Studying in the UK: finding finance and scholarship options
There are many financial support options available for international students considering studying in the UK – the tricky part is finding out which of them your students are eligible for
Des Cutchey, International development lead, UCAS
Created in partnership with
Created in partnership with
Many financial support options are available for international students considering studying in the UK. But, with availability and criteria varying from year to year and options depending on individual circumstances, the tricky part is finding out which of them your students could be eligible for.
Here are our tips on finding out what financial support exists for international applicants, and how you can help them access it.
What’s available for undergraduate applicants?
In the UK, undergraduate tuition fees differ for domestic (home) students and those from overseas (international). This is influenced by many factors – including where an applicant is currently studying or living – and each higher education provider follows its own process of determination.
It’s also worth noting that while domestic fees for a course will mostly be the same across institutions, international fees can vary significantly from university to university and from course to course. For further guidance on tuition fee status, the UKCISA website is a great resource.
Scholarship schemes
In the UK, many universities manage their own scholarship schemes. Some have country- or region-specific scholarships. Some offer merit-based scholarships linked to academic achievement. Others offer application-based competitive scholarships. Advise your students to check carefully with individual institutions what’s available, the requirements, any early deadlines and their expectations. Students can use the UCAS search tool to find university profiles and then browse the scholarships or bursaries offered by individual institutions.
Education loans
Some countries offer an official education loan system, such as FAFSA in the USA. Others offer sponsorship options, such as the Saudi Cultural Bureau. These are often eligible to be used overseas, including at UK universities. Be aware that certain funding options can only be used for selected universities or courses, so applicants should check with the entity providing the sponsorship or loan before they decide where (and what) to study.
Learn more about the scholarships, grants, and bursaries available for international undergraduate applicants.
What about postgraduate options?
Those undertaking postgraduate degrees in the UK have a wide range of scholarship opportunities available to them. These include scholarships directly from their chosen university, government funding and charitable support. Large scholarship schemes include:
- Chevening Scholarship, a UK scheme offering financial support to international students with academic potential.
- Commonwealth Scholarships, which financially support students from developing Commonwealth countries to study in the UK. Scholarships are typically awarded to postgraduate students to cover tuition and transport, and provide a monthly allowance.
- GREAT Scholarship, offering students from certain countries the opportunity for a scholarship towards their tuition fees for a wide range of one-year taught postgraduate courses.
Make sure students check the terms and conditions carefully, because there may be an expectation that they will proceed to work in a certain industry in their home country after graduating.
How can I find out more about finance and scholarships in the UK?
Download the UCAS International mobile app
With so many different providers of scholarships, the eligibility criteria and application processes can vary wildly. The UCAS International mobile app has a new scholarship-matching tool to help international students easily find financial support they may be eligible for. It’s free to download and a great resource for your students.
Ask questions
Those reviewing scholarship applications are usually very busy, but they’ll be happy to help your students if they have a valid question. Before they contact the university or attend an open day (virtually or in person), they should draw up a clear list of great finance and scholarship questions to ask. This will help them better understand availability, requirements and expectations.
There is a huge amount of information available online, and sometimes it can be hard to narrow down which opportunities your students may be eligible for. By using some of the tips and resources above, including the UCAS International mobile app and UCAS search tool, you could unlock a wealth of opportunities for your students.