Top Scholarships Available for International Students in the UK

5 min read

May 17, 2023

The United Kingdom has always been popular among international students looking to further their education. However, studying abroad can be costly, making it challenging for some students to fulfil their educational goals.  

Fortunately, multiple scholarships are available for International students studying in the United Kingdom, which can help reduce financial burdens and make studying abroad more affordable.

This article will provide you with an overview of the top scholarships available for international students in the UK. 

1. Chevening Scholarship

The Chevening Scholarship is a prestigious scholarship awarded by the United Kingdom government to remarkable individuals with proven leadership potential. The scholarship includes tuition, living expenses, and flights to and from the United Kingdom and provides access to a wide range of exclusive academic and cultural events.

Eligibility:

  • Must be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country
  • Must have an undergraduate degree
  • Must have at least two years of work experience
  • Must meet the Chevening English language requirement

Application Process:

  • Apply through the Chevening online application system
  • Submit two references
  • Attend an interview if shortlisted

Judgement Criteria:

  • Leadership potential
  • Academic background
  • Work experience
  • English language skills

Application start date: August 2023

Application deadline: November 2023

Scholarship prizes:

  • Tuition fees
  • Monthly stipend for living expenses
  • Airfare to and from the UK
  • Access to exclusive academic and cultural events
  • Additional funding for research and travel (in some cases)

2. Commonwealth Scholarship

The Commonwealth Scholarship is a fully-funded scholarship offered to Commonwealth citizens wishing to study for a master’s or PhD degree in the United Kingdom. The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission awards the scholarship, which covers living costs, college tuition, and flights to and from the United Kingdom. 

Eligibility:

  • Must be a citizen of a Commonwealth country (excluding the UK)
  • Must hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) standard
  • Must not have studied or worked in a high-income country for more than 12 months

Application Process:

  • Applications must be submitted through the Electronic Application System (EAS)
  • Applicants must also apply to their chosen universities in the UK and secure admission before the scholarship is awarded.
  • Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview.

Judgement Criteria:

  • Academic merit
  • Potential impact on the candidate’s home country
  • Personal qualities and leadership potential

Application start date: September 2023

Application deadline: December 2023

Scholarship prizes:

  • Tuition fees
  • Living expenses
  • Airfare to and from the UK
  • Additional funding for research and travel

3. Gates Cambridge Scholarship

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is a highly prestigious scholarship available to outstanding international students who wish to pursue a master’s or PhD degree at the University of Cambridge.

Eligibility:

  • Applicants must be citizens of any country outside the United Kingdom.
  • Applicants must apply to pursue a full-time residential postgraduate degree at the University of Cambridge.
  • Applicants must demonstrate outstanding intellectual ability, leadership potential, and a commitment to improving the lives of others.

Application Process:

  • Applicants must first apply for admission to the University of Cambridge and a department/programme of study.
  • Once accepted, applicants can apply for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship through the scholarship portal.
  • The application includes a research proposal, essays, and letters of recommendation.
  • Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview.

Judgement Criteria:

  • Academic excellence.
  • Leadership potential and a commitment to improving the lives of others.
  • A good fit between the applicant’s research interests and the University of Cambridge’s research priorities.

Application start date: September 2023

Application deadline: October 2023

Scholarship prizes:

  • Tuition fees
  • Living expenses
  • Airfare to and from the UK
  • Additional funding for research and travel
  • Funding for conferences and fieldwork.
  • Access to a wide range of academic and social events

4. Amber Scholar 

Amber Scholar is a prestigious scholarship program that offers a unique opportunity for students from around the world to pursue their dream education in the UK. This scholarship is designed for students who possess exceptional creativity and visualization skills and are looking to make a difference in their chosen field of study.

Eligibility:

  • Students of any nationality are eligible to apply
  • Applicants must be affiliated with a university in the UK
  • Applicants must have an acceptance letter for any program in the UK

Application Process:

  • Interested students can apply by clicking the “Apply Now” button on the amber Scholar website.
  • Applicants will need to fill out an application form with their creative ideas and visualisations.
  • Once completed, applicants can submit their application.

Judgement Criteria:

  • Execution 
  • Feasibility 
  • Creativity & Visualization
  • Presentation skills
  • Ideation
  • Communication skills

Application start date: 1st May 2023

Application deadline: 15th June 2023

Scholarship Prizes:

The amber Scholar program offers a total of £10,000 in scholarship prizes across three categories

  • First Prize: £5,000
  • Second Prize: £3,000
  • Third Prize: £2,000

Conclusion

We hope this article helps you to identify the top scholarships available for international students in the UK. The availability of these scholarships emphasises the United Kingdom’s dedication to international education and the growth of a diverse academic community. Students who want to study in the UK can consider these scholarships as an alternative for funding their education and accomplishing their career and academic goals.


How can Amberstudent help you? Amber serves millions of students around the world by providing the best and most rewarding experience for booking student accommodation. We are upgraded with the latest COVID protocols and would be more than happy to assist you in booking your student housing. Please tune in to our Facebook and Instagram to stay updated.

Author’s Bio: Archit is an avid writer who is keen to get his doctorate. When not writing, he can be found reading, taking the metro and then questioning this decision, and haunting local bookstores.

 

Take care of your mental health

>
Generation Zen

Students’ Guide to Flying with Singapore Airlines

4 min read
Feb 21, 2024
Like this post
>
Generation Zen

Students’ Guide to Flying with Singapore Airlines

4 min read
Feb 21, 2024
Like this post
>
Generation Zen

How to Ditch the Mindless Scroll and Have Fun on the Internet Instead

6 min read
Dec 22, 2023
Like this post
>
Generation Zen

5 Things You Can STILL Do Online Even in Your F2F Learning

5 min read
Dec 22, 2023
Like this post
>
Generation Zen

How To Channel Confidence This Back-to-School Season

3 min read
Aug 11, 2022
Like this post
>
Generation Zen

Which Wellness Reminder Do You Need Today?

1 min read
May 25, 2022
Like this post
>
Generation Zen

5 Ways To Deal With Face-To-Face Classes Anxiety

6 min read
Apr 22, 2022
Like this post
>
Generation Zen

3 Ways You Can Do a Wellness Check-In

4 min read
Apr 19, 2022
Like this post
>
Generation Zen

5 Ways to Manifest Wellness in Your Life

11 min read
Apr 12, 2022
Like this post
>
Generation Zen

Dear Besties, Why Am I Not Feeling Well Today?

7 min read
Apr 12, 2022
Like this post
>
Digital Learning

3 Ways Online Learning Has Made Us Better Students

5 min read
Mar 18, 2022
Like this post
>
Generation Zen

5 Ways to Positively Use the Internet in 2022

3 min read
Mar 18, 2022
Like this post
View More Stories
Explore new paths
Career Guide

No need to cram! This is the fun kind.

Quests

Learn and earn rewards along the way!

Resources

Planning for college? Don’t worry, we gotchu!

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Let us help you achieve your dream job by matching you with the right schools.

Need more info?

Send us a Message

Error