Studying in the United Kingdom is excellent for your academic and professional growth. However, for many international students, studying abroad, away from home, can be a taxing and expensive experience. However, getting a scholarship can significantly minimize this financial burden. 

The UK offers several types of scholarships for overseas students. This article will help you learn about some of the most popular scholarship programs.

What Is a Scholarship? 

Scholarships are financial grants meant to aid students in paying the fees and living expenses for their undergraduate, graduate, or postgraduate degree. Scholarships can be given as a one-time check or as renewable grants, paying money for students for every semester or academic year. Scholarship money is not a loan and, therefore, needs not be paid back. They can be given as grants, tuition waivers, or fellowships.

What Are the Types of Scholarships Available for Overseas Students in the UK?

Depending on their source of origin, there are four types of scholarships for UK students:

• UK Government scholarships for international students
• University scholarships for international students
• Private scholarships for international students
• Country-Specific Scholarship Programs

The following sections discuss each of these types of scholarships in detail.

UK Government Scholarships for International Students

The following are the types of UK government scholarships for international students:

• Chevening Scholarships: These are scholarships for overseas students offered by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and partner groups, offering full or partial support for full-time graduate programs.
• GREAT Scholarships: It’s a £10 000 scholarship to fund your tuition fee for a one-year Master’s degree in the UK, offered through a collaboration between the British Government and participating universities to students of selected nations.
• Commonwealth Scholarships for Developing Commonwealth Countries: Scholarships for overseas students from developing Commonwealth nations studying master’s and PhD level courses.
• Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme at UK Universities: These are a group of prominent UK government scholarships for international students pursuing master’s programs in the UK related to the development of technology, economy or society in the student’s native country.
• Marshall Scholarships: These postgraduate scholarships are for US students with proven academic merit, leadership qualities, and diplomatic potential to study in a British academic institution. It doesn’t include students pursuing MBAs and certain other degrees.

University Scholarships for International Students

Several UK universities provide multiple types of scholarship programs. Some reputed university scholarships for international students in the UK include:

• Gates Cambridge Scholarship: It’s a fully-funded scholarship program of £18,744 annually for Masters and PhD students. It also includes health insurance benefits, family allowance and personal development expenses of £2 000.
• Oxford Pershing Square Scholarship: This is a competitive and fully-funded scholarship for students pursuing Masters or MBA courses for financing tuition costs and living expenses.
• Imperial College London Scholarship: This fully-financed scholarship for PhD in Chemical Engineering students provides tuition fees and maintenance costs of up to £22,900 annually.
• University of Bristol: The Think Big Master’s award from the University of Bristol offers scholarships of £6,500, £13,000, and £26,000 annually to finance tuition fees. There are multiple other Bristol University scholarships for international students to help cover their living expenses.

Private Scholarships For International Students

Some reputed private scholarships for international students from non-governmental organizations include:

• Euraxess UK: It’s a European Commission initiative to fund researchers in Europe. It’s run by the British Council in the UK, offering various graduate research scholarships for international students from across the globe.
• CastleSmart Scholarship – CastleSmart offers an annual scholarship of £6,000 for an undergraduate student to study in the UK. The competition applicants should make a convincing YouTube video outlining their academic and professional plans, and it’s open to students from all nationalities.
• The Royal Society Grants – The Royal Society is a Fellowship of various eminent scientists worldwide. The society offers grants and fellowships for skilled researchers in the UK and other locations.
• Surfshark Privacy and Security Scholarship: This $2,000 scholarship prize is available to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students studying in the UK or elsewhere. The program is open to all international nations; you must submit an essay to apply.

Country-Specific Scholarship Programs

Some country-specific non-governmental scholarship programs for international students to study in the UK include:

•  Entente Cordiale Scholarships (for French students)
•  Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships
• Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship Programme (for African students)

Some other prominent scholarship programs include the Felix Scholarship, Saltire Scholarships, etc. Additionally, the University of Edinburgh, Kingston University International, the University of Birmingham, and various other academic institutions provide multiple scholarship programs. Check with your university about the scholarships it provides and their eligibility criteria.

Let us Guide You through the Process 

Looking for scholarship programs to fund your education in the UK? Contact our expert advisers at the Imperial Overseas Educational Consultants. We can help you learn about various scholarship programs available for international students in the UK and their eligibility criteria. Our team can also help you understand all other funding options available and help you make an informed decision.