St Andrews application 2024/scholarship email

[Legofanatic]

DS has applied for STEM at St Andrews 2024. I know they’re quite late in responding and he’s not expecting to hear anything soon.
He has received an email from the funding/scholarship dept advising that if he wanted to apply for a scholarship, he shouldn’t wait until he has received an offer as the deadline may have passed for the scholarship. And should apply now.
Is this email sent to everyone? He hasn’t received an offer and submitted back in October. Anyone know if this is a good sign? Or whether every applicant receives this. He is of course waiting for good news!

Interesting. DD3 got an offer last month (history) but I don’t think she had an email about this, or at least she hasn’t mentioned it. But then, looking at the various scholarships, they’re all means tested, so I doubt very much she’d be eligible anyway. I’m not sure how the university would know this though, as I don’t recall financial info going on the UCAS form.

So I don’t know if it’s a good sign or not - sorry, I appreciate that’s not helpful! But the closing date for applying for any of the awards is April, so it’s a bit depressing that they’re anticipating not all candidates having heard by then. Fingers crossed your DS hears much sooner!

Thank you for the reply and congrats to your dd! The only thing I can think of is that in his personal statement, he refers to getting a bursary to attend an independent school. Maybe this has something to do with the email from the scholarship/finance dept.
Hopefully some good news soon!

Another poster has asked the same question on the Offers coming in thread (unless it’s you in disguise!) so obviously some selected people are getting this

Hi funnily enough my daughter just received the exact same email this evening? Did you hear any more news yet? Could it be an indication of an offer ? As she’s received no word yet, thank you so much for reading

We haven’t had an offer yet. Like you, maybe hoping it is a good sign, but could just be a standard email they send out. Although, I don’t think every applicant has received it. Do you know any others who have?
What is your dd applying for? We’re not expecting a response for another few months as they’re notorious for being late.

DD had the same email.

Hey thanks for replying, I’ve been secretly googling all night trying to seek info about this as don’t want to get my daughter’s hopes up,
I just wonder if it’s an automated thing. We don’t know anyone who has received this email either. Gosh if I feel like this I can only imagine how so many young people are feeling waiting for news. Science too btw :)

I don’t remember my DC (STEM) getting it last year but maybe their process has changed.

I googled too, but couldn’t find much. I’ve def played it down to DS as don’t want him disappointed. I know they’ve sent the emails in previous years, but no idea whether that later became an offer.
it does seem strange that some receive it and some don’t. Why apply for a scholarship if there is no offer yet. As that takes time.

DD got the same from Durham but hasn’t had an offer (yet?) - we are pretty sure it doesn’t mean anything in terms of offers or else why not just make the offer?

Sounds like we are in the same boat. I am playing it down too and saying I think it’s automated, but inside I do wonder.

Ok Thanks that’s good to know Durham has done this too.

Did anyone find anything online about applicants who received the email being made subsequent offers. Prob an automated email, but also hoping that maybe in the pile of a potential yes.

Have just had a brief Google about the scholarships and DD is certainly eligible for a few of them. This would have been obvious from her application. Would love to know if everyone gets the email or whether the detail in her specific application triggered the email.

I guess the quickest way to find out would be to call admissions and ask if this is an automated email?

It’s a lot of effort to go to, to apply for a scholarship that you may not even get an offer for. Particularly when the chances are small. That’s what I don’t get.
Maybe in the application, they flag up those who may be eligible. DS gets a bursary for school which is referred to in his application.

The majority of offers for Durham, Edinburgh and St Andrews aren’t often made until at least Feb, March, April after the Jan deadline. Obvs some are made before, but for most it’s a long wait. But I assume they review applicants before the deadline as potential yes or no. And then wait to see number of applicants, acceptance from international students before they formally make RUK offers.

Yes I just don’t know, I didn’t notice any part of the application to put in her bursary info in, and she didn’t write it in her personal statement so I’m unsure. Are you going to fill out the funding scholarship paperwork?

Think we’ll just wait and see. DS has exams coming up so focussing on them. The waiting goes on!
where else has your dd applied?

She applied for Gla, Ed, Strath and Uni of Exeter but not a cheap, tricky isn’t it, a long wait! Hope you get news very soon

Will keep you posted if I hear anything. Best of luck to your DD!

Same! Very best of luck

First post, hope to alleviate the stress a bit!

My DD is a second year at St Andrews, so we went through this last year.

The scholarship emails don’t indicate anything about an applicant’s chances of receiving an offer (or rejection). They are generated based on contextual markers from the application eg home/school postcode, FSM, attended outreach programmes (Sutton Trust, Realising Opportunities etc).

That said, it is quite straightforward and I’d advise DC to apply as soon as possible.

There are a lot of scholarships listed on the portal and you can select all you think are applicable to your circumstances. The system will flag discrepancies eg an RUK-fee student applying for an international or Scottish-only award.

Very best of luck to all!

Thank you so so much for taking the time to reply to this kiwihake. Certainly very helpful indeed, many thanks again

Thank you kiwihake! That’s helpfu!
A long wait ahead. Too much anxiety around applications for kids. Surely there must be a better way. Was never like this in my day!