Quick Read
- 2026-27 deadline: 9 June 2026, 23:59 BST. Apply via MyEd now if you have a UUN.
- The University of Edinburgh offers 20 fully funded online Masters scholarships each year globally.
- Each scholarship covers full tuition fees; living costs are not included (you study from India, online).
- You need a University User Number (UUN) to submit the scholarship application received when Edinburgh issues your admission offer.
- Scholarship is awarded on academic merit and a three-part personal statement.
- Priority goes to students who have not previously studied at Masters level.
Scholarship at a Glance
| Scholarships available | 20 per year, globally |
| What it covers | Full tuition fees for the entire programme |
| Who is eligible | Nationals/residents of 82+ countries in the OECD DAC Least Developed, Other Low Income, and Lower Middle Income categories. India is listed in the Lower Middle Income category |
| Eligible programs | Part-time online Masters at SCQF Level 11, University of Edinburgh |
| Selection criteria | Academic merit + three-part personal statement; priority to first-time Masters applicants |
| 2026-27 deadline | 9 June 2026, 23:59 BST |
| How to apply | MyEd portal via EASE requires UUN login |
| Results | Mid-July each year |
| Official page | registryservices.ed.ac.uk |
If you are reading this after 9 June 2026, the 2026-27 cycle is closed. Use the planning calendar below to prepare for the 2027-28 cycle.
What Does Edinburgh Global Online Learning Masters Scholarships Cover for Indian Students
The Edinburgh Global Online Learning Masters Scholarships cover the complete tuition fees for an eligible part-time online Masters program at the University of Edinburgh. It does not cover living expenses. Since the program is fully online, Indian students have no Edinburgh accommodation or travel costs; the scholarship effectively makes the degree free.
The University of Edinburgh awards 20 Edinburgh Global Online Learning Masters Scholarships each year. Here is precisely what the scholarship does and does not cover:
| What the Scholarship Covers | What It Does Not Cover |
|---|---|
| Full tuition fees for the entire programme | Living expenses (not applicable: you study from India) |
| Duration: for the normal length of the programme | Travel to Edinburgh |
| Part-time online study across 2-3 years | Application fee for admission |
| Applies to all fee installments during enrollment. | Any course fees if you take courses outside your programme |
Why this scholarship matters for Indian students: Unlike on-campus scholarships such as Chevening or Commonwealth (which cover travel, visa, and accommodation), this scholarship covers tuition only. Since the program is fully online, there are no Edinburgh living costs at all. You stay in India, pay zero tuition, and earn a University of Edinburgh Masters degree. Edinburgh online programs typically cost between £5,500 and £9,000 per year (Rs.70,543 to Rs.1,15,434/year at Rs.128.26 per GBP). For a 2-year program at the lower end (£5,500/year), the scholarship saves approximately Rs.1.41 lakh per year, Rs.2.82 lakh total. For a higher-fee program (£14,000/year), the scholarship saves approximately Rs. 3.6 lakh per year, totaling Rs. 7.1 lakh over 2 years.
Counselor insight: Of the 1,095+ Indian students enrolled at Edinburgh in 2024-25 (570 of them at postgraduate taught level, per the University of Edinburgh Student Factsheet 2024-25), a significant number are pursuing online and part-time programs. Edinburgh ranks at #34 among universities globally (QS World University Rankings 2026). For an Indian student who cannot afford to relocate but wants a globally recognized postgraduate credential, an Edinburgh online degree with fully covered tuition fees is one of the strongest options available.
Is India Eligible for the Edinburgh Global Online Learning Masters Scholarships?
The Edinburgh Global Online Learning Masters Scholarships are available to students from India. The University of Edinburgh’s official eligible countries document explicitly names India on the list. Eligibility is based on the OECD DAC classification of India as a lower middle-income country.
Yes. India is eligible. The official Edinburgh eligible countries PDF (published by the University of Edinburgh, a Tier 1 source) explicitly lists India alongside 82+ other nationalities.
