Development planning scholarships and funding
Discover scholarships and opportunities to fund your master's or MPhil/PhD study at the UCL Development Planning Unit available from both our university and external funders.
Below are a number scholarships and funding opportunities to support your studies on our master's and MPhil/PhD courses. Please pay close attention the eligibility criteria, application processes and deadlines. You can also find more scholarship and funding opportunities available on UCL's 'Fund your studies' webpage.
Find funding opportunities for your degree level: Master's | MPhil/PhD
Master's scholarship and funding opportunities
Please note: We provide links to external sources for your convenience only and these should not be taken as endoresement of any given funder or aggregator.
The DPU70 Scholarships – for Sub-Saharan Africa
Available only for the 2024-25 academic year, the DPU70 Scholarships aim to support two students from Sub-Saharan Africa to study our master's courses. The Bartlett Development Planning Unit (DPU) has had many long and vital partnerships with colleagues on the African continent. Indeed, those relationships extend to the very origins of the DPU and underpin much of our work. Yet we work in an educational context in which the programmes we offer are financially beyond the reach of many international partners, and disproportionately so with regard to those based in Sub-Saharan Africa. The DPU70 Scholarships are intended to go some small way to helping to support the collaborations that are so fundamental to us all.
The DPU70 Scholarships are powered by The Bartlett Promise Scholarship, and funded by The Bartlett Development Planning Unit. Discover full details and information on how to apply on The DPU70 Scholarships page.
The Bartlett Promise Sub-Saharan Africa Master's Scholarships
These scholarships aim to enable students from backgrounds underrepresented in The Bartlett, UCL’s Faculty of the Built Environment to pursue master's studies at The Bartlett. Discover full details and information on how to apply on The Bartlett Promise Scholarship page.
UCL Global Masters Scholarship
The UCL Global Masters Scholarship aims to enable and encourage international students from lower income backgrounds to pursue full-time Master's degree studies at UCL.
For further information on the application process, please refer to the UCL Global Masters Scholarship website.
GREAT Scholarship - for Nigeria
The UCL-GREAT Scholarships 2024 are jointly funded by UCL and the British Council to provide financial support to citizens of Bangladesh, India, Malaysia and Nigeria.
For further information on the application process, please refer to the UCL GREAT Scholarship website.
Chevening Scholarships
Chevening Scholarships enable outstanding emerging leaders from all over the world to pursue one-year master’s degrees in the UK. Whilst there is no ‘typical’ Chevening Scholar, Chevening are looking for the kind of people who have the passion, ideas, and influence to provide the solutions and leadership needed to create a better future.
Discover full details and information on how to apply on Chevening's Scholarships page.
Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme
The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme is a joint initiative between the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and UK universities to support students from developing Commonwealth countries. For students studying in the 2024-25 academic year, the scheme is available for the Social Development Practice MSc at The Bartlett Development Planning Unit.
Please note: Applicants will also need to apply to the Social Development Practice MSc via the UCL graduate prospectus by this deadline and applications have now closed.
Snowdon Masters Scholarships - for students with disabilities
The Snowdon Masters Scholarships is for national and international disabled students applying for a master's programme at any UK institution. Snowdon Trust breakdown barriers to education and employment facing disabled young people and adults, and where they cannot immediately break down the barriers they support, listen, and increase opportunities for disabled individuals. Snowdon Trust campaigns for disability inclusion and equitable experiences throughout education and employment.
Discover full details and information on how to apply on the Global Disability Innovation Hub's Snowdon Masters Scholarships page.
Bolashak Scholarships - Kazakhstan
The Bolashak Scholarship are offered by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan, enabling high-achieving students from Kazakhstan to undertake undergraduate and postgraduate study at top universities around the world.
Bolashak offer full scholarships to students for bachelors and masters degree programmes. The scheme is administered by the Center for International Programs and awards are made in subject areas prioritised by the Kazakh Government, including Engineering, Science, Medicine, Law and Business. After graduation Bolashak scholars return to Kazakhstan to work in a variety of government and service roles.
UCL offers a contribution worth 10% of the tuition fee to Masters scholars who are awarded a Bolashak Scholarship.
