Introduction
In the United Kingdom (UK) we warmly welcome international students and are aware of the educational, commercial, political and developmental benefits they bring. In return, students will benefit from their studies in the UK, and pass on this benefit to their home countries. British university education continues to offer good value for money - the quality of teaching is high, as is the international status of British qualifications.

The majority of international students who come to study in the UK pay for their courses privately, but study can be costly and many students need to apply for scholarships or grants. The British government and other UK organisations provide a number of scholarships and awards to help international students to study in the UK. The main schemes are described below.

Where do I start?
You may first wish to contact your own Ministry of Education or Education Department, as they should have details of scholarship opportunities for students wishing to study overseas. They will also be able to advise you on your own government's conditions for studying abroad. You may also contact the British Council office in your country of origin, which should have details of British scholarship schemes. The British Council will be able to give you information about educational and training courses and about living in the UK, including how much it costs to study. If there is no British Council office, then contact your nearest British Embassy or High Commission.

Please note:
You should not travel to the UK or begin a course of study without making sure that you have enough money to cover all your academic fees and living expenses. It is virtually impossible to make arrangements for financial support once you have left your own country.

Also, the immigration authorities will not normally allow you into the UK unless you have evidence that you can cover the costs of your proposed study.

How do I apply for a scholarship?
The competition for scholarships and grants to study in the UK is very strong. Most grant-making organisations will insist that you meet some very strict requirements. If you do not meet all the requirements for a grant, then your application will not be considered.

When you apply for a grant remember:

1) You must apply for your grant at least one year before your course starts. Deadlines vary, so you must check that you know what the deadline is before applying.

2) Your application should be clear and concise. You should use the grant-making body's application form if it has one

3) The majority of the grant-making bodies (such as those listed in useful resources) will only give small amounts of money, which will not cover the full cost of a course.


Are postgraduate scholarships available?

Yes! The main schemes are listed below.

British Chevening Scholarships
Funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The aim of British Chevening scholarships is to bring to the UK present and future leaders, decision-makers and opinion-formers, including particularly able students from countries with whom the UK's economic relations are expected to develop. Preference is given to candidates already established in a career. Awards are given annually to students from a wide variety of countries and can cover all or part of the cost. Selection of candidates is carried out overseas by British Embassies and High Commissions in consultation with the local British Council Director. You should, therefore, be resident in your home country when you apply.

Some British Chevening awards are jointly funded with private companies, universities, trusts, foundations and other grant-making organisations. These are usually advertised locally in those countries where the awards are offered and on the British Council country web pages. Contact the British Embassy, British high commission or British Council office in your own country. Do not write to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London as they cannot allocate individual scholarships. US citizens are not eligible for this scholarship - please refer to British Marshall Scholarships.


Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP)
Funded by the Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

You may be eligible for a Commonwealth Scholarship if you are a citizen of either a Commonwealth country (not the Commonwealth of Independent States) or a British dependent territory. As the scholarships are for postgraduate study or research, you must have a university degree or equivalent qualification. If there are no undergraduate courses in a particular subject in your own country or regional university, it may sometimes be possible for you to apply to do a first-degree course under this scheme.

Grants are for one to three years and usually cover the cost of travel, tuition fees and living expenses. In some cases additional allowances may be available for help with books or clothes. An allowance may be paid to help you with the cost of maintaining your spouse.

Contact the Commonwealth Scholarship Agency in your own country. Agency addresses are listed in Appendix II of the Commonwealth Universities Yearbook (listed in "useful publications)". If you are already in the UK, the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) can help you with general information concerning the scheme, but it cannot issue application forms to international students. For more information go to www.csfp-online.org


DFID Shared Scholarship Scheme
Funded by the Department for International Development and participating universities in the UK

This scheme assists academically able students from developing Commonwealth countries who would benefit from higher education in Britain, to the developmental advantage of their home countries, but who for financial reasons are unable to study in the UK and are outside the scope of other British government support schemes.
You should be of high academic calibre and should be intending to study subjects of developmental relevance. You must normally be under thirty-five years old at the time your course is due to start and you must be able to speak English fluently at the time you apply.

You must not be employed by your government or by an international organisation and you must be resident in a developing Commonwealth country. Successful candidates must return to their home country on completion of their awards.

