Written by Christian Chinonso
Founder, LearnViaHub | Academic Credential & International Student Research
✓ Last checked: 18 October 2026
Quick answer
Most UK undergraduate scholarships for international students are partial tuition discounts, not full funding. Some are awarded automatically when you hold an offer, and others need a separate application with their own deadline.
For 2027 entry we could confirm six: Imperial, Glasgow, Manchester, York, Reach Oxford and Ellison Scholars. Reach Oxford and Ellison Scholars are the fully funded ones, and Ellison’s 2027 round has closed. For several other universities the latest published terms are for 2026 entry, and we label them that way.
Even with a scholarship, you usually still need to show living costs for your student visa. Check each scholarship’s official page before you apply, because terms and deadlines change.
Scholarships confirmed for 2027 entry
These universities or funders have published 2027 terms on their own pages.
| Scholarship | Value | How you get it | Key dates and conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial College London, Imperial Inspires | £15,000 for each year of the course; 150 awards | Apply after your UCAS application, if invited | Overseas-fee students on a full-time undergraduate course. UCAS by 13 January 2027 (MBBS 15 October 2026); scholarship form closes 5 February 2027; outcomes by 30 April 2027. Imperial says applications open in October, exact date to be confirmed. |
| University of Glasgow, World Changers Global Excellence | £10,000 a year (Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences; Science and Engineering) or £7,000 a year (Arts; Social Sciences), as a fee discount | Automatic for offer holders | International and EU (non-UK) fee status; grade thresholds vary by programme, for example AAB or 36 IB points for most Arts degrees. Renewable subject to satisfactory progress. |
| University of Manchester, Global Futures | Varies by country. Nigeria: £12,000 a year for three years, up to £36,000 | Separate form, emailed to relevant offer holders | More than 350 awards, for students living in 23 listed countries. Check your country page. |
| University of York, International Undergraduate Achievement | Up to £10,000, first year only | Automatic for offer holders | Overseas fees; predicted or achieved A Level ABB or IB 34 points or equivalent; offer by 1 July 2027. Not available with a 100% tuition scholarship or full sponsorship. |
Manchester: the Nigeria example
The Manchester Nigeria page says the award is for September 2027 entry, for students domiciled in Nigeria and self-funded, applying for direct first-year entry with an eligible qualification. You must choose Manchester as your UCAS firm choice by 15 May 2027, and the award continues only if you reach 60% in final exams and assessments each year. Other countries have different amounts, so use your own country page.
Latest published terms are for 2026 entry
These universities had not published 2027 terms on the pages we read. The figures below are the 2026 entry terms, so use them only as a guide.
| University | Scholarship | 2026 entry terms |
|---|---|---|
| Newcastle | Vice-Chancellor’s International | £7,000 per academic year for the duration of the course, awarded automatically to eligible students from a list of 41 countries and regions, at the city centre campus. |
| Leeds | International Regional Scholarship | Automatic £5,000 fee reduction in the first year only, for passport holders of 14 listed countries or regions. Leeds also lists International Excellence Scholarships: up to 500 awards of £3,000, £6,000 or £16,000 as a first-year discount, with a separate application and a 31 March deadline. |
| Bristol | Think Big | Overseas-fee applicants did not need an offer to apply; the round closed at 10 am on 10 April 2026. The page does not state the value. |
| Leicester | International Citizens of Change | £10,000 a year for up to three years, 10 awards; the round closed on 30 June 2026. |
We did not include Warwick, Exeter, Birmingham or Reading’s international awards, because we could not confirm their current terms on official pages.
Fully funded options
Full funding for international undergraduates in the UK is rare. The two programmes below are the ones we could confirm, and both are at Oxford.
| Programme | What it covers | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Reach Oxford Scholarship | Course fees, a grant for living costs and one return air fare per year, for 3 or 4 years. Around 2 to 3 awards a year. | 2027 entry deadline: 26 January 2027, with outcomes by the end of May 2027. For nationals of countries receiving official development assistance, new undergraduates in any subject except medicine. You must first have an Oxford offer. |
| Ellison Scholars | A fully funded Oxford undergraduate degree in any discipline, plus research and innovation internships at the Ellison Institute of Technology. | The round ran from 1 May to 31 July 2026 and has closed. Scholars start in October 2027. The page does not say when the next round opens. |
Schemes that have ended or do not fit
Jardine Foundation
On 7 August 2026 the Jardine Foundation announced no further awards for Oxford and Cambridge undergraduate courses. Students starting in autumn 2026 are the final cohort. Current undergraduate scholars keep their support, and postgraduate support at Oxford and Cambridge continues (Times Higher Education).
