Scholarships for International Students

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Scholarships can reduce the cost of studying at a UK university.

Depending on the award, a scholarship might cover:

Part of your tuition fees
Your full tuition fees
Accommodation
Living costs
Visa and healthcare charges
Flights
Books or equipment
The entire cost of studying in the UK

However, fully funded scholarships are rare, particularly for international undergraduate students.

The British Council explains that international funding ranges from partial support towards fees to full funding covering tuition, living expenses and return travel. It also warns that undergraduate scholarships are less common than postgraduate awards.

UKCISA similarly advises that scholarships often have strict eligibility criteria, are highly competitive and are frequently restricted to particular courses, countries or groups of students. Most major schemes are aimed at postgraduate study, while undergraduate funding commonly takes the form of university scholarships, bursaries and partial fee waivers.

This means you should apply for scholarships, but you should not build your entire financial plan around an award you have not received.

A realistic plan should answer two separate questions:

Which scholarships could I apply for?
How would I pay for the course if I did not receive one?

Scholarships for International Students at a Glance

Type of funding	What it may cover	How common is it?
Fully funded scholarship	Tuition, living costs and sometimes flights or visa expenses	Rare
Full tuition scholarship	Entire course fee but not necessarily living costs	Uncommon
Partial tuition scholarship	A fixed amount or percentage of fees	Relatively common
Maintenance scholarship	Accommodation or living expenses	Less common
Merit scholarship	Awarded for academic achievement or potential	Common scholarship type
Need-based scholarship	Awarded according to financial circumstances	Available at selected universities
Country scholarship	Restricted to students from particular countries	Common
Subject scholarship	Restricted to particular courses or departments	Common
Sports or music scholarship	Support connected with exceptional talent	Available at selected universities
Humanitarian scholarship	Support for refugees, displaced students or people seeking protection	Limited and highly targeted
Research studentship	Fees and a stipend for postgraduate research	More common at doctoral level
Automatic tuition discount	Awarded without a separate application when criteria are met	Offered by some universities

Scholarships change each year.

An award available for September 2026 may:

Change value for 2027
Use different eligibility rules
Cover fewer subjects
Close completely
Be replaced by another scheme

Always check the page for your intended entry year.

What Is a Scholarship?

A scholarship is financial support awarded to help someone study.

It may be based on:

Academic achievement
Academic potential
Financial need
Nationality
Country of residence
Degree subject
Leadership
Community contribution
Sport
Music
Personal circumstances
Career plans
Research proposal

Scholarships, grants and bursaries normally do not need to be repaid, provided you comply with their conditions. UCAS notes that funding providers set their own rules concerning eligibility, value and application processes.

Scholarship vs Bursary

The words are sometimes used interchangeably, but there is a broad difference.

Scholarship

A scholarship is commonly awarded because of:

Academic merit
Talent
Leadership
Potential
Subject choice
Country of origin

Bursary

A bursary is more commonly awarded because of:

Low household income
Financial hardship
Disability
Care experience
Refugee status
Other personal circumstances

UCAS explains that international scholarships are commonly based on academic ability, potential or talent, while bursaries and grants based on personal circumstances are less common for international applicants.

The title alone does not determine the rules.

Read the eligibility criteria for each award.

Scholarship vs Fee Discount

A fee discount automatically reduces the amount you pay.

It might be offered because you are:

From a particular country
A graduate of the same university
Paying early
Entering a specified course
Progressing from a partner institution

A discount may require no separate application.

A competitive scholarship usually requires:

An application
Supporting evidence
A statement
References
Selection against other applicants

Scholarship vs Student Loan

A scholarship normally does not need to be repaid.

A student loan does.

Most students holding ordinary Student visas are not eligible for standard UK government student finance. Eligibility depends on nationality, immigration status, residence and the rules of the relevant UK nation.

Read Tuition Fees for International Students [Tuition Fees for International Students] before assuming that your international classification automatically determines every funding option.

Full Scholarships vs Partial Scholarships

The phrase “scholarship available” can describe very different amounts of support.

Fully Funded Scholarship

A fully funded scholarship may cover:

Full tuition fees
Living-cost allowance
Accommodation
Flights
Visa fee
Immigration Health Surcharge
Academic expenses

Check what “fully funded” actually means.

It may not cover:

Dependants
Additional course years
Optional travel
Expensive accommodation
Currency losses
Personal spending
Repeat assessments

Full Tuition Scholarship

A full tuition scholarship covers the university fee.

You may still need tens of thousands of pounds for:

Accommodation
Food
Visa
Healthcare surcharge
Flights
Travel
Course equipment

A full-fee scholarship is extremely valuable, but it is not the same as a fully funded place.

