Whether you’re embarking on your first degree or advancing your expertise with postgraduate study, the cost of higher education can feel overwhelming. The good news? Thousands of scholarships for undergraduate and masters programs are available to students at every academic level.
From fully funded scholarships covering all expenses to merit-based tuition waivers that reward academic excellence, funding opportunities exist worldwide. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the best bachelor’s and master’s degree funding options for the 2026-2027 academic year.
Why Apply for Undergraduate and Masters Scholarships?
Financial aid for bachelor’s and master’s students offers benefits beyond just money:
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Reduce Student Debt: Graduating with less debt gives you more freedom to pursue your career goals
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Gain Recognition: Competitive scholarships are prestigious additions to your resume
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Access Better Resources: Scholarship recipients often gain access to mentoring networks and special programs
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Focus on Studies: With financial concerns addressed, you can dedicate more time to academic success
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Build Global Networks: Many scholarship programs connect you with fellow scholars from around the world
Types of Scholarships by Degree Level
When searching for funding for undergraduate and graduate students, it helps to understand what’s available at each level:
Undergraduate Scholarships
| Type | Description | Typical Coverage | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic Entrance Awards | Based on admission application; no separate form | £3,000 – £10,000/year | Northumbria International Scholarship (£3,000+) |
| Merit-Based Scholarships | For academic excellence and achievement | Partial to full tuition | Keele Undergraduate Global Scholarship (£3,000/year) |
| Country-Specific Awards | For students from particular regions | Varies | University of Bristol Maharashtra Scholarship (100% tuition) |
| Subject-Specific Grants | For students in targeted fields | Partial tuition | Southampton Delhi Merit Scholar Award (INR 150,000/year) |
Masters Scholarships
| Type | Description | Typical Coverage | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government-Funded Awards | National schemes attracting global talent | £10,000 – full cost | GREAT Scholarships (£10,000-£15,000) |
| Regional Scholarships | Automatic awards for specific countries | £6,000 fee reduction | Leeds International Regional Scholarship (£6,000) |
| Excellence Scholarships | Competitive awards for high achievers | £3,000 – £16,000 | Leeds International Excellence Scholarship (up to £16,000) |
| Executive & Online Awards | For working professionals | 15-20% tuition reduction | Liverpool Online Scholarships (15-20%) |
Chart: Top Undergraduate Scholarships Compared (2026-2027)
| University | Scholarship Name | Award Value | Eligibility | Application | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northumbria University (UK) | Undergraduate International Scholarship | £3,000 first year + £2,000 subsequent years (up to £7,000 total) | Students from 27 countries including USA, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore | Automatic | September 2026 entry |
| Keele University (UK) | Undergraduate Global Scholarship | £3,000 per year (up to 4 years) | International students meeting entry requirements; self-funding | Automatic | September 2026 entry |
| University of Bristol (India) | Maharashtra Fully Funded Scholarship | 100% tuition fee waiver + additional financial assistance | Up to 10 students from Maharashtra, India; focus on students facing socio-economic challenges | Joint selection with CMO | August 2026 entry |
| University of Southampton Delhi (India) | Delhi Presidential Scholarship | Full tuition fee waiver (3-year program) | 1 undergraduate student; exceptional academic preparation | Separate application required | August 2026 entry |
| University of Southampton Delhi (India) | Merit Scholar Award | INR 150,000 per year (renewable for 3 years) | Up to 15 students in Economics, Accounting, Computer Science, Creative Computing, Software Engineering | Automatic for eligible students | August 2026 entry |
| University of Southampton Delhi (India) | Future Talent Scholarship | INR 232,000 tuition reduction | Up to 30 students across all programs | Separate application required | August 2026 entry |
| University of Southampton Delhi (India) | Cambridge Scholarship Award | INR 220,000 first-year reduction | Cambridge International A-Level graduates | Separate application required | August 2026 entry |
Chart: Top Masters Scholarships Compared (2026-2027)
