), or must have had at least two years' education at a secondary school in Scotland.
- In addition, applicants must not be eligible for support towards the cost of fees from either the Student Awards Agency for Scotland, Student Finance England, Student Finance Wales or Student Finance Northern Ireland. Part-time students, who only receive tuition fee support from SAAS and are not eligible for any grants, bursaries or loans from SAAS or for a university fee waiver scheme, may apply if the amount awarded by SAAS is less than the total amount of fees payable.
- Applicants must reside in Scotland during the period of the course studied.
- Applicants must normally have passed the examinations relating to the previous stage of their curriculum before being eligible for assistance. Assistance will not normally be given to students whose Students' Allowance awards have been withdrawn or suspended owing to examination failure or where the applicant has withdrawn from a course. If a claim is submitted by such applicants, full particulars must be given of any exceptional circumstances that may be held to account for such failure or withdrawal.
C. Type and level of award made
- Claims must be made only in respect of university fees and requests for maintenance costs cannot be considered.
- Applications will be subject to means testing. Successful applicants may receive either the full fees for the relevant year of study or such part thereof as may appear appropriate to the Trust, having regard to all the circumstances disclosed in the application.
- All awards provided by the Trust are in the form of grants, paid directly to the university attended.
Offered Benefits
The Fee Assistance scheme covers the cost of tuition fees only. Depending on applicants' financial circumstances, students are awarded either the full amount of fees charged by their university, or any part thereof that the Trust deems appropriate.
Eligible students charged unregulated fees because of their immigration status, e.g. Overseas fees, should note that the Trust never awards the full amount for international fees. Awards in this category will normally cover up to a quarter to a third of the total fees. The remainder of the fees will need to be paid for by the student. Please bear this in mind when making an application as you will need to make further arrangements to cover the rest of your tuition fees.
No support is available towards maintenance costs (such as rent, living expenses, travel etc.).
The fee grant is paid directly by the Trust to the university attended by the student. Successful applicants will be sent an award letter which they must present to their university. The university will then invoice the Trust for the tuition fees.