Partial Tuition Scholarship

A partial scholarship might offer:

£2,000
£5,000
£10,000
25% of tuition
50% of tuition

Check whether the amount applies:

Once
Every academic year
Only to the first year
For the normal course duration
Before or after another discount

Living-Cost Scholarship

A maintenance award may be paid:

Monthly
Termly
Annually
Directly towards accommodation
As a fixed cash amount

Check whether the amount is intended to cover all living costs or merely contribute towards them.

Undergraduate Scholarships for International Students

International undergraduate scholarships exist, but full funding is unusual.

The most common university awards are:

Partial tuition discounts
Merit scholarships
Country scholarships
Financial-need awards
Sports and music scholarships

Some major full-fee or fully funded programmes are available, but the number of awards is usually small.

UCL Global Undergraduate Scholarship

For 2026/27, UCL offered up to 33 Global Undergraduate Scholarships for overseas-fee students from lower-income backgrounds:

10 awards covering full tuition, maintenance and an allowance for additional costs
20 awards covering full tuition
3 full-tuition awards specifically for students from India

Applicants had to submit an undergraduate admission application before applying for funding. The award was based primarily on financial need.

This is an important example because it shows that some undergraduate schemes can offer substantial support.

It also shows how competitive they are.

Thirty-three awards represent only a tiny proportion of international applicants.

Reach Oxford Scholarship

For 2026 entry, the Reach Oxford Scholarship covered:

Course fees
An annual grant towards living costs
One return airfare each year

It was intended for students from eligible low-income countries who could not study for a degree in their own country for financial, political or educational reasons.

Applications for 2026 entry are closed. Oxford states that information for 2027 entry will be published in January 2027.

This illustrates an important scholarship lesson:

You may need to apply to the university first, wait for an offer and then complete a separate scholarship application several months later.

University of Bristol Think Big Scholarships

For 2026 entry, Bristol’s Think Big undergraduate awards were worth:

£6,500 per year
£13,000 per year

Eligible awards could continue for up to four years of study. Medicine and dentistry courses were excluded from the standard undergraduate scheme.

Applicants had to apply to an eligible Bristol course before applying for the scholarship, but they did not need to have received an offer before submitting the funding application.

Warwick Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarship

Warwick operates an Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarship for self-funded students assessed as overseas for fees.

The scheme has included awards ranging from partial tuition support to full-fee scholarships, but the number, values and deadlines can change between entry years.

Check the current entry-year page rather than relying on the previous year’s awards.

Humanitarian and Refugee Scholarships

Some universities offer scholarships for students affected by:

Armed conflict
Forced displacement
Refugee status
Asylum restrictions
Humanitarian emergencies

For 2026/27, UCL’s Humanitarian Scholarship offered up to three awards covering full tuition, a maintenance payment, visa and healthcare costs and one return flight.

Eligibility for humanitarian scholarships is normally narrow and evidence based.

Do not assume that living in a country experiencing conflict automatically meets every scheme’s definition.

Postgraduate Scholarships for International Students

There are generally more funding options for international postgraduate students.

These may include:

Government scholarships
University master’s scholarships
Research studentships
Departmental awards
Country partnerships
Professional-body funding
Charitable foundations

Chevening Scholarships

Chevening is the UK Government’s international scholarship programme for one-year master’s degrees.

Chevening scholarships are fully funded and are aimed at applicants who demonstrate leadership, influence and the potential to create positive change in their home country or region.

Chevening applications normally:

Open during the year before study
Close well before the course begins
Require a separate Chevening application
Require applicants to apply to eligible UK master’s courses
Involve interviews for shortlisted candidates

Applications for the 2026/27 awards are closed. The British Council notes that Chevening applications have typically opened in August and closed in early October, but future applicants must check the official dates for their own cycle.

Chevening is not an undergraduate scholarship.

GREAT Scholarships

For 2026/27, GREAT Scholarships offered:

£10,000 towards tuition fees
More than 140 scholarships
Participation from more than 60 UK universities
Eligibility for students from 18 countries
Funding for one-year taught postgraduate courses

The participating universities, eligible subjects and application deadlines differ by country.

Some universities offer more than the standard £10,000. For example, Warwick’s 2026 GREAT awards for selected countries were worth £15,000.

GREAT Scholarships are partial tuition awards, not usually full scholarships.

Commonwealth Scholarships

Commonwealth Scholarships support students from eligible Commonwealth countries to undertake postgraduate study in the UK.

Around 700 students receive the opportunity to study at UK universities through Commonwealth schemes each year.