For further information about the Bolashak scholarship programme please see the Center for International Programs website.
Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme - for Commonwealth countries
The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme is a joint initiative between the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and UK universities to support students from developing Commonwealth countries. For students studying in the 2024-25 academic year, the scheme is available for the Social Development Practice MSc at The Bartlett Development Planning Unit.
Please note: Applicants will also need to apply to the Social Development Practice MSc via the UCL graduate prospectus by this deadline and applications have now closed.
Chevening Scholarships
Chevening Scholarships enable outstanding emerging leaders from all over the world to pursue one-year master’s degrees in the UK. Whilst there is no ‘typical’ Chevening Scholar, Chevening are looking for the kind of people who have the passion, ideas, and influence to provide the solutions and leadership needed to create a better future.
Discover full details and information on how to apply on Chevening's Scholarships website.
Oman Embassy Scholarships - for Oman
UCL part-funds a number of awards in conjunction with the Oman Embassy for students of all study levels. UCL offers a scholarship worth 10% of the tuition fee to scholars sponsored by the Oman Embassy under their standard award programmes.
For further information on the application process, please refer to the Oman Embassy website.
Royal Thai Government Scholarship - for Thailand
The Office of the Civil Service Commission (OCSC) offers scholarships for Thai students at UCL, consisting of tuition fees and a stipend. UCL has an agreement with the Office of the Civil Service Commission (OCSC) to contribute 10% of the overseas tuition fee for Thai students holding a Royal Thai Government Scholarship for studies at UCL, having qualified for their annual scholarship examination for progress to a UK University.
For further information please visit the Office of the Civil Service Commission website. Alternatively, contact the London Office of Educational Affairs or call +44 (0)20 7584 4538, fax: +44 (0)20 7823 9896.
Turkish Embassy Scholarships - for Turkey
UCL part-funds a number of awards in conjunction with the Turkish Ministry of Education for Turkish students. These awards are available for Master's and Research programmes. UCL offers a scholarship worth 10% of the tuition fee to scholars sponsored by the Turkish Ministry of Education under their standard award programmes.
For further information on the application process, please refer to the Turkish Ministry of Education website.
Snowdon Masters Scholarships - for students with disabilities
The Snowdon Masters Scholarships is for national and international disabled students applying for a master's programme at any UK institution. Snowdon Trust breakdown barriers to education and employment facing disabled young people and adults, and where they cannot immediately break down the barriers they support, listen, and increase opportunities for disabled individuals. Snowdon Trust campaigns for disability inclusion and equitable experiences throughout education and employment.
Discover full details and information on how to apply on the Global Disability Innovation Hub's Snowdon Masters Scholarships page.
UCL India Excellence Scholarship - for India
The UCL India Excellence Scholarship aims to enable and encourage Indian students with an outstanding academic record to pursue full-time Master's degree studies at UCL.
Discover full details and information on how to apply on the UCL India Excellence Scholarship page.
UCL Global Masters Scholarship
The UCL Global Masters Scholarship aims to enable and encourage international students from lower income backgrounds to pursue full-time Master's degree studies at UCL.
For further information on the application process, please refer to the UCL Global Masters Scholarship website.
GREAT Scholarship - for India, Bangladesh and Malaysia
The UCL-GREAT Scholarships 2024 are jointly funded by UCL and the British Council to provide financial support to citizens of Bangladesh, India, Malaysia and Nigeria.
For further information on the application process, please refer to the UCL GREAT Scholarship website.
UCL Global Masters Scholarship
The UCL Global Masters Scholarship aims to enable and encourage international students from lower income backgrounds to pursue full-time Master's degree studies at UCL.
For further information on the application process, please refer to the UCL Global Masters Scholarship website.
ANID Graduate Fellowship (Chile)
UCL part-funds a number of awards in conjunction with ANID (National Agency for Research and Development). These awards are available for PhD and Master's programmes. UCL offers a contribution worth 25% of the tuition fee to scholars whose tuition fees are paid by ANID under their standard award programme, with ANID contributing towards the remaining fee and providing a stipend.
For further information on the application process, please refer to the ANID website.
Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme - for Commonwealth countries
The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme is a joint initiative between the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and UK universities to support students from developing Commonwealth countries. For students studying in the 2024-25 academic year, the scheme is available for the Social Development Practice MSc at The Bartlett Development Planning Unit.
Please note: Applicants will also need to apply to the Social Development Practice MSc via the UCL graduate prospectus by this deadline and applications have now closed.
Chevening Scholarships
Chevening Scholarships enable outstanding emerging leaders from all over the world to pursue one-year master’s degrees in the UK. Whilst there is no ‘typical’ Chevening Scholar, Chevening are looking for the kind of people who have the passion, ideas, and influence to provide the solutions and leadership needed to create a better future.
Discover full details and information on how to apply on Chevening Scholarships website.
COLFUTURO - Colombia
UCL part-funds a number of awards in conjunction with the Colombian non-profit foundation, Fundación para el futuro de Colombia (COLFUTURO). These awards are available for Colombian students undertaking Master's and 3-year PhD programmes. UCL offers a scholarship worth 25% of the tuition fee to scholars sponsored by COLFUTURO under their standard award programme.
For further information on the application process, please refer to the COLFUTURO website.
COLFUTURO-Semillero de Talentos Scholarship - Colombia
Applications for these awards should be made directly to COLFUTURO, following their established procedures. Applicants selected by COLFUTURO, who are also offered a place at UCL, will then automatically qualify for the scholarship. Working in conjunction with COLFUTURO, UCL offers two scholarships worth 100% of the masters programme tuition fee to scholars sponsored by COLFUTURO under their Semillero de Talentos award programme. These awards are available for Colombian students only.
For further information on the application process, please refer to the COLFUTURO website.
FIDERH - Mexico
UCL part-funds a number of awards in conjunction with Banco de Mexico - Fiderh for Mexican students. These awards are available for Master's and Research programmes. UCL offers a scholarship worth 10% of the tuition fee to scholars sponsored by the Banco de Mexico under their standard FIDERH award programmes.
For further information on the application process, please refer to the FIDERH website.
FUNED - Mexico
UCL part-funds a number of awards in conjunction with Fundación Mexicana para la Educación, le Tecnología y la Ciencia (FUNED) for Mexican scholars. These awards are available for Master's programmes. UCL offers a scholarship worth 10% of the tuition fee to scholars sponsored by FUNED under their standard award programme.
For further information on the application process, please refer to the FUNED website.
GUATEFUTURO Scholarship - Guatemala
UCL part-funds a number of awards in conjunction with Fundacion Guatefuturo (GUATEFUTURO). These awards are available for Guatemalan students undertaking Master's and 3-year PhD programmes. UCL offers a scholarship worth 10% of the tuition fee to scholars sponsored by GUATEFUTURO under their standard award programme.
For further information on the application process, please refer to the GUATEFUTURO website.
Snowdon Masters Scholarships
The Snowdon Masters Scholarships is for national and international disabled students applying for a master's programme at any UK institution. Snowdon Trust breakdown barriers to education and employment facing disabled young people and adults, and where they cannot immediately break down the barriers they support, listen, and increase opportunities for disabled individuals. Snowdon Trust campaigns for disability inclusion and equitable experiences throughout education and employment.
Discover full details and information on how to apply on the Global Disability Innovation Hub's Snowdon Masters Scholarships page.
UCLFAA Environment and Sustainable Development MSc Scholarship
The UCL Friends and Alumni Association (UCLFAA) funds several scholarships across UCL for master's students from the United States, including a scholarship for the Environment and Sustainable Development MSc at The Bartlett Development Planning Unit.
For further information on the application process, please refer to our webpage.
Fulbright Scholarships
UCL part-funds awards each year in conjunction with the prestigious Fulbright Scholarships. These awards finance young US who can engage with the UK in an atmosphere of openness, academic integrity and intellectual freedom, thereby promoting mutual understanding. UCL offers 100% of the tuition fee and a maintence allowance to one postgraduate taught scholar per year who is sponsored by Fulbright under their standard postgraduate award programme.
For further information on the application process, please refer to the Fulbright website.
