Top 10 UK fully funded scholarships for international students

If you are looking for some UK fully funded scholarships for your Masters or Ph.D. as an intending international student, this article is for you. The United Kingdom has awarded the highest number of scholarships to international students over the years; as far back as 1902.

Some organizations and institutions collectively award approximately 3,300 UK fully funded scholarships to international students annually and have awarded over 103,500 scholarships since their inception. Let us look at 10 of these UK fully funded scholarships. 

Recommended: Easiest Countries to get a work visa

Chevening Scholarships

This is arguably the number one scholarship in the UK. Chevening is the UK government’s international awards programme aimed at developing global leaders since 1983. Funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and partner organizations, Chevening offers two types of awards – Chevening Scholarships and Chevening Fellowships. 

The recipients are personally selected by British embassies and high Commissions throughout the world. Chevening Scholarships are awarded to approximately 1,500 individuals every year. The scholarship offers full financial support to study for a Master’s degree at any of the UK’s leading universities and the opportunity to become part of an influential global network of 44,000 alumni.

Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) offers around 800 awards for postgraduate study and professional development each year. Over 27,500 Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows have been funded by the UK government through the CSC since 1959. The CSC offers the following scholarships and fellowships each year:

• Commonwealth Ph.D. Scholarships (for low and middle-income countries)
• Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships (for low and middle-income countries)
• Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships
• Commonwealth Shared Scholarships
• Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships
• Commonwealth Undergraduate Scholarships (for candidates from St Helena)
• Commonwealth Ph.D. Scholarships (for high-income countries)
• Commonwealth Rutherford Fellowships
• Commonwealth Medical Fellowships and
• Commonwealth Professional Fellowships

Cambridge Trust International Scholarships

The Cambridge Commonwealth, European & International Trust was established on 1 August 2013 from the merger of the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust and the Cambridge Overseas Trust. The Trust awards approximately 500 scholarships annually and supports between 1,100 and 1,400 students in residence each year from 85 countries across the world.  The Trust has awarded a total of nearly 19,000 scholarships to international students. Awards are offered to selected students at Ph.D., Masters, and undergraduate levels, in all subjects.

Windle Trust Postgraduate Scholarships for Africans

For nearly three decades, Windle Trust International has forged formidable scholarship partnerships with a number of UK universities. To provide postgraduate opportunities to young people from African countries. 

Each year, about 18-20 students come to the UK to study for one-year taught Master’s programmes. The scholarship covers all fees from tuition, and airfare to maintenance stipend for the entire 12 months of study; including leadership training and coaching programme.

Felix Trust Scholarship for Students from Developing Countries at the University of London

The Felix Scholarship was the dream of a generous individual who wished to remain anonymous and is referred to as “the Founder”. As one of the available UK fully funded scholarships, the Felix Scholarship was founded in 1990. It offers gifted underprivileged students from India and certain other developing countries the opportunity to further their postgraduate education by attending a university in the UK. Felix scholarships are offered at three universities – the University of Oxford, the University of Reading, and the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), part of the University of London. Approximately 20 scholarships are awarded per academic year.  A total of 428 scholarships have been awarded since the scheme began; covering the full tuition fees; living costs and return airfare.

University of Nottingham Developing Solutions Masters Scholarships for African and Commonwealth Countries

The University of Nottingham is proud to offer full tuition fee scholarships through the Developing Solutions Scholarship Scheme, founded in 2001. 105 Developing Solutions scholarships are available each year: 30 100% tuition fee and 75 50% tuition fees. Do you want to make a difference in the development of your home country? Then apply for this scholarship.

Gates Cambridge Scholarships for International Students

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship programme was established in October 2000 by a donation of $210million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge. Fully funded Masters and Ph.D. Scholarships are awarded to outstanding applicants from countries outside the UK to pursue a full-time postgraduate degree in any subject at the University of Cambridge. To date, more than 1,700 Gates Cambridge Scholarships have been awarded to Scholars from more than 100 countries. About 90 new Scholarships are awarded each year.

Clarendon Fund Scholarships at the University of Oxford

The Clarendon Fund is one of the UK fully funded scholarships. They offer around 140 fully funded scholarships every year to academically excellent graduate students from all around the world. Clarendon Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic excellence and potential across all degree-bearing subjects at the graduate level at the University of Oxford. The Clarendon Fund was launched in 2001, and since that time has enabled over 2,500 scholars from around the world to undertake graduate study at Oxford.

Rhodes Trust Scholarships at the University of Oxford

Established through the Will of Cecil John Rhodes in 1902, the Rhodes scholarships are the oldest and perhaps most prestigious international scholarship programme in the world. Enabling outstanding young people from around the world to undertake full-time postgraduate study at the University of Oxford. The fellowship of Rhodes Scholars, worldwide and across generations, is active and over 7,000 strong. Each year, 95 Rhodes Scholars are selected from 20 Rhodes constituencies (64 countries) worldwide.

University of Edinburgh MasterCard Foundation Scholarships

The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program at The University of Edinburgh will provide 80 undergraduate and 120 postgraduate African students with fully funded scholarships over the next seven years. 

Students will receive comprehensive support to study at Edinburgh and will benefit from extracurricular course elements including summer schools and internships to build their abilities and make a difference in their home countries and communities on their return.

There you have the top 10 UK fully funded scholarships for international students. For more options, you can read our article on Top 5 cheapest universities in Europe.

When you do get into your choice of school, you will quickly discover that life as an international student can be pretty overwhelming. Especially when it comes to the issue of money. However, there’s a travel companion that’s available to ease off all financial stress and enable you to spend over 10,000 dollars monthly, convert your money to any currency of choice and spend directly from your wallet without hopping from one Bureau de Change to another. 

You will require freedom in converting your cash from one currency to another without stress. Changera helps you achieve this and many more. You can now travel with ease, from booking your ticket to paying for your fees, meals, and even a cab internationally.

All you need to do to enjoy this is simple. Download the app on iOS or Android to get started today and join the elite league of the financially free.