Saltire Scholarship: Overview, Eligibility & Process

Cruising high in the world-class education system, Scotland has become an attractive study destination globally. Along with accessing a robust educational structure, students will also find a welcoming environment and several types of support structures, including scholarships. The Saltire Scholarship is a popular merit-based financial aid programme run and managed by the Scottish government. With such scholarships, students have yet another reason to study in Scotland and leverage high-quality education. This article is dedicated to understanding the details of the Saltire Scholarship.

Some Basic Things about the Saltire Scholarship

First and foremost, the Scottish government manages and provides this scholarship of £8000 to 50 students each year. Students have to enrol in one of the colleges or universities associated with this scholarship. Moreover, this is a non-renewable, one-time scholarship program that provides a monetary award for one year of the study program. In other words, if the course tenure is two years, the £8000 reward will be given for any one year. You cannot apply for the Saltire scholarship when studying in just any institution in Scotland. Moreover, the scholarship is available only for the Master’s course, offline or online. The deadline to apply for the Scotland Saltire Scholarship changes year to year. For 2022, the applications will start on 6th April 2022, and the closing date is 12th June 2022. As the award is given to a limited number of students, you must apply with all the right documents and credentials.

Universities Included in the Saltire Scholarship

Here’s the list of Scotland’s higher education institutions eligible under the Saltire programme for the scholarship.

• Abertay University
• Edinburgh Napier University
• Glasgow Caledonian University
• Glasgow School of Art
• Heriot-Watt University
• Open University
• Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
• Robert Gordon University
• Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
• SRUC Scotland’s Rural College
• The University of Edinburgh
• University of Aberdeen
• University of Dundee
• University of Glasgow
• University of St. Andrews
• University of Sterling
• University of Strathclyde
• University of Highlands and Islands (UHI)
• University of West Scotland

There is also a limitation on the international student’s nationality. This means that students from selected countries can only apply for the Saltire Scholarship. Citizens of the following countries can apply:

1. Canada
2. USA
3. China
4. Hong Kong (Special administrative region of China)
5. India
6. Japan
7. Pakistan
8. USA

Students from these eight countries are eligible to apply for the scholarship. Besides this, there are a few other eligibility conditions that you must know. Read the sections below to know more details about the Saltire programme.

Eligibility Criteria for Scotland Saltire Scholarship

Students interested in applying to the Saltire scholarship programme must fulfil certain conditions. These requirements are meant to filter the students and ensure that only the most eligible candidates can apply for the scholarship.

• First of all, any student applying for the award must have got a conditional or unconditional acceptance letter or offer of a seat in an approved educational institution.
• Additionally, the student must have been accepted into one of the mandated programs or streams. (You will find the eligible streams below.) It does not matter whether the classes are given online or offline; the scholarship applies in both situations.
• The candidate must be a citizen of the accepted countries. These include Canada, the USA, Japan, India, Pakistan, China, and Hong Kong.
• Another condition is that the student must show proof that they can sponsor the living and other costs in Scotland. Plus, they must also be able to bear the remaining tuition fees required to be paid over and above the scholarship amount.

Some other conditions are:

• The student must not have studied in Scotland before and should not have received the Saltire Scholarship.
• The student must be able to satisfy the language requirements associated with the course they have chosen.
• They must complete and submit the application form before the deadline.

Besides these eligibility conditions, applicants need to demonstrate a few skills and talents if they want to get the scholarship. It is not mandatory to have these skills, but if a student possesses them, their chances of getting the scholarship increase.

• The applicants must show an interest in studying at one of the eligible universities in Scotland.
• They need to show the aspiration to study in a global setting and context while having the grit to learn leadership in their field.
• Lastly, the applicants need to demonstrate the capabilities and willingness to nurture their interpersonal and communication skills. This is considering students must be able to participate in the programme of activities associated with their field of study.

These requirements ensure that besides gaining important academic experience, students also learn to become influential leaders in their chosen field. They need to gain higher education from an experienced faculty at some of the best universities in Scotland.

Streams & Subjects Falling Under the Saltire Scholarship

These are the streams and their individual subjects for the programme. You need to be accepted into an eligible course to obtain the scholarship.

Science

• Energy
• Animals study or zoology
• Study of plants or botany
• Environment sciences
• Geology
• Earth sciences
• Weather and climate studies

Creative Industries

• Interior designing
• Designing
• Graphic designing
• Publishing
• Cultural studies
• Animation
• Film and broadcasting
• Media, culture, and communications
• Industrial designing
• Fashion designing
• New media studies
• Computer games, arts, and graphics
• Journalism

Healthcare & Medical Sciences

• Biology
• Biotechnology
• Health sciences
• Physical and life sciences
• Chemistry

Technology

• Engineering
• Information systems
• Multimedia technology
• Computer science
• Bioinformatics

Renewable & Clean Energy

• Renewable energy
• Biomass and biofuels
• Hydropower
• Solar power
• Tidal power
• Wind power
• Sustainable energy

You can only apply for the programme for a master’s degree. So, while these subjects are important, you must also get admission to a postgraduate master’s degree. A student applying for an undergraduate degree in any of these fields will not get the opportunity to apply for the scholarship. While these are the basic courses you can apply for, there are other eligible courses. You can choose any field out of them and enquire about the others while applying for the scholarship. Also, read this online guide on top UK scholarships and how to avail of them.

Conditions & Requirements after the Scholarship

Among all the conditions and requirements you need to meet before applying for the award, there are some requirements you must maintain after getting the same. In other words, Saltire scholars need to be at the top of their game throughout the program. Here are the requirements;

• The scholars are supposed to maintain a standard of conduct worthy of upholding the Saltire scholarship programme. They must also respect the rules, regulations, and traditions of the institution they are studying at.
• The students are required to participate in the extra-curricular activities in their programs actively. There are exceptions for not attending the events, but they are allowed based on the circumstances.
• They must support communications activity and promote the Scottish higher education system. For this, the students are required to;
• Post about their educational experience in Scotland on social media.
• Be ready to take part in an interview at the welcome or end-of-the-year event. The students must also give the right to use the footage to the Scottish government and the university they studied at.
• Lastly, the Scottish government can use images, quotes, and even blogs connected to the student’s Saltire Scholarship award for marketing purposes.

Termination Conditions for Saltire Scholarship

Saltire scholars can be removed from the programme if they fail to adhere to the principles set forth by the authorities. As the Scottish government is involved in the programme’s administration, the scholars must follow the established norms and guidelines to stay on the programme. The authorities will also look at the student’s actions and behaviour with a perspective to prevent any embarrassment to the government. At the same time, the institution can also recommend the scholar’s name for removal from the programme, citing disciplinary and other issues.

Conclusion

The Saltire Scholarship is a prestigious and one of the most popular programmes of scholarships in Scotland, offering partial tuition fees to international students. However, there are several eligibility conditions a student must fulfil to get accepted into the programme, and the most important is a good academic record and skills. Saltire Scholars will also get the opportunity to build their network during the welcome and year-end events. Ensure that you check all the details of the programme before applying and fill out the application form before the deadline. For more articles on similar topics and studying abroad, follow the LeapScholar blog.

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