Postgraduate scholarships

What is a postgraduate scholarship?

Scholarships are funding that is offered to students on behalf of certain individuals, companies, institutions and organisations.

Postgraduate scholarships vary in amount, with highly competitive ‘full-ride’ awards covering most or all tuition fees and a larger number of partial scholarships that contribute to your overall funding package.

There are very few scholarships that offer up the full cost of tuition. In general, there does tend to be more funding and scholarships aimed towards research students than taught masters students, but that does not mean that it is impossible to get funding as a taught masters student. Scholarship opportunities are definitely worth looking into, especially if you are not a rich student!

A key difference between scholarships on offer for masters and PhD students is the prerequisite requirements. Many PhD scholarships and funding sources require that the PhD student has studied a research‑accredited masters program first. This can put students who are trying to progress from a taught masters onto a PhD at a slight disadvantage. Although some scholarships are open to all, many are limited to students from certain backgrounds, studying certain subjects or with certain career aspirations, so let us take a look at what scholarships you could consider.

Chevening UK Government Scholarships

Chevening Scholarships are the UK government’s global scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and partner organisations.

Available in over 160 countries and territories, the scholarships are awarded to outstanding future leaders to pursue one‑year masters degrees in any subject and at any UK university. Chevening Scholars typically demonstrate ambition and leadership potential, a strong academic background, and an excellent record of contributing to their home communities and sectors.

Chevening Scholarships = great opportunities

A Chevening Scholar – studying her masters degree at Cardiff University – discusses the opportunities provided by Chevening.  

Find out more about Chevening Scholarships and how to apply for them.

Marshall Scholarships

Marshall Scholarships are for exceptional students from the United States wishing to study at a British university. Eligible students must have an excellent academic record, a robust understanding of their proposed subject area and ambassadorial qualities.

A Marshall Scholarship normally funds one or two years of masters degree study in almost any discipline at any UK university, covering tuition fees, living costs, travel to and from the United States and a range of study‑related allowances.

In recent cohorts, up to 50 Marshall Scholarships have been available each year, with award numbers and deadlines confirmed annually, so applicants should always check the official Marshall Scholarship website for the most up‑to‑date details.

Find out more about Marshall Scholarships and how to apply for them.

Commonwealth Scholarships

The Commonwealth Scholarships are a scholarship scheme to enable outstanding postgraduate students from countries in the Commonwealth to study at British universities, demonstrating the UK’s commitment to the Commonwealth. This UK Government funding scheme is run by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) – an executive non-departmental public body that is sponsored by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

The CSC currently supports hundreds of awards each year across several schemes, covering tuition fees as well as living expenses. Eligibility is focused on candidates from low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries who can demonstrate clear development impact in their study plans.

Find out more about Commonwealth Scholarships and how to apply for them.

Scholarships by country

Certain governments, individuals and organisations offer scholarships specifically for students from their country applying to universities in the UK or generally worldwide. Whether you are from Guernsey or Ghana or anywhere else in between, check out if there are any bursaries from your government or benevolent organisations offering scholarships specifically to students from your country.

Two well‑known examples of this are Fulbright scholarships (for US students coming to study in the UK) and Rhodes Scholarships (for students from certain countries wanting to study at the University of Oxford).

Some countries also support outbound postgraduate study through government‑funded schemes or national loan and grant systems, so it is worth speaking to your ministry of education, local British Council office or national scholarship agency to see what support may be available.

Scholarships by ethnic group

Many organisations are trying to widen participation in postgraduate education by offering scholarships to students from specific ethnic backgrounds. If you think you may be eligible for any scholarships based on this criteria, then check out your options.

Scholarships by profession

Many professional organisations offer scholarships either to students who have previously worked for them or who intend to work for them, or at least are studying in a related field. For example, if you’re looking to do a postgraduate program in law, it is worth contacting law firms and solicitors to see if they are offering scholarships or bursaries.

Similar opportunities can exist in sectors such as engineering, teaching, health, finance and the creative industries, where employers sometimes co‑fund a relevant masters degree in return for a commitment to work for the organisation after graduation. Checking professional associations and trade bodies in your field is a good starting point.

Common scholarships

A common route for many students is to apply for funding and scholarships from one of the seven United Kingdom research councils. Funding and applications are usually handled by universities and not by direct application, although checking with your applicable research council is advisable. And please note that as implied by the name, research council funding is usually limited to research students.

The seven UK research councils are now grouped under UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and are:

•    Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
•    Medical Research Council (MRC)
•    Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
•    Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC)
•    Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
•    Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
•    Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)

Many postgraduate research students are funded through UKRI‑aligned doctoral training programs, so prospective applicants should check individual university and doctoral training partnership pages to see what scholarships are available in their subject area.

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