| University | Scholarship Name | Award Value | Eligibility | Application | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial College London (UK) | GREAT – Imperial College London Scholarship | £15,000 towards tuition fees | 4 awards for France, Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria; one-year full-time Master’s | Invitation after admission | 13 March 2026 (admission) |
| Anglia Ruskin University (UK) | GREAT Scholarships 2026 | £10,000 tuition fee deduction | 3 awards for Indonesia, Ghana, India; full-time taught postgraduate | Separate application | 30 April 2026 |
| University of Leeds (UK) | International Regional Scholarship | £6,000 automatic fee reduction | Passport holders from Egypt, India, Japan, Mexico, Peru, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, USA, Vietnam | Automatic | September 2026 entry |
| University of Leeds (UK) | International Excellence Scholarship | £3,000, £6,000, or £16,000 | 500 awards; conditional/unconditional offer; 2:1 equivalent or above | Separate application | Round 1: 27 Feb 2026; Round 2: 15 May 2026 |
| University of Liverpool Online | Executive Scholarship | 15% tuition fee reduction | March/April 2026 intake; various online Master’s programs | Automatic | March/April 2026 |
| University of Liverpool Online | Regional Scholarship | Up to 20% tuition fee reduction | Students in specific regions outside UK | Contact admissions | March/April 2026 |
| University of Liverpool Online | Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship | Fully funded online MPH programs | Commonwealth residents; MPH programs | Via Commonwealth Scholarships Commission | 31 March 2026 |
| University of Southampton Delhi (India) | Delhi Presidential Scholarship | Full tuition fee waiver (1-year Master’s) | 1 postgraduate student; exceptional academic preparation | Separate application required | August 2026 entry |
| University of Southampton Delhi (India) | Future Talent Scholarship | INR 232,000 tuition reduction | Up to 30 students across all programs | Separate application required | August 2026 entry |
| City University of Hong Kong | CityUHK-Cambridge Scholarship | Fully funded (tuition, maintenance, visa, flights) | 5 awards for MBA students pursuing Master of Finance at Cambridge | Nomination required | 2026/27 academic year |
Featured University Scholarships
🟢 Northumbria University (UK) – Undergraduate
Scholarship: Northumbria Undergraduate International Scholarship 2026/27
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Value | £3,000 first year + £2,000 subsequent years (up to £7,000 total) |
| Eligible Regions | Bahrain, Brunei, Myanmar, Vietnam, South Korea, Singapore, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ghana, Lebanon, Morocco, Egypt, Kenya, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, United States, Turkey, Philippines, Jordan, Laos, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates |
| Key Feature | Automatically applied as fee discount—no separate application |
| Requirements | Self-funded international student; full-time undergraduate at Newcastle campus |
| Deadline | September 2026 entry |
🔵 Imperial College London (UK) – Masters
Scholarship: GREAT – Imperial College London Scholarship 2026/27
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Value | £15,000 towards tuition fees |
| Number of Awards | 4 (one each for France, Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria) |
| Eligibility | Passport holder and resident of eligible country; one-year full-time Master’s; overseas fee status |
| Application Process | Stage 1: Apply for Master’s by 7 January 2026; Stage 2: Eligible candidates invited to apply |
| Admission Deadline | 13 March 2026 (must have offer by this date) |
| Outcome | Notification by 30 June 2026 |
🟡 University of Leeds (UK) – Masters
Scholarship: International Regional Scholarship
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Value | £6,000 automatic fee reduction |
| Eligible Countries | Egypt, India, Japan, Mexico, Peru, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United States, Vietnam |
| Key Feature | Automatically awarded—no application required |
| Requirements | Passport holder from eligible country; international fee status; self-funded; conditional/unconditional offer for Masters starting September 2026 |
| Excluded Courses | MBA, fully-online courses, Law (2-year Graduate Programme) LLB |
Scholarship: International Excellence Scholarship
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Value | £3,000, £6,000, or £16,000 |
| Number of Awards | 500 |
| Requirements | International student; conditional/unconditional offer for taught Masters; 2:1 equivalent or above; strong professional/personal skills |
| Application | Separate form (15 minutes); 100-word personal statement |
| Round 1 Deadline | 27 February 2026 (outcomes by 27 March) |
| Round 2 Deadline | 15 May 2026 (outcomes by 12 June) |
