Scholarships in United Kingdom

The UK's flagship global scholarship program, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. Chevening offers fully-funded one-year master's degrees at any UK university in almost any subject. It is aimed at outstanding young leaders from over 160 countries. Applicants must have at least 2 years of work experience and show leadership potential. It's highly competitive and open to all fields (except MBA, often due to cost) — you choose your course and university, and if selected, Chevening funds you. Successful scholars become part of a lifelong global network of leaders.

Fully fund a two-year Master's in the UK for students from low and middle-income Commonwealth nations.

For doctoral study in the UK, similarly covering full costs for Commonwealth country citizens.

A partnership where certain UK universities jointly fund Master's scholarships with the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission for specific taught Master's courses. These are for developing Commonwealth country citizens, and the fields of study must align with development of the home country — areas like technology, health, sustainability, and education are particularly favoured. Universities share the cost with the CSC, so the number of awards varies by institution.

Country-specific scholarships co-funded by the UK Government's GREAT Britain Campaign and UK universities, available to students from 18 selected countries.

A prestigious scholarship for high achieving American students to study at graduate level in the UK.

One of the oldest and most prestigious awards in the world. Rhodes Scholarships fund outstanding students from various countries to pursue postgraduate study at Oxford. The scholarship is merit-based with country-specific quotas (e.g., scholars from India, Pakistan, Zambia, and a 'Global Rhodes' for other nations). It is primarily for two-year master's or a second bachelor's degree, and can sometimes be extended to a DPhil. Selection emphasizes academic excellence, leadership, commitment to others, and character.

A fully funded scholarship for international students (and US students) to pursue a full-time postgraduate degree at the University of Cambridge. About 80 Gates Scholars are selected yearly based on academic excellence and a commitment to improving others' lives. All fields are eligible. Selection is highly competitive and holistic — academic record, leadership, reasons for choosing Cambridge, and social commitment are all assessed. Scholars become part of a vibrant community at Cambridge with a dedicated support program.

Oxford offers Clarendon Scholarships to approximately 130 top graduate students each year across all departments. The Clarendon is fully funded and all applicants to Oxford graduate programs are automatically considered — there is no separate application. It is very competitive, awarded to the highest-ranked applicants. If you are applying to Oxford for a Master's or DPhil, you are automatically in the running for Clarendon.

University College London awards the UCL Global Masters Scholarship to international MSc students with demonstrated financial need. UCL also has a searchable scholarships database listing many additional awards by faculty and department, including named scholarships for students from specific countries or fields.

This scheme at the University of Nottingham offers 50–100% tuition scholarships for Master's programs in fields like engineering, environment, and medical sciences. It specifically aims to help students from Africa, India, and certain Commonwealth countries access education that addresses their home country's development challenges. Recipients are expected to apply their skills back home after graduating.

Bristol University's Think Big Scholarships support international students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. In addition to the main Think Big award, Bristol offers a range of other faculty and regional scholarships. Awards are merit-based and some are automatically considered during the admissions process.

The British Council's Women in STEM Scholarships support women from selected countries in STEM master's programs at UK universities. These cover full tuition, a living stipend, and additional allowances. The British Council also runs or promotes various other partnership scholarships for specific countries (e.g., UK-India education initiatives), so it's worth checking their website for country-specific programs.

The Charles Wallace Trusts (including the Charles Wallace India Trust and Pakistan Trust) give grants to mid-career scholars and artists from those countries for short-term research or postgraduate study in the UK. These are aimed at people who are already established in their careers and want to deepen their expertise or research in the UK for a few months to a year.

Scotland's Saltire Scholarships offer £8,000 toward a one-year Master's degree at a Scottish university, open to students from India, Pakistan, USA, China, and other select countries. This makes studying in Scotland more affordable, especially when combined with lower tuition at Scottish institutions compared to England. Applications are made through the Scottish Government.