The UK offers some of the world's most prestigious and well-funded scholarship programmes for international students, from the Chevening and Commonwealth awards funded by the British government, to university-level scholarships reducing tuition by 25-100%. This guide covers every major scholarship opportunity in 2026.
Government Scholarships for the UK
1. Chevening Scholarship
| Detail | Info |
|---|
| Funded by | UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) |
| Value | Full tuition + monthly allowance (£1,100 - £1,172/month) + return flights + UK visa fee |
| Level | 1-year master's degree at any UK university |
| Eligible countries | 160+ countries |
| Requirements | 2+ years work experience; meet IELTS/TOEFL requirements of your chosen university |
| Deadline | Typically first week of November each year |
Chevening is the UK's flagship scholarship programme, approximately 1,500 awards per year globally. Winners are selected for leadership potential, not just academic performance.
IELTS requirement: Most Chevening applicants need IELTS 6.5+; many chosen universities require 7.0 or higher.
2. Commonwealth Scholarship
| Detail | Info |
|---|
| Funded by | UK Commonwealth Scholarship Commission |
| Value | Full tuition + living allowance + return flights + thesis grant |
| Level | Master's (Shared Scholarship) and PhD |
| Eligible countries | Commonwealth countries (prioritising high-development-need countries) |
| Criteria | Academic merit + development impact at home |
| Deadline | December (varies by country) |
Commonwealth Scholarships are available in two streams: the Commonwealth Master's Scholarship (full funding at UK universities for developing Commonwealth countries) and the Commonwealth PhD Scholarship.
3. GREAT Scholarship
| Detail | Info |
|---|
| Funded by | British Council + UK universities |
| Value | Minimum £10,000 towards tuition |
| Level | 1-year taught master's |
| Eligible countries | Varies by year (25-30 countries typically) |
| Deadline | Country-specific |
GREAT Scholarships are offered in partnership with UK universities and British Council offices in eligible countries. Each country may have 5-15 awards. Check the British Council's website in your country for current availability.
4. British Council Professional Fellowships
The British Council offers several professional development awards for mid-career professionals, including the Marshall Scholarship (US citizens to UK) and various bilateral programmes.
University Scholarships for International Students
University of Oxford
| Scholarship | Value | Level |
|---|
| Clarendon Scholarship | Full tuition + living grant (~£18,000/year) | Graduate research and taught |
| Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann Scholarship | Full funding | Graduate |
| Reach Oxford Scholarship | Full funding | Undergraduate (very limited) |
| Rhodes Scholarship | Full tuition + ~£21,000/year | Any postgraduate degree |
Clarendon is Oxford's primary scholarship programme, approximately 170 awards per year across all disciplines.
University of Cambridge
| Scholarship | Value | Level |
|---|
| Gates Cambridge Scholarship | Full tuition + living allowance + flights | PhD, MSt, MBA |
| Cambridge Trust Scholarship | Partial to full tuition | Graduate |
| Prince of Wales Commonwealth Scholarship | Full funding | Commonwealth PhD students |
UCL
| Scholarship | Value | Level |
|---|
| UCL Global Undergraduate Scholarship | 50% tuition | Undergraduate |
| UCL PhD Scholarship | Full tuition + stipend | PhD |
| Denys Holland Scholarship | Full fees + maintenance | Undergraduate (limited) |
University of Edinburgh
| Scholarship | Value | Level |
|---|
| Edinburgh Global Scholarship | £5,000 - £10,000 | Undergraduate/Graduate |
| Principal's Career Development PhD Scholarship | Full tuition + £18,000/year | PhD |
| Pakistan and India Scholarships | Various | Graduate |
University of Manchester
| Scholarship | Value | Level |
|---|
| President's Doctoral Scholar Award | Full tuition + £17,000/year | PhD |
| PASS Scholarship (for developing countries) | Full funding | Graduate taught |
| International Excellence Scholarship | £3,000 - £10,000 | Undergraduate |
King's College London
| Scholarship | Value | Level |
|---|
| King's International PhD Scholarship | Full tuition + £20,000/year | PhD |
| King's International Scholarship (Taught) | £5,000 - £10,000 | Graduate taught |
| Dickson Poon School of Law LLM Scholarship | £10,000 - £25,000 | LLM |
London School of Economics (LSE)
| Scholarship | Value | Level |
|---|
| LSE PhD Scholarship | Full fees + maintenance | PhD |
| Taught Masters Scholarship | £8,000 - £15,000 | Master's |
| LSE-Africa Scholarship | Various | African students |
Scotland's Saltire Scholarships
| Detail | Info |
|---|
| Value | £8,000 |
| Level | Master's at Scottish universities |
| Eligible countries | USA, Canada, China, Pakistan, India, Japan (varies by year) |
| Deadline | Country-specific |
Application Tips for UK Scholarships
- Apply to Chevening first: the October/November deadline comes before most university application deadlines; check eligibility early
- Chevening requires a conditional offer: you don't need a firm offer; most applicants apply to Chevening and universities simultaneously
- Commonwealth prioritises development: articulate how your study will benefit your home country specifically
- IELTS is critical for Chevening: you must meet your chosen university's language requirement before the scholarship is confirmed
- Rhodes and Gates Cambridge: these are long-shot applications for the highest achievers; apply alongside other scholarships, not instead of them
IELTS Requirements for UK Scholarships
| Scholarship | IELTS Min | Notes |
|---|
| Chevening | 6.5 overall | Must meet host university's requirement |
| Commonwealth | 6.5 | Competitive winners score 7.0+ |
| GREAT Scholarship | Varies by university | Typically 6.5 - 7.0 |
| Oxford Clarendon | 7.5 | Oxford's standard graduate requirement |
| Gates Cambridge | 7.5 | Cambridge's standard requirement |
Prepare for IELTS with Gabble: Chevening, Commonwealth, and GREAT Scholarships all require a strong IELTS score. Reach your target with AI-powered speaking and writing feedback.