The United Kingdom has one of the most structured scholarship ecosystems in the world, covering domestic students, EU students, and international applicants across undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels. Understanding which types of scholarships exist in the UK, who funds them, and how eligibility works is the essential first step before beginning any scholarship application.
This guide answers the most commonly searched questions about UK scholarship types in a format designed for clarity and direct answers.
What Are the Main Types of Scholarships in the UK?
The main types of scholarships in the UK are government-funded scholarships, university scholarships and bursaries, subject-specific scholarships, need-based grants, merit-based awards, international scholarships, and charitable trust scholarships. Each type targets a different student profile and is funded by a different organization. Many students qualify for more than one type simultaneously.
What Are Government-Funded Scholarships in the UK?
Government-funded scholarships in the UK are awarded by UK government bodies to support study at UK institutions or abroad. The most prominent government scholarship programs include the Chevening Scholarship, the Commonwealth Scholarship, and the Fulbright UK Awards.
The Chevening Scholarship is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and targets outstanding postgraduate students from eligible countries around the world. Chevening covers full tuition, a monthly living stipend, and return airfare. It is one of the most prestigious international scholarships available for study in the UK and is awarded based on leadership potential, academic merit, and career trajectory.
The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) funds postgraduate students from Commonwealth countries to study in the UK, with a focus on applicants who demonstrate the potential to contribute to development in their home country after completing their studies.
For domestic students, the UK government provides financial support primarily through the Student Loans Company in the form of Tuition Fee Loans and Maintenance Loans rather than direct scholarships. These are income-assessed and repayable, which distinguishes them from scholarship funding that does not require repayment.
What Is a Chevening Scholarship?
A Chevening Scholarship is a fully funded UK government scholarship for outstanding international students to pursue a one-year master's degree at any UK university. It is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and Chevening partner organizations.
Chevening scholarships are open to citizens of Chevening-eligible countries who have at least two years of work experience, a strong academic background, and a demonstrable commitment to returning to their home country after completing their studies. Awards cover full tuition fees, a living allowance, return economy airfare, and an arrival allowance.
Chevening is awarded based on four core criteria: leadership and influence, networking ability, academic merit, and alignment between the proposed course of study and the applicant's career goals. Applications open annually and the deadline typically falls in November for scholarships beginning the following academic year.
What Are University Scholarships and Bursaries in the UK?
University scholarships and bursaries in the UK are funded directly by individual institutions and are awarded to students based on academic merit, financial need, or a combination of both. These awards vary significantly across institutions in terms of amount, eligibility criteria, and application process.
A bursary in the UK specifically refers to a non-repayable financial award typically based on household income or financial need, while a scholarship more commonly refers to an award based on academic or extracurricular achievement. In practice, many universities use the terms interchangeably, and students should check each institution's specific definitions and criteria.
Most UK universities offer at least one scholarship or bursary program. High-ranking institutions including Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, and University College London offer substantial scholarship funding across postgraduate and undergraduate programs, with Oxford and Cambridge providing significant support through their collegiate systems in addition to centrally administered awards.
Students applying to UK universities should check the scholarships section of each institution's website and note that some university scholarships require a separate application while others are awarded automatically based on admission performance or UCAS points.
What Are Subject-Specific Scholarships in the UK?
Subject-specific scholarships in the UK are awarded to students pursuing a particular field of study. These scholarships are funded by professional bodies, government agencies, research councils, and private organizations that have a vested interest in developing talent in a specific discipline.
Common subject-specific scholarship categories in the UK include STEM scholarships funded through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and other UK Research and Innovation bodies, healthcare scholarships funded through the NHS and Health Education England, teacher training scholarships administered by the Department for Education, and law and business scholarships funded by firms and professional associations.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funds doctoral studentships across multiple research councils including the EPSRC, ESRC, AHRC, and MRC, which cover tuition fees and a stipend for PhD students in eligible research fields. These studentships represent some of the most substantial scholarship funding available to postgraduate researchers in the UK.
For students entering initial teacher training (ITT), the UK Department for Education offers tax-free bursaries and scholarships in shortage subjects including mathematics, physics, chemistry, and computing, with amounts varying based on the subject and the applicant's degree classification.
Subject-specific scholarships in the UK are frequently less competitive than general awards because eligibility is restricted to students in a particular field. Filtering by subject area on listscholarship.com helps identify subject-specific awards that match a student's intended course of study.
What Are Need-Based Grants and Scholarships in the UK?
Need-based grants and scholarships in the UK are awarded based on household income and financial circumstances rather than academic performance. These awards are designed to reduce financial barriers to higher education for students from lower-income backgrounds.
