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.