External scholarships

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: 

  1. Scholarship search engines that you can use to help find an award for you  
  2. External funding organisations that offer who provide funding opportunities
These scholarships and awards are managed by organisations external to Imperial College London. Please contact them directly for information on scholarships and application procedures.
 
Imperial has no direct involvement in these awards – we provide this data for information purposes only.

Tips for applying

  1. 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.
  2. Find your referees: Identify suitable referees who can vouch for your qualities with authority. Having them ready helps you apply early.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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

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.
The Scholarship Hub provides a guide to UK scholarships, as well as a search engine for scholarships, grants and bursaries.
The Wellcome Trust offers information on all Wellcome funding schemes and provides information on funding opportunities in the following areas: biomedical science, population heath, product development and applied research, humanities and social science, public engagement and creative industries.
FindAPhD offers a wide range of options from Research Council studentships and doctoral student loans to funding from universities and independent charities, as well as a wide range of other PhD scholarships.
FindAMasters provides information on a wide variety of scholarships, grants and bursaries available for Masters degrees and other postgraduate courses provided by universities, charities and government funding bodies.
Study Portals lists scholarships in different countries including the UK.
The UK government offers hundreds of scholarships, bursaries and additional financial support to students from several countries and UKCISA provides general advice about searching for funding. 
GRANTfinder 4 Education offers a searchable database of funding opportunities. This is available only for current students. Type Imperial College London in the “Institution Field” and click enter. Once redirected to Imperial’s own login page, enter your College login details to access the site.

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

 A*STAR offers various scholarships, including the National Science Scholarship for Singaporean students with a passion for biomedical sciences, physical sciences and engineering, to study at top research universities around the world.

AKER Scholarships are open to applicants from all academic disciplines, and must be Norwegian or have a strong link to Norway. Imperial College London is one of a select list of leading universities eligible to receive AKER scholars.

See the AKER website for more information, and Imperial College London AKER scholars' biographies.

ACU administers a number of scholarships for Commonwealth citizens (and those permanently resident in a Commonwealth country) to study in the UK.

The Canadian Centennial Scholarship Fund (CCSF), established in 1967, has awarded c£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. Awards are granted to scholars from a wide range of disciplines including science, engineering, social science and humanities as well as music, creative arts and design. Fourteen outstanding Canadian scholars were awarded CCSF scholarships for the 2020-2021 academic year.

 The Canada Memorial Foundation offers full scholarships available to Canadian students applying for any year-long postgraduate course (Masters-level) with a UK university. Candidates must live in Canada.
The Canadian Bureau for International Education offers scholarships for Canadian citizens and residents who wish to study abroad.
The Charles Wallace Trusts offer grants and fellowships towards the costs of education or professional development in the UK to nationals of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Burma.
Google provides a number of scholarships such as: 
  • Generation Google Scholarship (Europe, ME &Africa) - for students pursing undergraduate or graduate degrees in computer science, computer engineering, or a closely related technical field. Women strongly encouraged to apply.
  • Google Europe Students with Disabilities Scholarship - for computer science students with disabilities.
  • Google Conference and Travel Scholarships - for selected conferences in the tech industry and related fields.
The Hongkong Bank Foundation offers the following for full-time undergraduate students to spend one year studying at a designated overseas university, which includes Imperial College London:
 
Applicants must be permanent residents with right of abode in Hong Kong.

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

The Indian Department of Higher Education provides funding opportunities for Indian students studying abroad.
IET provides undergraduate and research awards for individual excellence, research and innovation, scholarships, travel awards, prizes and competitions within the engineering and technology sector:
 
  • IET Postgraduate Research Awards  for postgraduate research students who are IET members. Open to students from outside of the UK.
  • IET Diamond Scholarships/IET Horizons Bursary for UK resident only on an Imperial College London IET accredited undergraduate degree programme. Further information on IET accredited programmes is available on the IET website.
  • Power Academy Scholarship for Home/EU tuition fee paying student starting or currently enrolled on an Imperial IET-accredited undergraduate degree programme. 
Lanekassen is the Norwegian student loan and grant-awarding body which supports Norwegian students to study overseas.
The Leathersellers’ Company awards grants of up to £5,000 per year to study for a full-time degree at any UK university. 
The Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust offers bursaries to UK residents of up to £3,000-5,000 a year towards the cost of a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate degree in any subject. To be eligible, you need to be the child, spouse, widow, widower or personally employed as a commercial traveller, pharmacist or grocer, and in ‘financial need’. You can apply for a bursary for each year of your degree course.
The Martingale Foundation offers a fully-funded scholarship to students pursuing a postgraduate degree (Master's or PhD) in mathematical or statistical sciences.

