The George Lauder Bursary is an annually funded Student Travel and Accommodation Bursary which this year is offering the opportunity for two current or past students of Fife College to travel to the USA to
continue an element of their studies at an educational institution or equivalent within 250 miles of New York State.
The bursary will be up to two months (this may be flexible), during summer 2026. It may be necessary to vary the dates dependent on the availability of the hosting educational organisation’s facilities. The subjects studied during the visit should relate to your current or past area of study, subject to the availability of a suitable match in the USA.
The bursary will be awarded following an application and selection process which will help decide where in the USA the visit is located.
The award of the George Lauder Bursary celebrates the vision
of George Lauder, the uncle of Andrew Carnegie, in promoting the foundation in 1899 of a Further Education College in Dunfermline, now known as Fife College.
The Bursary is funded by annual contributions from the descendants of George Lauder and other friends of the College based in the USA, to a fund administered by the Saint Andrew’s Society of the State of New York.
This is a fantastic opportunity for you to visit and study in the USA and also offers you the chance to get involved in the planning and organisation of the visit, record your experiences through a weekly blog and represent Fife College on your transatlantic adventure. Wow!
To be a successful Bursary candidate, you must be able to meet the following criteria:
§ You must be either a full-time or part-time student currently enrolled at Fife College or have studied at Fife College in the last four years. If you are a previous student and not currently enrolled at Fife College in 2025/2026, an additional supplementary reference may be requested.
§ The course you are studying, or have studied, must be at least SCQF Level 8 (or equivalent) e.g. HND 2nd year or above.
§ Satisfactory academic success in the course studied is essential. If you are currently studying at SCQF Level 8 in 2025/2026, then the award will be dependent upon successful completion of your course and an excellent reference from the Faculty Director to support your application.
§ The subject of study you would like to take up in the USA must relate to the current or past area of study at Fife College and will rely on finding a suitable match in the States. As part of the bursary application, you must research a relevant institution and related course and submit a compelling reason as to why this should be considered. It should be noted, that the Summer School you choose must be within 250 miles of New York State to satisfy the conditions of the Bursary.
§ You must be able to commit to taking up the offer of the Bursary between June and August 2026. Actual dates to be confirmed as dependent on individual institutional summer programmes.
§ You must be at least 18 years of age at time of application and hold a passport valid for at least 6 months in order to be eligible for a VISA
§ You must conduct yourself appropriately as a representative of Fife College at all times during your trip.
Our most recent George Lauder Bursary winners have enjoyed a trip of a lifetime this year!
Erin Fox, from Dunfermline completed her Child Development and Development and Diversity: American Education studies at the fantastic George Washington University.
Read more about Erin’s amazing experience here>>
Cameron Reid, from Dunfermline, completed a number of music, recording and beatmaking courses at the prestigious Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music in New York.
View Cameron’s blog and USA adventure >>
My Great-Great-Grandfather, George Lauder, would be thrilled that a scholarship like this was being awarded in his name in Dunfermline, enabling generations after him to benefit from experiences that will enhance their futures. - William Garner
To apply for this amazing opportunity, you need to submit an application of no less than 1,200 words. This application is your written proposal for extended study in America and should explain why you are applying for the
Bursary, answering:
§ What makes you a suitable candidate
§ The field of study proposed to be undertaken
§ The benefits expected
§ How you have been inspired by your studies at Fife College
The successful bursary recipient(s) will be required to:
§ Commit to the visit
§ Participate in its planning and organisation
§ Record all aspects of the visit through an online, weekly blog
§ Act as an enthusiastic ambassador for Fife College, representing our College as required by hosts and our visit sponsor
§ Share their experience during their stay via social media/blog and submit a report/blog on their return
Contact us: scholarships@fife.ac.uk
What Erin and Cameron had to say
Cameron Reid: “I will forever be thankful to Fife College, the Adam Smith Scholarship team and the Saint Andrew’s Society of the State of New York for giving me the opportunity to travel to and live in New York City over the summer, as well as study at the incredible Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music to learn from some of the best audio engineers and producers in the world. Getting to experience life as an honorary New Yorker was nothing short of phenomenal, and it has influenced and impacted my life in the most amazing ways. I learned so much during my studies and managed to make some great connections and friendships! I will remember this experience for the rest of my life, and I cannot wait to go back!”
Erin Fox: “I flew from Edinburgh to Washington DC. When I came back reluctantly, I left a great big part of me; the summer of 25' those were the best days of my life. This summer I had the fantastic opportunity to study at The George Washington University, I have learned so much about the differences between Scotland and America Education, poverty and the culture. I have grown in confidence and I can't thank the scholarship team, Saint Andrew's Society and my sponsor enough for believing in me, giving me a chance and the opportunity. My motto is Dream, Believe and Achieve. This has been a truly unforgettable experience, gaining new friends, opening horizons and cultural diversities.”
For further information, please contact
Lyn Gold
Scholarship and Alumni Engagement Lead Fife College
07788291167
scholarships@fife.ac.uk
www.fife.ac.uk