Eligible countries are based on the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) categories:
| OECD DAC Category | India’s Status |
|---|---|
| Least Developed Countries | Not applicable |
| Other Low-Income Countries | Not applicable |
| Lower Middle-Income Countries | Yes, India is classified here |
Two scholarships you should not confuse:
The University of Edinburgh runs two separate online scholarship programs. Many students mistakenly go to the wrong page.
| Scholarship | Who It Is For | URL |
|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh Global Online Learning Masters Scholarship | Nationals and residents of 82+ countries, including India | registryservices.ed.ac.uk/…distance-learning |
| Edinburgh Global Online Learning Scholarships for Refugees and Displaced Students | Refugees and displaced students specifically | registryservices.ed.ac.uk/…online-masters |
If you are an Indian student with a regular Indian passport, the first scholarship above applies to you.
Counselor insight: This is the single most common question we receive about this scholarship. Students find the Refugees scholarship URL first because it now occupies the same URL pattern as the original scholarship page. Always confirm which scholarship page you are reading before you start an application.
Edinburgh Global Online Learning Masters Scholarships Programs Eligibility
Not every Edinburgh Masters program qualifies. The scholarship is restricted to programs at SCQF (Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework). Descriptor Level 11 is the standard taught Masters level.
What SCQF Level 11 means in plain language: It is equivalent to a standard one-year full-time or two-year part-time taught Masters degree. Most MSc and MA programs sit here.
Who is excluded: Some programs carry the word “Masters” in their title but sit at SCQF Level 12 (e.g., Master of Surgery, ChM). These are not eligible for this scholarship regardless of your academic profile.
Eligibility check for your program: Look up your program on Edinburgh’s degree finder. Confirm the SCQF Level before you apply for admission.
Examples of Edinburgh online Masters programs that are commonly eligible:
| Program | Duration (Part-time) | Annual Fee 2026-27 |
|---|---|---|
| MSc Global Challenges (Online Learning) | 36 months | £6,370 (Rs.8,16,996) |
| Online LLM programs | 24-36 months | Varies by school |
| Online MSc in Science and Technology Studies | 24 months | Varies |
| Online postgraduate programs via Edinburgh Law School | 24-36 months | Varies |
Exchange rate used: Rs.128.26 per GBP as of June 2026. Verify before finalizing your budget.
Also see: Masters in UK for Indian students and 1-Year Masters programs in UK
Counselor insight: Edinburgh’s online programs consistently attract Indian applicants in technology, law, social policy, and global development. HESA’s 2022-23 Graduate Outcomes data (published July 2025) shows that UK postgraduate degree holders earn a median salary of £47,000 per year, compared to £42,000 for first-degree graduates (source: HESA Graduate Outcomes 2022-23). A fully funded Edinburgh Masters that costs you nothing in tuition fees removes the biggest barrier for Indian applicants.
How to Apply for the Edinburgh Global Online Learning Masters Scholarships: Step by Step for Indian Students
To apply for the Edinburgh Global Online Learning Masters Scholarships, you must first receive a University of Edinburgh admission offer and your University User Number (UUN). You then log in to the MyEd portal via EASE (Edinburgh’s single-sign-on system) and complete the scholarship application form, which includes a three-part personal statement. The 2026-27 deadline is 9 June 2026 at 23:59 BST.
The 2026-27 deadline is 9 June 2026 (23:59 BST). If you have already received your Edinburgh offer and UUN, do not wait; log in to MyEd via EASE and apply now.
The key rule: you cannot access the scholarship application without a University User Number (UUN). Your UUN is issued by Edinburgh when you receive your admission offer. Once you have it, apply for the scholarship immediately; do not wait until you have formally enrolled.