The scholarship includes:

  • all tuition fees and research expenses, and a tax-free stipend for living costs. 
  • Tailored support to apply for a Martingale PhD Scholarship.
  • Access to the Martingale Development Programme, including leadership training and connections with top academic and industry professionals.
  • Membership of a pioneering community of future STEM leaders.
Applicants must have completed or be currently undertaking an undergraduate degree in maths or a relevant STEM subject.
To apply, you will need to complete our online application form. This helps us understand your background and your motivations to become a Martingale Scholar. You will need to provide an academic transcript, evidence of financial need, and two referees. You will then apply directly to one or more partner universities for an eligible course. Throughout this period, Martingale will run Masters and PhD application support workshops online.
Applications open Monday 5th August 2024 and close on Sunday 27 October 2024. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application on Wednesday 4th December 2024.
The Leverhulme Trust Study Abroad Studentships are available in any subject* for an extended period of advanced study or research at a centre of learning in any overseas country, with the exception of the UK or USA. Applicant must have been resident in the UK for at least three years and hold a degree from a UK institution.  (*except for studies of disease, illness and disabilities in humans and animals and research that is intended to inform clinical practice or the development of medical applications). Duration: Studentships are tenable for between 12 and 24 months.
The London Goodenough Association of Canada supports Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada undertaking graduate study in London. The Scholarships are paid as a credit towards the cost of accommodation at Goodenough College. All Scholarships are awarded for a maximum term of one year.
The Newton PhD programme provides funding for individual partner country students to undertake full PhD studies in the UK, or vice versa.
The PSC Scholarships are offered by the Singapore Government to those interested in pursuing a career in the Public Service. Available to Singapore Citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident willing to take up Singapore Citizenship.
The Royal Television Society: Technology Bursary provides £1,000 per annum to new or first-year undergraduates with gross household income below £35,000 who are intending on pursuing a career in the television industry. Applicants must be studying Computer Science or Engineering Science and must have a Home fee status. Benefits of the bursary include: industry mentoring and placement opportunities, free membership of the RTS and affiliate membership of The Hospital Club. 
The Schwab and Westminster Trust provides a number of scholarships for refugees:  
• Schwab Educational Grants provides up to £2,000 for educational resources.
• Westheimer Scholarship provides up to £11,500 per year for a young asylum seeker undertaking an undergraduate degree in social care, medicine, nursing or related professions.
• Marks Family Charitable Trust for asylum seeking background and people who are not eligible for student finance embarking on a postgraduate degree programme. 

Apply to Santander Universities Black Inclusion Programme for 3,000 university students & grads to win free access to 8-hours of online trending financial topics incl. green finance, blockchain, private equity, etc. & the opportunity to win a £1,500 Santander Scholarship.

Santander Universities UK has joined forces with Finance Unlocked - a comprehensive, on-demand learning platform built specifically for financial education, to run a new and exciting learning experience for Black and Black Mixed undergraduate students in the UK (including students who have recently graduated in the 2019/2020 academic year).

3,000 Black and Black Mixed undergraduate students and recent graduates from all UK universities will have the opportunity to complete an 8-hour online course provided by Finance Unlocked. This will cover a range of concepts including green finance, blockchain, private equity, financial crises, and more. Participants will be able to enhance their financial skills through videos and access to real-life case studies.

Upon completion of the content and online quizzes, students with an average score of 80% or more will have the opportunity to win a £1,500 Santander Scholarship. 30 of these students will be randomly selected using an online random winner selection platform. Students and recent graduates will receive a digital certificate upon completion of the 8-hours content and quizzes to celebrate their participation in the programme.

Applications are via the Santander Universities Becas platform and applications close on 5 March 2021. The 3,000 successful applicants will be announced on 12 March 2021. The online programme for the successful applicants will launch on 30 March and run for 6 weeks. Applicants can complete the programme in their own time across the 6 week period but must complete the full 8 hours of content and associated assessments by 9 May.

The Sir Richard Stapley Educational Trust offers grants to UK residents with a place on a degree course in medicine, dentistry or veterinary studies taken as a second degree, or a full- or part-time place on a Masters or Doctoral degree programme in any discipline at a UK university.
Walcot Foundation Grants are open to Lambeth residents from low income households who are studying (or planning to study) towards a first degree or vocational qualification that has a strong likelihood of leading to employment.  Value: up to £1,500 for non-childcare costs and up to £4,000 for childcare costs.
The Yanai Tadashi Scholarship is available or Japanese citizens to pursue an undergraduate degree and able to use international insights to lead the way in their selected fields and help develop Japanese society.  The scholarship is for a duration of three years. Eligibility requirements can be found via the website above.
The scholarship includes:

  • The maximum of £65,000 per student per year covers university charges for tuition, room and board, and insurance (up to £54,000 annually).
  • A separate payment (up to £11,000 annually) for learning, research, and living expense subsidies.

Application period:

Scholarships offered prior to matriculation: Early July through mid-August
Scholarships for university-accepted students: End-December through early February

To apply, please see the Yanai Tadashi Foundation webpage (only available in Japanese).