Marshall Scholarships
UCL part-funds awards each year in conjunction with the prestigious Marshall Scholarships. These awards finance young Americans of high ability to study for a degree in the UK for either one or two years at the postgraduate taught level. UCL offers 100% of the tuition fee to two scholars sponsored by Marshall under their standard award programme.
For further information on the application process, please refer to the Marshall website.
Snowdon Masters Scholarships
The Snowdon Masters Scholarships is for national and international disabled students applying for a master's programme at any UK institution. Snowdon Trust breakdown barriers to education and employment facing disabled young people and adults, and where they cannot immediately break down the barriers they support, listen, and increase opportunities for disabled individuals. Snowdon Trust campaigns for disability inclusion and equitable experiences throughout education and employment.
Discover full details and information on how to apply on the Global Disability Innovation Hub's Snowdon Masters Scholarships page.
UCL Global Masters Scholarship
The UCL Global Masters Scholarship aims to enable and encourage international students from lower income backgrounds to pursue full-time Master's degree studies at UCL.
For further information on the application process, please refer to the UCL Global Masters Scholarship website.
Aurora & UCL Scholarship - Australia
The Aurora Education Foundation is an Indigenous-led organisation that supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to realise their full educational and employment potential, whether that is completing Year 12 or achieving a PhD from a leading university. Aurora Scholars are chosen for their potential to be leaders and to contribute to Australia’s future, whether that is in public life, community work, academia or the professional sector. UCL is partnering with Aurora by providing sponsorship towards tuition fee costs.
For more information on the support available and how to apply, please visit the Aurora webpage.
Chevening Scholarships
Chevening Scholarships enable outstanding emerging leaders from all over the world to pursue one-year master’s degrees in the UK. Whilst there is no ‘typical’ Chevening Scholar, Chevening are looking for the kind of people who have the passion, ideas, and influence to provide the solutions and leadership needed to create a better future.
Discover full details and information on how to apply on Chevening's Scholarships page.
Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme - for Commonwealth countries
The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme is a joint initiative between the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and UK universities to support students from developing Commonwealth countries. For students studying in the 2024-25 academic year, the scheme is available for the Social Development Practice MSc at The Bartlett Development Planning Unit.
Please note: Applicants will also need to apply to the Social Development Practice MSc via the UCL graduate prospectus by this deadline and applications have now closed.
Snowdon Masters Scholarships
The Snowdon Masters Scholarships is for national and international disabled students applying for a master's programme at any UK institution. Snowdon Trust breakdown barriers to education and employment facing disabled young people and adults, and where they cannot immediately break down the barriers they support, listen, and increase opportunities for disabled individuals. Snowdon Trust campaigns for disability inclusion and equitable experiences throughout education and employment.
Discover full details and information on how to apply on the Global Disability Innovation Hub's Snowdon Masters Scholarships page.
UCL Global Masters Scholarship
The UCL Global Masters Scholarship aims to enable and encourage international students from lower income backgrounds to pursue full-time Master's degree studies at UCL.
For further information on the application process, please refer to the UCL Global Masters Scholarship website.
The Bartlett Promise UK Master's Scholarships
These scholarships aim to enable students from backgrounds underrepresented in The Bartlett, UCL’s Faculty of the Built Environment to pursue master's studies at The Bartlett. Discover full details and information on how to apply on The Bartlett Promise Scholarship page.
UCL Masters Bursary
The UCL Masters Bursary aims to enable and encourage those from lower income backgrounds to pursue a full-time or part-time Master's degree studies at UCL.
Discover full details and information on how to apply on the UCL Masters Bursary page.
Snowdon Masters Scholarships - for students with disabilities
The Snowdon Masters Scholarships is for national and international disabled students applying for a master's programme at any UK institution. Snowdon Trust breakdown barriers to education and employment facing disabled young people and adults, and where they cannot immediately break down the barriers they support, listen, and increase opportunities for disabled individuals. Snowdon Trust campaigns for disability inclusion and equitable experiences throughout education and employment.
Discover full details and information on how to apply on the Global Disability Innovation Hub's Snowdon Masters Scholarships page.
