From Chevening to university-specific awards — the most significant funding opportunities for US and Canadian students, how to apply, and how to maximise your chances.
Funding a UK degree as an international student is one of the biggest practical challenges North American applicants face. Unlike the US system, where financial aid packages and merit scholarships are built into the admissions process, UK universities typically do not offer needs-based financial aid to international students. Scholarships exist — but you have to find them, apply separately, and meet specific eligibility criteria.
This guide covers the ten most significant funding opportunities available to US and Canadian students studying in the UK, from prestigious government-funded programmes to university-specific awards. We also explain how the UK scholarship landscape differs from what you're used to and how to maximise your chances.
How UK Scholarships Work (Differently From North America)
Before diving into specific awards, understand these key differences:
- Scholarships are separate from admissions. In the US, many universities offer scholarships as part of the admissions package. In the UK, you apply for your university place through UCAS and for scholarships separately — often through different portals with different deadlines.
- Fewer full-ride options. Full-tuition or full-cost scholarships in the UK are rare and extremely competitive. Most awards are partial — £2,000–£10,000 per year — which reduces your costs but doesn't eliminate them.
- Merit-based, not needs-based. UK scholarships for international students are almost exclusively based on academic merit, not financial need. There is no FAFSA equivalent for UK universities.
- You can stack scholarships. Many UK scholarships can be held alongside other awards. Receiving a university scholarship doesn't disqualify you from external scholarships (check individual terms).
1. Chevening Scholarships
Value: Full tuition + living costs + flights + visa (fully funded)
Level: Master's degree only
Eligibility: Applicants from eligible countries (US and Canada qualify) with at least 2 years of work experience
Deadline: Usually November, for study beginning the following September
Chevening is the UK government's flagship international scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). It's one of the few fully-funded scholarships available and covers everything — tuition, living allowance, return flights, and visa costs.
The catch: Chevening is for postgraduate study only (one-year Master's programmes), and it's aimed at future leaders and influencers. The selection process is highly competitive and emphasises leadership potential, networking ability, and a clear plan to use your UK education to make an impact in your home country. You must return home for at least two years after the scholarship ends.
If you're considering a Master's in the UK and have a strong professional background, Chevening should be your first application.
2. Gates Cambridge Scholarships
Value: Full tuition + living costs + flights (fully funded)
Level: Master's, PhD, or one-year postgraduate
Eligibility: Any country outside the UK; US and Canadian citizens eligible
Deadline: Usually October (for US applicants) or December (other nationals)
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and is one of the most prestigious postgraduate scholarships in the world. It covers the full cost of studying at the University of Cambridge — tuition, maintenance, travel, and more.
Approximately 80 scholars are selected annually from a global pool of over 6,000 applicants. Selection is based on outstanding academic achievement, a commitment to improving the lives of others, leadership capacity, and a strong fit with a Cambridge programme.
US applicants apply through a separate process (at the same time as their Cambridge application). Canadian and other international applicants are considered in the international round.
3. Clarendon Scholarships (University of Oxford)
Value: Full tuition + generous living allowance
Level: Master's and DPhil (PhD)
Eligibility: All nationalities; awarded based on academic excellence
Deadline: Varies by course — check Oxford's graduate admissions
The Clarendon Fund is Oxford's largest scholarship scheme, funding around 140 new scholars each year across all four academic divisions (humanities, social sciences, mathematical/physical/life sciences, and medical sciences). You don't apply separately — when you apply for a graduate programme at Oxford, you're automatically considered for Clarendon.
Awards are based purely on academic merit. If you receive a Clarendon award, it covers your full course fees and a generous grant for living costs. Many Clarendon awards are co-funded by Oxford colleges or departments, which means your package may be even more generous.
4. Marshall Scholarships (US Citizens Only)
Value: Full tuition + living costs + flights + book grant (fully funded)
Level: Any postgraduate degree at any UK university
Eligibility: US citizens only; must hold a US bachelor's degree with a GPA of 3.7+
Deadline: Usually late September, for study beginning the following year
Marshall Scholarships are funded by the British government and are one of the most prestigious awards available exclusively to American students. Approximately 50 scholars are selected annually to study at any UK university for one or two years.
Marshall is looking for exceptional academics who also demonstrate leadership and ambassadorial potential. The application process involves endorsement from your US university and a rigorous interview. Competition is intense — acceptance rates are around 3–5%.
If you're a high-achieving American undergraduate with a strong record of leadership, Marshall should be on your radar.
5. Commonwealth Scholarships (Canadian Citizens)
Value: Full tuition + living costs + flights (fully funded)
Level: Master's and PhD
Eligibility: Citizens of Commonwealth countries, including Canada
Deadline: Varies — typically December–January
Commonwealth Scholarships are funded by the UK government through the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission. Canadian citizens qualify as Commonwealth nationals. These scholarships support postgraduate study in the UK and are targeted at students who will use their education to contribute to development in their home countries.
The application process for Canadians goes through the Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Committee. Awards cover tuition, travel, and living expenses. Around 800 Commonwealth Scholarships are awarded globally each year, across all levels and subjects.
6. University-Specific International Scholarships
Value: Varies — typically £2,000–£10,000/year tuition reduction
Level: Undergraduate and postgraduate
Eligibility: Varies by university
Deadline: Varies — many are automatic upon offer acceptance
This is where the bulk of international student funding comes from. Most Russell Group and many other UK universities offer their own international scholarship programmes. These typically take the form of partial tuition fee waivers rather than fully-funded awards.
