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
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

Sports Scholarships

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

Sir Emrys Jones Memorial Trust award

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

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 Closed for applications
Education Future International Scholarship Indian national Between 2 - 10 lacs Indian Rupees Open for applications

 Global Scholarships

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 Closed for applications

Find out more information about a Postgraduate Master's Loan and Postgraduate Doctoral Loan.