Over recent months, we’ve been working closely with partners and experts by experience across the education sector to finalise the 2026 intake for our Scholarship programme.
The year ahead is a landmark one, as we move into the first full year of delivery for new support offers alongside our established undergraduate Scholarship.
Confirmed numbers for 2026 entry
Support for students aged 16–25 continues to be central to the programme.
For the 2026 academic year, 94 students have been offered support through the undergraduate Scholarship following the regular nominations process with partner schools and match-funding universities.
Approval numbers have also been confirmed for the first pilot cohorts of our new targeted offers:
Mature Student and Parent Support Offer
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33 students
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Nominated by the Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP)
Articulation Support Offer
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29 students
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Nominated by New College Lanarkshire, Fife College and Glasgow Caledonian University
Uptake, student feedback and outcomes will be reviewed over the coming year to guide future intakes and potential expansion.
Why we have expanded the model
Our Scholarship aims to improve access to higher education, support students to stay and succeed in their studies, and strengthen graduate outcomes for under-represented learners.
Alongside financial assistance, Scholars receive tailored non-financial support, opportunities to build skills and confidence, and access to a community of peers and alumni. This holistic approach recognises that financial support alone is rarely enough to overcome the barriers many students face.
The 2026 expansion builds on this model, extending targeted support to students whose circumstances make both entry to, and progression through, higher education particularly challenging.
The new support pathways were developed in response to evidence that some groups of students continue to face gaps in existing support systems.
The 2026 offers focus on three groups who are disproportionately affected by financial and practical barriers:
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Students articulating from college, who often experience added financial and academic pressure at key transition points
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Mature students, many balancing study with employment, caring responsibilities or a return to education after time away
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Students who are parents, particularly lone parents and families experiencing child poverty
While each offer has tailored eligibility criteria, all share the same goals: widening access, reducing financial strain, and improving long-term outcomes.
Each offer provides up to £4,250 per year in financial support, alongside wrap-around non-financial support consistent with the wider Scholarship programme.
The expanded Scholarship has been developed in close collaboration with universities, colleges, policy teams, specialist third-sector organisations, and students themselves.
Research from Child Poverty Action Group, One Parent Families Scotland, and SWAP East helped inform the design of the new offers, ensuring they respond meaningfully to the realities of juggling study with caring responsibilities, financial pressure, or non-linear educational pathways.
This evidence-led approach aligns with our mission to prevent and reduce poverty and trauma in Scotland.
Looking ahead
As students prepare to begin their studies, our focus will shift to delivering these new offers effectively and learning from the first cohort. Over the coming year, we will:
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Review delivery and uptake across each new offer
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Gather student feedback and assess early impact
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Consider refinements or expansion for future intakes
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Continue developing a Scholar Advisory Board to embed student voice
The 2026 academic year represents a major milestone for the Scholarship programme and as a Scholarship team, we'd liked to express our gratitude to partner schools, colleges, universities, and all who have helped shape these new pathways. We look forward to seeing our Scholars thrive in the year ahead.