Examples of major university-specific scholarships:
- University of Edinburgh Global Scholarships: Up to £4,000 for international students with strong academic profiles. Awarded automatically to eligible offer holders.
- University of Bristol Think Big Scholarships: £5,000–£20,000 for international undergraduates. Application required.
- University of Manchester Presidential Scholarships: £5,000/year for high-achieving international students.
- University of Birmingham Global Masters Scholarships: £2,000 automatic awards for postgraduate taught programmes.
- King's College London Global Health Scholarship: Full tuition fee waiver for students from lower-income countries (some North American students may qualify depending on circumstances).
- University of Warwick Chancellor's International Scholarship: Full tuition and maintenance for PhD students.
Important: Check each university's scholarship page after receiving your offer. Many awards require a separate application, and deadlines are often tight — sometimes only 4–6 weeks after receiving your offer.
7. Rhodes Scholarships (University of Oxford)
Value: Full tuition + living stipend (fully funded)
Level: Any postgraduate programme at Oxford
Eligibility: Separate selection processes for US, Canadian, and other nationalities
Deadline: Usually October for US; varies for other countries
The Rhodes Scholarship is one of the oldest and most prestigious international scholarship programmes in the world, established in 1902. It funds postgraduate study at the University of Oxford — any course, any subject.
Approximately 100 scholars are selected globally each year — about 32 from the US and 11 from Canada, with others drawn from countries worldwide. The selection process is rigorous and includes interviews by regional committees.
Rhodes looks for academic excellence, leadership, commitment to service, and energy for making a difference. Many Rhodes Scholars go on to prominent careers in public service, academia, law, and business.
8. Fulbright Awards (US Citizens)
Value: Varies by programme — partial to full funding
Level: Postgraduate research and taught programmes
Eligibility: US citizens
Deadline: Usually October
The Fulbright Commission offers several programmes for US students and scholars to study or conduct research in the UK. The most relevant for prospective students is the Fulbright Postgraduate Award, which provides funding for a year of postgraduate study at any UK university.
Fulbright awards don't always cover full costs — but they provide a significant financial contribution and carry enormous prestige. The Fulbright name on your CV is valuable in its own right.
9. Saltire Scholarships (Scotland)
Value: £8,000 towards tuition
Level: Master's degree at a Scottish university
Eligibility: Citizens of Canada, US, China, India, Japan, or Pakistan
Deadline: Usually May–June
Saltire Scholarships are funded by the Scottish Government in partnership with Scottish universities. They support one year of postgraduate taught study in Scotland across a range of subjects including science, technology, creative industries, healthcare, and renewable energy.
The £8,000 award is applied directly to your tuition fee. US and Canadian citizens are explicitly eligible. If you're considering a Master's at Edinburgh, Glasgow, St Andrews, or any other Scottish university, Saltire is well worth applying for.
10. Subject-Specific and Industry Scholarships
Value: Varies widely — £1,000 to full tuition
Level: Undergraduate and postgraduate
Eligibility: Subject-dependent
Many professional bodies, charities, and industry groups offer scholarships for specific subjects:
- Engineering: The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) offers scholarships for engineering and technology students
- Law: The Inns of Court offer scholarships and bursaries for aspiring barristers
- Medicine: Various NHS trusts and medical charities offer bursaries
- Arts and Humanities: The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funds postgraduate research
- Business: Many business schools offer their own MBA and MSc scholarships
- STEM: UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funds PhD studentships across all science and engineering disciplines
These are harder to find because they're scattered across many organisations. Start with your university's scholarships page, then search for your subject + "scholarship UK" to find external options.
How to Maximise Your Chances
Apply Early
Many scholarships have early deadlines — often before you've even received a firm offer. Start researching scholarships at the same time you start researching universities.
Apply to Multiple Awards
Don't pin your hopes on a single scholarship. Apply for every award you're eligible for. Most can be held concurrently.
Tailor Each Application
Scholarship committees can tell when you've submitted a generic application. Each award has specific criteria — align your application to what they're looking for.
Get Strong References
Most scholarship applications require references. Ask referees early, give them context about the award, and remind them of the deadline.
Demonstrate Impact
The most competitive scholarships (Chevening, Marshall, Rhodes) look for evidence that you'll do something meaningful with your education. Be specific about your plans — vague statements about "making a difference" are not enough.
What About US Federal Student Loans?
Some UK universities are approved to accept US Federal Direct Loans. If you currently receive federal student aid, check whether your chosen UK university is on the US Department of Education's list of eligible foreign institutions. Major UK universities including UCL, King's College London, University of Edinburgh, and University of St Andrews are often approved.
Canadian students should check whether their provincial student loan programme covers study at UK institutions — some do, some don't.
What to Do Now
- Check our Scholarship Finder for awards available to North American students, filtered by level, subject, and value.
- Visit each university's scholarships page directly — many awards are not listed on centralised scholarship databases.
- Note deadlines — some scholarship deadlines are earlier than university application deadlines. Build a spreadsheet tracking every award, its deadline, and its requirements.
- Use our Cost Calculator to understand the gap between your budget and the total cost — this tells you how much scholarship funding you need to make your UK degree affordable.
Scholarship values, eligibility criteria, and deadlines change annually. Always verify current details on each scholarship's official website before applying. Some scholarship values listed here are indicative ranges based on recent cycles.
UK Uni Finder is an independent guide. We are not affiliated with any scholarship programme, university, or government body.