Scholarships and Grants in the UK

University Scholarships in the UK

Universities are more likely to grant scholarships in the form of a tuition discount. For bachelors, the most common discount is 10-30%, for undergraduates and doctoral students — up to 50%.

To get a scholarship, it is first needed to enter a university. The main selection criterion is GPA or grades for A-Level. Most often, funding is issued for a year with the possibility of prolongation.

Universities publish information about scholarships on their websites. But often the information there is incomplete. Therefore, it is best to contact the university directly for details. Contacts are typically listed on the same pages as the information about scholarships.

The committees select candidates based on academic performance, scientific achievements, social activism and leadership qualities. In theory, a scholarship can be obtained with lower grades, but only from a not very prestigious university that is trying to attract students with funding. The amount will be small: maximum 1500-2000 GDP. It will not really affect a student's financial situation.

Everyone can get grants: undergraduate and postgraduate students. It will be easier for the latter to win a scholarship because the competition is lower. And the payouts for postgraduates are usually bigger. Unlike undergraduates, they conduct their own research, which means that the university may benefit from assisting them.

There are several types of university scholarships.

Academic merit scholarships

Academic merit scholarships are awarded for academic achievements. What’s taken into account:

• Average GPA — ideally, it should be excellent;
• The level of English — preferably at least IELTS 7.0;
• Scientific publications;
• Participation in conferences.

Typically, academic merit scholarships offer an up to 50% discount on tuition. But there is also full coverage. For example, the Gates Scholarship at the University of Cambridge. The student is paid an additional 23,171 USD per year for housing and food. In total, Cambridge awards 80 scholarships annually, and 25 of them go to US students, so the competition is very high. You can read more about the requirements on the website of the program.

Often, universities automatically consider the applicants for academic merit scholarships, but for large scholarships like Gates, applications must be submitted separately. This may include a motivation letter and a research plan. Sometimes candidates need to undergo additional interviews.

Large scholarships are mainly designed for postgraduate students. For undergraduates, merit-based scholarships rarely exceed 3,972-6,620 USD.

Many universities have alumni scholarships. These are discounts for graduates who continue their studies in a Master's degree program at the same university. If you, for example, graduate from the University of East Anglia, then studying for a Master's degree there will cost half the price.

Often there scholarships are awarded for studies in specific areas — subject-specific scholarships. The University of Surrey offers discounts of up to 50% for MBA students. It is better to apply as early as possible, so the chances will be higher.

For subject-specific scholarships, good grades and a background in the chosen specialty are important. The committee pays attention to whether the applicant had studied the specialty before, written articles, and had any work experience. Sometimes, candidates are selected based on projects and portfolios.

There are scholarships for Foundation preparatory programs, for example, at Newcastle University. Its size is from 13,241 USD to 26,481 USD. Moreover, the first half of the scholarship is paid while studying in the preparatory program, and the second — after successful admission to the Bachelor's degree program.

Low income scholarships

British universities often support students in need. About half of all scholarships awarded yearly are low-income scholarships^[1]. Students can count on them if their family's income is below a certain amount. Depending on the university, this can be 21,185-79,444 USD/year.

Most low-income scholarships only partially cover tuition fees. The average amount of payments is 1,324-3,972 USD/year, larger amounts are rare. These scholarships are given so that a student can afford a trip to summer school or field research. They will not be enough to cover the entire training.

In addition to the financial situation, the committee usually takes into account academic achievements. Therefore, a high GPA and a good portfolio will still come in handy.

British universities often award scholarships based on the personal circumstances of the student. This vague wording means that scholarships are designed for those who, for some reason, find it difficult to get an education: due to economic inequality, racial or gender discrimination. Oxford, for example, offers scholarships to citizens from economically poor countries.

Performance-based scholarships

The third type of university scholarship is for achievements in sports and creativity. Most often these are small payments of 1,324-2,648 USD. Their goal is not to reduce the cost of education, but to support a talented student in his studies so that he can buy the necessary equipment or musical instrument.

One of the biggest scholarships for athletes is at the University of Birmingham. It’s size ranges from 5,296 USD to 13,241 USD. To participate in the competition, a candidate needs to compete in the junior league at the international level. The most popular student sports in Britain are football, athletics, rugby, tennis, basketball, rowing, golf and cricket.

At most universities, a student who receives a scholarship is required to play on a university team or participate in events. For example, at the University of Bristol, gifted musicians receive 1,324 USD per year, and in return sing in the university choir.

Private scholarships

Some programs are funded by private sources — companies or non-governmental organizations. Scholarships from companies are often targeted at specific fields. Sometimes a student is even offered an employment contract after graduation or during training. This is what makes them different from scholarships from non-governmental organizations — those usually target particularly vulnerable segments of society, such as ethnic minorities. However, there is also competition based on academic achievements.

Study a Master's in Europe scholarship 2021

The website educations.com offers a scholarship of 5,650 USD for applicants for Master's programs at European universities. You can study in the UK as well. To participate in the program, you must have a Bachelor's degree and meet the requirements of the chosen university.

The application consists of a short questionnaire and a cover letter of 500-700 words. In it, you need to answer why you chose this particular country and how studying abroad will help you develop leadership qualities. The deadline for filing it out is May 17, 2021.

Required documents:

• Confirmation of admission to a European university;
• Copy of Bachelor's degree with transcript;
• Copy of your passport.

According to the organizers, the ideal candidate

• Thinks globally, is interested in other cultures;
• Strives to change the world for the better;
• Has academic achievements and a high GPA;
• Participates in extracurricular activities;
• Is ready to share their story with the world.

Information Security undergraduate scholarship from (ISC)²

Nonprofit Organization (ISC)² offers scholarships for undergraduate students in Information Security. Payout amount ranges from 1,000 USD to 5,000 USD. Citizenship and country of study do not matter. So it is possible to study in the UK.

It is allowed to apply for a scholarship while still studying at high school. The most important requirement is that GPA has to be at least 3.3 out of 4.0. In case of winning, the scholarship will be sent after entering the university.

Required documents:

• Transcript of grades;
• Letter of recommendation. It is preferable to come from a teacher, but it is also acceptable from a supervisor from work;
• CV;
• Motivation letter. In it, candidates need to tell why they chose the field of information security, describe their educational and professional experience, plans and goals.

The committee selects winners based on three main criteria: motivation, academic success, and financial ability.

Rotary Peace Fellowships

Rotary International organization funded the program "Rotary Peace Fellowships", which includes fully paid training costs, room and board, and research support. Fellows study in a Master's program at one of the five Centers for Peace Studies. In Britain, it is located at the University of Bradford.

The application must include:

• CV;
• School certificate transcript;
• Letter of recommendation;
• Motivation letter;
• Project plan.

Applicants need a minimum of three years of work experience in the fields of development and peacekeeping. The project should be related to peace and development studies and have practical benefits for society. Read more about the program on the website.