Scholarships Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
There are 3 FAQs sections to support your application:
- General Questions
- Eligibility and Supporting Documents
- After an application has been submitted
General Questions
What is the deadline for scholarship applications?
The GSA Scholarship application deadline is Wednesday, 31 May at 4pm.
Applications received after this date will not be considered.
How many scholarships can I apply for?
You can apply for a maximum of two scholarships. Use one application form only.
Which GSA School does my programme of study belong to?
Some GSA Scholarships are only available to students from specific programmes/Schools. Please make sure you check that the programme you have the offer to study on is eligible for the scholarship(s) you are applying to. Please find a breakdown of programmes by school below.
Mackintosh School of Architecture programmes:
- Bachelor of Architecture
- Diploma of Architecture
- Engineering with Architecture
- M.Arch in Architecture (By Conversion).
- M.Arch in Architectural Studies
- MSc in Environmental Architecture
School of Fine Art programmes:
- BA(Hons) Fine Art – Photography
- BA(Hons) Fine Art – Sculpture and Environmental Art
- BA(Hons) Fine Art – Painting and Printmaking
- Master of Fine Art (MFA)
- MLitt Fine Art Practice
- MLitt Curatorial Practice (Contemporary Art)
- MLitt Art Writing
School of Design programmes:
- BA(Hons) and MDes Communication Design
- BEng (Hons)/MEng Product Design
- BA(Hons) Silversmithing and Jewellery Design
- BA(Hons) Interaction Design
- BA(Hons) Fashion Design
- BA(Hons) and MDes Interior Design
- BA(Hons) Textile Design
- MDes Fashion and Textiles
- MSc Product Design Engineering
- MDes in Graphics/Illustration/ Photography
School of Simulation and Visualisation programmes:
- BSc Immersive Systems Design (3D Modelling; Games & VR)
- BDes(Hons) and MDes Sound for the Moving Image
- MSc Serious Games and Virtual Reality
- MSc Medical Visualisation and Human Anatomy
- MSc Heritage Visualisation
Innovation School programmes:
- BDes/MEDes Product Design
- BDes/MDes Design for Health and Wellbeing
- MDes in Design Innovation and Transformation Design
- MDes in Design Innovation and Interaction Design
- MDes in Design Innovation & Service Design
- MDes in Design Innovation & Environmental Design
- MDes in Design Innovation and Citizenship
- MDes in Design Innovation and Collaborative Creativity
- MDes in Design Innovation and Circular Economy
- MDes in Design Innovation and Future Heritage Design
- MSc International Management and Design Innovation
Non-School specific programmes are also eligible for GSA Scholarship support:
- International Foundation programme
- Master of Research
- Doctoral Studies
Eligibility & Supporting documentation
Who can apply for a GSA Scholarship?
GSA Scholarships are open to new Undergraduates (including direct entry into year 2 or 3) and new Postgraduate students with a Conditional or Unconditional offer of study at the GSA.
Can you help me to choose which scholarships I should apply for?
No - you must make the selection based on your eligibility. You must check the eligibility criteria on the advertised scholarship information: this will show you what you can apply for.
I don’t have an offer yet to study at the GSA. Can I still apply for a scholarship?
No – you must have either a Conditional or Unconditional offer of a place to study at the GSA before you can apply for a scholarship. You must submit a copy of your offer letter or e-mail with your scholarship application.
I am a new International Foundation student – can I apply for GSA Scholarships?
Yes - you are eligible to apply for the Undergraduate Scholarships.
I studied at the GSA as an Undergraduate student, and I’m returning as a Postgraduate student. Am I a new student?
Yes - if you studied at the GSA as an Undergraduate student and are returning to study on a Postgraduate programme, you would be considered a new Postgraduate student.
Diploma of Architecture students are considered new Undergraduate students and are therefore eligible to apply for the Undergraduate GSA Scholarships. This includes students who studied BArch at GSA.
Students new to GSA joining the 2-year Diploma of Architecture Programme are eligible to apply for the Undergraduate GSA Scholarships and the Governors International 24-month scholarship if they meet the specific criteria.
I studied at the GSA as an International Foundation student, and I’m returning as an Undergraduate student. Am I a new student?
Yes - you are eligible to apply for the Undergraduate Scholarships.
My scholarship choice requires me to prove that I am a Scottish resident. What evidence do you need me to send?
Scottish residency is determined using the same criteria used by SAAS for fee funding. If SAAS is funding you as a Scottish student, please send a copy of your SAAS award letter with your application. If you are not being funded by SAAS (perhaps you have already completed an HND and SAAS will only pay your tuition fees from the 2nd year of your studies, then you should include the SAAS correspondence confirming this). This evidence can be submitted after the scholarship application deadline if your SAAS application is still to be assessed.
I am applying for the GSA RUK Welcome Scholarship. What evidence do I need to send to prove my RUK residency status, my £9,250 tuition fee, and show that my household income is not more than £50,000?
Please include a copy of your financial notification letter from your funding body (Student Finance England/Wales/Northern Ireland) with your scholarship application. If you have applied for the maximum maintenance loan available, the loan amount you are awarded will indicate your household income. This evidence can be submitted after the scholarship application deadline if your funding application is still to be assessed by Student Finance England/Wales/Northern Ireland.
I am an EU student; what scholarships can I apply for?
EU students can apply for most of the GSA scholarships. Some scholarships have a domicile or tuition fee status requirement. Information on tuition fee status can be found here: /life/fees,-funding-finance/programme-fees/
- New EU students moving to Scotland to join GSA, are likely to be considered international fee payers and therefore are eligible to apply for our international scholarships.
