The Bartlett Promise Sub-Saharan Africa Master’s Scholarship

The Bartlett Promise aims to enable students from backgrounds which are underrepresented in The Bartlett, to pursue postgraduate studies at The Bartlett, UCL’s Faculty of the Built Environment. For The Bartlett Promise Sub-Saharan African scholarship, candidates must:

• be a national of one of The Bartlett’s approved list² of Sub Saharan African (SSA) countries and resident in an eligible SSA country³
• must not hold a British or dual British citizenship
• must not have received at any time in the past or be in receipt of any funding for a master’s or equivalent qualification, at any university which is outside The Bartlett’s approved list of SSA counties at the time of applying up to 1 October 2026
• have an offer of admission to a Bartlett Master’s course for study in 2025-26 which is either unconditional or conditional only on English language
• be in financial need as assessed by UCL⁴

In addition to these, candidates should ideally also meet at least one of the additional criteria:

• be a forced migrant⁵
• be the first generation in the family to attend university at undergraduate level
• be the first generation in family to attend university at postgraduate level

In addition to these, for The Bartlett Promise Prescott scholarship candidates must:

• Have an offer of admission to study on the MSc Infrastructure Investment and Finance programme starting in the 2025-26 academic year.
• Identify as a female.

¹ Eligibility criteria for 2026-27 and beyond may differ
² Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Republic of Congo, Cote D’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal Sierra Leone, Somalia (including Somaliland), South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe
³ Exceptions may be made for those displaced by war or other special circumstances
⁴ Assessed household income of less than £42,875
⁵ Refugee, asylum seeker or those who have been granted a temporary form of leave as the result of an asylum or human rights application (e.g. limited leave to remain, discretionary leave to remain, humanitarian protection, UASC leave).

Please see the FAQs for details on how to apply. You must first secure a place on a Bartlett Master’s course. Once you have an offer of a place, you can apply to The Bartlett Promise for a scholarship.

Applications to Bartlett master’s courses for the 2026/27 academic year are expected to open in October 2025. We strongly advise you to apply early. To apply for the scholarship, you must have received an offer of admission to a Bartlett master’s course. UCL aims to make a decision on applications within 6 weeks of receiving your completed application, academic transcripts and both references. However, please note it can take 3-4 months when application volumes are high. You are strongly recommended to apply early; a 6 week turn around cannot be guaranteed.

The selection panel will assess your application based on information provided on your scholarship application form and the information you provide in your dialogue with the Windsor Fellowship. The assessment of applications will be made in relation to the eligibility criteria.

The Bartlett Promise Prescot Scholarship fully covers fees, stipend, flights and visa costs for a Sub-Saharan African female student on the MSc Infrastructure Investment and Finance, starting in the 2025-26 academic year. Applicants should apply using The Bartlett Promise Sub-Saharan Africa Master’s application form. 

All Bartlett Promise Sub-Saharan Africa Master’s Scholarship criteria apply with the addition of two criteria:

• Applicants for The Bartlett Promise Prescot Scholarship must have an offer of admission to study on the MSc Infrastructure Investment and Finance programme starting in the 2025-26 academic year.
• Applicants for The Bartlett Promise Prescot Scholarship must identify as a female.

The Bartlett Promise aims to enable students from backgrounds which are underrepresented in The Bartlett, to pursue postgraduate studies at The Bartlett, UCL’s Faculty of the Built Environment. For The Bartlett Promise Sub-Saharan African scholarship, candidates must:

• be a national of one of The Bartlett’s approved list1 of Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries and resident in an eligible SSA country
• must not hold a British or dual British citizenship
• must not have received at any time in the past or be in receipt of any funding for a master’s or equivalent qualification, at any university which is outside The Bartlett’s approved list of SSA counties at the time of applying up to 1 October 2026
• have an offer of admission to a Bartlett master’s course for study in 2025-26 which is either unconditional or conditional only on English language assessment by 28 March 2025
• be in financial need as assessed by UCL2

In addition to these candidates should ideally also meet at least one of the additional criteria:

• is a forced migrant3
• is the first generation in the family to attend university at undergraduate level
• is the first generation in family to attend university at postgraduate level

1Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Republic of Congo, Cote D’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia (including Somaliland), South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe
2Assessed household income of less than £42,875
3Refugee, asylum seeker or those who have been granted a temporary form of leave as the result of an asylum or human rights application (e.g., limited leave to remain, discretionary leave to remain, humanitarian protection, UASC leave).

