British Council Scholarships and Funding Guide 2026: Top UK Scholarships, Eligibility, Benefits and How to Apply
Overview
This guide brings together the main scholarship and funding routes for international students who want to study in the United Kingdom, drawing on British Council information. The routes include government-backed programmes, university awards and other financial assistance, and they differ in eligibility, funding, academic level and application process. Some target students from specific countries, while others focus on leadership, achievement, professional experience or development impact, so no single scholarship suits every international student.
What you get
GREAT Scholarships for 2026-2027 give eligible students from 18 participating countries 10,000 pounds toward tuition fees for selected one-year taught postgraduate courses. More than 140 scholarships are offered by over 60 universities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The award is not a full scholarship, so students must still budget for accommodation, food, transport, flights, visas, health costs, books and personal expenses.
Chevening is a fully funded one-year master's scholarship for emerging leaders. It can cover tuition fees, a monthly living allowance, return travel, visa support, arrival and departure allowances, approved travel grants and leadership and networking opportunities. Commonwealth Scholarships support talented students from eligible Commonwealth countries who might otherwise struggle to afford postgraduate study in the UK. UK universities also offer their own scholarships and bursaries based on excellence, leadership, financial need, nationality, subject, research interests or sporting and creative achievement, some giving partial tuition reductions.
Who can apply
GREAT Scholarships are country-specific. Applicants generally need citizenship of an eligible country, an undergraduate degree, the academic and English-language requirements of the chosen university, an eligible one-year taught postgraduate course and motivation for the subject. Chevening favors professional experience, leadership achievements, community involvement, clear career objectives and a commitment to contribute to the home country. Undergraduate funding exists but is more limited than postgraduate funding, so students should check university and country-specific awards.