Application Sequence
| Step | Action | Timeline (for September 2026 intake) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Choose an eligible Edinburgh online Masters program. | September-October 2025 |
| 2 | Complete IELTS or English test (if not already done) | October-November 2025 |
| 3 | Submit programme application to Edinburgh | November-January 2026 |
| 4 | Receive conditional or unconditional offer from Edinburgh | February-March 2026 |
| 5 | Receive your University User Number (UUN) and EASE login credentials | Issued with your offer |
| 6 | Log in to MyEd portal via EASE using your UUN immediately | As soon as you receive your UUN |
| 7 | Accept the offer (you can submit the scholarship application before formally accepting) | March 2026 |
| 8 | Complete and submit scholarship application with personal statement | Before 9 June 2026, 23:59 BST |
| 9 | Await results notification | Mid-July 2026 |
Note: After submitting your program application, Edinburgh’s system may take up to five working days to process before your UUN is active and scholarship access is granted. For the current cycle closing 9 June, applicants who have not yet submitted their program application are at risk of missing the scholarship deadline entirely.
Key note from Edinburgh: “You can apply for scholarships once you have your UUN and EASE passwords. Do not wait to receive an offer before applying for a scholarship; the eligibility criteria for the relevant scholarship may ask that you have received an offer of admission by the scholarship’s closing date.” This means: as soon as you have your UUN, go to MyEd and start your scholarship application; you do not need to formally accept the offer first.
Prepare for IELTS: Most Edinburgh online Masters programs require IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0). If you have not taken IELTS yet, begin your preparation early.
Use LeapScholar’s Free IELTS Mock Test and IELTS Preparation Online.
Check out: Study in UK for Indian Students
Documents Checklist for Indian Applicants
| Document | Edinburgh Requirement | India-Specific Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Academic transcripts | Official certified copies for all years | Mark sheets from CBSE, ICSE, state board, or university; certified true copies required |
| Degree certificate | Original or certified copy | Provisional certificate accepted if final degree not yet issued; state this clearly in your application |
| English proficiency | IELTS (Academic), TOEFL iBT, or PTE Academic | IELTS 6.5 overall minimum for most programs; check your specific programme page |
| Personal statement | Specific to this scholarship, three components required | See personal statement section below |
| Passport copy | Valid Indian passport | Used to verify nationality for eligible country confirmation |
| Referee letters | Typically two academic or professional referees | LOR from department head, thesis supervisor, or direct line manager preferred |
Counselor insight: Over 60% of Indian students who contact LeapScholar about Edinburgh online programs have not checked whether their specific program is at SCQF Level 11 before starting the scholarship application. If your program is Level 12 (e.g., ChM), the MyEd portal will show you the scholarship form, but your application will be deemed ineligible later. Check the SCQF level first; it takes under 2 minutes on the Edinburgh degree finder.
How to Write Your Personal Statement for the Edinburgh Global Online Learning Masters Scholarships
The Edinburgh Global Online Learning Masters Scholarships personal statement must address three specific components set by the university: (a) what attracted you to this specific program, (b) how the program will benefit your career and personal development, and (c) how you will contribute to your community or country after completing it. Generic motivation letters that do not address all three components are unlikely to be competitive.
Edinburgh specifies three components for the scholarship personal statement. Every application must address all three. A generic motivation letter that does not follow this structure will not be competitive.
The Three Required Components
| Component | What Edinburgh Is Looking For | India-Specific Example |
|---|---|---|
| (a) Specific elements of this programme that attracted you to Edinburgh | Name exact modules, research areas, faculty, or program structure, not generic “Edinburgh is world-class.” | “The module on Post-Colonial Governance in the MSc Global Challenges directly addresses policy gaps I work on daily as a district-level civil servant in Maharashtra.” |
| (b) How completing the programme will benefit your career and personal development | Concrete career outcome: promotion, sector switch, research ambition | “Completing this LLM will qualify me for the Indian Law Service examination at the senior cadre level, which requires a postgraduate law credential from a recognized institution.” |
| (c) How you will contribute to your community, region, or country | What changes in India because you complete this program? | “I intend to use the program’s digital governance modules to design a grievance redressal system for the 4.2 lakh gram panchayats in my state that currently lack structured feedback loops.” |
Edinburgh Global Online Learning Masters Scholarships Deadline 2026-27 and Planning Calendar for Indian Students
The Edinburgh Global Online Learning Masters Scholarships 2026-27 deadline is 9 June 2026 at 23:59 BST. This is confirmed from the MastersPortal listing. Historical deadlines: 3 June 2024 (2024-25) and 23 June 2025 (2025-26). Results are notified by mid-July each year.
