phd scholarships united kingdom

Scholarships and funding

Would you like to turn your dream of studying in the uk into a reality.

Deciding to study in the UK is an investment in your future. A prestigious degree from the UK is a valuable and transformative experience and will take your education - and your employability - to the next level.

There are many funding options available for international students who want to study in the UK. They range from part-funding, for example paying part of your fees, to full-funding which covers programme fees, living expenses, and return flights to the UK.

You can search for the right scholarship for you on the course and scholarships finder below.

Postgraduate funding

The UK government runs a variety of scholarship programmes to financially support international students who are looking for help funding their studies in the UK.

The three main UK government scholarships on offer are:

GREAT Scholarships

GREAT Scholarships are scholarships to UK universities across a variety of subjects, for students from 15 countries. Applications for 2024-25 are open.

Chevening Scholarships

Chevening Scholarships offers fully funded master's degrees in the UK. Learn more about one of the UK's most prestigious scholarships.

Commonwealth Scholarships

Commonwealth Scholarships are UK university scholarships given to talented individuals with the potential to make a positive impact on the global stage.

Wider UK government funding

The UK government offers hundreds of scholarships, bursaries and additional financial support to students from a large number of countries.

You can visit the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website to find out more about the funding available if you are studying in the UK as a postgraduate student, including whether or not you are eligible to apply for a scholarship. Just scroll down to the relevant section of the webpage.

UKCISA is the UK’s national advisory body serving the interests of international students and those who work with them.

Hear from international scholars What's involved in receiving a UK scholarship?

Tips for choosing a scholarship, international scholars in the uk.

Thinking of applying for a scholarship? Here are some top tips from international students who have received a scholarship to study in the UK.

GREAT scholarships

Nadine, university of kent.

What are GREAT scholarships and who is eligible? Watch as Nadine, a GREAT scholar, and Maria from the University of Kent explain everything you need to know.

Commonwealth scholarships

Commonwealth scholars.

Are you a high-achieving student living in the Commonwealth? Watch as scholars Suahib and Hamna explain all you need to know about Commonwealth scholarships.

Chevening scholarships

Chevening scholars.

If you have a vision to make the world a better place, the Chevening scholarships might be for you. Watch to learn more about the programme.

Being a GREAT scholar

Ismet, university of essex.

Ismet tells us about receiving his GREAT Scholarship for Sustainable Futures, and why he chose the University of Essex.

Being a Commonwealth scholar

Olaoluwa, nigeria.

Olaoluwa has received a Commonwealth shared scholarship. See her impressions on studying in the UK and receiving this life-changing scholarship.

Postgraduate studentships

Many universities offer fully-funded postgraduate studentships for PhD programmes. Find out more .

Institution-specific scholarships

Many UK higher-education institutions offer their own scholarship programmes.

These are offered based on a number of factors, which can be broadly split out into the following categories:

• Academic, merit and excellence scholarships - These are usually awarded to students with a strong academic background, including achieving strong grades in their school exams. 
• Performance-based scholarships - These are usually awarded to those who have exceptional ability in an extracurricular activity such as sports, music or performing arts like drama or dance.
• Subject-specific scholarships - These are often offered by individual departments for students studying a particular course or subject.
• Equal access or sanctuary scholarships - These scholarships can take the form of a tuition fee reduction or waiver or maintenance award and are offered to refugees and asylum seekers who have fled persecution from their home countries.
• Disability scholarships - These scholarships support international students with a disability, long-term mental health condition, learning difficulty or other special needs. 

Always check out different institutions’ websites to discover what is available, and take a look at specialist websites like Postgraduate Studentships and Prospects for curated information that covers different institutions.

Application advice Six top tips on applying for a scholarship

Read our essential advice on how to apply for a scholarship, from eligibility criteria to tailoring your application.

Global scholarships

A.S. Hornby Trust Scholarship

Scholarships for English language teachers to develop their English language skills

Selected countries - see website >

Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan

Master's and doctoral courses (for study in the UK and distance learning), plus academic, professional and medical fellowships

Commonwealth countries >

Scholarships for one-year master's courses across a range of subjects at a variety of UK universities.

British Council scholarships for women in STEM

Scholarships for women undertaking master's degrees in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics course at one of 19 UK universities.

Americas, South Asia and South East Asia >

Global Wales Scholarships for International Students

Global Wales offers a variety of scholarship opportunities for international students.

USA; India; Vietnam and EU countries >

Country-specific scholarships

Young Cell Scheme

Postgraduate master's studies in the EU

Kosovo - see website >

Charles Wallace Pakistan Trust Scholarships

Doctoral studies, research, visiting fellows and Scottish summer school

Pakistan - see website >

Marshall Scholarship

Master's and doctoral courses at any university in the UK

USA - see website >

Science and research funding

Marshall Sherfield Fellowships

Post-doctoral research in science and engineering at any university in the UK

Euraxess UK

Research placements in the UK

Global - see website >

Royal Society grants

Postdoctoral science research

Undergraduate funding

While undergraduate scholarships and bursaries for EU and international students studying in the UK are less common than they are for postgraduate studies, they do exist. You just need to know where to look for them.

Funding for EU and international undergraduate students in the UK can generally be split into two categories: those offered by UK universities themselves and those offered by third parties - usually governments or organisations in your home country.

You can visit the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website to find out more about the funding available if you are studying in the UK as an undergraduate student, including whether or not you are eligible to apply for a scholarship. Just scroll down to the relevant section of the webpage.

You can also visit the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service in the UK (UCAS)’s page about scholarships, grants, and bursaries: EU and international students for more detailed information on what to look out for and where.

Cost of studying in the UK

Studying in the UK is good value for money. Find out how much you can expect to pay to study and live in the UK, and how to make the most of your budget.

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