23+ UK Masters Scholarships for International Students

Do you want to study a Master’s in the UK but are worried about the financial burden? UK Master’s 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 the UK. In this blog, you will read about the best UK Master’s 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 Master’s Scholarships for International Students

Before moving on, you must first understand the different types of UK Master’s scholarships for international students. Being a popular study-abroad destination, the UK offers a wide range of funding options. Here, we have mentioned the various types of Master’s scholarships for international students.

1. 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. 

2. 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 Master’s. The exact eligibility criteria and amount of these scholarships vary. While Chevening Scholarships and Commonwealth Scholarships are fully funded, GREAT Scholarships offer variable amounts. Look at these government scholarships in detail below:

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	7 October 2025
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-funded airfare to and from the UK Monthly living allowance of up to GBP 1,378 to  GBP 1,690
Number of eligible countries	All Commonwealth countries
Application deadline	14 October 2025
Official website	NA

Also Read: Fully Funded Scholarships in the UK

UK Masters Scholarships for International Students by Universities 

Apart from scholarships provided by the government, students who wish to study in the 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 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 Westminster	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 fees, Annual stipend, Return airfare
Imperial College London	CMA CGM Excellence Fund for Lebanon	Full tuition fees, Annual stipend of GBP 19,500
Kingston University	International Scholarships	GBP 5,000 towards first-year tuition fees only

5 Best UK Master’s 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 need a separate application form to apply for multiple scholarships.

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 from GBP 30,000 to GBP £60,000 (annual) for 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 Criteria:

Here is the eligibility criteria for the GATES Cambridge scholarship:

• 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

Benefit:

Look at the benefits involved in the GATES Cambridge scholarship:

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

UCL Global Masters Scholarship

UCL Global Masters Scholarship encourages international students from lower-income backgrounds to study in the 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 the financial need of the student. 

Eligibility Criteria:

Here are the eligibility criteria for the UCL Global Masters Scholarship:

• 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

Benefit:

Look at the benefits involved in the UCL Global Masters Scholarship:

• 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 year 

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 Criteria:

Here are the eligibility criteria for the Think Big Postgraduate Award:

• 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 an MA Law two-year programme

Benefit:

Look at the benefits involved in the Think Big Postgraduate Award:

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

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. Here, we have mentioned the eligibility and award value of this scholarship:

Eligibility Criteria:

Here are the eligibility criteria for the UAL International Postgraduate Scholarship and Accommodation Award:

• 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 of any of the low-income economy countries 

Benefit:

Look at the benefits involved in the UAL International Postgraduate Scholarship and Accommodation Award:

• GBP 50,000 amount

Chancellor’s International Scholarships

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

Eligibility Criteria:

Here are the eligibility criteria for the Chancellor’s International Scholarships:

• 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 

Benefits:

Look at the benefits involved in the Chancellor’s International Scholarships:

• GBP 5,000 tuition fee reduction 

Also Read: Study in UK for Free for International Students

Eligibility Requirements for UK Master’s Scholarships

International students must meet certain general eligibility requirements to qualify for UK Master’s scholarships. This helps the university and the 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 a general overview to help you understand them better. 

• You must demonstrate a strong academic background with a high GPA.
• You must hold a 2:1 honours degree or a 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)

Application Process

The exact application process in order to secure a UK Master’s 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.

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

Documents Required 

Here, we have mentioned the documents that are required for the UK Master’s Scholarships:

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

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This was all about UK Masters scholarships for international students. Still not sure how to go about it? Let the professionals at Leverage Edu take care of your academic journey! You may enlist the assistance of Leverage Edu specialists to assist you with the application process so that you can realise your goals. Call us immediately at 1800 57 2000 for a free 30-minute counselling session.