Postgraduate bursaries, awards and scholarships
There are many forms of financial support on offer for our prospective postgraduate students. The funding opportunities below relate to the academic year 2025-2026.
Please note that before applying for a bursary or scholarship you must hold an offer to study at the RAU.
|
Name |
Who can apply |
Value of award |
Closing date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vice-Chancellor's International Scholarship | International students, full-time and part-time MSc, PGDip and MBA offer holders | Up to 20% contribution towards tuition fees | Now open |
| PhD Studentship - Revitalising British Hops: Harnessing Wildflowers for a Greener Future | UK and international full-time students | Fully funded for UK full-time students for 4 years. International students would have to pay the difference in home and international fees per year. | 22 May 2025 |
| Clyde Higgs Postgraduate Scholarship | UK students only | £5,000 | 6:00pm, 11 June 2025 |
| International Referral Programme | RAU alumni or current student | £500 to referrer and £500 to new international student | 14 July 2025 |
| UK and international students, attainment at national or international level of sport |
Up to £4,000 |
6:00pm, 11 June 2025 | |
| MacRobert Forces Scholarship | UK, armed forces links (current serving, leaving, partner or child of current serving) | £1,000 for one year | 6:00pm, 11 June 2025 |
| UK, strong Welsh links |
Up to £4,000 PhD students could be awarded a higher amount |
6:00pm, 11 June 2025 | |
| SAFS African Research Grant | International student from an African country | Return flights and living costs for a month of research | 20 May 2025 |
| Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme 2025 | Citizen, permanent resident of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country or be a British Protected Person (BPP | Tuition fees and living expenses | Closed for applications |
Alumni discount
All RAC/RAU alumni who are accepted for postgraduate degrees at the RAU are eligible for a 20% reduction in tuition fees.
External awards
| Name | Who can apply | Amount of award | Closing date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Formations Business Scholarship | UK and international | Up to five awards of £500 each | 31 January 2026 |
| Chadacre Agricultural Trust | UK, resident in Suffolk, Norfolk or Cambridgeshire | Variable, for research beneficial to Eastern Counties | N/A |
| Chevening Scholarships | International students | Fully funded one year Master's course | Closed for applications |
| Edgar Pye Research Scholarship | UK, must be studying an agriculture related course | £2,000 towards a research project | 31 October 2025 |
| Education Future International Scholarship | Indian national | Between 2 - 10 lacs Indian Rupees | Open for applications |
| International students | $3,000 | 31 May 2025 | |
| Marshal Papworth Scholarship | International students | Total of £21,875 (£11,875 course fees, £10,000 expenses) | Closed for applications |
| NFU Mutual Charitable Trust Centenary Award 2025 | UK and international students | Up to 75% of course fees for postgraduate agricultural student. | 30 June 2025 |
| Postgraduate Solutions Study Bursaries | UK and international | Five bursaries each worth £2,000 | 30 September 2025 |
| Snowdon Trust Master's Scholarship | UK, with a disability | Up to £30,000 towards tuition fees and living expenses | Closed for applications |
| The Royal Bath & West of England Society Grants and Scholarships | UK, strong links with Somerset, Dorset, Devon, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Bristol | Variable. Students must be on an agriculture related course | 1 November 2025 and 1 June 2025 |
| The Dick Harrison Trust | UK, strong links with Scotland, the Counties of Cumbria, or Northumberland | Grants towards books, equipment or travel for students on livestock auctioneering and/or rural estate management courses | 31 November 2025 |
Find out more information about a Postgraduate Master's Loan and Postgraduate Doctoral Loan.