🟠 Keele University (UK) – Undergraduate
Scholarship: Undergraduate Global Scholarship 2026
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Value | £3,000 per year (up to 4 years, excluding placement years) |
| Eligibility | Undergraduate international students meeting or exceeding entry requirements; self-funding |
| Key Feature | Automatically awarded—no separate application |
| Exceptions | Foundation Year, Medicine, Harper and Keele Veterinary School programs; fully online courses |
| Pathway Progression | Available to students progressing from KUIC, NCUK, INTO, EF |
| Deadline | September 2026 entry |
🟣 University of Southampton Delhi (India) – Undergraduate & Masters
Scholarship: Delhi Presidential Scholarship
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Value | Full tuition fee waiver (3-year undergraduate or 1-year Master’s) |
| Number of Awards | 2 total (1 undergraduate, 1 postgraduate) |
| Requirements | Strong academic preparation; scholarly engagement |
| Application | Separate scholarship application required |
| Deadline | August 2026 entry |
Scholarship: Merit Scholar Award (Undergraduate)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Value | INR 150,000 per year (renewable for 3 years) |
| Number of Awards | Up to 15 |
| Eligible Programs | Economics, Accounting and Finance, Computer Science, Creative Computing, Software Engineering |
| Requirements | Unconditional offer; exceed scholarship criteria |
| Key Feature | Automatically considered—no separate application |
Scholarship: Future Talent Scholarship
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Value | INR 232,000 tuition reduction |
| Number of Awards | Up to 30 across all programs (undergraduate and postgraduate) |
| Duration | Full undergraduate course or one-year Master’s |
| Application | Separate scholarship application required |
| Deadline | August 2026 entry |
🟤 Anglia Ruskin University (UK) – Masters
Scholarship: GREAT Scholarships 2026
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Value | £10,000 tuition fee deduction |
| Number of Awards | 3 (Indonesia, Ghana, India) |
| Eligibility | Passport holder from eligible country; offer for full-time taught postgraduate starting September 2026; applicable subjects vary by country |
| Application | Complete GREAT Scholarship application form |
| Deadline | 30 April 2026, 11:59pm BST |
| Cannot Combine | With other scholarships or early payment discounts |
🔴 University of Liverpool Online – Masters
Scholarship: Executive Scholarship
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Value | 15% tuition fee reduction |
| Eligible Intakes | March/April 2026 |
| Eligible Programs | MBA, Digital Marketing MSc, Healthcare Leadership MSc, International Human Resource Management MSc, Management MSc, Big Data Analytics MSc, Computer Science MSc, Cyber Security MSc, Information Systems Management MSc, PGCAP, International Business Law LLM, Public Health (MPH) programs, Mental Health Psychology MSc, Organisational and Business Psychology MSc |
Scholarship: Regional Scholarship
| Value | Up to 20% tuition fee reduction |
| Eligibility | Students located in specific regions outside UK |
| Application | Contact admissions team |
Scholarship: Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Value | Fully funded online MPH programs |
| Eligibility | Commonwealth residents |
| Eligible Programs | MPH, MPH Global Health, MPH Global Mental Health, MPH Health Economics and Policy |
| Application | Via Commonwealth Scholarships Commission |
| Deadline | 31 March 2026 |
| Intake | October 2026 |
🟡 City University of Hong Kong – Masters
Scholarship: CityUHK-Cambridge Scholarship for Master of Finance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Value | Fully funded: tuition, maintenance fees, visa fees, immigration health surcharge, round-trip flights |
| Number of Awards | 5 |
| Eligibility | MBA students pursuing Master of Finance at Cambridge’s Judge Business School |
| Application | Nomination required |
| Academic Year | 2026/27 |
How to Find the Right Scholarship for Your Level
For Undergraduate Applicants
1. Check for Automatic Scholarships
Many universities automatically consider undergraduate applicants for merit awards. Northumbria automatically applies their £3,000 scholarship , Keele automatically awards £3,000 per year to eligible students , and Southampton Delhi automatically considers students for the Merit Scholar Award .
2. Look for Country-Specific Opportunities
The University of Bristol offers fully funded scholarships specifically for students from Maharashtra, India . Northumbria’s scholarship is available to students from 27 specific countries .
3. Consider Pathway Progression
If you’re completing a foundation year or international year 1 with providers like NCUK, INTO, or EF, you may qualify for scholarships when progressing to university .
