UK Masters Funding for International Postgraduates in 2022
The UK is one of the world’s most popular destinations for international study, with prestigious universities and a wide range of highly regarded Masters courses.
However, international postgraduate fees in the UK are usually higher than those for home’ students. You might also find that some funding sources aren’t available to you.
This page explains the different kinds of postgraduate scholarships for international Masters students in the UK. We’ve also covered the instances in which overseas students may be eligible for a postgraduate loan from the UK government.
We can’t list every postgraduate funding opportunity for international students here, but we’ve done our best to cover most of the main options that might be available to you. We’ve also made sure that all of this information is up-to-date for 2022.
UK Government funding
The UK Government administers a series of scholarship schemes aimed at funding talented international postgraduates to study in the UK. These include the Chevening programme, Commonwealth Scholarships and Scotland’s Saltire Scholarships.
Chevening scholarships
Chevening is a prestigious UK Government postgraduate funding scheme specifically for international students in the UK. It covers full payment of your Masters tuition fees, travel and visa costs, as well as a monthly living allowance.
Commonwealth Scholarships
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The Commonwealth Scholarships programme is aimed at supporting citizens of the 53 Commonwealth countries (nations that were part of the former British Empire). It’s organised by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) on behalf of the UK Government.
Commonwealth Masters Scholarships
These opportunities are offered to citizens of developing Commonwealth countries. They offer support for one-year UK Masters degrees (not including MBAs) at partner universities.
To qualify you must be a citizen of an eligible developing Commonwealth country, a refugee or a British protected person. You must also be ordinarily resident in a developing Commonwealth country.
You should normally apply through a national nominating agency in your home country. You should not apply directly to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission itself. Applications for the scholarship open in the August of the year before the Masters starts.
Selection will be based on your academic merit as well as the potential benefit of your qualification to your home country.
- Payment of your tuition fees
- A monthly allowance for accommodation and living expenses
- Travel costs to and from the UK at the beginning and end of your course
Commonwealth Shared Scholarships
These provide funding for international students who have not studied extensively abroad and would not otherwise be able to study a Masters in the UK.
In order to be eligible you must be a citizen of a developing Commonwealth country, a refugee or a British protected person, permanently resident in a developing Commonwealth country.
- An undergraduate degree equivalent to a 2.1 (upper second-class honours’); or
- An undergraduate degree equivalent to a 2.2 (lower second-class honours’) plus a Masters-level qualification.
You must also not have studied (or worked) for more than one year in a developed country and not have the means to pay for study in the UK yourself.
You should make your application to a UK university participating in the scheme. They may then put you forward for a scholarship. Note that only certain universities and courses are eligible for this funding.
- Payment of your tuition fees and other academic expenses
- A monthly allowance to cover accommodation and living costs
- Travel to and from the UK at the beginning and end of your course
Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships
To qualify for a scholarship you will need to be a citizen of a developing Commonwealth country, a refugee or a British protected person, permanently resident in a developing Commonwealth country.
You must also hold an undergraduate degree equivalent to a 2.1 (upper second-class honours). Lower qualifications may be considered in some cases.
Universities will offer a scholarship of up to ?18,000 to fund your course. This should cover tuition fees and other expenses.
When you apply for the scholarship through the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission’s application system, you’ll need to hold an offer to study an eligible distance learning Masters.
GREAT Scholarships
The GREAT Scholarship programme is a joint initiative between the UK Government and the British Council, offering scholarships of at least ?10,000 for students from the following countries to study a Masters in the UK:
- Bangladesh
Scotland’s Saltire Scholarships (SSS)
Funding is available for study at all levels, including Masters degrees. Individual awards provide up to ?8,000 per student, for tuition fees during one year of study.
Eligible courses
Your course must also be studied full-time. You cannot receive a Saltire Scholarship for a part-time or distance learning Masters.
2021-22 funding for EU and EEA students
In , the Scottish government announced that EU and EEA students beginning their studies in autumn 2021 and would be eligible for the Saltire Scholarships.
This funding is allocated to Scottish universities, who then award the scholarships to European students holding an offer to study an eligible full-time Masters in Scotland. This includes students who have already begun their postgraduate studies in Scotland.
You’ll need to have international fee paying status at your university. The rest of entry criteria are the same as those for other international students.
You should get in touch with your preferred Scottish university to find out more about how they’re handling scholarship applications.
Eligible students
To be eligible for a Saltire Scholarship you must be an international student from Canada, India, Japan, Pakistan, the USA or China (including Hong Kong).
You must have an offer to study at a Scottish university on an eligible course and not have previously studied a full Bachelors degree in Scotland.
You must also be able to demonstrate that you can cover the remaining tuition fees and living costs for your Masters yourself (the Saltire Scholarship will only provide up to ?8,000).
Application process
Note that you cannot apply without already having an offer to study an eligible Masters at a university in Scotland.