If you plan to study in the UK in autumn 2027, the short answer is yes: there are scholarships worth £10,000 to £30,000 or more, and a handful that cover your full tuition and living costs. The catch is timing. Several of the biggest schemes for 2027 entry close between October 2026 and January 2027, and most award decisions are made well before you would normally start thinking about visas.
This guide explains which awards are worth targeting, what they cover, who can apply, and what to budget for beyond the scholarship. Figures come from official scheme pages where available; where sources disagree or a 2027 figure is unpublished, we say so. Nothing here guarantees funding, admission or a visa.
How Much Can a UK Scholarship Actually Be Worth?
UK scholarships fall into three broad tiers:
- Full-funding awards (Chevening, Commonwealth, Gates Cambridge, Clarendon) usually cover tuition, a living allowance and often flights or visa costs. Over a one-year master’s, their total value can comfortably exceed £30,000.
- Large partial awards cover a set amount of tuition, typically £10,000 or more, and are often applied automatically as a fee reduction.
- Small university discounts of £2,000–£5,000 are common and useful, but rarely transformative.
Bear in mind that “£10,000–£30,000+” describes typical headline values. What you receive depends on your nationality, level of study and course.
2027 UK Scholarships at a Glance
| Scholarship | Level | Typical value | What it covers | Key 2027-entry deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevening | One-year master’s | Full funding | Tuition, monthly stipend, flights, visa cost | 6 Oct 2026 (11:00 UTC) |
| Commonwealth Master’s | Taught master’s | Full funding | Tuition, living costs, travel | 20 Oct 2026 (16:00 BST); nominator may set earlier date |
| Gates Cambridge | Master’s and PhD | Full funding (~80 awards a year) | Fees, maintenance, airfare, visa and health surcharge | 14 Oct 2026 (US round); 8 Dec 2026 or 6 Jan 2027 (all others) |
| Clarendon Fund (Oxford) | Master’s and DPhil | Full fees plus living grant | Course and college fees, living grant | Your course’s Dec 2026 or Jan 2027 deadline |
| GREAT Scholarships | One-year master’s | Minimum £10,000 | Tuition contribution | Varies by university; often spring 2027 |
| Manchester Global Futures | Undergraduate and master’s | Up to £12,000 a year for undergraduates (£36,000 over three years); master’s varies by region | Tuition fee reduction | Spring 2027; check region page |
| Exeter Excellence (PGT) | Master’s | £3,000, £5,000 or £10,000 (2026/27 round) | First-year fee reduction | Check 2027/28 round |
| Kent International (UG) | Undergraduate | £5,000 | £3,000 first stage, £2,000 second stage | Details pending |
Full-Funding Scholarships for 2027
Chevening Scholarships
Chevening is the UK government’s flagship international scheme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. For 2027/28, applications opened on 4 August 2026 and close at 11:00 UTC on 6 October 2026, according to the British Council’s Study UK page. Awards are for a one-year, full-time master’s at a UK university, and successful applicants are announced around June 2027.
Chevening is not only about grades: selection typically weighs leadership, networking, a realistic career plan and course fit. Published requirements include:
- citizenship of a Chevening-eligible country or territory;
- at least two years (2,800 hours) of work experience;
- an undergraduate degree that meets the entry requirements of UK universities;
- applications to three eligible UK master’s courses, with at least one unconditional offer by 8 July 2027.
Scholars are generally expected to return to their home country for a period after the award, so read the terms carefully before applying. Chevening’s own site, chevening.org, is the authoritative source.
Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) offers master’s awards for students from eligible low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries, funded by the FCDO. Applications for 2027/28 opened on 8 September 2026 and close at 16:00 BST on 20 October 2026. Awards cover tuition, living costs and travel.
Two points trip people up. First, you generally cannot apply straight to the CSC: you must go through an approved nominating agency, which may set an earlier deadline. Second, applicants are normally expected to hold at least a UK 2:1-equivalent first degree by September 2027. Applications run through the CSC’s online system, CSC Central, and results are typically expected around July 2027. See cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk for eligible countries and nominating bodies.
Gates Cambridge Scholarships
Gates Cambridge offers about 80 full-cost postgraduate awards a year to applicants from outside the UK, roughly two-thirds of them for PhD study. The package covers the University Composition Fee, a maintenance allowance, one economy airfare at each end of the course, and visa and Immigration Health Surcharge costs. The maintenance figure quoted for 2025/26 was £22,050 for 12 months; expect the 2027/28 rate to be confirmed separately.
Deadlines depend on your route. US citizens resident in the USA had a 14 October 2026 deadline; everyone else applies by either 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027, depending on the course. Check the Cambridge Course Directory for your date. Full details are at gatescambridge.org.
Clarendon Fund Scholarships (Oxford)
The Clarendon Fund is Oxford’s largest graduate scholarship scheme and is open to all nationalities. There is no separate application form. If you apply for a new master’s or DPhil by your course’s December or January funding deadline, you are automatically considered, and departments nominate strong candidates. Awards typically cover course and college fees plus a living grant, though the exact grant changes each year and sources quote different figures, so confirm the current amount on Oxford’s official graduate funding pages (ox.ac.uk).
Missing your course’s funding deadline, even by a day, usually means missing Clarendon consideration.
Large Partial Scholarships (£10,000 and Above)
GREAT Scholarships
The GREAT Scholarships are delivered by the British Council’s Study UK campaign with the UK government’s GREAT Britain campaign and participating universities. Each award is worth a minimum of £10,000 towards tuition, made up of £5,000 from the British Council and at least £5,000 from the university. They are for one-year taught master’s courses only. British citizens are not eligible.
