Scholarships For International Students In The UK
Studying in the UK can be expensive for international students. Tuition fees are often higher than fees for UK students, and applicants also need to think about accommodation, living costs, visa fees, health surcharge costs, travel, course materials and everyday spending.
Scholarships can help reduce some of these costs, but they are not always easy to find. Some are highly competitive. Some are limited to certain countries. Some are only for postgraduate courses. Others are offered directly by universities and may only reduce tuition fees rather than cover full living costs.
This guide explains scholarships for international students in the UK, the main types of support available, and what applicants should check before applying.
What Is A Scholarship For International Students?
A scholarship is a funding award that helps with the cost of study. For international students, scholarships may be offered by the UK government, universities, charities, international organisations, employers, professional bodies or home-country governments.
A scholarship may cover:
- all tuition fees
- part of the tuition fees
- living costs
- travel costs
- research expenses
- accommodation support
- a fixed cash contribution
Some scholarships are fully funded, but many are partial awards. A partial scholarship can still be useful, but students should check how much of the total cost remains.
It is also important to understand bursary versus scholarship differences, because the terms can overlap. Scholarships are often based on academic ability, leadership, potential or talent. Bursaries are often linked to financial need, although the exact meaning depends on the provider.
Are Scholarships The Same As Student Loans?
Scholarships are different from student loans. A scholarship usually does not need to be repaid if the student follows the rules of the award. A loan must usually be repaid under the terms of the lender or student finance system.
Most international students are not automatically eligible for UK student finance in the same way as home students. Eligibility can depend on residence, immigration status and other rules. This means scholarships, family support, savings, employer funding, home-country loans or private finance may form part of the funding plan.
Applicants should not assume that receiving a university offer means funding will be available. Funding usually needs to be checked separately.
UK Government Scholarships
The UK government supports several scholarship programmes for international students. These are usually aimed at postgraduate study and may be targeted at future leaders, development goals, Commonwealth countries, specific partner countries or particular academic fields.
The best-known UK government scholarship is Chevening. Chevening Scholarships support one-year master’s degrees in the UK for students with leadership potential. They are competitive and usually include tuition fees, a living allowance and other support.
Commonwealth Scholarships are another major route for students from eligible Commonwealth countries. These scholarships are usually for postgraduate study and are managed through specific eligibility and nomination routes.
GREAT Scholarships are offered by UK universities in partnership with the British Council and the UK government’s GREAT Britain campaign. They usually provide a tuition fee contribution for eligible students from selected countries applying for one-year postgraduate courses.
These schemes can be valuable, but they are not open to every international student. Nationality, course level, subject, leadership experience, academic record and deadlines all matter.
University Scholarships For International Students
Many UK universities offer their own scholarships for international students. These may be available at undergraduate, master’s or PhD level, depending on the institution.
University scholarships may be based on academic achievement, country of residence, subject area, personal statement, portfolio, interview, leadership potential or widening participation aims. Some are automatic if the student meets the criteria. Others require a separate application.
Awards vary widely. One university may offer a small tuition fee discount. Another may offer a larger award for high-achieving applicants. Some scholarships are open to all international students, while others are limited to students from particular countries.
Students should check the scholarship page of each university they apply to. It is common for deadlines to be earlier than expected, and some scholarships require applicants to hold an offer before applying.
Undergraduate Scholarships
Undergraduate scholarships for international students are available, but they can be more limited than postgraduate funding. Many awards are partial fee reductions rather than full funding.
Some undergraduate scholarships are based on academic excellence. Others may focus on sport, music, leadership, country partnerships or subject areas. A small number of universities may offer more generous awards, but these are usually competitive.
International students applying for undergraduate study should check:
- whether the scholarship is open to their nationality
- whether it applies to the chosen course
- whether it is automatic or application-based
- whether it is paid once or every year
- whether the student must maintain certain grades
- whether it covers fees only or also living costs
A scholarship that sounds generous in the first year may be less useful if it does not continue across the full degree.
Master’s Scholarships
Master’s scholarships are one of the most common forms of funding for international students in the UK. Many government-backed schemes focus on one-year taught postgraduate degrees.
This includes Chevening, GREAT Scholarships and many university-level awards. Some are broad, while others are linked to specific countries, subjects or development priorities.
Master’s students should check whether the scholarship applies to taught courses, research courses or both. They should also check whether the scholarship can be combined with other awards. Some universities allow more than one funding source, while others do not.
Because master’s courses are often shorter than undergraduate degrees, scholarship deadlines can come quickly. Applicants may need to prepare academic references, a personal statement, leadership examples, career plans and proof of an offer.
PhD Scholarships For International Students
PhD funding works differently from undergraduate or taught master’s funding. A PhD scholarship may be called a studentship, doctoral award, research scholarship or funded PhD place.
Some PhD scholarships are attached to a specific research project. Others allow applicants to propose their own research topic. Funding may come from universities, research councils, charities, supervisors’ grants, international partnerships or home-country funders.
A funded PhD place may cover tuition fees, provide a stipend for living costs and include research or training support. However, international students should check whether the funding covers international fee rates or only home fee rates.
Readers planning doctoral study may need a more detailed route to find a scholarship for a UK PhD, because PhD funding depends heavily on subject, supervisor, research proposal, institution and deadline.
