23+ UK Masters Scholarships for International Students

Do you want to study Master’s in the UK but are worried about the financial burden? UK Masters scholarships for international students can help turn your dreams into a reality. These scholarships can be partially funded or fully funded and cover various costs such as programme fees, living expenses, and airfare to the UK. Therefore, searching for the right scholarship is crucial for you to study in UK. In this blog, you will read about the best UK Masters scholarships for international students, their value, eligibility, application process, and more details. So, if you need help exploring UK postgraduate scholarships for international students, you are at the right place. Let’s get started!

Types of UK Masters Scholarships for International Students

Before moving on, you must first understand the different types of UK Masters scholarships for international students. Being a popular study-abroad destination, the UK offers a wide range of funding options. 

University-specific Scholarships

Many UK universities offer postgraduate scholarships to international students. These scholarships can be partially or fully funded. Students are required to fulfil certain eligibility criteria in order to be considered for the scholarship. 

1. Academic or merit scholarships: These scholarships are awarded to students with high academic achievements and strong grades. 
2. Performance-based scholarships: This type of scholarship is usually awarded to students with exceptional ability in any extracurricular activity such as sports or performing arts.
3. Subject-specific scholarships: As the name suggests, these scholarships are available to specific departments or to students studying a particular course or subject. 

Government-funded scholarships

The UK government and some of its agencies also offer scholarships to international students who wish to study a postgraduate course in the UK. Popular government-funded scholarships are the Commonwealth Scholarships and the Chevening Scholarships.

UK Government Scholarships for International Students 

There are three major types of UK government scholarships for international students to pursue a Masters. The exact eligibility criteria and amount of these scholarships vary. While Chevening scholarships and Commonwealth Scholarships are fully funded, GREAT Scholarships offer variable amounts. 

GREAT Scholarships

The UK government offers GREAT scholarships to students from 15 countries. Each of these scholarships is jointly funded by the UK government’s GREAT Britain Campaign and the British Council with several participating UK educational institutions. Eligible students will receive £10,000 towards their tuition fees for a one-year taught postgraduate course. 

Particulars	Details
Eligibility	You need to have an undergraduate degree You need to meet English requirements
Eligible course	1 year taught postgraduate course
Value amount	A minimum of GBP 10,000 towards tuition fees
Number of eligible countries	15
Application deadline	Varies
Official website	NA

Chevening Scholarships

Chevening Scholarships allow international students to pursue fully–funded master’s degrees in the UK. Since these are fully funded, there is high competition and a strict selection process. This scholarship offers tuition fees, living expenses, and return airfare to the UK. 

Particulars	Details
Eligible course	One-year master’s degrees
Value amount	Fully-funded (Flights, accommodation, course fees)
Number of eligible countries	160+
Application deadline	5 November 2024
Official website	https://www.chevening.org/apply/

Commonwealth Scholarships

The UK government offers Commonwealth Scholarships to applicants from any Commonwealth country. These scholarships are specifically for students who are unable to fund their postgraduate studies in the UK. Most of these scholarships are fully funded and provide tuition fees, airfare to and from the UK, and a living allowance.

Particulars	Details
Eligible course	Full-time taught Master’s
Value amount	Mostly fully-fundedAirfare to and from the UK Month living allowance of up to GBP 1,378 to  GBP 1,690
Number of eligible countries	All Commonwealth countries
Application deadline	15 October 2024
Official website	NA

Also, read about UK Scholarships for Indian Students in detail here!

UK Masters Scholarships for International Students by Universities 

Apart from scholarships provided by the government, students who wish to study in UK can apply for scholarships offered by specific universities. The average value of these scholarships ranges from GBP 2,500 to GBP 60,000. It is advisable to visit the official website of your preferred university to find the exact eligibility criteria, value, and other details. 

University in UK	Masters Scholarship	Average Value
University of Cambridge	Gates Cambridge Scholarship	GBP 30,000 ~ GBP 60,000 (annual)
University of Sheffield	International Postgraduate Taught Merit Scholarship	Upto GBP 10,000
University of Sheffield	International Postgraduate Taught Scholarship	Upto GBP 2,500
University College London	UCL Global Masters Scholarship	GBP15,000
University of Bristol	Think Big Postgraduate Award	GBP 6,500GBP 13,000GBP 26,000
University of York	Canadian Centennial Scholarship Fund	GBP 5,000
Cardiff University	Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship	GBP 3,500 – GBP 10,000
University of Leeds	International Excellence Scholarships	Up to 50% off on tuition fees
Nottingham Trent University	International Scholarships	Up to GBP 3,000
Longborough University	Excellence Scholarships	20% off on tuition fees
University of Sussex	Chancellor’s International Scholarships	GBP 5,000 off on tuition fees
University of Reading	Alumni Master’s Scholarship	Up to £3,000
University of Westminister	International Postgraduate Part Fee Scholarship	GBP 3,000
University of Portsmouth	Chancellor’s Global Academic Merit Scholarship	GBP 5,000
University of Portsmouth	Vice Chancellor’s Global Development Scholarship	GBP 2,500 off on fees
University of the Arts London	UAL International Postgraduate Scholarship and Accommodation Award	GBP 50,000
Imperial College London	ASEAN – UK SAGE: Women in STEM Scholarships	Full tuition feesAnnual stipendReturn airfare
Imperial College London	CMA CGM Excellence Fund for Lebanon	Full tuition feesAnnual stipend of GBP19,500
Kingston University	International Scholarships	GBP 5,000 towards first-year tuition fees only

