Funding & Scholarships
The main funding routes for international students coming to the UK — national government schemes, university awards and external sources.
Indicative guidance — verify on each scholarship's official site. Eligibility, values and deadlines change every cycle. The official links in each section are the authoritative source; always confirm the current details before you apply. (Figures last checked 2 June 2026.)
How UK funding works
Funding for international students generally comes from three places:
- Government / national schemes (Chevening, Commonwealth, GREAT) — competitive and often country-specific; some are fully funded, others a tuition contribution.
- University awards — each university runs its own merit and need-based scholarships, fee discounts and bursaries. Amounts and deadlines vary a lot, so always check the university's official funding page rather than third-party figures.
- External / private funding — your home government, foundations, employers and subject-specific trusts.
A good starting point is the British Council's Study UK: Scholarships & funding.
Chevening
UK government (FCDO)
What it covers: a fully funded one-year taught master's — tuition fees, a monthly living allowance, economy return airfare, and additional grants, plus access to the Chevening network.
Eligibility (in brief): be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country; hold an undergraduate degree that qualifies you for a UK master's; have around 2,800 hours (about two years) of work experience; apply to three eligible UK courses; and commit to returning home for at least two years afterwards.
Deadlines: an annual cycle (applications typically open around August and close in early autumn, with an offer deadline mid-year) — check the official site for the current cycle dates.
Official: chevening.org (eligibility) · Study UK
Commonwealth Scholarships
UK government — Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC)
Commonwealth Master's Scholarships: for students from least-developed and lower-income Commonwealth countries who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK. Typically covers tuition, return airfare and a living allowance. You usually apply through a nominating body in your country.
Commonwealth Shared Scholarships: master's awards jointly funded with UK universities, with similar eligibility; applicants generally hold at least an upper second-class (2:1) degree and must not have studied or worked for more than one year in a high-income country.
Deadlines & eligible countries: set per cycle and the eligible-country list can change — check the official site for current dates, amounts and the country list.
Official: Commonwealth Master's · Commonwealth Shared
GREAT Scholarships
British Council + GREAT Britain Campaign + participating universities
What it covers: a minimum of £10,000 towards tuition for a one-year postgraduate course. It is a tuition contribution, not full funding.
Eligibility: prospective postgraduate students from a specific list of countries each year (for example India, Nigeria, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Kenya, Ghana, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam), studying at participating UK universities.
Deadlines, country list & participating universities: change every year — check the current list and dates on the official site.
Official: Study UK: GREAT Scholarships
Major university awards
Individual universities run prestigious, highly competitive scholarships of their own. A few of the best-known (check each official site for current eligibility, value and deadlines):
- Gates Cambridge (University of Cambridge) — a full-cost postgraduate scholarship, open internationally and highly competitive. gatescambridge.org
- Rhodes Scholarship (University of Oxford) — a fully funded postgraduate award for selected countries; one of the oldest international scholarships. rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk
- Clarendon Fund (University of Oxford) — graduate scholarships covering fees and living costs, awarded on academic merit. ox.ac.uk/clarendon
Most universities also offer their own faculty, country or merit awards — find these on the university's official scholarships/funding pages.
External & private funding
- Home-country government schemes — many governments fund students to study abroad; check your national education or scholarship body.
- Foundations and trusts — charitable and subject-specific funders.
- Employer sponsorship — some employers fund relevant postgraduate study.
Use trusted directories such as the British Council's Study UK: Scholarships & funding and always apply through official channels — never pay a third party that "guarantees" a scholarship.
Frequently asked questions
What scholarships can international students get in the UK?
Funding generally comes from three places: national government schemes (Chevening, Commonwealth and GREAT Scholarships), individual university awards (such as Gates Cambridge, Rhodes and Clarendon), and external or home-country funding such as government schemes, foundations and employer sponsorship.
Is the Chevening Scholarship fully funded?
Yes. Chevening is a fully funded one-year taught master’s — it covers tuition fees, a monthly living allowance and economy return airfare, plus additional grants.
Does the GREAT Scholarship cover full tuition?
No. A GREAT Scholarship is a minimum of £10,000 towards tuition for a one-year postgraduate course — it is a tuition contribution, not full funding.
This page is general guidance for international students and is not affiliated with any scholarship provider. Eligibility, amounts and deadlines change every cycle — always confirm on the official sites linked above.