At the government level, the Maintenance Loan from Student Finance England, Student Finance Wales, Student Finance Scotland, and Student Finance Northern Ireland is partially income-assessed, meaning students from lower-income households receive a higher loan amount. Scotland additionally provides eligible Scottish domicile students with Maintenance Grants that do not require repayment.
At the institutional level, many UK universities offer income-assessed bursaries that are awarded automatically to students whose household income falls below a defined threshold. The amount and structure of these bursaries varies by institution. Some universities provide cash bursaries, others provide fee discounts, and some offer in-kind support such as free or subsidized accommodation.
Charitable trusts and foundations also provide need-based funding to UK students in specific circumstances, including students who are care leavers, students from refugee backgrounds, students with disabilities, and students who are estranged from their families. These awards are often not listed on major scholarship databases and require direct outreach to relevant charitable organizations.
What Are Merit-Based Scholarships in the UK?
Merit-based scholarships in the UK are awarded based on academic achievement, talent, or demonstrated excellence in a specific area rather than financial need. These scholarships are offered by universities, private foundations, professional organizations, and corporations.
At the undergraduate level, merit scholarships in the UK frequently take the form of entry scholarships awarded to students who achieve exceptional A-level grades or equivalent qualifications. Some institutions offer automatic awards to students who exceed a defined grade threshold, while others require a separate application or nomination.
At the postgraduate level, merit scholarships are more common and more substantial. Universities frequently offer partial or full fee waivers to high-achieving applicants, and private foundations offer competitive awards to postgraduate students with strong academic records and clear research or professional goals.
The Rhodes Scholarship, one of the most prestigious merit-based international awards available for study at Oxford, selects recipients based on academic excellence, leadership, commitment to service, and potential for future contribution. It covers full tuition, a living stipend, and additional allowances for the duration of a postgraduate degree at Oxford.
What Are International Scholarships Available in the UK?
International scholarships for study in the UK are available from government bodies, UK universities, charitable foundations, and bilateral scholarship programs between the UK and specific countries.
In addition to Chevening and the Commonwealth Scholarship, international students can access funding through the British Council, which administers several scholarship programs; the Marshall Scholarship, which supports US graduates studying in the UK; and the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, which funds outstanding postgraduate applicants from outside the UK to study at Cambridge.
Individual UK universities also offer international scholarships that are separate from national government programs. These institutional international scholarships vary in coverage from partial fee discounts to full funding packages, and they are typically competitive awards based on academic merit and the applicant's country of origin.
International students considering study in the UK should check both the national scholarship programs listed above and the international scholarship sections of their target universities before relying on self-funding or loans.
What Are Charitable Trust Scholarships in the UK?
Charitable trust scholarships in the UK are funded by independent charitable organizations, family foundations, livery companies, and professional guilds that have historically supported education as part of their charitable mission. These scholarships represent some of the least known and least competitive funding available to UK students.
The City of London Livery Companies, including guilds such as the Goldsmiths, the Clothworkers, and the Drapers, administer scholarship funds that support students in specific fields or from specific backgrounds. The Leverhulme Trust funds postgraduate and research scholarships. The Nuffield Foundation supports social science research. Hundreds of smaller trusts fund awards ranging from a few hundred to several thousand pounds annually, often for students from specific geographic areas, family backgrounds, or professional fields.
Charitable trust scholarships are not well represented on major scholarship databases because many trusts do not advertise their programs publicly and instead rely on applications received through institutional nominations or direct contact. Students who research charitable trust funding systematically, through resources such as the Directory of Social Change's Guide to Educational Grants, consistently find funding sources that their peers never identify.
Can Students in the UK Hold Multiple Scholarships at Once?
Yes. Students in the UK can hold multiple scholarships simultaneously provided each scholarship's terms permit it and the combined funding does not exceed the cost of study and living expenses as defined by the relevant funding bodies.
Government scholarship programs such as Chevening typically require recipients to notify the funder if they receive other awards and may reduce their stipend accordingly. University bursaries based on household income are often adjusted when combined with other institutional support. Private charitable scholarships generally do not impose restrictions on other funding held simultaneously.
Students should read the terms and conditions of each scholarship carefully and disclose other awards received to their financial aid office and to each scholarship provider when required. Holding a combination of a government scholarship, a university bursary, and a subject-specific award is both possible and common among well-funded UK students who approach scholarship searching systematically.
For updated listings of all UK scholarship types filtered by eligibility, level of study, subject area, and deadline, visit listscholarship.com.