Deadline History
| Academic Year | Application Deadline |
|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 3 June 2024 (23:59 BST) |
| 2025-26 | 23 June 2025 (23:59 BST) |
| 2026-27 | 9 June 2026 (23:59 BST) Confirmed |
As of today (5 June 2026), 4 days remain. If you hold an Edinburgh offer and UUN, apply at MyEd/EASE immediately.
Results are typically notified to all applicants by mid-July each year.
Month-by-Month Planning Calendar for 2026-27 Applicants (September 2027 Intake)
| Month | Action |
|---|---|
| September-October 2026 | Identify your Edinburgh online program. Confirm SCQF Level 11 on the degree finder. Check English requirements. |
| October-November 2026 | Begin IELTS preparation if needed. |
| November-December 2026 | Write your Statement of Purpose for the program admission application. |
| December 2026-January 2027 | Submit the program application to Edinburgh. |
| February-March 2027 | Receive a conditional or unconditional offer. |
| March 2027 | Accept offer. Receive University User Number (UUN). Note: After submitting your program application, Edinburgh’s system may take up to five working days to process before your UUN is active and scholarship access is granted. For the current cycle closing 9 June, applicants who have not yet submitted their program application are at risk of missing the scholarship deadline entirely. |
| April 2027 | Log in to the MyEd portal via EASE. Locate the scholarship application form. |
| April-May 2027 | Draft and refine your personal statement (all three components). |
| May-June 2027 | Submit the scholarship application before the Edinburgh deadline. |
| July 2027 | Receive the results notification from Edinburgh. |
Counselor insight: In 2024-25 and 2025-26, the deadline fell in early-to-mid June. Indian students who begin their Edinburgh program application only in March or April are almost always too late to comfortably make the scholarship deadline. IELTS alone takes 6-8 weeks from registration to results, so plan accordingly. Start in September of the year before your target intake.
What to Do If You Miss the Scholarship Deadline or Do Not Get Selected
Missing the deadline or receiving a rejection is not the end of your Edinburgh journey. Here is what to do next:
If You Missed the 2026-27 Deadline
- Your Edinburgh admission offer remains valid. You can typically defer to the next academic year; contact your program administrator directly to confirm the deferral policy.
- The scholarship runs annually. Apply next year with a stronger personal statement.
- Keep your UUN active and monitor the Edinburgh scholarship page from January 2027 onwards for when the 2027-28 application opens.
If You Were Not Selected
- Rejection from this scholarship does not affect your admission offer. The two processes are independent.
- Edinburgh offers other scholarships for online students:
- GREAT Scholarships: For Indian students at partner UK universities.
- Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program: For eligible African and developing country students at Edinburgh. Check edinburgh-global.ed.ac.uk.
- School-level scholarships: Some Edinburgh schools (e.g., Edinburgh Law School, Moray House) have additional funding for online students. Check your specific school’s funding page.
Alternative Scholarships for Indian Online/Distance Masters Applicants
| Scholarship | Value | Is India Eligible? |
|---|---|---|
| UCL Global Masters Scholarship | £15,000 (Rs.19,23,900) | Yes (5 seats for India) |
| Commonwealth Masters Scholarships | Full funding | Yes |
| Top UK Scholarships for Indians | Multiple | Yes |
| Scholarships for Masters in UK | Multiple | Yes |
Counselor insight: In our experience at LeapScholar, students who withdraw their Edinburgh offer after missing this scholarship consistently regret that decision. With 20 global seats and 82+ eligible nationalities, the competition is intense, but Edinburgh’s offer is rare. School-level funding is underused by Indian students who focus only on the central scholarship. Always contact your school’s admissions coordinator and ask directly about available funding before deciding whether to proceed without this scholarship.
