Quick answer
Here is how to find scholarships UK universities and funders offer: start with the funding pages of the universities you are interested in, then look at government-backed schemes and other funders. Check the eligibility rules and deadlines on each official page, put them in one tracker, and work through the earliest closing dates first. This guide takes you through that process in order, whether you are a UK student or an international one.
Where to look first: university scholarship pages
Start with the universities themselves. UCAS advises searching for university scholarships directly on university websites. It also points to its own scholarships search tool, and says the eligibility criteria are listed on each scholarship's page. That makes the scholarship page itself your main source of truth.
Some universities also run their own search tools. Imperial College London has a searchable list of current scholarship opportunities for prospective and current students, and it says updates are added frequently. Many other universities have something similar, so look for a "fees and funding" or "scholarships" section on each site.
For postgraduate study, look at the course pages too. One university postgraduate admissions office explains that funding deadlines and dates are listed per course in its official course directory. So check the page for your exact course, not just the general funding page.
Here is a simple way to run the search:
- Make a shortlist of three to six universities or courses.
- Open each university's funding or scholarships page and note every award that might fit you, including small ones.
- Search the UCAS scholarships tool to catch awards you might have missed.
- Open the course page for your subject and look for funding dates listed there.
- If you cannot find anything for your course, email the university's funding or admissions team and ask.
When you read an award, look at what it covers. Some awards cover tuition only, some add a living allowance, and some reduce your fees by a set amount. If you are looking for fully funded awards, read the funder's own wording on what is included. Do not assume that a large-sounding award covers everything.
A free way to keep new options coming in
CareerEdu is a free study, scholarships and careers platform for students and graduates worldwide. If you would like new opportunities sent to you rather than searching from scratch each time, you can get free scholarship alerts. Treat any alert as a starting point. Always confirm the current deadline and rules on the official page before you apply.
Government-backed schemes and funder awards
Beyond university pages, some awards come from government schemes and from funders attached to a single university or course. The GOV.UK page on Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office international scholarship programmes lists several. Here is a quick comparison, based on what that page says:
| Scheme | Who it is for | Level of study | Application window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevening Scholarships | International students | 1-year Master's degrees at UK universities | Opens in August or September, closes in November each year |
| Commonwealth Scholarships | Postgraduate students in development-related subjects | Postgraduate | Typically open from September each year |
| Marshall Scholarships | US students going to the UK | Master's or PhD | Opens in May, closes in September each year |
These schemes have their own eligibility rules and selection processes. The table is a summary, not a full list of requirements. Open the official scheme page for the current cycle before you plan around any of it.
Awards run by individual universities can be much narrower. Two examples show how different they can be:
- The Cowrie Foundation Scholarship at SOAS provides tuition fees and a stipend of up to £10,000. It was for Black African and Caribbean heritage applicants from the UK starting undergraduate study in 2025/26, with an application date of 30 April 2025.
- The Southampton Genomics Talent Scholarship offered three scholarships of £2,000 off tuition fees for UK and international students applying to the MSc Genomics in 2025. The application deadline was 13 June 2025.
Those dates have passed, so do not plan around them. They are here to show that awards can be tied to a heritage group, a course, an intake year or a set amount. Search for the current round on each official page.
How to check you are eligible before you apply
Before you write a word of an application, check whether you qualify. It saves hours of wasted effort. The official page for each award is where to confirm the rules.
Some points worth knowing from official guidance:
- You may need an offer first. UCAS says international students applying for university scholarships in the UK often need to have accepted an offer for a full-time undergraduate course. They also need to meet the university's English language and academic requirements. This means you may need to apply for your course before you can apply for the award.
- Each award sets its own rules. UCAS notes that eligibility criteria are listed on each scholarship's page, so read that page and not a summary from somewhere else.
Use this checklist for every award on your shortlist:
- Level of study: is it for undergraduate, Master's or PhD study?
- Course or subject: does it cover your department or programme?
- Intake year: is it for the year you plan to start?
- Who can apply: are there limits on country, background or heritage?
- Academic and English language requirements: do you meet them, or will you by the time you apply?
- Offer status: do you need to hold an offer first?
- What it covers: tuition, living costs, a fixed sum, or a partial reduction?
- Documents: what does the application ask you to submit?
- Other funding: does the page say whether it can be combined with other awards?
If you cannot tell from the page whether you are eligible, ask the university's funding team. Do not guess.
Spotting scams
Be careful with any message or website that asks you to pay to apply for a scholarship or to receive one. Be careful too with messages that say you have won something you never applied for, or that push you to reply quickly. Go to the official website of the university or funder directly, rather than using a link in a message, and check that the award appears there.
How to sort out deadlines
Missed deadlines are a common reason students lose out on funding, so treat dates as the heart of your plan.