Different Commonwealth programmes may support:

Master’s study
Doctoral study
Distance learning
Shared scholarships
Professional fellowships

Eligibility varies according to:

Nationality
Country of permanent residence
Degree level
Academic background
Development impact
Financial need
Nominating organisation

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission acts as the official financial sponsor for successful scholars and issues formal funding evidence for the Student visa process.

Rhodes Scholarship

The Rhodes Scholarship provides funding for postgraduate study at the University of Oxford.

Applications for 2027 entry are open in eligible constituencies during 2026. Applicants must use the official eligibility checker because nationality, residence, age and academic requirements differ between regions.

The scholarship covers Oxford course fees and provides an annual living stipend. Additional support may include application-related and travel costs under the scheme’s rules.

Rhodes is not a general scholarship for study at any UK university.

It is specifically connected with postgraduate study at Oxford.

Clarendon Scholarship

Oxford’s Clarendon Fund offers more than 200 new fully funded graduate scholarships each year.

Clarendon:

Covers course fees
Provides a grant towards living costs
Is open to applicants of any nationality
Covers eligible master’s and doctoral courses
Does not normally require a separate scholarship application

Applicants are automatically considered when they submit their Oxford course application by the relevant December or January deadline.

This is an example of a scholarship where the course application itself is also the scholarship application.

Missing the course’s funding deadline can mean losing scholarship consideration even when the programme continues accepting applications later.

UCL Global Master’s Scholarship

For 2026/27, UCL offered up to 85 Global Master’s Scholarships worth £15,000 each.

The award was aimed at international students from lower-income backgrounds and was normally applied to one year of postgraduate study.

Postgraduate Research Studentships

Research funding may be provided by:

Universities
Academic departments
Research councils
Charities
Industry partners
Governments

A studentship may cover:

Tuition fees
Living stipend
Research expenses
Training
Conference attendance

International eligibility varies.

Some awards cover only the home-fee rate, leaving an international student responsible for the difference between home and overseas fees.

Others cover full international tuition.

Never assume that the phrase “fully funded PhD” includes the overseas fee until the university confirms it.

Types of International Scholarship

Academic Merit Scholarships

These reward strong academic achievement.

Selection may consider:

School grades
Predicted grades
Degree classification
Academic prizes
Research
Subject performance
Admissions-test results

Some merit awards are automatic.

Others require a separate application.

Financial-Need Scholarships

These assess whether you could attend without financial assistance.

You may need to provide:

Household income
Family expenditure
Savings
Assets
Dependants
Other scholarships
Sponsor contributions
Evidence of financial circumstances

UCL’s Global Undergraduate Scholarship, for example, required applicants to provide detailed estimates of household income, available funding and study costs.

Do not hide assets or other awards.

You may be required to disclose additional funding received after the scholarship is awarded.

Country-Specific Scholarships

These are restricted according to:

Nationality
Residence
Education history
Government partnership

Examples include:

GREAT Scholarships
Country-specific university discounts
National-government sponsorship
Bilateral education programmes

Being a citizen of the named country may not be enough.

The rules may require you to be:

Ordinarily resident there
Applying from there
Returning there after study
Studying an approved subject

Subject Scholarships

These may support students studying areas such as:

Engineering
Science
Technology
Law
Sustainability
Healthcare
Business
Education
Languages
Development

Check whether the award applies to:

One named course
An entire faculty
Undergraduate study
Taught postgraduate study
Research only

Sports Scholarships

Sports scholarships may offer:

Cash support
Coaching
Gym access
Physiotherapy
Strength and conditioning
Competition expenses
Flexible academic support

You may need to provide:

Competition level
Rankings
References from coaches
Performance evidence
Future sporting potential

A sports scholarship does not normally replace university admission requirements.

Music and Performing-Arts Scholarships

These may be based on:

Audition
Performance standard
Instrument
Portfolio
Contribution to university ensembles

The award may involve expectations such as:

Performing at events
Joining university groups
Attending rehearsals
Maintaining a required standard

Leadership Scholarships

Leadership awards may assess:

Projects you initiated
Responsibility
Community impact
Influence
Problem-solving
Future plans

Holding an impressive title is less useful than showing what changed because of your actions.

Alumni and Family Discounts

Some universities offer reductions when:

You completed a previous degree there.
A close family member is an alumnus.
More than one family member is studying there.
You progress from a partner institution.

These are commonly fee discounts rather than competitive scholarships.

Early-Payment Discounts

A university may reduce tuition when you pay the required amount before a specified date.

Check:

Whether the discount can be combined with another scholarship
Whether paying early changes refund rights
Whether the discount applies every year
Whether the university must receive the money by the deadline

How to Find Scholarships

There is no single database containing every international scholarship.

