UK • Master’s & PhD • Fully Funded
Fully Funded Scholarships in the UK for International Students (2025/2026)
Looking for genuinely fully funded options in the UK this cycle? Start here. We explain what “fully funded” means, the top awards that cover tuition + a living stipend (and often flights/allowances), who’s eligible, typical timelines, and the exact steps to craft a strong, scan-friendly application.
What “Fully Funded” Means (and Why It Matters)
In UK graduate funding, “fully funded” usually means your tuition (incl. college fees where applicable) is covered and you receive a stipend for living costs. Many top awards also pay for flights and a few arrival/relocation allowances. This guide focuses on awards that provide this combined coverage for international students in 2025/2026.
Tip: Some schemes (e.g., GREAT Scholarships) offer partial tuition (e.g., £10,000) — valuable but not fully funded. Use them to stack with other support if allowed.
Top Fully Funded UK Scholarships & Studentships (2025/2026)
1) Chevening Scholarships — One-Year Master’s (Global)
Level: Master’s Covers: Tuition, stipend, flights, visa, allowances
The UK government’s flagship award for future leaders. Chevening fully funds a one-year taught Master’s at a UK university and includes return flights and allowances. Apply via your country page; selection is highly competitive and leadership focused.
2) Commonwealth Master’s & PhD Scholarships — Selected Countries
Level: Master’s / PhD Covers: Tuition, stipend, flights, other allowances
For eligible citizens of low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries. Fully funded awards align with development themes and are administered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (FCDO). Deadlines are strict and early in the season.
3) Rhodes Scholarship — University of Oxford
Level: Master’s / DPhil Covers: Oxford fees + stipend (£20,400 p.a. in 2025/26)
One of the world’s most competitive awards. Covers Oxford fees and provides a stipend (2025/26: £20,400 p.a. ≈ £1,700/mo). Apply through your constituency or the Global Route; deadlines vary by route.
4) Clarendon Fund — University of Oxford
Level: Master’s / DPhil Covers: Course fees + living-cost grant
Automatic consideration when you apply to eligible Oxford courses by the December/January deadline. Covers full fees and provides a living-cost grant for the fee-liability period.
5) Gates Cambridge — University of Cambridge
Level: Master’s / PhD Covers: Full cost of study + maintenance + flights
Fully funds study at Cambridge and includes a maintenance allowance (2024/25 posted rate reference; check current rate), plus one economy airfare at the start and end of the course.
6) Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships & Leadership Programme — Oxford
Level: Master’s (Selected courses) Covers: 100% fees + living-cost grant (at least £20,780)
A leadership-focused, fully funded scheme for select taught programmes; includes intensive leadership training alongside full financial support.
7) Imperial College London — President’s PhD Scholarships
Level: PhD Covers: Full fees + stipend (published as £26,500 p.a. at 2026/27 rate) + consumables
Highly competitive PhD funding package (3.5 years) including full tuition, generous stipend, and a consumables fund. Confirm the correct rate for your entry year.
8) UKRI-Funded PhD Studentships (via UK Universities)
Level: PhD Covers: Tuition + minimum stipend (UKRI rate; £20,780 from Oct 1, 2025)
Doctoral Training Partnerships and Centres for Doctoral Training advertise studentships open to international candidates (within quota policies). Funding follows the UKRI minimum stipend and fee framework.
Note: Eligibility varies by nationality/route and course. Always confirm current rules and dates on the official scholarship pages before you submit.
