20 Fully Funded UK Scholarships to Eye for 2026
So, you’ve been dreaming about sipping tea in Oxford, walking the cobbled streets of Cambridge, or researching AI at UCL—but tuition fees and living costs in the UK feel like dragons guarding the castle gates? Fear not! The British Isles are more generous than you think.
The UK offers a royal spread of fully funded scholarships for international students—covering everything from tuition and stipends to travel and even warm coats (not kidding, some do include clothing allowances!). And 2026? It’s shaping up to be a jackpot year.
Let’s break it down and help you prepare like a scholar on a mission.
Why Aim for UK Scholarships in 2026?
- They’re open to global citizens—from Africa to Asia, the Americas to Europe.
- Most scholarships cover full tuition, living expenses, airfare, and even visa costs.
- UK degrees are globally recognized, and many scholarships come with prestigious alumni networks (hello, future leaders!).
The Mighty 20: Fully Funded British Scholarships to Watch in 2026
Here are 20 of the most student-dazzling United Kingdom scholarships and fellowships, sorted across Master’s, PhD, Undergrad, and Postdoc levels:
| List of UK Scholarships for 2026 | Degree Levels Offered | Package of Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Chevening Scholarships | Master’s | Full tuition, monthly stipend, travel, visa |
| Commonwealth Scholarships | Master’s/PhD | Full tuition, airfare, living expenses |
| GREAT Scholarships (Some Fully Funded) | Master’s | Up to £10,000; some unis offer more |
| Marshall Scholarships | Master’s/PhD (US only) | Tuition, books, stipend, travel |
| Rhodes Scholarships | Master’s/PhD (select countries) | Everything, including settling allowance |
| Gates Cambridge Scholarships | Master’s/PhD | Full cost of study, airfare, stipend |
| Clarendon Fund | Master’s/PhD | Full tuition + generous stipend |
| Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarship | Master’s | Full fees, living costs, leadership training |
| UCL Global Masters Scholarship | Master’s | ~£15,000 (need-based) |
| UCL Research Excellence Scholarships | PhD | Tuition + stipend |
| Cambridge International Scholarships | PhD | Full funding |
| Newton International Fellowships | Postdoc | Up to £420,000 for 3 years |
| British Academy Int’l Fellowship | Postdoc | ~£20,000+ for research and relocation |
| Commonwealth PhD Scholarships | PhD | Full tuition, living costs, airfare |
| British Council Women in STEM Scholarships | Master’s | Full tuition, stipend, IELTS, return flights |
| Jardine Foundation Scholarship | Undergraduate (Oxford/Cambridge) | Full funding for SEA nationals |
| Leverhulme Trust PhD Fellowships | PhD/Postdoc | Up to full cost of study |
| University of Glasgow UK Study Online | UG/PG | Some full tuition online awards |
| Cardiff University International Scholarship | UG/PG | Up to £10,000 (many full awards too) |
| Winston Churchill Foundation Scholarships | Master’s (STEM, Churchill College) | Full cost for US citizens |
The 2026 Application Timeline of 20 UK Scholarships
Most of these scholarships open in mid to late 2025 and close by Jan or Feb 2026. A few early birds like Chevening, Rhodes, and Marshall wrap up as early as October 2025.
| Scholarship Names for 2026 Cycle | Application Opens | Application Deadline |
| Chevening Scholarships | 2 Aug 2025 | 5 Nov 2025 |
| Commonwealth Scholarships | Sept 2025 | Dec 2025 (MS/PhD), May 2025 (Distance Learning) |
| GREAT Scholarships | Nov-2025 | Apr-2026 |
| Marshall Scholarships | June 2025 | Sept 2025 |
| Rhodes Scholarships | June 2025 | Oct 2025 |
| Winston Churchill Scholarships | May 2025 | Nov 2025 |
| Clarendon Fund | Dec 2025 | Jan-2026 |
| Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships | Dec 2025 | Jan-2026 |
| Newton International Fellowships | Jan-2026 | Mar-2026 |
| Gates Cambridge Scholarships | Sep-2025 | Jan-2026 |
| Cambridge International Trust | Sep-2025 | Jan-2026 |
| Jardine Foundation Scholarships | Aug-2025 | Oct-2025 |
| British Academy International Fellowships | Feb-2026 | Apr-2026 |
| Leverhulme Trust Fellowships | Rolling announcements in 2025 | Rolling through 2026 |
| UCL Global Masters Scholarships | Dec-2025 | Apr-2026 |
| UCL Research Excellence Scholarships | Dec-2025 | Jan-2026 |
| University of Glasgow UK Study Online Scholarship | Varies per intake | Varies |
| Cardiff International Scholarships | Jan-2026 | Jun-2026 |
| Commonwealth PhD Scholarships | Sep-2025 | Dec-2025 |
| British Council Women in STEM Scholarships | Nov-2025 | Mar-2026 |
⏰ Moral of the story? Start preparing by June 2025—draft your SOPs, request references, and short-list programs before deadlines sneak up on you.
Bonus UK Scholarship for 2026 Entry: Aga Khan scholarships.
References
- https://www.gov.uk/postgraduate-scholarships-international-students
- https://study-uk.britishcouncil.org/scholarships-funding
- https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/chevening-foundation
- https://international.uky.edu/ea/browse-scholarships.
Visit daadscholarship.com for More Fully-funded Scholarships 2026 News.