University of East Anglia 2025 David Sainsbury Scholarships – Fully Funded & 50% Fee Support Available

The University of East Anglia (UEA) is now accepting applications for the 2025 David Sainsbury Scholarships in Global Plant Health. These prestigious scholarships, offered by The Sainsbury Laboratory (TSL), aim to support exceptional students pursuing the MSc in Global Plant Health, a program designed to address critical challenges in global food security and plant disease management.

Scholarship Overview

The David Sainsbury Scholarships are available in two categories:

1. Full MSc Scholarship: This comprehensive scholarship covers the entire tuition fee of £35,450 for the 2025-26 academic year, provides a maintenance grant (aligned with the UKRI postgraduate researcher stipend, which was £19,237 in 2024-25), and includes an additional £4,000 for travel expenses, subject to valid economy-class travel receipts.
2. 50% Fee Scholarship: This scholarship covers 50% of the tuition fee, applicable to both UK (£17,975) and international (£35,450) students for the 2025-26 academic year.

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for these scholarships, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Full MSc Scholarship: Applicants should have received an offer for the MSc in Global Plant Health at UEA and must be nationals of or domiciled in least-developed, low-income, or lower-middle-income countries as defined by the Overseas Development Agency Development Assistance Committee (DAC) list for the 2024-25 academic year.
• 50% Fee Scholarship: Applicants should have received an offer for the MSc in Global Plant Health at UEA and must be nationals of or domiciled in upper-middle-income or higher-income countries, including the UK, as per the DAC list for the 2024-25 academic year.

Application Process

No separate application is required for the David Sainsbury Scholarships. Eligible candidates who have applied for the MSc in Global Plant Health by the specified deadlines will automatically be considered. The selection process is competitive and based on academic achievements, relevant experience in molecular biology, genetics, plant-microbe interactions, data science (including bioinformatics and statistics), laboratory skills, and the ability to undertake independent study. Go to University of East Anglia on www.uea.ac.uk to apply.

Program Highlights

The MSc in Global Plant Health is a rigorous one-year program that combines five mandatory taught modules with a five-month research project unique to this course. Students will have the opportunity to learn from world-leading researchers at TSL, including Professors Nick Talbot FRS, Sophien Kamoun FRS, and Jonathan Jones FRS. The program is designed to equip graduates with the skills necessary for careers in research, agribiotechnology, and policy-making related to plant health.

Application Deadlines

Prospective students are encouraged to apply early due to the limited number of scholarships available. The application deadlines are as follows:

• International Applicants: May 31, 2025
• UK Applicants: August 30, 2025

For more detailed information on the scholarships and application procedures, please visit the official  UEA Scholarship webpage.

The David Sainsbury Scholarships represent a significant opportunity for aspiring plant health professionals to advance their education and contribute to global efforts in ensuring food security and sustainable agriculture.