UCAS explains that funding is offered by many separate providers, each using different eligibility criteria and application systems.

Use several sources.

University Scholarship Pages

Search the official university website for:

International scholarships
Undergraduate funding
Postgraduate funding
Country awards
Department scholarships
Fee discounts

Check both:

Central university funding
Departmental funding

A university may offer a general international scholarship plus a separate award for your subject.

UCAS Scholarship Search

UCAS launched an online search service bringing together nearly 800 scholarships, bursaries and grants.

The search can include funding for:

Tuition
Living expenses
Particular subjects
Specific groups
Individual universities

Filter every result carefully.

Some funding listed through UCAS may be restricted to:

Home students
Current students
Particular regions
Specific courses

British Council Study UK

The British Council provides information on:

GREAT Scholarships
Chevening
Commonwealth Scholarships
University funding
Undergraduate and postgraduate opportunities

UKCISA

UKCISA provides independent information about funding and financial support for international students.

UKCISA is not itself a scholarship provider and does not award grants.

Be cautious of messages pretending to offer a “UKCISA scholarship”.

Home-Country Government

Your national or regional government may offer:

Overseas-study scholarships
Loans
Sponsorship
Priority-subject funding
Public-service schemes

These awards may require you to:

Study an approved course
Attend an approved university
Return home
Work in a particular sector
Repay funding when conditions are broken

Employers

An employer may pay for:

Master’s study
Professional qualifications
Research
Specialist training

Employer sponsorship may require you to work for the organisation for a defined period.

Read repayment clauses carefully.

Charities and Foundations

External organisations may support students based on:

Nationality
Religion
Community
Profession
Subject
Disability
Financial hardship
Humanitarian circumstances

Confirm that the organisation is legitimate and that the award can be used at your chosen university.

Professional Bodies

Funding may be available through bodies connected with:

Engineering
Science
Medicine
Accountancy
Law
Architecture
Surveying
Teaching

Support may include:

Tuition contribution
Research funding
Travel grant
Conference expenses
Professional examination fees

Start With a Scholarship Search Table

Create a spreadsheet with these columns:

Scholarship	University	Course	Value	Duration	Eligibility	Application needed?	Deadline	Result date

Add further columns for:

Offer required
Reference required
Interview
Financial evidence
Can be combined with other awards
Firm-choice requirement
Visa evidence
Status

This prevents you from confusing five scholarships with suspiciously similar names and entirely different deadlines.

Scholarship Application Timeline

18 Months Before Entry

Research universities and course costs.
Identify government and national schemes.
Check whether awards are undergraduate or postgraduate.
Record typical opening dates.
Begin building relevant experience.

12 Months Before Entry

Prepare course applications.
Gather academic documents.
Draft scholarship evidence.
Request references.
Check whether you need an admission offer first.

Autumn Before Entry

Submit early postgraduate applications.
Apply for schemes with autumn deadlines.
Check government scholarship cycles.
Monitor university funding pages.

January to April

Many undergraduate university scholarships use deadlines during this period.

For 2026 entry, examples included:

Oxford undergraduate scholarship deadline in February
Warwick undergraduate scholarship deadline in February
Bristol Think Big deadline in April
UCL Global Undergraduate deadline in April

These dates should not be assumed for 2027.

They show why scholarship research must continue after submitting UCAS.

Spring and Summer

Attend interviews.
Supply financial evidence.
Receive decisions.
Accept awards.
Meet academic conditions.
Confirm the award with the university.
Arrange remaining funding.

Do You Need a University Offer First?

It depends on the scholarship.

Possible rules include:

Application Before Offer

You must have applied to the university but do not need an offer yet.

Bristol’s 2026 Think Big scheme used this approach.

Offer Required

You must hold a conditional or unconditional offer before applying.

Admission Application Required

You need an active application and confirmed overseas fee status.

UCL’s 2026 Global Undergraduate Scholarship used this approach.

Automatic Consideration

You are considered through the degree application without submitting another scholarship form.

Oxford’s Clarendon Fund uses automatic consideration when the graduate course application is submitted by the relevant funding deadline.

Separate Government Application

You apply to the scholarship provider and to UK universities through different systems.

Read the process carefully.

Submitting the course application does not automatically apply you for every scholarship.

Scholarship Eligibility

Before writing anything, check every eligibility condition.

These may include:

Nationality
Residence
Fee status
Course
Entry year
Study level
Full-time attendance
Academic grades
Household income
Age
Work experience
Leadership experience
Career plans
English-language ability
Self-funded status
Not holding another scholarship

Overseas Fee Status

Many international scholarships require you to be assessed as an overseas-fee student.