You can apply if you meet the criteria.

You must meet The Bartlett’s academic requirements. You must apply for admission to a Bartlett master’s course. When you do this, your application and academic abilities will be assessed by the department that you have applied to. You must have received an offer of admission from one of The Bartlett schools to study a Master’s course in 2025-26 by 28 March 2025 (the deadline for your Bartlett Promise application submission). The Bartlett Promise team will not assess your academic ability further. For more information on the application process for a Master’s course at The Bartlett see ‘Applying to a master’s course at The Bartlett’ section below.

No. UCL does not offer part-time study to students who require a Student visa (formerly known as Tier 4 (General) student visa). The scholarship covers fees and a maintenance allowance to allow for full time study. Scholars are expected to study full time and complete their master’s within one year, unless they are on a master’s course with an expected duration of 15 months or 2 years.

Yes, if you have an offer of admission from one of The Bartlett schools to study a Master’s course in 2025-26 and it is conditional only on English language certification. You must submit your application to The Bartlett Promise Sub-Saharan Africa Scholarship by 28 March 2025.

You do not need to have accepted your offer of admission in order to apply to The Bartlett Promise.

You must first identify an appropriate Master’s course to study. Our nine schools offer a wide range of master’s courses in the built environment. You can search for a course by school or by looking at the course available or using the course finder. When you have found a suitable course, click on the Apply Now button on the course page to make your application.

Applications to Bartlett master’s courses open on 17 October 2024. We strongly advise you to apply early. You need to pay £90 to submit an application to a Bartlett master’s course.

You will need to upload your Batchelor’s degree transcript. This must be in English. Any translations must be prepared by your university or a registered translator.

If you are not from a ‘majority English-speaking country’ and you already have proof of your English ability, you can include evidence of your level of English. (This can also be done if/when you receive an offer of a place on a master’s programme).

You must provide a personal statement and two references. At least one (and ideally both) of your references should be academic (from someone who has taught you). One reference can be professional.

Your personal statement must show passion for the subject area while demonstrating motivation, enthusiasm, and the skills that will enable you to succeed at university.

Your application will be considered by the admissions staff in the school that you have applied to. It can take a minimum of six weeks for a school to make a decision and then they will email you the outcome of your application. You may receive an unconditional offer if you meet all the course requirements or a conditional offer. If your offer is conditional only on you meeting an English language requirement, you can apply for The Bartlett Promise scholarship. If your offer is conditional on other requirements e.g. your undergrade grades, you cannot apply for the scholarship.

Please note that all fee waivers have now bee allocated and we have closed applications for the 2025 intake.

Up to one hundred master’s course application fee waivers are available on a first come, first served basis. First, complete your Bartlett Master’s Course application up to the payment page and press the Submit application button. Then, request a fee waiver by please completing this Fee Waiver Application Form. Your request for a fee waiver will not be considered until you have pressed the Submit application button. Once you have submitted your application, your application will be checked against the programme criteria to confirm your eligibility. This can take up to 10 working days.

Applicants who miss this opportunity will need to pay the £90 master’s application fee themselves or wait and apply early the following year. When making a decision about whether to pay for your application, please be aware that to apply for the scholarship, you must have received an offer of admission to a Bartlett master’s course by 28 March 2025.

UCL aims to make a decision on applications within 6 weeks of receiving your completed application, academic transcripts and both references. However, it can take three to four months when application volumes are high. You are strongly recommended to apply early; a 6 week turn around cannot be guaranteed.

No. You must first, complete your Bartlett Master’s Course application up to the payment page. Then, request a fee waiver by please completing this Fee Waiver Application Form.

Once you have secured a place on a Bartlett Master’s course, you can apply for the scholarship. A link to the application form will be added on this page on 15 February 2024. Candidates must complete their Bartlett Promise application by 28 March 2025, 23.45 GMT. The application form requires personal details and asks questions about your financial and family situation. All information given must be accurate. Anyone found to have given false information on their application form may have the scholarship rescinded.

All applications will be checked on 4 April 2025, to confirm that the applicant has an offer of a place on a Bartlett master’s course. All those who meet the essential criteria and have an offer of admission which is unconditional, or conditional only on English language requirement, will be sent the Part 2 application form which has five questions about your background, educational and work experiences, and future plans. You must complete the Part 2 application form by 10 April 2025 to be considered for shortlisting. Please check your spam mail folder regularly – emails will come from the bartlett.promise@ucl.ac.uk address.

