Fully Funded Scholarships in the UK for International Students 2025

The United Kingdom is a global hub for higher education, attracting over 600,000 international students annually with its universities and diverse culture. For 2025, numerous fully funded scholarships are available for non-UK students to pursue bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD programs.

1. Chevening Scholarships 2025-2026

Overview: Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Chevening offers fully funded one-year master’s degrees to outstanding leaders from over 160 countries, starting September 2025.

Benefits

• Full tuition fees.
• Living allowance (~£1,500/month).
• Economy return airfare to the UK.
• Additional grants for research, thesis, and professional development (~£2,000).
• Access to Chevening alumni network and UK events.

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizen of a Chevening-eligible country (e.g., Pakistan, India, Nigeria).
• Minimum 2 years of work experience (2,800 hours, paid or voluntary).
• Bachelor’s degree with upper second-class honors (2:1) or equivalent (~3.0/4.0 CGPA).
• IELTS 6.5+ (no band below 6.0) or TOEFL 79+ (program-specific).
• Commitment to return home for 2 years post-study.
• Not a UK citizen or hold dual UK citizenship.

Application Process

1. Choose three master’s courses at any UK university via chevening.org.
2. Apply online with:
   • Transcripts and degree certificates.
   • Two reference letters.
   • Personal statement (500 words) on leadership and goals.
   • IELTS/TOEFL scores (if required).
3. Deadline: November 4, 2025 (12:00 GMT).
4. Shortlisted candidates attend interviews (February–March 2026); results by June 2026.

Universities

• University of Oxford
• University of Cambridge
• London School of Economics (LSE)
• University College London (UCL)
• University of Edinburgh
• Any UK university offering one-year master’s programs

2. Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships 2025

Overview: Funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), these scholarships support students from developing Commonwealth countries for one-year master’s programs, focusing on development impact.

Benefits

• Full tuition and examination fees.
• Living allowance (~£1,347/month, £1,652 in London).
• Return airfare to the UK.
• Thesis grant (£500) and warm clothing allowance (£450).
• Study-related travel grants within the UK.

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizen of a developing Commonwealth country.
• Bachelor’s degree with at least upper second-class honors (2:1, ~3.0/4.0 CGPA).
• Unable to afford UK study without funding.
• IELTS 6.5+ or TOEFL 90+ (university-specific).
• Apply through a nominating agency (e.g., national ministry, NGO, or university).
• No prior UK study funded by Commonwealth scholarships.

Application Process

1. Apply via the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission’s portal (cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk).
2. Submit:
   • Passport copy.
   • Transcripts.
   • Two recommendation letters.
   • Supporting statement from a nominating agency.
   • Proof of English proficiency.
3. Deadline: October 15, 2025 (16:00 GMT).
4. Nominated candidates interviewed; results by March 2026.

Universities

• University of Manchester
• University of Birmingham
• University of Bristol
• University of Leeds
• University of Southampton
• Eligible UK universities approved by CSC

3. Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2025

Overview: Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, this scholarship supports 80 outstanding international students annually for postgraduate studies (master’s or PhD) at the University of Cambridge.

Benefits

• Full tuition and college fees.
• Maintenance allowance: £20,000/year for up to 4 years.
• Economy return airfare.
• Visa and health surcharge costs.
• Discretionary funding: Academic development (£2,000), family allowance (£10,120 for one child), fieldwork costs.

Eligibility Requirements

• Non-UK citizen (all countries eligible).
• Applying for a full-time master’s (1–2 years) or PhD (3–4 years) at Cambridge.
• Academic excellence (~3.7/4.0 CGPA or first-class honors).
• IELTS 7.0+ or TOEFL 100+ (if required by program).
• Leadership potential and commitment to improving lives.
• Not previously studied at Cambridge for a postgraduate degree.

Application Process

1. Apply for a Cambridge program via cam.ac.uk (select Gates funding option).
2. Submit:
   • Transcripts.
   • Research proposal (PhD) or personal statement (master’s, 500 words).
   • Two academic references and one Gates-specific reference (on leadership).
3. Deadlines: December 3, 2025 (U.S. citizens); January 7, 2026 (others).
4. Shortlisted candidates interviewed (March 2026); results by April 2026.

Universities

• University of Cambridge

4. Clarendon Scholarships at University of Oxford 2025

Overview: Oxford’s Clarendon Fund offers 140 fully funded scholarships for graduate students (master’s and DPhil/PhD) based on academic excellence, starting October 2025.