Do not assume your fee status.

The university may need to complete its assessment before allowing access to the scholarship application.

Self-Funded Status

A scheme may exclude students whose fees are already paid by:

Employer
Government
Another scholarship
External sponsor

You may still be considered self-funded when your family is paying.

Check the scheme’s definition.

Academic Conditions

A scholarship may be conditional on:

Achieving predicted grades
Meeting the university offer
Maintaining a particular average
Progressing each year
Completing the course on schedule

An unconditional scholarship offer does not necessarily replace your academic admission conditions.

How to Write a Strong Scholarship Application

A scholarship statement should answer the exact question asked.

It should not be a general autobiography copied into every form.

A strong application usually contains:

Clear eligibility
Specific evidence
Connection with the scholarship’s purpose
A realistic academic plan
A credible future goal
Honest financial information
Careful writing

Understand What the Scholarship Rewards

Before writing, ask:

Is this based on grades?
Is it based on financial need?
Is leadership important?
Does the scheme want community impact?
Is the award connected with a country or subject?
Does the funder expect scholars to return home?
What values does the scheme emphasise?

Your strongest academic example may be irrelevant when the scholarship is primarily assessing financial need.

Answer the Question Directly

Suppose the question asks:

How would this scholarship help you achieve your future goals?

A weak answer might spend half the word count describing the university’s rankings.

A stronger answer would explain:

Your intended course
The skills you need
The financial barrier
How the funding changes what is possible
What you intend to do afterwards

Use Specific Evidence

Weak:

I am a passionate leader who always helps my community.

Stronger:

I organised a weekly mathematics support programme for 28 younger students, recruited six volunteer tutors and created progress checks that helped 21 participants improve their end-of-term results.

The stronger version shows:

Scale
Action
Responsibility
Result

Explain Financial Need Honestly

A financial-need application may ask about:

Household income
Savings
Property
Family responsibilities
Other sources of support
Expected living costs

Explain:

What your family can contribute
What remains unaffordable
Whether income is stable
Which other funding you have pursued
How you calculated the gap

Do not exaggerate or hide information.

Universities may request supporting documents.

Show Why the Course Matters

Explain:

Why you chose the subject
What you have already done
Which course opportunities matter
How the degree connects with your goals
Why the UK course is appropriate

Avoid:

The UK has world-class universities and a rich culture.

That sentence is not wrong. It is merely attempting to win a scholarship while wearing invisibility.

Be specific.

Explain Future Impact

Some scholarships ask how your education will benefit:

Your community
Profession
Country
Industry
Research field

Avoid promises that are impossible to measure.

Instead of:

I will transform education across my entire country.

Try:

After qualifying, I plan to work in secondary science education and develop low-cost teacher training resources for rural schools, building on the programme I already run with three local schools.

Edit Carefully

Check:

Word limit
Names
Dates
Course title
Scholarship title
Grammar
Repetition
Unsupported claims
Whether you answered every part

The British Council recommends tailoring each scholarship application, researching the funder and asking someone to review the application before submission.

Using AI in Scholarship Applications

AI can help you:

Understand a question
Organise notes
Improve clarity
Check grammar
Identify repetition
Practise interview questions

It should not:

Invent achievements
Create false financial circumstances
Write a generic statement you do not understand
Replace your personal voice
Produce references
Complete a prohibited assessment

Scholarship panels may ask detailed questions about anything you submit.

You must be able to explain:

Every experience
Every number
Every goal
Every claim

Bristol’s 2026 Think Big application required applicants to agree to an academic-integrity statement.

Use AI as an editing tool, not as an unusually ambitious fictional version of yourself.

Scholarship References

Some scholarships require one or more references.

A suitable referee might be:

Teacher
Academic tutor
Employer
Research supervisor
Community leader
Professional mentor

Choose someone who can provide evidence of the quality being assessed.

For an academic scholarship, the referee should understand your:

Academic ability
Intellectual curiosity
Preparation
Potential

For a leadership scholarship, they should understand:

Your responsibility
Impact
Conduct
Contribution

Ask early and provide:

Scholarship details
Eligibility criteria
Deadline
Your course information
Your CV
Relevant examples
Submission instructions

Do not write the reference yourself unless the scholarship explicitly permits a draft and the referee independently verifies and approves it.

Scholarship Interviews

Some competitive scholarships include interviews.

