
Students often use a mixture of funding sources to help pay for their studies, which may include scholarships.
Many external organisations offers scholarships and awards so it's worth exploring what you may be eligible for.
Listed in the tables below you will find:
- Scholarship search engines that you can use to help find an award for you
- External funding organisations that offer who provide funding opportunities
Tips for applying
- Research in advance: Look at opportunities at least a year before your studies start. This gives you the widest range of options. You’ll also have more time to spend improving and tailoring your applications.
- Find your referees: Identify suitable referees who can vouch for your qualities with authority. Having them ready helps you apply early.
- Apply for lots of opportunities: Apply for as many opportunities as possible, if you are eligible for them. This gives you the best chance of securing funding.
- Apply early: Applications often close in the year before your course starts. Some awards are even given out on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Have a backup plan: Scholarships are highly competitive, so there is always a chance that your applications won’t be successful. Make sure you look for other sources of funding in advance.
Scholarship search engines
- British Council
- Scholarship Positions
- The Scholarship Hub
- The Wellcome Trust
- FindAPhD
- FindAMasters
- Study Portals
- UKCISA (UK Council for International Studies Affairs)
- GRANTfinder 4 Education
- Postgraduate Studentships
The British Council offers a range of grants aimed at overseas students interested in undertaking their studies in the UK. Applicants can search for scholarships that are available for students by nationality.
Scholarship Positions offers information on international scholarships and study abroad opportunities.
Postgraduate Studentships (Masters Compare) provides a wide directory of taught and research scholarships; as well as other funding opportunities. The website also compares Master's courses and events.
External funding organisations
- Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) Scholarships – Undergraduate/Research
- Anglo-Danish Society Scholarships – Postgraduate Taught/Postgraduate Research
- Artemis Undergraduate Scholarship Programme Greece
- AKER Scholarships Norway - Postgraduate/Research
- Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) – Postgraduate/Research
- Canadian Centennial Scholarship Fund - Postgraduate
- Canadian Bureau for International Education
- The Charles Wallace Trusts - Postgraduate
- Google scholarships - Undergraduate/Postgraduate/Research
- IAEA Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme (MSCFP) - Postgraduate
- The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Awards – Undergraduate/Research
- Lanekassen – Undergraduate/Postgraduate/Research
- The Leathersellers' Company - Undergraduate/Postgraduate
- Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust - Undergraduate/Postgraduate
- The Martingale Foundation Postgraduate Scholarships
- London Goodenough Association of Canada - Postgraduate
- Public Service Commission (PSC) Scholarships – Undergraduate/Postgraduate
- Schwab and Westheimer Trust: Education support for refugees – Undergraduate / Postgraduate
- Sir Richard Stapley Educational Trust - Undergraduate/Postgraduate/Research
- The Yanai Tadashi Scholarship - Undergraduate
The Anglo-Danish Society offer scholarships to Danish Graduates from a Danish university/higher education institution (HEI) who are undertaking postgraduate studies/research at a university/HEI in the United Kingdom.
ARTEMIS runs scholarship programme for students from Greece wishing to pursue Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College London. The programme provides up to two scholarships per year covering up to full tuition fees for the duration of their studies. Candidates are selected based on academic excellence and a range of socioeconomic criteria including but not limited to location, income and family status.
AKER Scholarships are open to applicants from all academic disciplines, and must be Norwegian or have a strong link to Norway.
The Canadian Centennial Scholarship Fund (CCSF), established in 1967, has awarded £1,000,000 in scholarships to some 500 talented Canadians studying at over 40 different universities, colleges and conservatories across the UK. Recipients are chosen on the basis of academic or artistic excellence and their ability to represent Canada in the UK. The CCSF offers Scholarships of £5,000 each annually to eligible Canadians studying for a postgraduate degree who have completed their first year of study.
IAEA Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme (MSCFP) aims to increase the number of women in the nuclear field, supporting an inclusive workforce of men and women who contribute to and drive global scientific and technological innovation. Scholarships are awarded annually, to 100+ female students, subject to availability of funds. In the selection of students, consideration is given to geographic and field of study diversity, in addition to eligibility requirements and other criteria. The selected students are awarded up to €20,000 for tuition costs and up to €20,000 for living costs for their Master’s programme