Quick Comparison (Coverage at a Glance)
| Programme | Level | Tuition/Fees | Stipend (guide) | Flights/Allowances | Deadline Window* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevening | Master’s | Full | Yes (living costs) | Flights + visa + allowances | Aug–Nov (country pages) |
| Commonwealth (CSC) | Master’s / PhD | Full | Yes | Flights + other allowances | Early Sep–Oct (varies) |
| Rhodes (Oxford) | Master’s / DPhil | Full (Oxford fees) | £20,400 p.a. (2025/26) | Arrival/settling-in support | Varies by route |
| Clarendon (Oxford) | Master’s / DPhil | Full | At least UKRI minimum | — | Apply by Dec/Jan course deadline |
| Gates Cambridge | Master’s / PhD | Full | Maintenance allowance | One airfare (start & end) | Oct–Dec (course dependent) |
| Weidenfeld-Hoffmann (Oxford) | Master’s (selected) | Full | ≥ £20,780 (guide) | Leadership programme | Course deadline + extra form |
| Imperial President’s PhD | PhD | Full | Imperial rate (e.g., £26,500) | Consumables fund | Multiple rounds |
| UKRI Studentships | PhD | Full | UKRI rate (e.g., £20,780) | — | Rolling by programme |
*Windows are indicative; always check the current page for your country/route and course.
How to Apply (Step-by-Step Plan)
- Pick your degree first. The course drives supervisor fit (research) or module relevance (taught).
- Map scholarships to the course. Oxford/Cambridge awards are course-linked; national schemes (Chevening/Commonwealth) are broader.
- Draft a one-sentence problem statement. “I will tackle X in Y using Z.” Use it to focus your personal statement.
- Gather micro-evidence. Poster, preprint, prototype, policy brief, dataset, code — one small result beats many claims.
- Write for scanning. Short paragraphs, signposted sub-heads, bullets with outcomes and numbers.
- Brief referees with prompts. Send 3–5 bullets they can cite as stories (not adjectives).
- Submit early. Country/route pages often close at 16:00 local time; don’t risk last-minute uploads.
Documents Checklist (Copy & Adapt)
- Passport/ID (valid through study period)
- Degree certificates + transcripts (with grading scale)
- CV (2 pages taught; up to 3 research)
- Personal statement / research proposal
- English language proof (if required)
- Two to three references (academic/professional)
- Portfolio evidence (poster, preprint, code, dataset)
- Funding plan (if partial award considered)
- Supervisor support (for research degrees)
Application Timeline (Work Backwards)
- Now–2 weeks: shortlist courses + scholarships; list each deadline and eligibility quirk.
- +2–4 weeks: draft statement/proposal; request references with prompts.
- +4–6 weeks: submit at least one priority application; keep a tidy folder of PDFs with clean filenames.
- Before the earliest deadline: upload complete, proofread files 48–72h early.
Oxford course deadlines (Dec/Jan) trigger Clarendon and some college funds; Chevening/Commonwealth have route-specific calendars.
Common Mistakes (Avoid These Traps)
- Calling partial awards “fully funded”. GREAT is fantastic but typically £10,000 toward tuition only.
- Vague fit. Name the lab, centre, archive, dataset, or module that makes the programme right for you.
- No outcomes. Replace duty lists with numbers (people served, hours saved, citations, users, accuracy).
- Late referee requests. Rushed letters read rushed.
- Ignoring route rules. Age/degree timing and country criteria are absolute for Rhodes/Commonwealth etc.
FAQs (Short & Straight)
Which UK scholarships are truly fully funded?
Chevening, Commonwealth (CSC), Rhodes, Clarendon (Oxford), Gates Cambridge, Weidenfeld-Hoffmann (select Master’s at Oxford), many UKRI PhD studentships, and Imperial’s President’s PhD are fully funded or equivalent packages.
Are UKRI PhD studentships open to internationals?
Yes, subject to programme quotas and university policy. Funding follows the UKRI minimum stipend and fee framework.
Can I stack awards?
Sometimes (e.g., fee scholarship + stipend). Read stacking rules carefully to avoid double-funding conflicts.
Do these awards fund dependents?
Stipends are designed around a single student. Some schemes offer limited family support; budget cautiously.
Final word: Choose the right course, prove feasibility with one small result, show a clear public-value outcome, and submit early. That combination travels well to any UK panel — and that’s how fully funded offers are won.
© 2025 riflum.shop • Educational guidance only; always verify details on official pages before applying.