Questions may cover:

Why you chose the course
Why you chose the UK
Your academic interests
Leadership
Community impact
Financial circumstances
Career plans
Ethical judgement
Current issues in your field

Prepare by Reviewing

Your application
Course
Scholarship purpose
Funder
Examples
Financial information
Future plans

Give Consistent Answers

Your interview should match:

Application
CV
References
Financial documents
University plans

A slightly nervous honest answer is safer than a beautifully polished answer that belongs to a different applicant.

Expect Follow-Up Questions

The panel may ask:

What exactly did you do?
How many people were involved?
What failed?
What did you learn?
Why is this goal realistic?
What will you do when your preferred plan changes?

Prepare evidence, not scripts.

Can You Apply for More Than One Scholarship?

Usually, yes.

However, check whether the schemes allow:

Multiple applications
Multiple awards
Combining university and external funding
Holding a scholarship with a fee discount

You may be required to disclose every award received.

Possible outcomes include:

Both awards can be held.
One award is reduced.
You must select one.
One provider pays tuition and another pays living costs.
Receiving full funding makes you ineligible for another scholarship.

UCL requires Global Undergraduate Scholarship recipients to report additional funding received before or after the award.

Never conceal another scholarship.

Scholarship Conditions

Winning the award is not always the end of the process.

You may need to:

Meet your academic offer
Select the university as your firm choice
Start in the stated year
Study full time
Remain on the approved course
Maintain satisfactory progress
Attend required events
Submit annual reports
Act as a student ambassador
Report additional funding

Deferring Entry

Scholarships may not transfer when you defer.

Bristol’s 2026 Think Big conditions stated that the scholarship could not be transferred to deferred entry.

Ask before deferring.

Your course offer and scholarship are separate decisions.

Changing Course

Changing subject may make you ineligible when the scholarship is:

Departmental
Subject specific
Profession specific
Connected with a sponsor

UCL requires Global Undergraduate Scholarship recipients to obtain approval before changing programme.

Repeating a Year

Check whether the award covers:

Repeat tuition
Extended living costs
An additional visa
Delayed graduation

Many scholarships cover only the normal course duration.

Academic Performance

A renewable scholarship may require:

Passing every year
Maintaining an average
Completing required credits
Satisfactory attendance

Ask what happens when illness or exceptional circumstances affect your results.

Scholarships and the Student Visa

A scholarship may help you meet the Student visa financial requirement, but the evidence must satisfy the immigration rules.

Official Financial Sponsorship

For Student visa purposes, official financial sponsors can include:

National government
UK government
International organisation
International company
University
Eligible independent school

When the sponsorship is not fully recorded on the CAS, you may need an official letter showing:

Date
Sponsor name
Contact details
Duration
Amount or confirmation of full support

Partial Scholarship

Suppose your outstanding tuition and maintenance requirement is £30,000.

You receive a confirmed scholarship of £10,000.

You may still need acceptable evidence for the remaining £20,000.

Do not subtract an unconfirmed scholarship from your visa calculation.

Scholarship Recorded on the CAS

When the university is providing the award, ask whether it will be:

Deducted from tuition
Recorded as a payment
Recorded as sponsorship
Shown on the CAS

Check the CAS before submitting the visa application.

Private or Charitable Awards

A private scholarship may not automatically count as official financial sponsorship under the immigration rules.

Ask the university’s international student team:

How the award should be evidenced
Whether it will appear on the CAS
Whether additional bank evidence is needed

Scholarship Awarded After the Visa Application

Contact the university before assuming that the new award changes your evidence or CAS.

Do not withdraw or alter a visa application without qualified advice.

Read Student Visas Explained [Student Visas Explained].

Does a Scholarship Remove the Tuition Deposit?

Not necessarily.

A university may still require a deposit before issuing the CAS.

Possible policies include:

Deposit waived for full scholars
Reduced deposit
Deposit required and later refunded
Deposit credited towards remaining tuition
Award confirmed only after deposit deadline

Ask:

Does my scholarship reduce the deposit?
When will the award appear on my account?
Will it be shown on the CAS?
What must I pay before enrolment?

Scholarship Scams

International students can be targeted by fake scholarship providers.

UCAS warns applicants to be cautious when an award sounds too good to be true or appears designed to collect money or personal information.

Scholarship Scam Red Flags

Be cautious when someone:

Guarantees an award
Charges a large application fee
Claims to represent a university without proof
Uses a personal email account
Requests payment by cryptocurrency or money transfer
Asks for bank passwords
Demands immediate action
Offers a scholarship you never applied for
Refuses to provide written terms
Says the scholarship guarantees a visa
Asks you to transfer money through your account
Promises secret funding unavailable on official websites

Verify the Award

Check:

Official university website
Government website
Registered charity information
Official contact details
Terms and conditions
Previous recipients
Whether the university recognises the funder

Contact the university independently.