Also Read: MBA Scholarships in UK for International Students

5 Best UK Masters Scholarships for International Students

In this section, you will read about the 5 best UK scholarships for international students. The average value of these scholarships ranges from GBP 15,000 to GBP 40,000. Students are advised to prepare in advance and make their application strong to increase their chances of being shortlisted. Moreover, they may also require need a separate application form to apply for multiple scholarships.

1: Gates Cambridge Scholarship

Students who wish to study at the prestigious University of Cambridge can apply for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship. The award value ranges around from GBP 30,000 to GBP £60,000 (annual) till the duration of your course. It is available to prospective students from 253 nationalities who wish to pursue a Master’s or PhD at the university. 

Eligibility

• You are a citizen of any country outside the UK
• You want to pursue a PhD, MLitt, or one-year postgraduate course at the University of Cambridge

Value 

• Tuition fees
• Student visa cost
• Student immigration health surcharge

2: UCL Global Masters Scholarship

UCL Global Masters Scholarship encourages international students belonging to lower-income backgrounds to study in UK. It helps them pursue a full-time Master’s degree at the University College London. Admission to this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need of the student. 

Eligibility

• You are an applicant from any country outside the UK
• You come from a lower-income background
• You are eligible to pay the overseas fee rate
• You have submitted a complete admission application

Value

• GBP 15,000 for one year only unless the program duration is 2 years
• If the program runs for 2 years, the scholarship amount will be paid 50% in each other 

3: Think Big Postgraduate Award

The University of Bristol offers the Think Big Postgraduate Award to international students. This scholarship allows students to pursue any one-year full-time or two-year master’s programme at the university. The best part is that you do not need to have an offer to study before submitting your application.

Eligibility

• You are an overseas student
• You have applied to start any one-year full-time master’s programme
• You have applied to start an MSc Social Work or MA Law two-year programmes

Value

• Scholarship awards valued at GBP 6,500, GBP 13,000 and GBP 26,000 per year
• The amount can be used towards tuition fees

4: UAL International Postgraduate Scholarship and Accommodation Award

The University of Arts London offers this scholarship to international students from 150+ eligible countries. The decision is made based on the evidence provided in your scholarship application. 

Eligibility 

• You hold an offer to study a full-time taught master’s course at any of UAL’s Colleges and Institutes
• You do not already have a UK postgraduate qualification
• Your course will be delivered full-time in person in London
• You are a resident in any of the low-income economy countries 

Value

• GBP 50,000 amount

5: Chancellor’s International Scholarships

The University of Sussex offers the Chancellor’s International Scholarships to international Masters applicants. These scholarships can be extremely competitive. Thus, individuals with excellent academic achievements are shortlisted. 

Eligibility

• You are an overseas student
• You have exceptionally high academic grades
• You are self-financing
• You will be studying for a full-time master’s degree 

Value

• £5,000 tuition fee reduction 

Eligibility Requirements for UK Masters Scholarships

International students must meet certain general eligibility requirements to qualify for UK Masters scholarships. This helps the university and admission department ensure that the student provides the required academic background and potential. Although the specific requirements for these scholarships may differ depending on the university and course, here is the general overview to help you understand it better. 

• You must demonstrate a strong academic background with a high GPA.
• You must hold a 2:1 honours degree or lower second-class degree
• You must come from a low-income family
• You are required to secure an offer letter from the university (in most cases)
• You must also possess relevant work experience (in some cases)

Also Read: What are the Requirements to Study in UK?

Application Process

The exact application process in order to secure a UK Masters scholarship for international students varies according to the university. It is best to regularly check the official websites to stay up-to-date with the latest information. In most cases, you will need to fill out separate forms to apply for multiple scholarships. To begin the application process, you first need to have an offer from a UK university for your preferred course.

• 1. Once you have the offer, go to the official application portal website and create an account.
• 2. Fill in your academic details and the application form which will be accessible until the closing date. 
• 3. Upload a scanned copy of all the required documents.
• 4. Double-check all the information and documents and submit your application.

Shortlisted applicants will be notified by the official universities or scholarship providers about the results.

Documents Required 

• Academic transcripts
• Passport 
• Two references 
• Admission letter (if available)

Find more relevant reads here!

UK Universities That Offer Guaranteed Scholarships	Study in the UK Without IELTS
Fully Funded Scholarships in the UK	Study in UK for Free for International Students
The List of the Top 100 Universities in the UK	List of Universities In UK With No Application Fees

FAQs

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