Scholarships and financial support

Scholarships, grants, bursaries, fellowships, financial awards, loans… there are many financial support options for international students who wish to study on a UK course. Demand for scholarships is always greater than supply; to maximise your chances, apply as early as you can.
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Scholarships and bursaries
Other sources of funding
Evaluating costs
Financial difficulties

Where can I find UK scholarships and bursaries?

On this website, you can search through thousands of scholarships at UK schools, colleges and universities – just click here and select your subject. This lists many, but not all, UK scholarships – it is an excellent place to start, but we recommend looking at other sources too.
In addition, the British Council manages or administers aspects of a number of scholarship and funding schemes. These include:

Scheme	Funding opportunity	Open to students or researchers from
Euraxess UK	Research placements in the UK	All countries
UK-China HE Research Partnership for PhD Studies	Doctoral studies	China and UK
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
Tullow Group Scholarships Scheme	Postgraduate courses	Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mauritania, Suriname, Uganda, Uruguay
Entente Cordiale	Postgraduate courses	France and UK
Hong Kong – Scotland Partners in Post Doctoral Research scholarship scheme	Research visits	Hong Kong and Scotland
Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships	Doctoral studies, research, visiting fellows and Scottish summer school	India
Charles Wallace Pakistan Trust Scholarships	Doctoral studies, research, visiting fellows and Scottish summer school	Pakistan
Goa Education Trust Scholarships	Postgraduate courses	India – Goa
BIRAX Regenerative Medicine Initiative Fellowships	Research visits for scientists	Israel and UK
Young Cell Scheme	Postgraduate Master's studies in the EU	Kosovo
Nigeria LNG Overseas Postgraduate Scholarships Scheme	Postgraduate courses	Nigeria
Higher Education Scholarships for Palestine	Academic exchange for university employees	Palestine
International Atomic Energy Agency Scholarships	Fellowships for graduates	Selected countries – see website
Hornby Educational Trust Scholarships	Scholarships for English language teachers to develop their English language skills	Selected countries – see website
BG Tanzania International Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme for Geoscience and Engineering	Postgraduate courses	Tanzania
Scotland’s Saltire Scholarships	Undergraduate, Master's and PhD courses	Canada, China, India and USA

Other sources of funding

There are a number of scholarship schemes run by governments, charities and other organisations. Ask your Ministry of Education, your local British Council office or your teachers if they know of any schemes for students in your country. Here are a few global schemes you may want to have a look at:
Depending on your nationality, you may be eligible for a loan or financial support from the UK government. Visit the UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs) website for more details.
In 2012, around 33% of pupils at UK independent schools received financial assistance. Visit the Scholarship Search tool at the Independent Schools Yearbook – this publication has details of independent schools for students up to age 18 (at primary and secondary level). Please note it does not contain information on scholarships at higher education level.
Postgraduate studentships can be found via a number of websites, including Postgraduate Studentships and Prospects.
Finally, have a look at the websites for the schools, colleges and universities you are interested in. They may have a scheme that is not listed here.

Evaluating costs

Even with financial support, it is likely that you will have to pay some costs yourself. You may have to pay for travel, accommodation or part of the course fee. Make sure you find out what is and isn’t covered by your scholarship or financial support scheme.
Find out more about tuition and living costs in Costs and fees, plus advice from the National Association of Student Money Advisers in How to map your budget.

Financial difficulties

The right time to look for financial support is before you start your course. It can be very hard to find funding, particularly mid-way through the academic year.
If you experience financial difficulties during your course, please visit the UKCISA website. They offer lots of detailed information and a student advice telephone service.