Do not use the telephone number or email contained only in the suspicious message.

Never Allow Money to Pass Through Your Account

Criminals may ask students to receive, hold or transfer money.

UKCISA warns that allowing unknown funds to pass through your account can involve you in money laundering.

UKCISA Does Not Award Scholarships

UKCISA provides information and advice but does not issue grants, sponsorships or scholarships.

A message claiming that you have won a UKCISA scholarship is not genuine.

Common Scholarship Mistakes

Assuming Every Award Is Fully Funded

Many scholarships are partial tuition reductions.

Looking Only at Famous National Schemes

University and departmental awards may provide more realistic opportunities.

Searching After Accepting the Offer

Some funding deadlines occur before admission decisions.

Missing the Funding Deadline

A course may remain open after scholarship consideration has closed.

Applying Without Meeting the Eligibility Criteria

Nationality, fee status and course restrictions are often strict.

Reusing One Generic Statement

Different scholarships reward different qualities.

Writing Only About Financial Need

A merit or leadership scholarship may require much more than evidence that the course is unaffordable.

Writing Only About Grades

A need-based award may be assessing financial circumstances rather than academic ranking.

Failing to Explain Personal Contribution

Panels need to understand what you did, not only what your group achieved.

Using Unverifiable Claims

Keep evidence for:

Awards
Projects
Income
Responsibilities
Volunteering
Results

Depending on an Unconfirmed Scholarship

Plan the whole degree without assuming success.

Ignoring Renewal Conditions

A first-year award may not continue.

Forgetting Living Costs

Full tuition does not automatically provide rent or food.

Ignoring Visa Evidence

A scholarship email may not satisfy the formal financial-evidence rules.

Paying Someone to Guarantee Success

No legitimate adviser can guarantee a competitive scholarship.

Missing UK Time

Deadlines commonly use UK time.

A deadline of 17:00 BST is not 17:00 in every country.

Scholarship Application Checklist

Finding Funding

I have checked the university scholarship page.
I have checked my academic department.
I have searched UCAS funding opportunities.
I have checked British Council schemes.
I have checked funding in my home country.
I have checked professional bodies and charities.
I have searched both undergraduate and postgraduate categories correctly.

Eligibility

My nationality is eligible.
My country of residence is eligible.
My fee status is eligible.
My course is included.
My study level is included.
My entry year is correct.
I meet the academic criteria.
I meet the financial criteria.
I understand the definition of self-funded.
I know whether other awards can be combined.

Application

I have applied for university admission where required.
I know whether an offer is needed.
I know the deadline in UK time.
My statement answers the exact question.
Every claim is accurate.
My financial figures are consistent.
References are arranged.
Documents are translated where required.
I have checked the word limit.
I have saved a complete copy.

After an Award

I understand what the scholarship covers.
I know whether it applies every year.
I have read the renewal conditions.
I know whether I must select the university as firm choice.
I understand deferral rules.
I understand course-change rules.
I have disclosed other funding.
The award has been recorded by the university.
I know whether a deposit remains payable.
I have checked the visa evidence.

Questions to Ask the University

Ask:

Which scholarships are open to overseas-fee students?
Do I need an offer before applying?
Is there a separate application?
Am I automatically considered?
What does the award cover?
Is it paid once or every year?
Is it deducted from tuition?
Does it include living costs?
Can it be combined with another scholarship?
Is a tuition deposit still required?
Will the award appear on my CAS?
What evidence of income is required?
Does it continue during a placement year?
Does it continue during study abroad?
What happens if I change course?
What happens if I defer?
What happens if I repeat a year?
What academic standard must I maintain?
When will decisions be released?
What costs will remain after the award?

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Scholarships Available for International Students in the UK?

Yes.

Funding is available through universities, governments, charities, professional bodies and employers.

Awards range from small fee reductions to full funding.

Are Undergraduate Scholarships Available?

Yes, but they are less common than postgraduate scholarships.

Many undergraduate awards provide partial tuition reductions rather than full funding.

Can You Get a Full Undergraduate Scholarship?

Yes, but full scholarships are rare and extremely competitive.

Examples include selected UCL Global Undergraduate awards and Reach Oxford.

Which UK Scholarships Are Fully Funded?

Examples of substantial postgraduate funding include:

Chevening
Selected Commonwealth Scholarships
Rhodes
Clarendon
Some university and doctoral studentships

Coverage and eligibility differ.

Is Chevening Available for Undergraduate Study?

No.

Chevening supports eligible one-year master’s degrees.

How Much Is a GREAT Scholarship?