The application form will open on 14 February 2025 and close on 28 March 2025 at 23.45 GMT. On 4 April 2025, all applications will be checked, to confirm that the applicant has an offer of admission to a Bartlett master’s course.

Yes, the deadline is 23.45 (GMT) on 28 March 2025.

As part of the application process, shortlisted candidates will be asked to engage in a dialogue with an independent representative from the Windsor Fellowship and one member of The Bartlett Promise team, to discuss anything which they feel might support their application. This will not include describing or detailing your academic abilities. The dialogues will be conducted electronically via an appropriate method agreed between the Windsor Fellowship and the applicant e.g. telephone, Zoom, Teams etc. They will be scheduled by the Windsor Fellowship 25 April to 9 May 2025.

The selection panel will assess your application based on information provided on your scholarship application form and the information you provide in your dialogue with the Windsor Fellowship. The assessment of applications will be made in relation to the eligibility criteria.

The successful applicants will be notified by email by 28 May 2025. 

Candidates with an offer which is conditional on an English language test result (IELTS or other UCL specified English test) may be offered a scholarship but must meet or exceed the English language requirement by 23 June 2025 otherwise the scholarship offer will be withdrawn.

UCL provides comprehensive support for international students and orientation on arrival. In addition to these, your department will provide a department specific orientation and you will be invited to all Bartlett Promise events throughout the year including a welcome event at the beginning of the year.

If you are not able to come to the UK because of a public health issue (such as the coronavirus pandemic), we will consider the options and agree the best choice with you. Depending on the course concerned, you may be able to study online at the start of your studies and then travel to the UK later in the year, or possibly study online for the whole programme. You do not need a UK visa whilst you are studying online from your home country, but will need one before you travel to the UK. Alternatively, you may be able to defer your place until the following year.

As part of The Bartlett Promise, we will provide tailored support services to award holders throughout the life of their course and career support beyond. We will achieve this by bringing in expertise from across UCL to create appropriate packages of support for individual scholars. In addition to this, you will be joining The Bartlett Promise Community of current and previous scholars, benefactors, supporters and friends. This community will support you during your studies and forms a network to guide and sustain you throughout your career.

You can also find a wealth of support for your wellbeing from UCL student services and from the Student Union.

UCL does not offer part-time study to students who require a Student visa. Scholars must complete their course within the expected duration of their course. If your circumstances change significantly you must discuss this with the Bartlett Promise Team before making any decisions. We cannot guarantee that you will be able to keep your Bartlett Promise scholarship.

No, the scholarship offer cannot be deferred. You must take up your place in September 2025. If you are not able to take up a scholarship in 2025, you can apply again in the following year.

Bartlett Promise scholars have the right to interrupt their studies in the same way that unfunded students do. Please consult the Changes to your study pages to understand the process for interrupting your studies. You must then consult your supervisor and The Bartlett Promise team (Bartlett.promise@ucl.ac.uk) before making any decisions. Each case will be assessed on its own merits.

Please consult the Changes to your study pages to understand the process for withdrawing from your studies. You must then consult your supervisor and The Bartlett Promise team (Bartlett.promise@ucl.ac.uk) before making any decisions. Each case will be assessed on its own merits.

Working part time is permitted if the terms of your visa allow this, but scholars should discuss this with their supervisor and ensure that this is not detrimental to their studies. 

The maintenance allowance for living costs is £16,008.

The Bartlett Promise scholarship will provide successful applicants with:

• One return flight from your country of domicile in SSA to London and back
• UK Student visa costs (including a £200 allowance for travel if necessary)
• Fees for any UCL required language assessments test
• Any heath check costs necessary for the visa
• NHS Immigration Health Supplement payable in the UK

No. The Bartlett Promise Scholarship only provides funding and support for the scholar.

The full overseas fees will be paid directly by The Bartlett Promise to UCL fees. The maintenance allowance will be paid to you in three equal termly instalments.

The Bartlett Promise does not provide any additional funding for field trips, but some courses do. Please check with your course director.

The award may be held in conjunction with other scholarships or bursaries, as long as the total value of all the additional scholarships you hold does not exceed £5,000. This cap is set by a proportional calculation of the total value of the award. This figure may therefore change in the future in line with any changes to course fees and average living costs in London. You must inform The Bartlett Promise team if you hold awards other than The Bartlett Promise.