Also see: University of Edinburgh Scholarships 2026-27 for Indian Students and Free Education in UK for Indian Students
Key Takeaways for Indian Students
- India is confirmed eligible. The official eligible countries PDF from the University of Edinburgh lists India explicitly. Do not let contradictory information on aggregator sites deter you from applying. Check the primary source.
- You need a UUN to apply; apply for the scholarship as soon as you receive it. Your UUN is issued with your Edinburgh admission offer. Once you have it, log in to MyEd via EASE and submit the scholarship application immediately; you do not need to wait for formal offer acceptance. The deadline for 2026-27 is 9 June 2026. Start your Edinburgh program application at least 5-6 months before this deadline.
- Your personal statement is judged against three specific components set by Edinburgh. Academic merit alone does not determine the outcome. Treat the personal statement as the primary differentiator and write a separate, specific response to each component.
Verified by: LeapScholar’s UK counseling team, with hands-on experience guiding Indian students through University of Edinburgh and other top UK university scholarship applications.
Have questions about Edinburgh scholarships or UK Masters applications? Book a free session with a LeapScholar counselor.
Frequently Asked Questions About Edinburgh Global Online Learning Masters Scholarships
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What happens if I miss the scholarship deadline or do not get selected?
Missing the deadline does not void your admission offer. You can apply for the scholarship in the next academic year, provided you defer your program (check with your program administrator). If you are not selected, your admission offer stands independently. Explore Edinburgh school-level scholarships, the GREAT Scholarship, and the Mastercard Foundation program as alternatives.
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What is the selection criteria for the Edinburgh Global Online Learning Masters Scholarships?
The scholarship is awarded on academic merit and the strength of your personal statement. Edinburgh gives explicit priority to applicants who have not previously had the opportunity to study at Masters level. This means first-time Masters applicants from India have a structural advantage in the selection process.
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Does the Edinburgh Global Online Learning Masters Scholarships cover living expenses?
No. The scholarship covers tuition fees only. Living expenses are not covered, but this is not relevant for this scholarship because the program is fully online and part-time. You study from India and have no Edinburgh accommodation or subsistence costs.
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What should I write in my personal statement for the Edinburgh online Masters scholarship?
Edinburgh specifies three required components: (a) the specific elements of the program that attracted you to Edinburgh, (b) how completing the program will benefit your career and personal development, and (c) how the scholarship will enable you to contribute to your community, region, or country. Generic statements that do not address all three components are unlikely to be competitive given only 20 seats are available globally.
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Do I need a full admission offer before I can apply for this scholarship?
You need a University User Number (UUN), which Edinburgh issues when you receive your admission offer. You do not need to have formally accepted the offer before submitting your scholarship application. Edinburgh’s official guidance states, “Do not wait to receive an offer before applying for a scholarship,” meaning once you have your UUN and EASE login, apply for the scholarship immediately rather than waiting for other stages of the admissions process. Your eligibility is assessed based on you having received an offer by the scholarship closing date.
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Which programs at Edinburgh are eligible for this scholarship?
Only programs at SCQF (Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework) Descriptor Level 11 are eligible. This is the standard taught Masters level. If your program carries the word “Masters” but is at SCQF Level 12 (for example, Master of Surgery, ChM), it is not eligible. Verify your program’s SCQF level on the Edinburgh degree finder before applying for admission.
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How many Edinburgh Global Online Learning Masters Scholarships are available each year?
Edinburgh awards 20 scholarships per year globally across all eligible nationalities and programs. With 82+ eligible countries competing for 20 seats, competition is intense. Historical deadlines: 3 June 2024 (2024-25) and 23 June 2025 (2025-26). The 2026-27 deadline is confirmed: 9 June 2026: Check the official scholarship page for future cycles.
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Is India eligible for the Edinburgh Global Online Learning Masters Scholarships?
India is eligible. The official eligible countries PDF from the University of Edinburgh explicitly names India on the list. Eligibility is based on the OECD DAC classification of India as a lower middle-income country. You must be a national and current resident of India at the time of application.
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