Overview

The Saint Andrew's Society of New York established the Scholarship Fund in 1956 to promote cultural interchange and goodwill between Scotland and the United States. The scholarships originally enabled graduate students from the four original universities of Scotland, as well as Scottish students at Oxford and Cambridge, to pursue advanced studies for one year at appropriate educational institutions in the U.S.  In 1964, the program was expanded to enable American students of Scottish descent to pursue graduate studies at a Scottish university. The society has granted over 115 scholarships since 1960. Additional information can be found at the St. Andrew's Society Homepage - New York.

Criteria

Senior undergraduate students who can prove some Scottish descent and will obtain a Bachelor's degree from Boston University by June 1st of their senior year are eligible to apply.  Candidates who have not previously studied in the United Kingdom and who reside within 250 miles of New York City are preferred.

Candidates should possess qualifications that will enable them to be good ambassadors for the United States while in Scotland. The basis for selection will include the student's:

• record of academic achievement,
• extracurricular activities,
• financial need, and
• statement of personal objectives.

Application Process

Persons interested in applying for the Saint Andrew's Society Scholarship must submit an application form, available in the Office of the Provost in September, by the early October deadline. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Applications will be considered by the University Fellowships and Scholarships Committee. The Committee will invite finalists for interview and recommend a candidate to the President for endorsement by the University. Boston University can nominate only one candidate per year. If endorsed by the University, the candidate will be supplied with an official application to be submitted directly to the Saint Andrew's Society of New York by the deadline in December. Six short listed candidates will be called for interview in New York City during February or early March. Following this meeting, two finalists will be awarded a scholarship for graduate study in Scotland. 

Award Value and Conditions

The scholarship provides funds to a total of $20,000, to be used initially against tuition, then board, transportation, and other expenses.

Scottish Universities

Higher education in Scotland is provided in a wide variety of universities.   Candidates are advised to find out all they can about Scottish universities and the availability of their desired program of study or research since facilities vary from one institution to another. Some programs which are commonly available in the universities and colleges of the United States are not found in Scottish universities and, where they are available, different kinds of preparation are required.

The majority of Scottish students usually enter university directly following their secondary school education, of which the last two years at least will have been largely devoted to specialized preparation in two or three subjects for their proposed university program, admission to which is by competitive selection. In general they study (or "read") for three or four years for a degree in one particular subject, and do not cover the wide field of studies usually required in American institutions. The study of an advanced degree in a Scottish university  is obtained by undertaking a program of supervised research, though the practice is growing of awarding Master's degrees on the basis of course-work and examination. A research student usually has to be accepted on a personal basis by his department and to carry out an approved research project in consultation with a supervisor appointed for the purpose. In general, Scottish universities do not have separate graduate schools, and a research student is expected to attend few regular classes, the instruction being mostly individual and supervisory. Candidates wishing to undertake research should have specialized knowledge of a particular discipline and some experience of original work in it.

As a Ph.D. degree takes a minimum of three years of research, Saint Andrew's Society Scholars must pursue a Master's or other pre-doctoral degree.  The minimum period of study for a dental, medical or veterinary science degree in the Scotland is five years; it is therefore most unlikely that a Scholarship will be awarded for these subjects.

Candidates should consult the following for more information about Scottish Universities:

Information on individual Scottish universities is available via the United Kingdom Sensitive Map Home Page.

Commonwealth Universities Yearbook. Published by the Association of Commonwealth Universities and distributed in the United States by Stockton Press, New York. An annual reference work in four volumes, sold only as a set, containing detailed information on degrees and requirements at all British Commonwealth universities, including those in Scotland. Available in Mugar Library.

International Handbook of Universities. New York: Stockton Press, 1996. Available in Mugar Library behind the Reference Desk.

Information about study options at Scottish universities is also available from the Educational Information Service of the British Council, British Embassy, 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 (FAX (202) 898-4612 e-mail BRICO@MCIMAIL.COM). A booklet of general guidance entitled Postgraduate study and Research at British Universities and Colleges is also available free on request from the council.