Does the Gibraltar Government fund university degrees for local students?

Question

Accepted Answer

Yes. Eligible Gibraltar students receive a Government scholarship that pays university tuition fees directly, capped at the UK home-fee rate, plus an assistive grant towards living costs and a travel allowance. Eligibility depends on residence and, since September 2025, automatic awards are linked to having studied at a government school or the Gibraltar College.
What the scholarship covers
Tuition fees, paid by the Department of Education directly to the university and capped at the current UK home-fee rate (9,535 pounds in the 2025 handbook).
An assistive grant towards living costs (7,200 pounds in the 2025 handbook), paid in instalments across the year. It is not paid if the student returns to Gibraltar and studies online.
A travel allowance.
Undergraduate awards normally cover three years. Students must be eligible for home fees in the UK, and a compulsory placement or year abroad can also be funded.
School leaver (mandatory) awards
From September 2025, automatic eligibility applies to students attending Bayside, Westside or the Gibraltar College, or who completed A level or Level 3 studies at a government school and have taken no more than two gap years. Pupils from private schools such as Prior Park were directed to the discretionary route. The long-standing five-year residence requirement for school leavers continued.
Discretionary, postgraduate and distance learning awards
Applicants must be 18 by 1 September and ordinarily resident in Gibraltar for at least ten years when the course starts. Priority goes to courses considered critical to Gibraltar's future and to students who need a further qualification to complete a professional pathway. Postgraduate tuition has been capped at up to 18,000 pounds. The 2026/2027 postgraduate deadline was 5 June 2026.
New residents
Under the residence framework for new applicants introduced from October 2025, a scholarship for a dependent child is available only after ten years of continuous lawful residence with uninterrupted tax and social insurance contributions.
Obligations
Students sign an agreement with the Government. Failing a course or resit can require repayment of tuition, grant and travel money.
Applications and the current handbook are published at gibraltarstudents.gi and education.gov.gi.

Does the Gibraltar Government fund university degrees for local students?

Short answer

Detailed answer

What the scholarship covers

School leaver awards

Discretionary and postgraduate awards

New residents