Additional resources for our master's courses
UCL fee partnerships
UCL has partnerships with a variety of external funding providers in which the university offers a contribution towards tuition fees. Applications for the awards listed below should be made directly to the external funding body (via the links provided), following their established procedures. Applicants must apply directly to UCL for a place on a programme of study at the same time. Applicants selected for the relevant external awards, who are also offered a place at UCL, will then automatically qualify for the fee contribution.
Discover the full list of fee partnerships and information on how to apply on UCL's Fee partnerships page.
Additional scholarship opportunities for our master's courses
- Aziz Foundation for British Muslims
- Beca Bicentenario for Perú nationals
- COLFUTURO scholarships for Colombian nationals
- COLCIENCIAS scholarships for Colombian nationals
- CONICYT Fee Partnership for Chilean nationals
- Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt for Egyptian nationals
- Embassy of the State of Kuwait - Cultural Office for Iraqi nationals
- Government of India for Indian nationals
- LPDP Scholarship for Indonesian citizens
- Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) for Nigerian nationals
- Programa Nacional de Becas de Postrado en el Exterior for Paraguay nationals
Please note: We provide links to external sources for your convenience only and these should not be taken as endoresement of any given funder or aggregator.
MPhil/PhD Scholarship and funding opportunities
UCL funding for students on postgraduate research courses
Discover the full list of funding opportunities, including a loan scheme for PhD students, and information on how to apply on UCL's webpage on Funding for students on postgraduate research courses. For our specific process for applying to our MPhil/PhD course at The Bartlett Development Planning Unit, please see the Development Planning MPhil/PhD webpage.
The Bartlett Promise PhD Scholarship
The Bartlett Promise aims to enable students from backgrounds underrepresented in The Bartlett, UCL’s Faculty of the Built Environment to pursue a PhD at The Bartlett.
Applications for The Bartlett Promise PhD Scholarship open on 1 February 2025 for admission to start your studies in the September 2025.
To apply, you must:
- Be a new PhD student
- Be UK domiciled with home fee status or a forced migrant (as defined by UCL) in the UK
- Have an offer of admission to a Bartlett PhD programme, including the Development Planning MPhil/PhD at The Bartlett Development Planning Unit, to start in September 2025-26, and
- Must not have completed a PhD at UCL or anywhere else previously.
Watch Sonia sharing her journey to joining The Bartlett Development Planning Unit and experience of applying to The Bartlett Promise PhD Scholarship.
Discover full details and information on how to apply on The Bartlett Promise PhD Scholarship page.
UCL Research Excellence Scholarship (UCL-RES)
The UCL-RES scholarship replaces the Graduate Research Scholarships for Cross-disciplinary Training (GXD), continues to offer 40 fully funded awards, and is now live for the 2025-26 academic year.
In order to apply, you must have submitted a completed admission application to, or currently be registered on, an eligible full- or part-time eligible degree programme at UCL by the scholarship deadline; hold or expect to achieve at least an upper second-class Honours UK undergraduate degree or equivalent qualification. To be awarded if selected, you must be in receipt of an offer of admission to, or currently be registered on, a full-time or part-time research degree programme at UCL.
Application deadline: 10 January 2025.
Discover full details and information on how to apply to the UCL RES on UCL's Research Excellence Scholarship page.
Student Finance England Postgraduate Doctoral Loans
A Postgraduate Doctoral Loan can help eligible students from the UK (EU applicants are only eligible if they have settled or pre-settled status in the UK) with course fees and living costs while they study a postgraduate doctoral course, such as a PhD.
To apply, you must:
- Be a UK national or Irish citizen - or have EU settled status
- Must "normally" live in England
- Must be a full-time doctoral student
- Can get up to £28,673 - paid directly to the student, with payments divided over the length of the course
- Can use funds for course fees and living expenses
Discover full details and information on how to apply on the GOV.UK Doctoral Loan page.
In March 2023, in its response to the consultation on the Lifelong Loan Entitlement (LLE), the Government said a Sharia-compliant alternative student finance product would not be available as part of the launch of the LLE in England in 2025. In July 2023, the Government said it remains committed to delivering alternative student finance “as soon as possible” after 2025. Read more about Sharia-compliant alternative student finance on the UK Parliament website.
