The United Kingdom is one of the world’s most sought-after study destinations: historic universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, LSE and Edinburgh, and short degrees (usually a 3-year bachelor’s and a 1-year master’s) that lower the total cost. Fees for international students are high, but there are major fully funded UK-government scholarships such as Chevening and Commonwealth, university awards such as Gates Cambridge, Clarendon and Rhodes, and many university discounts. After graduating, the Graduate Route lets you stay to work.
Scholarships funded by the state or its official bodies for international students.
The British Council's Study UK platform provides a comprehensive guide to scholarships and funding for studying in the UK, and runs or supports programs such as the GREAT Scholarships with UK universities and scholarships for women in STEM. These awards often cover part or all of the tuition for one-year master's programs, varying by country and university. Eligible countries and participating universities are announced each cycle.
Chevening is the UK government's international scholarship program, funding a one-year master's degree at any UK university for candidates with leadership potential. It typically covers tuition fees, a monthly living allowance, return flights and visa costs. Applicants usually need at least two years of work experience and must commit to returning to their home country after their studies.
UK government-funded scholarships for citizens of Commonwealth countries: one-year taught Master's, and PhD for 17 least-developed and fragile countries. Fully funded: tuition, airfare and a monthly stipend.
Joint scholarships from the UK government, the British Council and UK universities for students from 18 countries: at least £10,000 towards the tuition of a one-year taught Master's.
The Hult Prize is an annual global social entrepreneurship competition for university students, founded in partnership with Hult International Business School. Student teams from hundreds of universities worldwide compete with start-up ideas that tackle major social challenges, and the winning team at the global final receives US$1 million in seed funding to launch its venture.
The Rhodes Scholarship is the world's oldest international graduate scholarship, funding outstanding students to study at the University of Oxford in the UK. It typically covers all university fees, an annual living stipend and travel costs. Scholarships are awarded through national or regional constituencies, which look for candidates combining academic excellence, leadership and a commitment to serving others.
Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) is a major international development organisation deploying skilled professional volunteers to tackle poverty and inequality across Africa and Asia. VSO covers living allowances, accommodation, flights, medical insurance, and work visas.
A leading worldwide cultural and educational network founded in 1971 in 130+ countries. Volunteers live with host families in organic farms and eco-projects, receiving free accommodation, 3 home-cooked meals daily, and hands-on sustainable skills in exchange for light volunteer work.
Fees for international students and the highest discount or scholarship available, from each university’s official sources.
كلية إمبريال لندن
£42,700 – £58,600 per year
كلية لندن الجامعية (UCL)
£46,700 per year
جامعة كامبريدج
£30,798 – £46,872 per year
جامعة غلاسكو
£27,720 – £62,730 per year
جامعة أكسفورد
£37,380 – £62,820 per year
جامعة الفنون في لندن (UAL)
£30,890 per year
جامعة درهام
كلية الملك كينجز كوليدج لندن (King's College London)
كلية لندن للأعمال (London Business School)
جامعة إدنبرة
جامعة نوتنغهام
جامعة وستمنستر
جامعة يورك
كلية لندن للاقتصاد والعلوم السياسية (LSE)
£28,900 – £39,900 per year
جامعة بريستول
£25,500 – £33,400 per year
جامعة سانت أندروز
£33,250 – £39,620 per year
جامعة وارويك
£27,870 – £35,530 per year
Filter by funding type and study level.
Fellowships, competitions, leadership summits and volunteering hosted or run from here — not study scholarships, so not included in the scholarship count.
• Bachelor’s: 3 years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, 4 years in Scotland; medicine 5–6 years. • Taught master’s: usually one year (12 months); research master’s and PhD: 3–4 years. • Language of study: English. • The academic year starts in September or October; some master’s programmes start in January. • Most UK universities are public, partly state-funded institutions; each sets its own fees for international students.
