The United Kingdom or UK is currently home to about 700,000 international students!
And for good reason too…
Some of the best universities in the world are located in the UK, and studying in the UK gives you an edge in job markets all over the world.
Although, it does not come cheap. Studying in the UK costs an awful lot, especially for international students.
Fortunately, a number of universities in the UK offer tuition-free scholarships, plus, the UK is known to have some of the biggest scholarships in the world.
If you’ve always dreamt of studying in the UK, then it’s a very good idea to look into these scholarships as they offer that golden opportunity to acquire high standard education for free.
To help make your study in the UK dreams a reality, I’ve researched and listed out 9 fully funded scholarships in the UK for international students.
PLUS, this is perfect timing for those who want to apply for 2024 scholarships as applications for a lot of these scholarships are already open!
The scholarships I’ll be sharing today are open to Masters and Ph.D. students, so make sure to read through till the end, and start applying as soon as possible.
But before we dive into the scholarships, let’s look at some reasons why you should study in the UK.
Why Should I Study In The UK?
Stay In The UK After You Graduate
If you’re looking to stay and work in the UK after graduation, there are lots of options available for you as an international student.
Upon successful completion of your undergraduate or master’s studies, you are eligible to apply for a work permit that allows you to stay for up to two years after your studies.
As a Ph.D. graduate, you’re eligible to apply and stay up to three years after your studies.
This is a wonderful opportunity for you to build your career by gaining relevant work experience in the UK.
Higher Standards of Education
Two out of the top three universities in the world are located in the UK (Oxford University and University of Cambridge). Many of the brightest minds and the world’s greatest leaders acquired education in the UK.
So, if you also want to do great things, you should study in the UK. *wink wink*
Shorter Courses
When compared to the US, Australia, and Canada, postgraduate courses are shorter in the UK. Most MBAs take just one year to complete, so you can be done in no time and start applying your knowledge in the real world.
Flexible Courses
Many universities in the UK have a “whatever you want to study” system that allows students to choose from different subject modules and build a course that suits them perfectly, providing a perfectly tailored experience.
Career Boost
Aside from providing the best quality of education, UK University prepares you to succeed in the real world by offering work experience in the form of placements, internships, and volunteer positions. This is one of the reasons UK graduates are the most employable in the world earning more than their peers studying in other countries.
Now, let’s get into the main reason for writing this article:
9 Fully Funded Scholarships In the UK For International Students
Chevening Scholarship
This is a very prestigious fully funded scholarship that allows students to undertake a masters course at ANY university in the UK. Pretty cool right?
This scholarship covers your tuition fees, accommodation, flight tickets to and from the UK, monthly stipends, and even visa application fees, allowing you to focus fully on your studies in the UK.
There’s no upper age limit for this scholarship, it’s open to all classes, races, genders, and so on.
All that matters is that your application shows your capability to undergo a one-year masters studies in the UK and that you have a clear vision for your future.
However, you are required to have at least 2 years of work experience to be eligible to apply.
Applications are currently open, the application deadline is on the 7th of November, 2023.
Check out their website for more details on eligibility and requirements.
Commonwealth Scholarship
This is another prestigious scholarship that offers a one-year fully funded masters degree program or a three-year fully funded Ph.D. program to students from low and middle-income Commonwealth countries.
The Commonwealth scholarship covers full tuition fees, flight tickets to and from the UK, monthly stipends of up to £1,347 per month, or £1,652 per month, for candidates who are widowed, divorced, or single parents, the scholarship pays the child £576.61 for the first child and £143 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, and so much more.
One of the main eligibility criteria for this scholarship is that you must be a citizen, permanent resident, or refugee in a Commonwealth country.
This scholarship is currently open for those starting studies in the UK in September/October 2024.
The application deadline is October 17th, 2023.
Check out the official website for more details.
Rhodes Scholarship
This is actually the oldest international scholarship, first awarded in 1902. It is one of the most prestigious international scholarship programs in the world.
The Rhodes Scholarship is a fully funded, full-time postgraduate (MSc, MPhil, Ph.D.) award that enables talented young people from all over the world to study at the University of Oxford.
This scholarship covers Oxford tuition fees, university application fees, study visa fees, flight tickets to and from the UK, the International health surcharge, and a stipend of £1,591 per month which covers living expenses and accommodation.
Check the official website for more information on eligibility and requirements.
Gates Cambridge Scholarship
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship was established by a historic donation of US$210m from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge in October 2000.
Every year, Gates Cambridge offers 80 applicants from all around the world fully funded scholarships to pursue a postgraduate degree (MSc, Ph.D.) in any course at the University of Cambridge.
This scholarship covers the full cost of studying at Cambridge, £20,000 per year for the period of your studies, flight tickets to and from the UK, visa fees, Immigration health surcharge, and much more.
Check the official website for more information.
UAL International Postgraduate Scholarship And Accommodation Award
This is a prestigious scholarship offered to pursue a masters degree program at the University of the Arts, London (UAL).
UAL offers a variety of courses in art, design, screen, communication, fashion, media, and performing arts.
The UAL International Postgraduate Scholarship And Accommodation Award is valued at £50,000 which covers the full tuition fees, and accommodation in one of UAL’s halls of residence, and may contribute to living costs.
Note that this scholarship is only open to residents of low-income economy countries, this includes countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and some parts of Asia.
Check the official website for a full list of qualified countries and other requirements.
Marshal Papworth Scholarship
This is a fully funded scholarship created to support postgraduate students from developing countries studying land-based courses in relation to Agriculture or Horticulture.
It is offered to students for a one-year masters degree program in an Agricultural field at one of the eligible universities.
You can’t apply directly for the Marshal Papworth Scholarship, you have to find one of the eligible universities and apply for a suitable course in order to be eligible.
Check the official website for a list of eligible schools and other requirements.
Westminster Postgraduate International Full Scholarship
As the name implies, this is a fully funded scholarship for a full-time masters degree program at the University of Westminster. It is awarded based on academic merit and financial need.
This scholarship covers full tuition fees, accommodation, living expenses, and flight tickets to and from London.
This scholarship is open to international students from developing countries, and you are required to apply for and secure admission at the University of Westminster before you can apply for the scholarship.
IDS Graduate Scholarship
The Institute of Development Studies (IDS) offers fully funded scholarships to international students from middle to low-income countries who have accepted a full-time place for a master’s degree program at the institution.
The scholarship offers Up to £18,975 for fees and up to £12,000 for essential living costs.
Check the official website for the eligible countries and other requirements.
Equity and Merit Scholarship
This scholarship is open to international students pursuing a masters degree who cannot afford to study at Manchester University without a scholarship.
The Equity and Merit Scholarship covers tuition fees, living expenses, visa fees, and flight tickets.
The scholarship covers a wide range of courses including engineering, environment, health sciences, development, education, textiles, and law. And is open to applicants from Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
Conclusion
Although a lot of these scholarships are known to be very competitive, that shouldn’t discourage you from applying, what’s the worst that could happen?
Make sure to save this post so you can always refer back to it in the future.
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You should check out this must-read article: Fully Funded Scholarships In Canada For International Students.
I wish you all the best in your study-abroad journey!
Until next time!