Eligible countries change between rounds. Recent lists have included Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan and Thailand, among others, but sources conflict on the 2027 list, so confirm yours on the Study UK website. You apply through the participating university, and each sets its own deadline and course list. British Council planning documents for 2027 refer to roughly 150 awards, though third-party sites quote other figures.
University of Manchester Global Futures Scholarships
For September 2027 entry, Manchester says it is offering more than 350 merit-based awards worth over £6 million in total. On the university’s country page for North America, undergraduate awards are £12,000 in year one and a further £12,000 in years two and three, provided you keep a 60% average. Awards are applied as a reduction to overseas tuition fees. Master’s values and eligible countries vary by region (some third-party sites cite £19,000 for certain African countries), so treat any figure not on Manchester’s own page for your country as provisional.
Other University Awards
Many universities run their own merit discounts. Exeter’s 2026/27 postgraduate taught awards were £3,000, £5,000 or £10,000 off first-year fees; Kent has announced a £5,000 undergraduate award for September 2027 with full details to follow. Some are automatic once you hold an offer; others need a separate form. These usually reduce your bill rather than pay a stipend.
Beyond Tuition: Costs to Budget For
A tuition award does not remove your other costs. Under the UK Student route, you generally have to show maintenance funds for up to nine months and hold them for 28 consecutive days. For applications in 2026, the requirement is £1,529 a month in London and £1,171 elsewhere. Reports indicate these rise from 30 November 2026 to £1,570 and £1,203, or £14,130 and £10,827 for nine months. Confirm the current figure at GOV.UK before you apply.
You will also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, currently £776 per year of visa length, plus the visa application fee. If an official financial sponsor covers your fees and living costs, as with many government-backed awards, you may provide a sponsor letter instead of bank statements. Ask your scholarship provider what evidence they issue.
Eligibility: What Most Schemes Look For
Requirements vary, but most awards check the same things:
- Nationality and residence. Many schemes target specific countries or exclude UK citizens.
- Academic record. Expect a strong first degree; many full-funding awards look for a first or upper second.
- Admission. Some scholarships need an offer first; others are assessed alongside your application.
- English language. You must meet the university’s standard, often through IELTS or an equivalent.
- Fit and impact. Chevening and Commonwealth look for leadership and a plan to contribute back home.
How to Apply: A Step-by-Step Plan
- Shortlist by deadline. Start with the earliest: Chevening (6 Oct 2026), Commonwealth (20 Oct 2026), then Cambridge and Oxford in December/January.
- Check eligibility on the official page. Not on an agent’s or aggregator’s summary.
- Line up documents early. Transcripts, references, a CV, proof of work experience and a tailored personal statement take weeks.
- Apply for courses in parallel. Chevening needs three course choices; Oxford and Cambridge funding is tied to course deadlines.
- Apply for university-level awards. Many open after you receive an offer and close in spring 2027.
- Prepare a backup. Even strong candidates are often unsuccessful, so keep a plan B.
Compliance and Post-Study Considerations
Government-funded awards can carry conditions, and the Student route has its own rules. Degree-level students can typically work up to 20 hours a week in term time, but dependants are restricted: only PhD and research students and government-sponsored students can generally bring them.
From 1 January 2027, the Graduate Route for bachelor’s and master’s graduates shortens from two years to 18 months for applications made on or after that date; PhD graduates keep three years. If you were funded by a government or international scholarship agency, you may need your sponsor’s written consent before switching to the Graduate Route. Check the GOV.UK Student visa and Graduate visa pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can international students get a fully funded UK scholarship?
Yes, but competition is intense. Chevening, Commonwealth, Gates Cambridge and Clarendon are the best-known routes, and none is guaranteed.
When should I apply for 2027 entry?
Now. Chevening closes on 6 October 2026 and Commonwealth on 20 October 2026, and Oxford and Cambridge deadlines fall in December 2026 or January 2027. University merit awards often run into spring 2027.
Do I need to apply separately for a scholarship?
It depends. Clarendon uses your course application. Chevening, Commonwealth and most GREAT awards need their own applications, while some university discounts are applied automatically once you hold an offer.
Are GREAT Scholarships available for my country?
Only for eligible countries, which change each round. Check the British Council’s Study UK page and the participating university.
Does winning a scholarship guarantee a visa?
No. You still need admission, a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies and a successful Student visa application. A scholarship can help satisfy the financial requirement but does not replace it.
Can I combine scholarships?
Sometimes. Many universities allow stacking up to 100% of tuition, while full-funding schemes may bar other awards. Check each scheme’s terms.
Conclusion
The best UK scholarships for 2027 entry reward early planning. Aim first at the fully funded schemes with autumn deadlines, add GREAT and university awards for £10,000-plus tuition support, and budget for visa costs and living expenses regardless. Always confirm figures, countries and dates on the official scholarship and GOV.UK pages before you apply.
Sources
- Chevening Scholarships: https://www.chevening.org and https://study-uk.britishcouncil.org/scholarships-funding/chevening-scholarships
- Commonwealth Scholarship Commission: https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk
- Gates Cambridge: https://www.gatescambridge.org
- University of Oxford, Clarendon Fund: https://www.ox.ac.uk/clarendon
- GREAT Scholarships: https://study-uk.britishcouncil.org/scholarships-funding/great-scholarships
- University of Manchester scholarships: https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/international/
- Exeter Excellence Scholarships: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/funding/exeterexcellence/
- University of Kent international scholarships: https://www.kent.ac.uk/international/international-scholarships
- UK Student visa: https://www.gov.uk/student-visa
- Graduate visa: https://www.gov.uk/graduate-visa
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