1) Bachelor’s through UCAS (up to 5 choices): for 2027 entry the deadline for Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses is 15 October 2026, and for other courses 13 January 2027 (18:00 UK time). 2) Master’s and PhD: apply directly on the university’s website; scholarship deadlines usually fall between December and February. 3) English: IELTS or another accepted test at the score set by the university; the visa minimum for degree-level study is B2. 4) After an unconditional offer the university issues a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) number, and you apply for the visa within 6 months of it. 5) Some sensitive science subjects at postgraduate level need an ATAS certificate before the visa. 6) Usual documents: transcripts and certificates, a personal statement, references, an English test result and a valid passport.
Examples of international bachelor’s fees from official websites (2026-27): • Bristol £25,500–£33,400, Warwick £27,870–£35,530, Glasgow from £27,720, LSE £28,900–£39,900, UAL £30,890, St Andrews £33,250, Cambridge (2027 entry) £30,798–£46,872, Imperial £42,700–£45,500, Oxford £37,380–£62,820. • Medicine costs much more: about £45,800–£70,554 a year depending on the university. Other costs: • Visa maintenance funds: £1,529 a month in London and £1,171 outside London, for up to 9 months. • Immigration Health Surcharge: £776 for each year of the visa; visa fee £558. • Full scholarships: Chevening (one-year master’s), Commonwealth for eligible countries, Gates Cambridge, Clarendon (Oxford), Rhodes; many universities also offer discounts of £2,000 to £10,000 or more.
You need a Student visa for study longer than 6 months: • Apply online with the CAS number from your university; you can apply up to 6 months before your course starts. • The fee is £558 (since 8 April 2026), plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 a year, which gives you NHS treatment. • Proof of money: unpaid first-year fees plus living costs (£1,529 a month in London and £1,171 outside London, up to 9 months), held for 28 consecutive days. • Dependants (partner and children) are allowed only for PhD and research postgraduate students, or government-sponsored students on courses longer than 6 months. • Warning: since 26 March 2026, Student visa applications made from outside the UK by nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan are refused (the “visa brake”), with a review after 18 months.
• During degree-level study: up to 20 hours a week in term time, and full-time during official university vacations. • Not allowed: self-employment or running a business, work as a professional sportsperson or entertainer, or a permanent full-time job. • After graduating: the Graduate Route lets you work without a sponsor; it lasts 2 years for applications before 1 January 2027, then 18 months for bachelor’s and master’s graduates applying from 1 January 2027, and stays 3 years for PhD graduates. The fee is £937.
Information last verified: October 13, 2026Official source
Key questions and answers regarding eligibility, documents, and application steps for 2026 / 2027.
The UK government’s Chevening scholarship for a one-year master’s (two years’ work experience required; applications usually run from August to early October), Commonwealth scholarships for eligible Commonwealth countries, Gates Cambridge, Clarendon at Oxford and the Rhodes Scholarship. Many universities also offer partial scholarships and discounts.
Bachelor’s fees are usually £25,000–£46,000 a year, and medicine from about £45,000 to over £70,000. Add living costs (the visa minimum is £1,529 a month in London and £1,171 outside), the £776-a-year health surcharge and the £558 visa fee.
15 October 2026 for Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses, and 13 January 2027 at 18:00 UK time for other undergraduate courses. Master’s applications go directly to the university.
Usually yes: universities require IELTS or an equivalent test at the score set for each programme, and the visa minimum is B2. Some universities exempt students who studied in English or come from English-speaking countries.
During your studies, up to 20 hours a week in term and full-time in vacations. After graduating, the Graduate Route lets you work without a sponsor: 2 years for applications before 1 January 2027, then 18 months for bachelor’s and master’s graduates, and 3 years for PhD graduates.
Since January 2024, dependants are allowed only for PhD and research postgraduate students, or government-sponsored students on courses longer than 6 months. Bachelor’s and taught master’s students cannot bring family members.
Yes: since 26 March 2026, Student visa applications made from outside the UK by nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan are refused; people already in the UK with valid permission are not affected. The measure will be reviewed after 18 months, so check gov.uk before applying.