- New students from the Republic of Ireland will likely be considered RUK fee payers and are, therefore eligible for our Home/RUK scholarships.
- EU students who have been resident in Scotland prior to 31 Dec 2020 (the date the UK exited the EU) may be eligible for Home tuition fee status.
If you have any questions about your fee status, please get in touch with GSA Admissions,admissions@gsa.ac.uk.
Who is eligible for the RUK Welcome Scholarship?
The RUK Welcome Scholarship is available to students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Applicants must be classed as a RUK (£9,250) fee payer and must demonstrate they are from a low-income household.
I am a resident of the Republic of Ireland – am I eligible for the GSA RUK Welcome Scholarship?
Students from the Republic of Ireland with RUK fee status are eligible to apply for the RUK Welcome Scholarship. Students from the Republic of Ireland who have been ordinarily
resident in Scotland prior to 31 Dec 2020 may be categorised with a Home/Scottish fee status – these students are not eligible for the RUK Welcome Scholarship. Please get in touch with admissions@gsa.ac.uk to discuss your fee status.
I am a resident of the Republic of Ireland, and I am applying for the GSA RUK Welcome Scholarship.
What evidence do I need to send to prove my RUK fee status, my £9,250 tuition fee, and show that my household income is not more than £50,000?
Please provide your GSA offer notification/e-mail indicating your tuition fee status. If available, please also include a copy of your financial notification letter from your funding body (Student Finance England/Wales/Northern Ireland/SAAS) with your scholarship application.
Students from the Republic of Ireland are not eligible for a maintenance student loan but can apply to SAAS for a tuition fee loan. With your application for the GSA RUK Welcome Scholarship, please include your SAAS Award Letter (this can be submitted after the scholarship application deadline if necessary) and evidence of your household income from the 2022 tax year. Details of what is considered household income can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-student-finance/household-income.
Below is a list of documents you can submit with your scholarship application to demonstrate your household income. Please include evidence of income from your parents if you are under the age of 25 at the start of your course:
• P60 / Employment Detail Summary
• Final pay slips from the 2022 tax year
• Annual tax summary
• State benefits letter
• Self-employed / property Tax Assessment calculation
Please get in touch with scholarships@gsa.ac.uk if you are unsure what evidence to include with your application.
I don’t meet the eligibility criteria. Should I apply anyway?
No - only students who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered.
I have a fee waiver or academic excellence scholarship. Should I apply for a GSA Scholarship?
Yes - you can apply for maintenance only scholarships.
How do I demonstrate my ‘financial need’?
You can demonstrate financial need with your answers in Section 3 of your scholarship application form. There is no need to provide bank statements or tax documents. Scholarships are not intended to cover the full cost of study so you need to be prepared to fund your costs through other means. It is important that you complete the income and expenditure sections fully in your Scholarship Application, to provide the Scholarship Committees a full picture of your expected financial situation in 2023/24.
I am applying for a scholarship that requires me to send an image of a piece of work; how do I send this?
If an image is required with your scholarship application, please attach this to the email with your application form and other necessary documentation. Please make sure the image is appropriately sized for the committee to view on-screen. If the scholarship asks for an original artwork to be sent in, please stay within the stated size as smaller or larger sized will not be accepted. Do not send multiple images of your piece of work.
What information do I need to send with my application?
You must submit:
- Completed application form – ALL sections must be complete for an application to be considered.
- Section 3: Financial info – must provide a comprehensive overview of your expected monthly budget and financial situation.
- Copy of your Conditional or Unconditional offer letter/email.
- Depending on your circumstances and the scholarship you are applying for, you may need to submit your funding award letter.
- Specific scholarships require you to submit an image or a piece of original artwork. More information on this is provided below.
How will I know that you have received my application?
You will receive an email acknowledgement generally within three working days of your scholarship application submission, but sometimes at peak times, this can take longer due to the volume of applications being received. You may receive an acknowledgement after the deadline.
How and when will I know if my application has been successful?
You will be notified of the outcome of your application by email no later than 31st July 2022.
What should I do if I realise that part of my application needs to be corrected after submitting it?
If you realise before the application deadline, please get in touch with scholarships@gsa.ac.uk with details.
What do I have to do if I am awarded a scholarship?
Full details will be given to scholarship awardees about the process and payment dates, etc.
What if I decide not to start my course at the GSA?
Scholarships are paid to fully enrolled students only; you will not receive any funds if you are awarded a scholarship but do not commence your studies. If you defer your studies, you must re-apply for a GSA Scholarship.
Once I start my course, will a Leave of Absence affect my scholarship?
Yes - Your scholarship will be suspended if you take a Leave of Absence. Most scholarships are reinstated upon return from a Leave of Absence.
What if I withdraw from my programme of study?
If you withdraw from your programme at any point, you will not receive further scholarship payments. This could result in you having a tuition fee debt which will need to be paid by you to the GSA Finance Office.
If I change my programme of study, will it affect my scholarship?
If you change your programme of study it is not guaranteed that your scholarship will transfer with you. Should this situation arise, you will need to seek advice from Student Welfare at GSA.
Can I defer my offer to next year and defer my scholarship?
You need to contact Admissions if you wish to defer your entry to the GSA. GSA Scholarships cannot be deferred and you will need to reapply along with the other new students entering GSA next year. We cannot guarantee scholarship availability for next year.
I have a question that is not covered in the above. Who can I ask?
Please email your enquiry to scholarships@gsa.ac.uk.