Some useful points from official sources:
- Do not leave it late. UCAS says many scholarship processes require an online application form submitted well before the deadline. It advises against waiting until the last minute because the forms may need supporting documents.
- Large schemes can close early in the year. Newcastle University's postgraduate funding guidance says large UK scholarship schemes often close in early spring, but awards are offered throughout the year. It suggests checking often for new postings.
- Dates can sit on course pages. As covered above, funding deadlines may be listed per course in a university's course directory.
Dates change from one cycle to the next. Always use the current cycle's information from the official page, not last year's.
Build a simple deadline tracker
Use a spreadsheet, a notes app or a paper planner. For each award, record the following.
| What to record | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Name and provider | So you can find it again |
| Link to the official page | So you can recheck the details |
| Opening date | When you can start applying |
| Closing date and time | Include the time zone if you are overseas |
| What it covers | So you can compare awards fairly |
| Documents needed | So you can prepare early |
| Your own deadline | Set it one to two weeks before the real one |
| Status | Not started, in progress, submitted, result received |
Your own earlier deadline gives you a buffer for website problems, missing documents or a referee who needs a reminder.
Sort by closing date, not by value
It is tempting to start with the biggest award. Instead, put your list in closing-date order and begin with the earliest. You can still spend extra time on the larger awards, but you will not miss a smaller one while polishing a bigger one.
What to do first: a step-by-step checklist
If you are not sure where to begin, follow these steps in order.
- Decide your course, level and intake. A scholarship search only works when you know what you are applying for. If you have not chosen a university yet, shortlist a few.
- Work out your funding gap. Estimate your tuition and living costs, then subtract what you already have, such as savings or family support. This tells you roughly how much you need to find.
- Search each university's funding pages. Use the university website and the UCAS scholarships search tool. Note every award you might qualify for, including small ones.
- Check the course pages. Look for funding dates listed for your specific course.
- Look at government-backed schemes and funders. Read the official pages for any scheme that matches your level and subject.
- Check eligibility for each award. Use the checklist above. Remove any award you clearly do not qualify for.
- Record deadlines in one tracker. Add your own earlier deadlines.
- Gather your documents. These often include transcripts, certificates, a CV, a personal statement or essay, and references. English language test results may also be needed. Read each award's list of required documents, because they differ.
- Contact your referees early. Give them the award details, your deadline and a short summary of your achievements.
- Write a tailored application for each award. Do not send the same essay to every provider. Answer the exact question asked.
- Proofread and ask someone else to read it. A second reader catches mistakes and unclear points.
- Submit early and keep a copy. Save any confirmation and a copy of what you sent.
Tips for a stronger application
- Use the criteria. If the award is about leadership or community involvement, give specific examples rather than general statements.
- Be specific. "I organised a weekly study group for first-year students" tells the reader more than "I am a good team player".
- Explain your plans. Say why you chose your course and what you hope to do next.
- Keep to the word limit. Going over can count against you.
- Reuse your research, not your wording. Your facts stay the same, but rewrite how you present them for each application.
Most scholarships are competitive, so apply for several, including smaller awards. Keep a back-up plan for funding your studies. If an application is unsuccessful, ask whether the provider gives feedback and use it next time.
Frequently asked questions
When should I start looking for scholarships in the UK?
As early as you can. Some schemes close well before a course starts. For example, Chevening applications close in November each year, and large UK schemes often close in early spring. If you are closer to your start date, keep searching, because awards are also offered throughout the year. Check the official page for the dates that apply to you.
Can international students get scholarships in the UK?
Yes, some awards are open to international students. The GOV.UK page lists government-backed schemes such as Chevening, Commonwealth Scholarships and Marshall Scholarships, and universities run their own awards too. Each has its own rules, so read the official page before you apply.
Do I have to pay to apply for a scholarship?
You should be cautious about any request for payment to apply for or receive a scholarship. Go to the official website of the university or funder directly to check whether the award exists and how to apply. If you are unsure, ask the university's funding team.
Can I apply for more than one scholarship at a time?
You can usually apply for several, and it makes sense to. Check each award's page for any rules on combining it with other funding. If the page does not say, ask the provider or your university's funding team.
Keep track of scholarship alerts
New awards appear throughout the year, and details change. A search you did in September may be out of date by January. A small routine helps:
- Spend 20 to 30 minutes once a week checking your shortlisted university pages and your tracker.
- Add new awards with their deadlines.
- Update the status of anything you have started.
- Look at the next three deadlines and decide what you need to do this week.
- Set calendar reminders for your own early deadlines.
CareerEdu publishes free scholarship alerts alongside guides on applications, essays, CVs, interviews, internships and graduate jobs. You can get free scholarship alerts and use them to add new options to your tracker. Before you apply for anything, check the current deadline and rules on the official funder or university page.