Benefits

• Full tuition and college fees.
• Living grant: £18,622/yea for full-time students.
• Access to Oxford’s academic resources and alumni network.
• Research and conference funding (program-specific).

Eligibility Requirements

• Non-UK citizen (all countries eligible).
• Applying for a full-time or part-time master’s or DPhil at Oxford.
• Outstanding academic record (~3.7/4.0 CGPA or first-class honors).
• IELTS 7.0+ or TOEFL 100+ (program-specific).
• No separate scholarship application; automatically considered upon course application.

Application Process

1. Apply for a graduate program at ox.ac.uk by the program deadline (December 2025–January 2026).
2. Submit:
   • Transcripts.
   • CV.
   • Personal statement (500–1,000 words).
   • Two–three academic references.
3. Deadlines: Vary by program (December 3, 2025–January 21, 2026).
4. Results announced by April 2026.

Universities

• University of Oxford

5. UCL Global Undergraduate Scholarship 2025

Overview: University College London (UCL) offers 33 scholarships to international students from low-income backgrounds for full-time undergraduate studies, starting September 2025.

Benefits

• 10 awards: Full tuition fees plus maintenance allowance (~£15,000/year).
• 23 awards: Full tuition fees.
• Access to UCL’s academic and career support.
• Renewable for the duration of the program (3–4 years).

Eligibility Requirements

• Non-UK citizen from a low-income household (≤£42,875/year).
• Offer of admission to a full-time UCL undergraduate program.
• Academic merit (~80% or 3.2/4.0 CGPA in high school).
• IELTS 6.5+ (no band below 6.0) or TOEFL 92+.
• Financial need verified post-shortlisting (e.g., bank statements, income proof).

Application Process

1. Apply for a UCL undergraduate program via UCAS by January 29, 2026.
2. Submit scholarship application via UCL’s Portico portal with:
   • Transcripts.
   • Personal statement (500 words) on financial need.
   • Two reference letters.
3. Deadline: April 28, 2025 (17:00 BST).
4. Shortlisted candidates submit financial evidence by mid-May 2025; results by June 2025.

Universities

• University College London

6. GREAT Scholarships 2025

Overview: Launched by the British Council and UK universities, GREAT Scholarships offer over 200 awards of £10,000 for one-year postgraduate programs to students from 18 countries, starting September 2025.

Benefits

• Tuition fee contribution: £10,000.
• Access to welcome and networking events by the British Council.
• Support for justice/law or science/technology programs at select universities.

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizens of an eligible country
• Offer for a one-year taught master’s program at a participating UK university.
• Academic merit (~3.0/4.0 CGPA or upper second-class honors).
• IELTS 6.5+ or TOEFL 90+ (university-specific).
• Relevant work experience or interest in the chosen field.

Application Process

1. Secure an offer from a participating university (list at study-uk.britishcouncil.org).
2. Apply via the university’s scholarship portal with:
   • Offer letter.
   • Transcripts.
   • Personal statement (500 words).
   • IELTS/TOEFL scores (if required).
3. Deadlines: Vary by university (April–June 2025).
4. Results announced 2–3 months post-deadline.

Universities

• University of Edinburgh
• University of Kent
• University of Exeter
• Arts University Bournemouth
• University of York
• Over 70 UK universities (full list at study-uk.britishcouncil.org)

Additional Notes

• Application Tips: Start early, secure university offers first, and tailor applications to highlight academic merit and leadership. Ensure documents are certified. Check scholarship-specific terms to avoid conflicts with other funding.
• Language: IELTS/TOEFL required for most; some accept English-medium education proof (e.g., Medium of Instruction certificate). Duolingo or PTE may be accepted by select universities (e.g., UCL).
• Deadlines: Range from October 2025 to June 2026. Verify exact dates on scholarship websites (e.g., chevening.org, cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk, cam.ac.uk, ox.ac.uk, ucl.ac.uk, study-uk.britishcouncil.org).
• Support: Contact scholarship offices (e.g., [email protected], [email protected]) or local British Council offices.
• Why the UK?: Offers globally recognized degrees, a vibrant multicultural environment, post-study work visas (2 years via Graduate Route), and no mandatory return-to-country bond for most scholarships.

These scholarships provide access to the UK’s elite education system, fostering academic excellence and global networks. For the latest details, visit official scholarship websites or trusted sources like scholars4dev.com, scholarshiproar.com, or ukscholarships.uk. Apply strategically, verify eligibility, and submit complete applications to maximize your chances.