The AD Links Foundation Postgraduate Research Scholarship (EU) for 2026 entry is now officially open, offering a prestigious funding opportunity for talented EU students aiming to begin a full-time PhD at the University of St Andrews. This award is designed for academically outstanding applicants who want to pursue high-quality research in one of the UK’s most respected universities — without the financial pressure of full overseas tuition fees.
If you’re a future scholarship applicant struggling to understand where to begin, this news alert serves as your step-by-step guide. Whether you plan to start your PhD in August, September, or October 2026, or even January or May 2027, this funding window is built for you.
Why This Scholarship Matters for EU Students in 2026?
The AD Links Foundation supports outstanding candidates from EU member states who wish to pursue doctoral research across any academic field at St Andrews. A passion for sport — especially golf — is preferred but not required. The award’s flexibility and academic focus make it suitable for early-career researchers seeking long-term academic or professional impact.
The scholarship offers £10,000 per year, applicable toward overseas tuition fees, for up to three years of full-time PhD study. For many international researchers, this level of consistent funding significantly reduces the financial burden of pursuing doctoral training in the UK.
Who Can Apply for the AD Links Foundation Scholarship?
To be eligible, applicants must meet all of the following conditions:
- Be a citizen of an EU member state, including Ireland, France, Germany, Sweden, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Greece, Cyprus, Hungary, Portugal, Belgium, Austria, Malta, Croatia, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark, Finland, Bulgaria, Romania, or the Canary Islands.
- Hold overseas fee status.
- Apply for a full-time PhD/doctoral programme at the University of St Andrews.
- Must not already hold a doctoral degree or be enrolled in one anywhere else.
- Start date must be:
August 2026, September 2026, October 2026, January 2027, or May 2027.
All Schools and Departments are eligible, including Medicine, International Relations, Social Anthropology, Computer Science, Biology, Physics & Astronomy, English, Psychology & Neuroscience, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Geography, Mathematics, Business School, and more.
The selection is based purely on academic merit, making it an ideal opportunity for high-performing applicants with strong research potential.
What the Scholarship Offers?
- £10,000 per year applied toward tuition fees.
- Three years of continuous funding for full-time PhD study.
- Open to all academic disciplines.
- Supported by the charitable AD Links Foundation.
- Opportunity to engage with donors and University development events.
- Recognition and visibility within the St Andrews research community.
If you secure full tuition funding from another source, the award may be converted into a maintenance contribution, depending on circumstances.
How to Apply?
If you intend to apply for this scholarship, follow these steps in order:
Step 1 — Apply for Admission
Submit your application for a Postgraduate Research (PhD) programme at the University of St Andrews.
Your chosen course must meet the scholarship’s eligibility requirements.
You do not need to wait for an offer before applying for funding.
Step 2 — Access My Application Portal
After submitting your course application, wait up to three working days to receive login access to the My Application portal.
Step 3 — Submit Scholarship Application
Once logged in:
- Go to Scholarships and Funding.
- Search University of St Andrews Postgraduate Research Scholarships.
- Complete the form — you will automatically be considered for the AD Links Foundation Scholarship if eligible.
You may optionally provide financial details if you want to be considered for other scholarships as well.
Step 4 — Prepare for Reporting Requirements
Recipients will be required to:
- Provide an Introductory Biography
- Submit annual progress updates
- Attend scholarship events & donor meetings
These conditions ensure transparency and maintain donor engagement.
Application Timeline for 2026 Entry
For the 2026 entry cycle, applications for the AD Links Foundation Postgraduate Research Scholarship open on Thursday, 2 October 2025, and close on Wednesday, 21 January 2026. Applicants will receive the final notification of results during the week starting Monday, 30 March 2026.