Studying for a master's degree in the United Kingdom is one of the most popular goals for overseas students, but tuition and living expenses can total tens of thousands of pounds each year. The good news is that the UK has some of the world's most generous fully funded scholarship programs, which cover tuition, living expenses, and even flights for students from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and others. This article explains how to receive a UK fully funded master's scholarship, leads you through the whole application process, and tells you when to apply for each major scholarship so you never miss a deadline.
Whether you are a recent graduate or an early career professional, understanding which scholarships you are eligible for, how the selection process works, and when to submit your applications might be the difference between paying full overseas tuition and studying in the UK for free.
What Counts as a Fully Funded UK Master's Scholarship
A fully funded scholarship generally covers all of the following.
- Full tuition fees at a UK university for the length of your master's program
- A monthly living allowance or stipend to cover accommodation, food, and daily expenses
- Return flights between your home country and the UK
- Visa application costs and sometimes the Immigration Health Surcharge
- An arrival allowance to help you settle in during your first weeks
Not every scholarship covers all of these items. Some, such as the GREAT Scholarships, provide a partial tuition fee contribution rather than full funding, while others, such as Chevening and the Commonwealth Scholarships, are considered genuinely fully funded because they cover tuition, living costs, and travel together.
Major Fully Funded UK Master's Scholarships for International Students
1. Chevening Scholarships
Chevening is the UK government's flagship international scholarship program, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. It funds a one year master's degree at any UK university in any subject, and it is open to citizens of more than 160 eligible countries and territories. Chevening is aimed specifically at early to mid career professionals who already show leadership potential, rather than students moving straight from an undergraduate degree.
To qualify, you generally need at least two years of work experience, equivalent to around 2,800 hours, an undergraduate degree that qualifies you for entry to a UK master's program, and a genuine commitment to return to your home country for at least two years after the award ends. Chevening covers tuition fees, a monthly stipend, travel costs, an arrival and departure allowance, and the cost of one visa application.
2. Commonwealth Scholarships
Commonwealth Scholarships are administered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK and are open to citizens of eligible Commonwealth countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, India, and dozens of others. There are several strands of Commonwealth funding relevant to master's students.
- Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are jointly funded by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and participating UK universities, and are aimed at students from lower and middle income Commonwealth countries who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK.
- Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships allow students to complete a UK master's degree remotely from their home country, without needing to relocate.
- Commonwealth Master's Scholarships support full time, on campus master's study for candidates from lower income Commonwealth countries.
These scholarships typically cover tuition fees, a living allowance, return airfare, and other essential costs, and applicants must demonstrate both academic merit and a clear commitment to contributing to development in their home country after graduation.
3. GREAT Scholarships
The GREAT Scholarships programme is a partnership between the UK government's GREAT Britain Campaign, the British Council, and more than sixty UK universities. Each scholarship is worth a minimum of ten thousand pounds toward tuition fees for a one year taught postgraduate course, making it a valuable partial award rather than a complete full ride. GREAT Scholarships are available to citizens of a defined list of eligible countries, which usually includes Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, and several others depending on the participating university.
Unlike Chevening or Commonwealth funding, GREAT Scholarships are applied for directly through each participating university rather than through a single central application, so deadlines and requirements vary by institution.
4. Gates Cambridge Scholarship
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is one of the most prestigious and competitive awards in the world, funding full time postgraduate study, including eligible one year master's courses, at the University of Cambridge. It is open to citizens of any country outside the United Kingdom and covers full tuition fees, a generous living allowance, one economy return flight, and visa related costs. Competition is extremely high, with roughly eighty scholarships awarded each year from thousands of applicants, so a strong academic record and a compelling personal statement are essential.
5. University Specific Scholarships
Beyond the major national and Cambridge specific awards above, many UK universities run their own fully funded or partially funded scholarships for international master's students, often targeted at specific regions, subjects, or levels of financial need. These are usually smaller in value than Chevening or Commonwealth funding but are often less competitive and can sometimes be combined with other scholarships or personal savings to cover the full cost of study.
Comparison of Popular UK Fully Funded Master's Scholarships
The table below summarises the main scholarship programs covered in this guide, what they typically fund, and the general period of the year when applications open. Always confirm exact opening and closing dates on the official scholarship website for the specific year you plan to apply, since these can shift slightly from year to year.
General Application Procedure for UK Fully Funded Master's Scholarships
While each scholarship has its own specific requirements, the overall process for applying to a fully funded UK master's scholarship follows a similar pattern.
- Research your eligibility. Confirm your nationality is on the eligible country list, check the required years of work experience if any, and review the minimum academic qualifications needed.
- Choose your course and university. Some scholarships, like Chevening, allow you to apply to a scholarship first and choose your university course later, while others, like the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships and GREAT Scholarships, require you to secure a university course offer before or alongside your scholarship application.
- Apply for university admission if required. Submit your academic transcripts, personal statement, references, and English language test results directly to your chosen UK university.
- Complete the scholarship application. This usually involves an online application form, several essay questions on your leadership potential, career plans, and reasons for wanting to study in the UK, plus academic and professional references.
- Submit before the deadline. Scholarship application systems often become very busy in the final days before a deadline, so submit early rather than waiting until the last moment.
- Attend an interview if shortlisted. Competitive scholarships such as Chevening and Commonwealth awards typically include an interview stage for shortlisted candidates.