Country-Specific Scholarships
Some scholarships are open only to students from particular countries. These may be funded by the UK government, universities, British Council partnerships, home governments, charities or international organisations.
Country-specific awards may focus on diplomatic partnerships, development priorities, regional skills needs or academic exchange. They may be advertised through universities, embassies, education agencies, government departments or scholarship databases.
Applicants should search both from the UK side and from their home country. Some funding is not widely advertised on UK university pages because it is managed by a home-country government or local organisation.
Search terms such as “UK scholarships for students from [country]” or “British Council scholarships [country]” can be useful starting points.
Subject-Specific Scholarships
Some scholarships are tied to particular subjects. These may include science, engineering, technology, health, education, law, public policy, climate, agriculture, business, creative industries or social sciences.
Subject-specific scholarships usually exist because a funder wants to support skills in a priority area. For example, a scholarship may aim to develop future leaders in public health, support women in STEM, encourage climate research or strengthen professional skills in a particular region.
Applicants should check professional bodies, subject associations, charities and research organisations as well as universities. In some fields, subject-specific funding can be easier to find than general international student funding.
Scholarships, Bursaries And Hardship Funds
International students may also come across bursaries and hardship funds. These are not always the same as scholarships.
A bursary is often linked to financial need or personal circumstances. For readers who are unsure about the term, a guide to what a bursary means can help explain how bursaries are usually used in education funding.
Hardship funds are usually designed for students who face unexpected financial difficulty after starting a course. They should not be treated as a main funding plan before arrival, because eligibility and availability can be limited.
Some universities offer international student bursaries, but many reserve hardship funds for emergencies rather than predictable study costs. Students should check the rules carefully before relying on this type of help.
Can International Students Get Teacher Training Bursaries?
Some international students may be interested in training as teachers in England. Teacher training funding has its own rules and is separate from general international scholarships.
Depending on the year, subject and immigration or student finance position, some non-UK citizens may be able to access teacher training bursaries or scholarships. However, eligibility is specific and should be checked against the current teacher training guidance.
This is different from university scholarships for international students. Anyone considering teaching should look carefully at obtaining a bursary for teacher training, including the subject, course route, qualification rules and funding year.
How To Search For Scholarships
A useful search should be specific. Instead of only searching “UK scholarships”, international students can search by country, subject, university, course level and funding type.
Useful search phrases include:
- UK master’s scholarships for international students
- undergraduate scholarships for international students UK
- Chevening eligible countries
- GREAT Scholarships 2026 UK universities
- Commonwealth Scholarships UK eligibility
- PhD studentships international students UK
- university scholarships for students from [country]
- scholarships for [subject] international students UK
Students should keep a spreadsheet or document with deadlines, eligibility rules, required documents and application links. Missing a deadline is one of the easiest ways to lose a funding opportunity.
What Documents Are Usually Needed?
Scholarship applications often ask for several documents. These may include:
- academic transcripts
- degree certificates
- English language evidence
- references
- personal statement
- scholarship essay
- CV
- portfolio
- research proposal
- proof of university offer
- passport or nationality evidence
- evidence of leadership, volunteering or work experience
Different scholarships ask for different evidence. A leadership scholarship may focus heavily on career aims and impact. A research scholarship may focus on the proposal and supervisor fit. A sports or creative scholarship may ask for a portfolio or performance evidence.
Applicants should give themselves enough time to request references and prepare documents properly.
What To Check Before Accepting A Scholarship
Before accepting a scholarship, students should read the conditions. They should check what the award covers, how it is paid and whether it can be combined with other funding.
Important questions include:
- does it cover full tuition or only part of the fee?
- does it include living costs?
- is travel included?
- is the award paid to the student or deducted from fees?
- does it last for one year or the full course?
- are there grade or attendance conditions?
- does the student need to return home after study?
- can the scholarship be combined with other awards?
- what happens if the course is deferred or changed?
A scholarship can be generous but still leave a funding gap. Students should understand the full cost of study before making commitments.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
One common mistake is assuming that all scholarships are fully funded. Many are partial awards.
Another mistake is applying only to famous schemes. Chevening, Commonwealth and GREAT Scholarships are important, but universities and smaller funders may also offer awards.
A third mistake is applying without checking eligibility. If a scholarship is only for students from certain countries or courses, an otherwise strong applicant may still be rejected.
Students should also avoid relying on unofficial lists that may be out of date. Scholarship pages change regularly, and deadlines can differ from year to year.
Conclusion
Scholarships for international students in the UK can reduce the cost of study, but they vary widely. Some are fully funded government-backed awards. Others are university fee discounts, country-specific schemes, subject awards or doctoral studentships.
The right scholarship depends on nationality, course level, subject, university, academic record, leadership potential and deadlines. International students should check official scholarship pages, university funding pages, British Council information, UKCISA guidance and home-country funding routes.
Scholarships are only one part of the funding picture. Students may also need to think about visas, living costs, accommodation, travel, health costs and whether any award continues for the full course.
Commerce Grants aims to help readers understand scholarships, bursaries and grants without making the process feel more complicated than it needs to be. Do you think that you could add to the conversation. You can write for us on finance and funding issues too, reaching out to our audience.