4. Apply for Competitive Awards
For prestigious awards like the Delhi Presidential Scholarship, submit a separate application demonstrating academic excellence and scholarly engagement .
For Masters Applicants
1. Check for Automatic Regional Awards
The University of Leeds offers an automatic £6,000 scholarship to Masters students from 11 countries . No application needed!
2. Apply for Excellence Scholarships
Leeds offers 500 International Excellence Scholarships ranging from £3,000 to £16,000—but you must apply by the deadlines .
3. Explore Government Partnerships
GREAT Scholarships, funded by the British Council and UK universities, offer £10,000-£15,000 for students from specific countries .
4. Consider Online Learning Scholarships
If you need flexibility, University of Liverpool Online offers Executive Scholarships (15%), Regional Scholarships (up to 20%), and fully funded Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships for MPH programs .
5. Look for International Partnerships
The CityUHK-Cambridge scholarship offers fully funded Master of Finance study at Cambridge for nominated MBA students .
Application Tips by Degree Level
For Undergraduate Applicants
| Tip | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Meet or exceed entry requirements | Scholarships like Keele’s £3,000 award are automatic for students meeting requirements |
| Check if you’re from an eligible country | Northumbria’s scholarship is limited to 27 countries |
| Submit unconditional offer quickly | Southampton Delhi Merit Scholar Award requires unconditional offer |
| Apply for competitive scholarships early | Presidential and Future Talent awards require separate applications |
| Consider financial need options | Bristol’s Maharashtra scholarship focuses on students facing socio-economic challenges |
For Masters Applicants
| Tip | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Apply for admission early | Imperial GREAT Scholarship requires offer by 13 March 2026 |
| Check regional eligibility | Leeds Regional Scholarship is automatic for 11 countries |
| Prepare a strong personal statement | Leeds Excellence Scholarship requires 100-word statement |
| Meet English requirements early | Imperial requires English requirements met by 30 June 2026 |
| Consider combining scholarships | Leeds allows combining Regional and Excellence scholarships (up to 100% fees) |
| Check excluded courses | Some scholarships exclude MBA, online courses, or specific programs |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I apply for both undergraduate and masters scholarships at the same university?
Yes, but separately. Universities typically have different scholarship schemes for each level. For example, University of Southampton Delhi offers distinct undergraduate and postgraduate Presidential Scholarships .
Do I need a separate application for automatic scholarships?
No. Scholarships like Northumbria’s Undergraduate International Scholarship , Keele’s Undergraduate Global Scholarship , and Leeds’ International Regional Scholarship are automatically applied—no separate form required.
When should I apply for 2026-2027 scholarships?
Now. Deadlines range from February to June 2026:
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February 2026: Leeds Excellence Scholarship Round 1
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March 2026: Imperial GREAT Scholarship admission deadline ; Liverpool Commonwealth Scholarships
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April 2026: Anglia Ruskin GREAT Scholarship
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May 2026: Leeds Excellence Scholarship Round 2
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June 2026: Wright State Ambassador Scholarship (from previous search) ; Imperial English requirement deadline
Can I combine multiple scholarships?
Sometimes. Leeds allows combining Regional and Excellence scholarships as long as total doesn’t exceed 100% of fees . However, Anglia Ruskin’s GREAT Scholarship cannot be combined with other awards .
Are there scholarships for online masters programs?
Yes. University of Liverpool Online offers Executive Scholarships (15%), Regional Scholarships (up to 20%), and fully funded Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships .
Do I need a specific GPA for scholarships?
Requirements vary. Leeds Excellence Scholarship requires 2:1 equivalent or above . Keele’s Undergraduate Scholarship requires meeting or exceeding published entry requirements . Some scholarships have no specific GPA requirement.
Are there fully funded scholarships for both levels?
Yes. Examples include:
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Undergraduate: University of Bristol Maharashtra Scholarship (100% tuition + additional aid) ; University of Southampton Delhi Presidential Scholarship (full tuition)
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Masters: University of Southampton Delhi Presidential Scholarship (full tuition) ; CityUHK-Cambridge Scholarship (full funding including living costs) ; Liverpool Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships (fully funded online MPH)
Remember: From automatic £3,000 awards at Northumbria and Keele to fully funded Cambridge scholarships , opportunities exist at every level. Start your search today and take the first step toward your future.