Key facts for the Rio Tinto plc Scholarship

Rio Tinto plc Scholarship 2025/26 (the “Scholarship”)

This Key Facts Document sets out the main details of the Scholarship, as at date of publication. This document should be reviewed alongside the University of Dundee Scholarship Terms and Conditions, as those terms and conditions will provide you with additional information that apply to you in respect of the Scholarship.

Date of publication

April 2025, applicable to 2025/6 academic year (September 2025 entry).

Application Process

Application form

1. Applicants from Guinea who are offered unconditional admission to the below full-time courses:

• LLM in Mineral Law and Policy programme
• MSc in International Mineral Resources Management
• MSc in Sustainability

2. Eligible applicants should send a 500 word Personal Statement (as an attachment) and updated CV to [email protected]

• Given that these Scholarships are highly competitive, it is important to demonstrate in your Personal Statement that you are motivated to make a career that will take you to a position of leadership in Guinea within 5 years of your Scholarship.
• You must be committed to networking to find global solutions and you should be able to use your studies and experience gained in the UK to benefit yourself and your home country.

3. Your Personal Statement should emphasise the following points:

• Your ability to make a difference in the world, illustrated by your leadership qualities.
• Your skills in communications and the ability to influence people and decisions.
• Your networking ability, ambition and plans for the future.
• Your academic background and potential on the LLM degree programme, your strength of character and integrity.
• Your outside interests – i.e. hobbies and activities.

4. Rio Tinto Scholarship application closes on 30 May 2025.
5. The decision about the awards of these Scholarships will be made by the end of June 2025.

• If you have not heard from us by this time, then please assume that your application for the Scholarship has been unsuccessful.
• Due to the volume of applications, we receive for these Scholarships, we regret that we are unable to contact unsuccessful applicants individually or provide feedback on applications. 

** If you or any member of your immediate family or any close business associate holds any executive, judicial or legislative position in any national, regional, or local governmental or publicly owned or funded body in Guinea, you should declare this on the application form.

Who is eligible?

All applicants must:

1. Hold an offer to study LLM Mineral Law and Policy, MSc in International Mineral Resources Management or MSc in Sustainability course at the University of Dundee.
2. Be classified as an International Fee-paying student by the University of Dundee.
3. Already hold a degree, of an equivalent standard to at least a UK upper second-class honours degree or higher.
4. Be able to demonstrate a high level of English language competence (minimum of IELTS 6.5)
5. Display intellectual ability and leadership potential.
6. Have a proven track record and potential to rise to positions of influence.
7. Preferably be qualified lawyer having had some post-degree work experience in mining in the government, private sector, or academia.
8. Be a national and resident of Guinea at the time of applying for the award and go on to complete the degree within 12 months. Students will be expected to return to Guinea at the end of the period of study.

Scholarship Information

1. There will be three awards.
2. Each award will include:

• Payment of academic tuition fees (£23,000)
• 12 monthly stipends for living expenses for a single student (£15,600 over 12 monthly payments at £1,300 per month)
• An arrival allowance (£750) and thesis/internship report allowance (£580).

Key Information

1. This scholarship is applicable in the entry year to the University of Dundee only and cannot be backdated to previous years.
2. The University will not offer a scholarship to students who have matriculated at the University in their chosen programme of study.
3. Applicants are unable to combine this Scholarship with any other University of Dundee scholarship.
4. Rio Tinto Scholarship can be deferred on case-to-case basis.
5. Changes to the course:

• If an applicant changes Course before, during or after matriculation, the University reserves the right to reassess eligibility for scholarships and may retract the Scholarship Offer should an applicant's eligibility have changed.
• If an applicant changes Fee status or any other personal information before, during or after matriculation, the University reserves the right to re-assess eligibility for scholarships and may retract the Scholarship Offer should an applicant's eligibility have changed.

6. If an applicant has paid their tuition fees in full prior to being awarded the Scholarship, the value of the scholarship will be refunded to the applicant after they have enrolled at the University of Dundee.
7. The scholarship is only paid to applicants in the years in which full tuition fees are paid.

• The University of Dundee fees department will confirm the status of the scholarship where required.

8. All communication with the student will be via email, and to the @dundee.ac.uk email address. We may also communicate with other email addresses provided to us by the applicant. Types of communication may be:
   1. Confirming the scholarship.
   2. Informing the applicant that they have not met the criteria to be awarded the scholarship.
   3. Requesting further information.
9. We are unable to disclose details of the scholarship to anyone other than the applicant unless consent is given to do so.
10. Should a student withdraw from programme of study, the University Fees department may be in contact regarding payment of fees and scholarship balance.
11. All scholarship decisions are final and cannot be appealed.