How to apply to the scholarship

The application process for the Education Beyond Borders Scholarship has five stages. You must complete each stage by the relevant deadline.

Applications for the 2026 scholarship

Applications for the 2026/2027 Education Beyond Borders Postgraduate Scholarship are now open. Applications close 17 February 2026.

The application process

Please ensure you have read through all the information below before proceeding with an application for the scholarship.

Applications open: 9 December 2025, 10am (GMT) 

Applications close: 17 February 2025, 5pm (GMT)

In the application form, you will be asked to answer short essay questions about assessment criteria.  

These include questions on:

  • academic merit and potential
  • demonstrated interest in your chosen field of study
  • commitment to future impact and giving back to your community.

Your responses will be reviewed by the scholarship selection panel. 

Apply to the Postgraduate Scholarship

 

Use of Generative AI

We are aware of the increase in popularity of Generative AI tools. While these can be helpful at some stages of the application writing process (grammar, spell checking etc.), relying heavily on these tools will be detrimental to your application. Responses to questions written by Generative AI chatbots tend to be weak and fail to answer the questions authentically. We want to hear from you about your experiences, talents and aspirations. Any information provided in your application must be accurate and truthful.

Consider familiarising yourself with the guidance provided to University of Edinburgh students on the use of generative AI in your studies.

Generative AI guidelines for students


Deadline: 3 March 2026, 5pm (GMT) 

You must apply to the University of Edinburgh for your chosen postgraduate programme. You can only apply to courses that are: 

  • Postgraduate/Masters level of study 
  • one year in duration 
  • taught in-person, on campus 

When you have submitted your application to the University of Edinburgh please let us know using the follow up form below. You can only progress to Stage 4 of the scholarship application if you have been offered a place on an eligible course at the University of Edinburgh. 

Check the degree courses included in the scholarship 

Complete the follow-up form 


You will be shortlisted for the scholarship if : 

  1. The selection panel considers your scholarship application to be successful. 
  1. You have been offered a place on your chosen postgraduate degree course. 

If you reach stage 4, you will be offered an interview. 


If you are successful at the interview, you will be offered a place on the Education Beyond Borders Postgraduate Scholarship. To receive your scholarship, you must meet the admissions criteria for your chosen University of Edinburgh programme. This could include: 

  • meeting any academic requirements
  • sitting a free English proficiency exam through Oxford ELLT Digital to meet the English language requirements for their chosen degree programme (if required).

Learn more about Oxford ELLT Digital


Application timeline 2025/2026

Key dates

DateTimeEvent
9 December 202510am GMTScholarship applications open.
13 January 202610am to 12pm GMT

Information session with Education Beyond Borders team. 

Learn about and sign up for the information session

17 February 20265pm GMTScholarship applications close.
February to March 2025 Unsuccessful applicants (including those who do not meet the eligibility criteria) will receive a rejection notice. 
3 March 20255pm GMTApplicants must have completed their application to their chosen degree programme by 5pm in order to be considered for the scholarship. 
April 2026 Applicants receive a decision on their scholarship application. 
May 2026 Successful scholarship applicants will take a language test to prove they meet the English language requirement.

Admission to the scholarship is conditional on meeting the University's English language requirements. 

Key information

  • You must make an application for the scholarship and for your postgraduate degree course at the University. These are two separate application processes using different application forms.
  • You do not have to apply for admission to your chosen degree course before you apply for the scholarship, but we recommend you do (or soon after).
  • Postgraduate degree courses have varied admissions deadlines, so please ensure you check these early to avoid disappointment.
  • You must only submit one application to the scholarship programme.
  • Check the details of the scholarship before you apply using our checklist  

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