Scholarships for International Students in the UK: Opportunities and How to Apply

Scholarships can be a great way to mitigate the cost of living and help you financially support yourself. 

With such a range of scholarships available to international students, you will need to do some research to find those that you are eligible for. To help you get started, the British Council website has created a scholarship search tool. Just enter your level of study, subject and nationality, and you will be shown all of the scholarships you could apply for. 

What types of scholarships are available for international students in the UK?

GREAT Scholarships are scholarships to UK universities across a variety of subjects, for students from 14 different countries. They award up to £10,000 towards tuition fees for a wide range of one-year taught postgraduate courses. In the 2023/24 academic year, 200 scholarships were offered.

One of the UK’s most prestigious and competitive scholarships are the Chevening Scholarships. They offer fully-funded master’s degrees, plus living expenses and return flights to the UK, and are an opportunity for the next generation of leaders, influencers, and decision-makers to develop a relationship with the UK that will grow throughout their careers. The selection process is extremely thorough and rigorous, and the most suitable applicants are personally selected by British embassies and high commissions around the world.

As an international student, you can also look into Commonwealth Scholarships. These are available to students from Commonwealth countries who, without the scholarship, would not be able to afford study in the UK. There are a number of different awards available, but most are fully funded scholarships which means that, as well as covering your tuition fees, you will also receive your airfare to and from the UK and a living allowance to support you while you are here.