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Studentships
The UCL, Bloomsbury and East London (UBEL) Doctoral Training Programme (DTP) invites applications for ESRC-funded studentships to be based within departments at the partner institutions within the DTP: University College London, Birkbeck, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, the School of Oriental and African Studies, and the University of East London.
The UBEL DTP’s ESRC studentships are fully-funded for three to four years (depending on academic pathway) and cover full payment of tuition fees per year, as well as an annual maintenance stipend.
The UBEL DTP Main Studentship is open and receiving applications and the deadline for Preliminary applications is Monday 2 December 2024 at 23:59 GMT.
Call specification, FAQs, a joining link for the online workshop, and a form showing the required content of applications are available on the UBEL ESRC Studentship website.
For queries on the process at the UBEL DTP, please contact ubel-dtp@ucl.ac.uk.
UCL EPSRC DTP Studentships Open Competition
The UCL Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Doctoral Training Programme (DTP) aims to recruit 70 outstanding students to undertake fully-funded four-year PhD (including EngD) studentships at UCL.
Students can apply for MPhil/PhD, MRes/PhD, or EngD programmes in any UCL Faculty. Please note: These studentships cannot be used to fund students applying to Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) progammes due to EPSRC Terms and Conditions.
Studentship projects must lie within the EPSRC Themes and Research Areas.
Discover full details and information on how to apply on UCL's 'Apply for a UCL EPSRC DTP studentship' page.
UCL-China Scholarships Council Research Scholarships
Funding offered by UCL and the China Scholarships Council (CSC) aims to expand the educational, cultural, and technological co-operation between the UK and China.
CSC and UCL will support the following areas of study with priority given to:
- up to 10 scholars per year in the Faculty of Mathematical & Physical Sciences
- up to 5 scholars per year in any subject area in accordance with the CSC’s priorities, including the Mathematical & Physical Sciences and IOE
- 1 scholar per year in the IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society
Students will be eligible to study disciplines in any of the above fields at UCL.
5 awards are available for students intending to pursue research in any subject area in accordance with the CSC’s priorities, including the Mathematical & Physical Sciences and IOE. In order to be considered for one of these 5 CSC-UCL Joint Research Scholarships candidates must first submit an application for the UCL Research Excellence Scholarship (RES) before submitting an application to the CSC. UCL will then select its five CSC-UCL Joint Research Scholars from the pool of students that applied to the RES. Full application instructions can be found on the RES web page. The deadline for applications is Friday, 10th January 2025.
Graduate Research Scholarships for Cross Disciplinary Training (One-Year)
Up to four scholarships annually are available to full-time UCL MPhil/PhD and EngD students from any country wishing to spend an additional year of their MPhil/PhD or EngD in another UCL department acquiring research skills and knowledge from a different discipline, which can be applied in their normal area of research. Training should be of one year's duration to permit sustained exposure to the new discipline.
Discover full details and information on how to apply on UCL's Research Excellence Scholarships for Cross-disciplinary Training (One-Year) page.
UCL Research Opportunity Scholarship
UCL's Research Opportunity Scholarship (UCL-ROS) supports BAME postgraduate research degree students. UCL is running this scholarship with the Windsor Fellowship. The UCL scheme offers full financial support and a skills development programme, both designed to promote academia as a more attractive career option. Please see our ROS scholars testimonials to see how this scholarship has helped our community of ROS scholars.
Value: UK / home rate fees, a maintenance stipend, conference costs and professional development package
Available to: Prospective and current students
Selection criteria: Academic merit and financial need
Eligible fee status: UK / home
Eligible programmes: Full-time or part-time MPhil/PhD and EngD (excluding distance learning and professional doctorates)
Additional eligibility criteria: UK-permanent resident from certain BAME ethnic group (see below)
Deadline: 12 January 2024
- Must have submitted a completed admission application to, or currently be registered on, an eligible** full- or part-time eligible degree programme at UCL by the scholarship deadline.
- Must be a UK-permanent resident from one of the following BAME ethnic groups:
>Black or Black British - Caribbean
>Black or Black British - African
>Other Black background
>Asian or Asian British - Bangladeshi
>Asian or Asian British - Pakistani
For more information and to apply, please visit the UCL Research Opportunity Scholarship website.