Awards are for taught courses at postgraduate level. Very exceptionally, awards for undergraduate study may be made available where the course of training satisfies the conditions of the scheme but is not available in your home country or at a nearby regional institution.

Contact the participating British institution. These vary from year to year. An up-to-date list of institutions is normally available from December onwards from the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), the Department for International Development, the British High Commission and British Council offices in the countries concerned.


Overseas Research Students Awards Scheme (ORSAS)
Funded by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES)

These grants are for postgraduate students undertaking full-time study for a higher degree as registered research students at British universities. Selection of candidates is based solely on academic merit and research potential. Awards meet the difference between the home and overseas level of tuition fees only, and do not cover maintenance costs. They are initially made for one year but can be continued for a second or third year, subject to the satisfactory progress of the award-holder.

If you are a postgraduate research student at a higher education institution funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC), the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) or the Department of Education for Northern Ireland (DENI), then you can apply for an ORSAS grant.

Contact the British higher education institution which has accepted you, or provisionally accepted you, for your course, or the ORSAS office at Universities UK.


Royal Society Fellowships

These fellowships enable key post-doctoral scientists from a selection of countries to undertake research in the UK.

Contact the:
Royal Society,
6 Carlton House Terrace,
London SW1Y 5AG.
Telephone +44 (0)20 7839 5561
Fax +44 (0)20 7930 2170
www.royalsoc.ac.uk


Scholarships for specified nationals


British Marshall Scholarships
Funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

This scheme was set up as a practical expression of the British people's appreciation of the aid given by the USA under the Marshall plan. Up to forty new awards are offered each year.

Awards are open to US citizens under twenty-six years of age who are graduates of US universities, to undertake study in any subject leading to a degree at a UK university. Selection is by regional committee in the USA. Awards are made on a competitive basis and are for two years in the first instance, renewable for a third year in certain circumstances.

The awards cover fares, tuition fees, maintenance, book, thesis and travel allowances.

Contact in the US: universities or colleges
www.marshallscholarship.org
or British Council USA,
British Embassy,
3100 Massachusetts Avenue,
NW, Washington,
DC 20008 USA.

Telephone +1 202 588 7830
Fax +1 202 588 7918
marshall.scholar@britishcouncil-usa.org

Contact in the UK:
Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission,
John Foster House,
36 Gordon Square,
London WC1H 0PF.
More information can also be obtained from
www.britishcouncil.org/usa/usabms.htm

 

Fulbright Scholarships
Funded by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and the US government.

Awards are open to US graduate students for study in the UK. There are no restrictions on subject or age. Awards are made on a competitive basis, for nine months, but renewals for one year can be offered to a limited number of students. The awards cover round-trip travel, a maintenance allowance, approved tuition fees, where applicable, and an incidental expense allowance.

Awards are also available for lecturing or advanced research for a minimum of three months. There are two types of award: programmed awards in response to specific requests from UK institutions; and grants-in-aid made on a competitive basis.

Awards are also available under a Faculty Exchange Programme to enable faculty members to undertake an exchange of posts for teaching purposes.

Fellowships are offered for research librarians and academic administrators to spend three months gaining relevant experience in the UK. Arts fellowships and professional fellowships are awarded to individuals in a variety of fields to enable them to spend a period of six to nine months in the UK.

Contact
Arts and professional fellowships:
The Fulbright Commission,
London, (see below)
Graduate students contact:
The Institute of International Education (IIE),
809 United Nations Plaza,
New York, NY 10017
USA.

Telephone +1 212 984 5330
Fax +1 212 984 5452
www.iie.org

For Scholars' awards and fellowships contact:

The Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES),
3400 International Drive NW
Suite M500
Washington DC 20008-3097
USA

Telephone +1 202 686 6242
Fax +1 202 362 3442
www.iserver.iie.org/cies

UK enquiries: Programme Manager,
The Fulbright Commission,
62 Doughty Street,
London WC1N 2JZ.

Telephone +44 (0)20 7404 6880
Fax +44 (0)020 7404 6834
www.fulbright.co.uk

Are there any other scholarships for which I can apply?

