International students planning to study in the United Kingdom can explore a wide range of scholarships, studentships, fellowships and university funding opportunities for the 2026–2027 academic period.
According to the British Council Study UK funding guide, financial support available to international students can range from:
Partial Funding
to
Full Funding
that may cover:
Programme Fees
Living Expenses
and
Return Flights to the UK.
The funding landscape includes major UK Government programmes such as:
Chevening Scholarships
GREAT Scholarships
and
Commonwealth Scholarships
alongside:
University Scholarships
Fully Funded PhD Studentships
Women in STEM Scholarships
and
Postdoctoral Research Funding.
UK Scholarship Opportunities at a Glance
| Opportunity | Study Level | Main Audience |
|---|---|---|
| Chevening Scholarships | Master’s | International students |
| GREAT Scholarships | Master’s | Students from selected countries |
| Commonwealth Scholarships | Master’s, PhD and fellowships | Eligible Commonwealth applicants |
| British Council Women in STEM Scholarships | Master’s | Women from selected regions |
| A.S. Hornby Trust Scholarships | Postgraduate | English-language teachers |
| Global Wales Scholarships | Various | Selected international students |
| Marshall Scholarship | Master’s and PhD | U.S. applicants |
| University PhD Studentships | PhD | International and other eligible researchers |
| Marshall Sherfield Fellowships | Postdoctoral | U.S. researchers |
| Euraxess UK | Research | Global researchers |
| Royal Society Grants | Postdoctoral research | Global researchers |
| University Scholarships | Undergraduate/Postgraduate | International students |
1. Chevening Scholarships
Chevening Scholarships are among the most prestigious UK Government scholarships for international students.
The British Council describes Chevening as offering:
Fully funded master’s degrees in the UK.
Chevening is designed for professionals and emerging leaders who want to complete a postgraduate degree while developing:
Leadership Skills
Professional Networks
and
International Experience.
Applicants should check current Chevening eligibility, country participation and application deadlines through the official programme.
2. GREAT Scholarships
GREAT Scholarships support international students pursuing:
One-year master’s degrees
at participating UK universities.
The British Council indicates that the programme covers:
A wide variety of academic subjects
and currently involves students from:
18 countries.
Eligibility depends on nationality and participating university.
3. Commonwealth Scholarships
Commonwealth Scholarships provide UK university funding to talented individuals with the potential to make:
Positive global impact.
The wider Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan can support:
Master’s Degrees
Doctoral Degrees
Distance Learning
Academic Fellowships
Professional Fellowships
and
Medical Fellowships.
Applicants generally need to come from eligible:
Commonwealth Countries.
4. British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM
The British Council also highlights scholarships supporting women pursuing master’s degrees in:
Science
Technology
Engineering
and
Mathematics.
The funding page references participation involving:
19 UK universities.
The geographic focus shown on the page includes:
The Americas
South Asia
and
South East Asia.
Applicants should check the current scholarship cycle because participating countries and universities can change.
5. A.S. Hornby Trust Scholarship
The:
A.S. Hornby Trust Scholarship
supports:
English-language teachers
seeking to strengthen their English-language teaching skills and professional development.
The opportunity is available to applicants from:
Selected Countries.
Country eligibility should be verified through the official Hornby Trust programme.
6. Global Wales Scholarships
International students considering study in Wales can also explore:
Global Wales Scholarships.
The programme offers a variety of scholarship opportunities for international students.
The British Council funding guide specifically points to applicants from:
USA
India
Vietnam
and
EU Countries
in relation to the featured programme.
Current country participation should be checked before applying.
7. Marshall Scholarship
The:
Marshall Scholarship
supports students from:
The United States
who want to pursue:
Master’s
or
Doctoral Study
at UK universities.
The British Council states that the programme can support study at:
Any university in the UK.
8. Fully Funded UK PhD Studentships
Students seeking doctoral funding should not limit their search to scholarships.
Many UK universities also offer:
Fully Funded Postgraduate Studentships
for:
PhD Programmes.
Studentships can provide a major route into funded doctoral research.
The exact package varies between:
University
Department
and
Research Project.
Applicants should check whether a specific studentship includes:
Tuition Fees
Living Stipend
Research Costs
or other support.
9. Marshall Sherfield Fellowships
Postdoctoral researchers in:
Science
and
Engineering
can explore:
Marshall Sherfield Fellowships.
The British Council describes these fellowships as supporting:
Postdoctoral Research
at:
UK Universities.
The opportunity is highlighted for applicants from:
The United States.
10. Euraxess UK Research Opportunities
Researchers from around the world can explore:
Euraxess UK.
The British Council describes Euraxess UK as a source of:
Research Placements in the UK
with:
Global
reach.
Researchers may find opportunities connected to:
Universities
Research Institutions
and
Academic Projects.
11. Royal Society Grants
The British Council also highlights:
Royal Society Grants
for:
Postdoctoral Science Research.
These opportunities are identified as:
Global.
The Royal Society operates multiple grant and fellowship schemes, so:
Funding Amount
Career Stage
Eligibility
and
Deadline
depend on the individual programme.
University-Specific Scholarships
Many UK universities offer their own scholarship programmes independently of major government scholarships.
These awards can be divided into several categories.
Academic and Merit Scholarships
Academic scholarships generally reward applicants with:
Strong Grades
and
Excellent Academic Records.
Universities may automatically consider applicants for some merit awards, while others require separate applications.
Performance-Based Scholarships
Performance scholarships can support students with outstanding achievements in:
Sports
Music
Drama
Dance
and other extracurricular areas.
Subject-Specific Scholarships
Some university departments provide scholarships only to students studying particular subjects.
