Fees and financial aid

Information about tuition fees, living costs, and sources of funding.

Tuition Fees

The tuition fees for the Operational Research MSc programmes are available on the Postgraduate Degree Finder:

The fee covers the costs of registration, tuition and examination. 

 

Living Costs

The tuition fee does not cover the costs of accommodation and subsistence in Edinburgh.

The cost of living can vary greatly depending on your lifestyle, budget and spending habits. However, using the University's estimated lower and upper costs of living in Edinburgh, you should expect to pay about £7,500 - £15,000 for living expenses over the year.

 

Scholarships and Funding

School of Mathematics Masters Scholarships

The School of Mathematics is offering a number of scholarships for students applying to study a Masters programme in Mathematics. These scholarships cover up to 50% of the programme fee. These awards will be based on academic merit and available to applicants domiciled in the eligible countries. Check your eligibility and apply for a School of Mathematics Masters Scholarship.

Mastercard Foundation Postgraduate Scholarships

Mastercard Foundation Scholarships are available for this programme. The postgraduate study scholarships for the 2026/27 academic year will accept applications from 1st October 2025 at 10:00 AM until 7th November 2025 at 5:00 PM (UK Time). Applicants must be citizens of an African country and residents in an African country. Applications from refugees and displaced people who have left their African home country to live elsewhere on the continent are also welcome.

For more information and how to apply, visit:

· Mastercard Foundation Postgraduate Scholarships 

Please note: If the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is the only scholarship you are interested in applying for at the University of Edinburgh, please apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program scholarship only. If you receive a scholarship offer from the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, you can then apply for the academic programme. 

OR Society Scholarships

Each year the OR Society is offers up to two Master’s degree scholarships of £10,000 for UK nationals who will be studying on an MSc programme with significant Operational Research content. For queries, please contact the Society via scholarships@theorsociety.com.

Richard Davidson Postgraduate Scholarship

Thanks to an endowment from Richard Davidson, the School of Mathematics is able to offer a single annual scholarship of £1,500. This will be awarded on merit to the most outstanding student entering postgraduate studies in Operational Research. To be eligible for this scholarship you must be a UK or EU national. The scholarship can be held in addition to other funding. For 2025 entry, completed application forms must be submitted to the OR MSc Academic Selector no later than 30 August 2025.

University of Edinburgh Graduate Discount Schemes

These MSc programmes are included in the University’s two tuition fee discount schemes.  The University offers a 10% discount in postgraduate tuition fees for all alumni who have graduated with an undergraduate degree from the University of Edinburgh (conditions apply) or for students who have previously matriculated on a "Visiting Programme" as a non-graduating undergraduate student and completed a minimum of one semester of study at the University of Edinburgh (conditions apply).

Further funding information

Further information about sources of funding, including scholarships and government loans, can be found on the Scholarships & Student Funding website.

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