For 2026/27, the standard GREAT Scholarship provided £10,000 towards tuition for an eligible one-year taught postgraduate course.

Some universities offered a larger amount.

Do You Need an Offer Before Applying?

Sometimes.

Some schemes require:

An admission application
A conditional offer
An unconditional offer

Others automatically consider applicants through the course application.

Can You Apply for Scholarships Before UCAS?

Some external or government scholarships may open early.

Most university undergraduate awards require you to have submitted a university application first.

Do Scholarships Cover Living Costs?

Some do.

Others cover tuition only.

Read the award description carefully.

Do Scholarships Cover the Student Visa Fee?

Occasionally.

For example, some UCL Global Undergraduate awards included an allowance for visa and Immigration Health Surcharge costs in 2026/27.

Most partial scholarships do not cover these expenses.

Can a Scholarship Be Used as Student Visa Evidence?

A qualifying scholarship or official financial sponsorship can be used when correctly documented.

The evidence may need to appear on the CAS or in an official sponsorship letter.

Do I Still Need Bank Statements?

Possibly.

A partial scholarship may leave an amount that must be shown through other acceptable financial evidence.

Does a Scholarship Guarantee a Student Visa?

No.

You must still meet every immigration requirement.

Can I Hold Two Scholarships?

Sometimes.

Check both schemes and disclose every award.

Do Scholarships Need to Be Repaid?

Normally not, provided you comply with the conditions.

Some sponsorship agreements may require repayment when you withdraw, change course or fail to complete required employment.

Can a Scholarship Be Withdrawn?

Yes.

Possible reasons include:

Missing academic conditions
Providing false information
Changing course without approval
Deferring
Failing to register
Unsatisfactory progress
Receiving incompatible funding

Are Scholarship Applications Free?

Most legitimate university and government scholarship applications are free.

A small administrative charge is not automatically fraudulent, but a substantial payment for a “guaranteed” award is a serious warning sign.

Can an Agent Guarantee a Scholarship?

No.

Agents cannot guarantee:

Admission
Scholarship
Visa
Employment

Verify every claim with the university.

Should I Apply When I Do Not Meet Every Requirement?

Do not apply when you clearly fail a strict condition such as nationality, subject or fee status.

When wording is ambiguous, ask the scholarship provider.

Can I Apply Again Next Year?

Often, yes.

Some awards allow deferred applicants to apply in their actual entry year, while others require a fresh university application.

Do Scholarships Continue During Placement Years?

Some do, some do not.

Check the duration and placement-year terms.

Is a Tuition Discount the Same as a Scholarship?

Not always.

A discount may be automatic and based on nationality, alumni status or payment timing.

Are Scholarships Taxable?

Scholarships used for full-time education are commonly treated differently from employment income, but tax treatment depends on the nature of the payment and your circumstances.

Seek qualified advice when the award is connected with employment or services.

What Happens When You Experience Financial Problems After Arriving?

Contact:

University international student team
Student funding team
Students’ union
Welfare adviser

Hardship support may be limited and should not be treated as a replacement for a complete funding plan. UKCISA recommends seeking advice as early as possible when unexpected financial problems arise.

Final Thoughts: Scholarships for International Students

Scholarships can make studying in the UK more affordable.

They can provide:

Full funding
Full tuition
Partial fee reductions
Living-cost support
Travel
Professional opportunities
Networks and mentoring

However, most international students do not receive a fully funded scholarship.

The most realistic strategy is to:

Research funding before applying.
Check university, government and external schemes.
Separate undergraduate and postgraduate awards.
Read every eligibility condition.
Record deadlines in UK time.
Apply to the university early.
Tailor each scholarship statement.
Use specific evidence.
Provide honest financial information.
Apply for several suitable awards.
Plan for the possibility of receiving none.
Check how the award affects tuition and visa evidence.
Read renewal, deferral and course-change rules.
Verify every offer through official sources.
Never pay someone to guarantee funding.

A scholarship is not simply a reward for having high grades.

Depending on the scheme, selectors may be looking for:

Academic potential
Financial need
Leadership
Community impact
Professional goals
Research ability
A clear reason for choosing the course

The strongest application connects these elements.

It explains:

What you have already achieved
Why the course matters
Which financial barrier exists
How the scholarship changes what is possible
What you intend to do with the opportunity

Apply positively, but budget cautiously.

Until the scholarship has been formally awarded, accepted and recorded by the university, it is a possibility rather than money available to spend.

Continue with Cost of Living in the UK [Cost of Living in the UK] for a realistic breakdown of accommodation, food, transport, bills and personal expenses in different student cities.