- Secure an unconditional university offer. Many scholarships require you to confirm an unconditional offer from a UK university by a set deadline before your scholarship can be finalised.
- Receive your final scholarship decision. Successful candidates are usually notified several months before the academic year begins, giving time to arrange a UK Student visa and travel.
Documents You Will Typically Need
- A valid international passport
- Academic transcripts and degree certificates
- An updated CV or resume
- A personal statement or several scholarship specific essays
- Two or three academic or professional reference letters
- English language test results, such as IELTS or TOEFL, if required
- Proof of work experience, where the scholarship requires it
- A university admission offer letter, for scholarships that require one before final selection
When to Apply: A Realistic Annual Timeline
Because most UK master's programs begin in September, the majority of fully funded scholarship cycles follow a predictable annual rhythm. Understanding this rhythm helps you plan your applications well in advance rather than scrambling close to a deadline.
- August to October (the year before your intended start): Chevening applications typically open in early August and close in early October. This is usually the earliest major scholarship deadline in the annual cycle, so it is worth preparing your essays and references over the summer.
- September to January: Gates Cambridge applications open in September, with deadlines in December or January depending on your chosen course, alongside your application for admission to the University of Cambridge.
- November to December: Commonwealth Shared Scholarships typically open in mid November and close in early to mid December, requiring you to have already secured, or be close to securing, a university course offer.
- January to April: Many GREAT Scholarships and individual university scholarships open during this window, often requiring a conditional or unconditional university offer before you can express interest in the award.
- February to March: Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships generally open in mid February and close at the end of March, for students who want to study a UK master's remotely.
Because deadlines can move slightly from year to year, it is essential to check the official page for each scholarship a few months before you plan to apply, rather than relying only on the previous year's dates.
Tips to Strengthen Your Scholarship Application
- Start your personal statement and essays several months before the deadline, since strong scholarship essays usually go through multiple rounds of revision.
- Tailor each essay to the specific scholarship rather than reusing a single generic statement, since selection panels can easily spot essays that were not written with their program in mind.
- Choose referees who know your academic or professional work well and can speak specifically to your leadership potential and future goals.
- Apply to more than one scholarship where your eligibility allows, since this increases your overall chances of receiving funding.
- Secure your university course offer as early as possible, since several scholarships will not finalise your award until you have an unconditional offer in hand.
- Keep a personal calendar of every scholarship deadline relevant to you, since many strong candidates miss out simply by applying too late rather than being rejected on merit.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Waiting until the final week to start your application, which leaves no time to refine your essays or gather strong references.
- Assuming a partial scholarship, such as GREAT Scholarships, will cover your full costs without additional personal or family funding.
- Failing to confirm your specific country's eligibility before investing weeks of preparation into an application.
- Submitting the same generic essay to multiple scholarships without adjusting it to each program's specific selection criteria.
- Not applying for a university course early enough to have an offer ready in time for scholarship deadlines that require one.
Step by Step Summary
- Confirm which scholarships you are eligible for based on your nationality, qualifications, and work experience.
- Research your preferred UK universities and courses well ahead of your target intake.
- Apply for university admission where required, aiming to secure an offer before scholarship deadlines.
- Prepare your personal statement, essays, and references over several months rather than at the last minute.
- Submit your scholarship application before the deadline, ideally several days early.
- Prepare thoroughly for an interview if you are shortlisted.
- Confirm your unconditional university offer if required, then await your final scholarship decision.
- Apply for your UK Student visa once your scholarship and university place are confirmed.
Ready to start your search? You can explore official scholarship listings and begin your application directly through the Chevening Scholarships official application portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest fully funded UK scholarship to get?
There is no universally easy scholarship, since all major UK funded awards are competitive, but Commonwealth Shared Scholarships and GREAT Scholarships tend to have a narrower applicant pool than Chevening, since they are tied to specific universities or courses rather than open to every applicant across the country.
Do I need work experience to apply for Chevening?
Yes. Chevening generally requires at least two years of work experience, equivalent to around 2,800 hours, since the scholarship targets early to mid career professionals rather than recent graduates with no work history.
Can I apply for more than one UK scholarship at the same time?
Yes. Applying to multiple scholarships, such as Chevening alongside a Commonwealth or GREAT Scholarship application, is common practice and can increase your overall chances of receiving funding.
Do fully funded scholarships cover my family if I bring dependents?
Some scholarships offer a limited family allowance for dependents, but this usually covers only part of the additional cost, so students planning to relocate with family members should budget for extra expenses beyond what the scholarship provides.
When should I start preparing my scholarship application?
Ideally, you should start researching scholarships and preparing your personal statement at least six months before the relevant deadline, since strong essays and reference letters take time to develop and refine.
Is IELTS required for UK scholarship applications?
Scholarship bodies themselves, such as Chevening, generally do not set their own English test requirement, but the UK university course you apply to almost always requires an approved English language test such as IELTS or TOEFL as part of admission.
What happens if I do not secure a university offer before the scholarship deadline?
Several scholarships, including Commonwealth Shared Scholarships, require you to have applied for or secured a university offer before the scholarship deadline, so it is important to start your university application well in advance of the scholarship's closing date.
Are UK fully funded scholarships only for master's degrees?
No. While this guide focuses on master's level funding, many of the same organisations, including Chevening in select cases and the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, also offer funding for other qualification levels, so it is worth checking each scholarship's full list of eligible programs.