European Union (EU) schemes

The EU provides some grants to promote the exchange of students and academic staff within Europe, such as the SOCRATES and LEONARDO programmes. The European Commission (EC) also makes some awards to students from developing countries.

Contact the EC office in your own country or write to:

The European Commission,
Directorate General III,
Rue de la Loi 200,
B-1049 Brussels,
Belgium.

International agencies
Some international organisations such as UNESCO and WHO operate schemes, usually for developing countries.

Contact your own government's Ministry of Education.

Voluntary organisations
Voluntary organisations such as religious bodies and charities sometimes award scholarships, though they can be limited in size and scope.

Contact the appropriate organisations in your own country.

UK colleges and universities
Many UK institutions have a limited number of scholarships for international students. However, they may be restricted to students studying particular subjects or from certain countries.

Contact the institution you are studying at to see if you are eligible.

Other awards
For information on other awards, consult the reference books list. You can also contact your government's education department or your nearest British Council office.

Is it true that I can pay lower fees and obtain a grant if I have lived in the UK for three years?
In order to be eligible for lower 'home' fees or student support from a local education authority in the UK you need to satisfy three basic conditions:

• you must have been ordinarily resident in the UK for the three years immediately prior to the beginning of the course
• for any part of those three years you must not have been resident wholly or mainly for the purpose of full-time education
• you must be settled in the UK at a specified date prior to your course (you are settled if you are ordinarily resident in the UK and have no restriction on the period that you may remain in the UK).

There are some exceptions to these basic rules which primarily benefit refugees recognised in the UK, EU nationals and European Economic Area (EEA) migrant workers.

If you are eligible for full student support from a local education authority, it will cover some or all of your fees and a loan towards your living costs, provided that your course is so designated for student support (mainly first degree, Higher National Diploma and Dip.HE courses).

Even students eligible for student support, including EU nationals, may have to contribute up to £1,050 per year towards their tuition fees. The exact amount of the contribution will depend upon your family income.

For further details, see UKCOSA Guidance Notes for Students: Fees and Student Support, EEA Students, and the Department for Education and Skills' (DfES) Student Grants and Loans: a Brief Guide.

 

What are the special provisions for the nationals of the EEA?

The European Economic Area (EEA) consists of the EU countries (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, the Republic of Ireland, Spain, Sweden and the UK), plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

If you are an EU national or the child of an EU national who has been ordinarily resident in the EEA for the three years before the course, and not wholly or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education, the educational institution will probably charge you the lower 'home' fee. If you are taking all of a course which is normally designated for full student support purposes, you might also be eligible for a contribution to your fees from the UK government. You should apply not later than four months after the beginning of your course. Note that you will not be eligible for a student loan.

If you are a student from Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway (the non-EU EEA) you will not qualify for 'home' fee status, unless you are a migrant worker in Britain, or the child or spouse of a migrant worker, and you satisfy residence requirements in the EEA.

If you, your parent or spouse are an EEA migrant worker in the UK, and you have been ordinarily resident in the EEA for the three years before the course, you may also qualify for full student support, which contributes towards fees and includes a student loan for living expenses.

If you are a Swiss migrant worker, or the spouse or child of a Swiss migrant worker, you should ask the institution(s) where you wish to study, whether you will be treated as a 'home' student for fees purposes and for advice on eligibility for student support. Switzerland signed a bilateral agreement with the European Union that gives Swiss nationals rights to travel within the EEA as migrant workers. (However, the Department for Education and Skills, at the time of writing, is deciding what changes need to be made to the fees regulations and student support regulations in relation to this agreement.)

Is there anything else I should know?

Remember that even if you are able to obtain a scholarship, you still need to be sure that it is enough to meet all of your costs.

Once you are in the UK, it will be very difficult to obtain extra scholarship funds. However, you should be aware that the previous requirement for students to seek permission from job centres before taking work was removed in certain circumstances as part of a package of measures announced by the Prime Minister in June 1999.

The local British Council office should have up-to-date guidance on the cost of living in the UK. The institution you will be attending should provide you with details of local costs.

Check the conditions of the scholarship carefully and be sure that they fulfil your needs. Some are only for certain courses and for a fixed period of time. Once you have accepted a scholarship and begun studying, it is very unlikely you will be able to change your course or extend your scholarship.

