Access to Creative Education in Scotland (ACES)

This is for school pupils — not for an adult. S4–S6 (aged 15–18), pupils in south-east Scotland. The record is kept for parents: if you have a child of this age, it could be their first step towards university. For yourself, see the full list.

What it gives

application support

Who it is for

School pupils — see the notice above

Level of study: Access to HE

The student finance condition

Open to applicants who do receive student finance

Having no access to student finance is not a condition here: people with recognised refugee status who already receive a student loan can apply.

How to apply

You do not need to wait for an offer — the scholarship application can run alongside admission.

Complete the online registration form on the ACES registration page
Wait up to two weeks for review and an outcome
Receive a welcome email with next steps and the ACES newsletter
Take part in portfolio-prep (Aug–Jan), portfolio feedback (Nov–Mar), interview workshop (Jan), uni prep day (Apr)

How they select

application form

There is no interview — the decision is made on documents. On most routes there are no subject entrance exams either: the main hurdle on the way into university is proving your level of English. The exceptions are medicine, dentistry and creative courses, where tests and portfolios do appear.

Dates

Can you apply now · as of 6 September 2026

Rolling admissions

Where the date comes from: “Rolling/on-going registration, no fixed deadline»

Deadline

Rolling/on-going registration, no fixed deadline; portfolio-prep segment runs August-February each year

When applications open

Registration open year-round, no closing date; portfolio-preparation programme runs August–January, portfolio feedback sessions November–March, interview workshop January, university preparation day April

Ask before you apply

We do not fill in the gaps for the institution. Here is what its own page leaves unclear — these are normal questions, everyone asks them.

What happens to the payments if I am granted refugee status mid-year?
Is the scholarship for one year or for the whole course?

Who to write to: aces@ed.ac.uk

If this scheme is not for you

See the full list of schemes — it has a filter for your status and for whether student finance is available to you.
Check whether you are entitled to student finance — if it is, a scholarship stops being the only road.
Foundation year and Access to HE — routes for people who only have a school certificate.
Education hub — where to start if you have not chosen a route yet.

About the institution

University of Edinburgh. This page does not describe campus/city details or say who assesses fee status.

Mostly school leavers. Only 10.2% of students are over 30. If you are over 35, look at other universities on the list — there are more adults there.

In detail about University of Edinburgh: all schemes, student ages, study modes →

Source

Every fact on this page we opened and read on the institution's own site, rather than taking it from an aggregator. Checked on: 22 August 2026.

The scheme page on the institution's site →

Serves S4-S6 state-school students in SE Scotland; free portfolio workshops and travel costs covered, no cash stipend.