Examples may include:
Engineering
Business
Data Science
Computer Science
Law
Health
and other disciplines depending on the institution.
Sanctuary and Equal Access Scholarships
The British Council also highlights:
Equal Access
and
Sanctuary Scholarships.
These can support:
Refugees
and
Asylum Seekers
who have fled persecution.
Funding may include:
Tuition Fee Reductions
Tuition Waivers
or
Maintenance Support.
Disability Scholarships
Some universities offer support for international students with:
Disabilities
Long-Term Mental Health Conditions
Learning Difficulties
and
Other Special Needs.
Benefits and eligibility vary between institutions.
Scholarships for Undergraduate International Students
Undergraduate funding does exist in the UK, although the British Council notes that it is:
Less common than postgraduate scholarship funding.
International undergraduate students can generally explore two main sources:
UK University Scholarships
and
Third-Party Funding.
Third-party opportunities may come from:
Governments
Foundations
or
Organizations in the applicant’s home country.
Scholarships for Master’s Students
Master’s students have access to some of the most prominent UK scholarship schemes.
Major options include:
Chevening
GREAT Scholarships
Commonwealth Scholarships
and
University-Specific Scholarships.
Applicants should also search the funding pages of every university they are considering.
Scholarships for PhD Students
Doctoral applicants can explore:
Commonwealth Scholarships
University Studentships
and
Institution-Specific Research Funding.
Fully funded studentships can be especially valuable because they may be connected directly to funded:
Research Projects
or
Doctoral Training Programmes.
Funding for International Researchers
Research-focused applicants should explore:
Royal Society Grants
Euraxess UK
Marshall Sherfield Fellowships
and
University Research Funding.
Scholarship Funding Levels
Not every scholarship listed by the British Council is:
Fully Funded.
Some provide:
Partial Tuition Support
while others may provide:
Full Tuition
Living Expenses
and
Travel Support.
Applicants should always check the exact financial package before accepting an award.
How to Find the Best UK Scholarship
A good scholarship search should include:
British Council Study UK
UK Government Scholarship Programmes
Individual University Websites
UKCISA
UCAS
and
Research-Funding Platforms.
British Council Scholarship Search Tool
The Study UK website normally provides a:
Course, Institution and Scholarship Search Tool.
However, the British Council currently says the tool is:
Temporarily unavailable
while improvements are being made.
Applicants can still research scholarships through individual programme and university websites.
UKCISA
The:
UK Council for International Student Affairs — UKCISA
provides guidance on:
Fees
Funding
Government Support
and
International Student Eligibility.
UCAS Funding Resources
Undergraduate students can also use:
UCAS
to research:
Scholarships
Grants
and
Bursaries.
How to Prepare for UK Scholarship Applications
Candidates should begin preparing well before deadlines.
Useful documents may include:
Academic Transcripts
Degree Certificates
Curriculum Vitae
Personal Statement
References
and
Proof of English-Language Ability
where required.
Check Eligibility First
Before spending significant time preparing an application, confirm:
Nationality Requirements
Degree Level
Academic Requirements
Course Eligibility
and
Application Deadline.
Research the Funding Package
Do not assume that the word:
Scholarship
means all expenses will be paid.
Check specifically whether the award covers:
Tuition
Accommodation
Living Costs
Travel
Visa Costs
and
Health-Related Charges.
Apply to More Than One Funding Source
Where scholarship rules allow it, students can increase their chances of securing funding by exploring:
Government Scholarships
University Awards
Department Scholarships
and
External Funding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there fully funded UK scholarships for international students?
Yes.
The British Council confirms that some funding options can cover:
Programme Fees
Living Expenses
and
Return Flights.
Is Chevening fully funded?
Yes.
The British Council describes Chevening as offering:
Fully funded master’s degrees in the UK.
What are the main UK Government scholarships?
The three major programmes highlighted are:
GREAT Scholarships
Chevening Scholarships
and
Commonwealth Scholarships.
Can international students get full funding for a PhD?
Yes.
The British Council states that many universities offer:
Fully Funded Postgraduate Studentships
for PhD programmes.
Are there scholarships for undergraduate students?
Yes.
However, undergraduate funding is less common than postgraduate funding.
Are there scholarships for international researchers?
Yes.
Examples highlighted include:
Euraxess UK
and
Royal Society Grants.
Are there scholarships for women in STEM?
Yes.
The British Council highlights:
British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM
for eligible women undertaking STEM master’s degrees.
Are there scholarships for students from Africa?
Yes, depending on nationality.
Students from eligible African countries may find opportunities through:
Chevening
Commonwealth Scholarships
University Scholarships
and other programmes.
Are all UK scholarships fully funded?
No.
Funding ranges from:
Part-Funded
to
Fully Funded.
Where should students search for scholarships?
Students should explore:
Study UK
University Websites
Government Scholarship Sites
UKCISA
and
UCAS.
Opportunities Feed Assessment
The UK funding landscape offers significantly more than just Chevening.
International students can pursue funding through:
Government Scholarships
Universities
Research Institutions
and
Specialist Fellowship Programmes.
For master’s applicants, the first programmes worth checking are:
Chevening
GREAT Scholarships
and
Commonwealth Scholarships.
For PhD applicants, one of the most important search terms is:
“Fully Funded Studentship.”
Many doctoral opportunities are advertised as studentships rather than conventional scholarships.
Researchers should also monitor:
Royal Society
and
Euraxess UK
for relevant opportunities.
Undergraduate funding is more limited, but students should not ignore individual university scholarship pages.
The most important caution is that:
Not every programme is fully funded
and
Not every scholarship is available to every nationality.
Applicants should confirm the current:
Country Eligibility
Funding Package
Deadline
and
Degree Requirements
before submitting an application.
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