Useful addresses
These contacts do not award scholarships but can advise on your status.

Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU)
John Foster House
36 Gordon Square
London WC1H 0PF
Telephone +44 (0)20 7380 6700
Fax +44 (0)20 7387 2655
www.acu.ac.uk

Department for Education and Skills (DfES) HE Branch
International Students Team
Sanctuary Buildings
Great Smith Street
London SW1P 3BT
Telephone +44 (0)20 7925 5324
Fax +44 (0)20 7925 6965

Department for Education and Skills
Student Support Division
(Room 2F Area C)
Mowden Hall
Staindrop Road
Darlington DL3 9BG

(For undergraduate and discretionary grants)
Telephone +44 (0)1325 392 808/9/10/11/12/13/14/15/17
Fax +44 (0)1325 392 464

(For postgraduate grants)
Telephone +44 (0)1325 392 8022
Fax +44 (0)1325 392 464

Student Awards Agency for Scotland
Gyleview House
3 Redheaughs Rigg
South Gyle
Edinburgh EH12 9HH
Telephone +44 (0)131 476 8212
Fax +44 (0)131 244 5887
www.student-support-saas.gov.uk

Universities UK
20 Tavistock Square
London WC1H 9HQ
Telephone +44 (0)20 7419 4111
Fax +44 (0)20 7388 8649
www.universitiesuk.ac.uk

Useful resources

Commonwealth Universities Yearbook
Association of Commonwealth Universities
Detailed guide to 500 universities of the Commonwealth. Appendices include a short description of the CommonwealthScholarship and Fellowship Plan and addresses of Commonwealth Scholarship agencies worldwide.

Education Authorised Directory and Annual
The School Government Publishing Company
Lists educational authorities and associations.

Education Yearbook
Longman Publishers
Provides addresses of UK education organisations, schools and tertiary institutions, school associations, publishers, etc.

Grants Register
Macmillan Publishers
Includes information on a variety of scholarships, fellowships and research grants, exchange and vacation study opportunities, professional and vocational grants.

Guide to the Major Grant-Making Trusts
Directory of Social Change
Provides information on over 200 of the largest grant-making organisations in Britain.

Student Check Grants and Loans: a Brief Guide
Department for Education and Skills (DfES)
Gives general information on British local education authority grants and UK student loans.

Study Abroad
UNESCO
Country-by-country list of grants for studying in over 100 countries, including Britain.

Tuition Fees and the Cost of Living (information sheet)
British Council

UKCOSA Guidance Notes for Students:
Fees and Student Support;
EEA Students
available from British Council offices



Useful web site addresses

1. If you are not already in the UK, then it is a good idea to first contact the British Council office in your country of residence. You can find the web site addresses for each country here: www.britishcouncil.org/where/

2. A guide for international students, which lists grants to study in the UK, is available from the Directory of Social Change. It includes information for international students who wish to study in the UK or who are already studying in the UK: www.dsc.org.uk

3. The Prospects web site includes general information for students, including funding information: www.prospects.csu.ac.uk/student/pgdir/index.htm

4. The Arts and Humanities Research Board includes information about grants in this field of study: www.ahrb.ac.uk

5. There is an on-line guide to Europe's philanthropic community, at: www.fundersonline.org

6. The Association of Charitable Foundations provides links to charitable bodies that may have funding available: www.acf.org.uk/foundations/

7. Scholarship Search UK has on-line search facilities to enable students to locate undergraduate funding: www.scholarship-search.org.uk

8. EducationUK site: www.educationuk.org

While every effort has been made to ensure that the information given here is correct and up to date, the British Council, UKCOSA and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office accept no legal liability for its accuracy or completeness.

British Council,
Information Services Management
Bridgewater House,
58 Whitworth Street,
Manchester M1 6BB
www.britishcouncil.org
© British Council. Registered in England as a charity no. 209131

UKCOSA: The Council for International Education
9-17 St Albans Place,
London N1 ONX
www.ukcosa.org.uk
© UKCOSA. Registered in England as a charity no. 1095294 and Company Limited by Guarantee No 4507287

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office,
Cultural, Scholarships and Sport Department
King Charles Street,
WH537,
Whitehall,
London SW1A 2AH
www.fco.gov.uk

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