About the Scholarship

The STEPS – St Andrews Education for Palestinian Students scholarship is a postgraduate funding programme jointly supported by STEPS and the University of St Andrews in the United Kingdom. The scholarship aims to support Palestinian students by enabling them to pursue a one-year Master’s degree at one of the UK’s leading academic institutions.

STEPS was established in 2011 as an independent charitable foundation registered in Scotland. Its mission is to provide educational opportunities for Palestinian students at the University of St Andrews, contributing to academic development and long-term capacity building within Palestinian society.

Number and Value of Awards

The STEPS scholarship offers two fully funded awards per year. Each award covers:

• Full tuition fees
• University accommodation costs
• A monthly maintenance stipend of £450
• Return travel to and from the United Kingdom
• Visa fees and Immigration Health Surcharge costs

Please note that the scholarship does not cover any additional or unforeseen expenses beyond those listed above.

Duration of the Award

The scholarship is awarded for one academic year, corresponding to the full duration of eligible Master’s programmes.

Eligible Programmes

The scholarship supports taught and research-based Master’s programmes at the University of St Andrews, including but not limited to:

• MSc
• MLitt
• MRes
• MPP
• MSc(Res)
• MSt(Res)

Applicants must ensure that their chosen programme meets the eligibility criteria of the STEPS scholarship.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the STEPS Scholarship, applicants must:

• Be Palestinian nationals.
• Apply for a full-time, one-year Master’s programme at the University of St Andrews.
• Meet the minimum English language requirements set by the University for the selected programme.
• Demonstrate how their studies will enable them to contribute positively to Palestinian civic society.

Additional Conditions

Applicants must hold an offer of admission from the University of St Andrews by the scholarship application deadline.

UK visa regulations generally do not permit dependents for most Master’s programmes. Should an applicant choose to travel with dependents, STEPS will not cover any costs associated with them.

Scholarship recipients are expected to share or write about their STEPS experience as part of the programme’s outreach activities.

Required Documents

Applicants must provide the following as part of their scholarship application:

• One academic reference from a faculty member
• One personal reference from an employer or community leader
• Both references must be submitted by the referees directly before the application deadline.

Applications will not be considered unless both references are received on time.

How to Apply

The application process involves the following steps:

• Apply first for an eligible Master’s programme at the University of St Andrews.
• Once login details are received, access the My Application portal.
• Navigate to Scholarships and Funding, locate the STEPS Scholarship (Postgraduate Masters), and submit the scholarship application along with all required documents.

Applicants are strongly advised to submit their academic programme application at least six weeks before the STEPS deadline, for more details please follow this link.

Key Dates

Application opens: Thursday, 23 October 2025
Application deadline: Thursday, 9 April 2026
Notification of results: Early May 2026
Entry year: 2026

Selection Outcome

The final decision is made by the STEPS Trustees and is final. Scholarship results will be communicated through the Scholarships and Funding section of the My Application portal.

Final Note

The STEPS Scholarship represents a valuable opportunity for Palestinian students to pursue postgraduate study in a world-class academic environment, with comprehensive financial support that reduces the burden of tuition and living costs while opening long-term academic and professional pathways.