Chevening
Chevening is aimed at master’s study: you need an undergraduate degree that qualifies you for a UK master’s, and at least two years of work experience (2,800 hours) after it (Chevening). It is not an undergraduate route.
Awards for students from Great Britain
Some awards, such as Queen’s University Belfast’s GB Scholarship, are for home-fee students from Great Britain and the Channel Islands, so international applicants cannot use them.
Visa funds and UCAS dates
Living costs you must show
The gov.uk guidance sets maintenance at £1,529 a month in London and £1,171 a month elsewhere, up to 9 months: £13,761 and £10,539 (gov.uk). A law firm summary of the Statement of Changes dated 3 September 2026 reports rises to £1,570 (London, £14,130 for 9 months) and £1,203 (elsewhere, £10,827) for applications made on or after 30 November 2026 (OTS Solicitors). The gov.uk page we read did not yet show the new figures, so check it before you apply.
UCAS dates for 2027 entry
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 12 May 2026 | You can register and start your application |
| 1 September 2026 | You can send your completed application (you need a reference) |
| 15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time | Deadline for Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses |
| 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time | Equal consideration deadline for most courses |
| 25 February 2027 | UCAS Extra opens |
| 2 July 2027 | Clearing opens |
| 23 September 2027, 18:00 UK time | Final date for 2027 entry applications |
Scholarship deadlines are set by each university, not by UCAS. Source: UCAS.
Related guides:
Frequently asked questions
Are there undergraduate scholarships in the UK for international students?
Yes. For 2027 entry we confirmed awards at Imperial, Glasgow, Manchester and York, plus Reach Oxford and Ellison Scholars at Oxford. Most are partial fee discounts.
Can international students get a fully funded UK undergraduate scholarship?
A few exist. Reach Oxford covers course fees, a living-cost grant and an annual return air fare, and Ellison Scholars is fully funded at Oxford. Both are highly selective, and Ellison’s 2027 round has closed.
Which UK scholarships are awarded automatically?
Glasgow’s World Changers Global Excellence and York’s International Undergraduate Achievement are assessed automatically for 2027 entry. For 2026 entry, Newcastle and Leeds’s regional scholarship were also automatic.
Which scholarships need a separate application?
Imperial Inspires, Manchester Global Futures and Reach Oxford each need their own application. Imperial’s closes on 5 February 2027 and Reach Oxford’s on 26 January 2027.
Can I apply for a scholarship before I have an offer?
It depends. Reach Oxford requires an Oxford place first, and Imperial invites eligible applicants to apply after their UCAS application. Bristol’s 2026 round did not require an offer.
How much money must I show for a UK student visa?
Currently £1,529 a month in London and £1,171 elsewhere, for up to 9 months. A law firm reports higher figures for applications from 30 November 2026, so check gov.uk.
Is Chevening available for undergraduates?
No. Chevening is aimed at master’s study and requires at least two years of work experience after your undergraduate degree.
Is the Jardine Foundation still funding Oxford and Cambridge undergraduates?
No. It announced no further awards for Oxford and Cambridge undergraduate courses, and students starting in autumn 2026 are the final cohort.
How we researched this
Last checked: 18 October 2026. We read the official scholarship pages of Imperial, Glasgow, Manchester, York, Newcastle, Leeds, Bristol, Leicester, Oxford (Reach Oxford) and the Ellison Institute, plus UCAS, gov.uk, Chevening and Times Higher Education.
Limits: terms and deadlines change, and where a university had not yet published 2027 terms we show the 2026 figures and say so. The 30 November 2026 visa increase comes from a law firm summary, not from gov.uk. We did not verify Warwick, Exeter, Birmingham or Reading, so they are left out.
This page is for general information. LearnViaHub is not affiliated with any university or scholarship provider named here.
Christian Chinonso is the founder of LearnViaHub, with 6+ years of research experience in international education — including GPA systems, scholarships, student financing, and study-abroad guidance — for students worldwide.