Scholarships and funding

Discover UCL Laws scholarships and funding for 2025–26. Support is available for LLM and MSc Law and Finance students, including merit awards, widening access, and external options.

UCL Laws offers a range of scholarships to support students on both our LLM and MSc Law and Finance (MLF) programmes, including awards based on academic excellence, financial need, and widening access.

We are especially proud to offer several new scholarships as part of the UCL200 Scholarships initiative in anticipation of UCL's Bicentennial celebrations in 2026. These reflect our long-standing commitment to inclusive, innovative, and socially conscious legal education.

Please note: Many of the scholarships listed below have now closed for the 2025–26 cycle. We expect them to reopen for applications next year (for 2026–27). Details on updated deadlines and application forms will be published soon — please check back or sign up for updates.

Available scholarships

For LLM students:

UCL200 Laws LLM Academic Excellence Scholarship 2025-26

The UCL200 Laws LLM Academic Excellence Scholarships are designed to support individuals with outstanding academic achievements to study UCL’s LLM. These scholarships provide a £10,000 fee reduction and are not means-tested.

Eligibility criteria

submitted a complete application to study on our LLM programme for 2025/26 entry by no later than Wednesday 18 December 2024
show prior outstanding academic achievements (usually a high first-class degree or equivalent) demonstrating exceptional potential to excel on UCL’s LLM

Application

The application requires personal details and a statement on how the LLM will build on your academic achievement to date. Please carefully read the guidance document below for further details.

2025-26 Guidance for UCL200 Laws LLM Academic Excellence Scholarship.pdf

To apply for the scholarship please fill in our application form.

Application deadlines

Applications for the bursary closed on 29 January 2025
We expect the bursary to be offered again for students starting in 2026–27 — details will be published here once confirmed.

Further information

Candidates must satisfy the eligibility criteria stated above;
Applications received from candidates will be assessed by UCL Laws who will determine whether to award a scholarship(s) based on the scholarship application, the LLM application, references and your written work;
The scholarship will not be paid towards tuition fees until the candidate has enrolled at UCL.

If you have any questions or queries about the scholarship please contact the LLM admissions team at llm-admissions@ucl.ac.uk.

UCL200 Laws LLM Opportunity Scholarship 2025-26

The UCL200 Laws LLM Opportunity Scholarships are designed to make our LLM accessible to UK-domiciled students who have been, and are, of limited means.

These means-tested scholarships provide full tuition fee waiver and £15,000 maintenance. Students applying for the means-tested scholarships must meet the standard UCL LLM entry requirements. Scholarships will be awarded to applicants who demonstrate potential to excel on UCL's LLM.

Eligibility criteria

Apply by Monday 17 March 2025 to study the LLM degree (full-time) at UCL starting in September 2025; AND
in financial hardship and could not otherwise afford to study the LLM; AND
have attended a non-fee-paying state-funded school or educational institution (students who have attended a fee-paying junior or senior school/educational institution at any time are not eligible to apply); AND
be eligible for ‘Home’ (UK) fee status and be a UK domicile; AND
not previously completed a Master’s degree or equivalent (in any subject); AND
demonstrate potential to excel on UCL's LLM.

Application

The application requires personal details including financial details and a statement setting out how such an award would help you to pursue your goals and your plans for the future . Please carefully read the guidance document below which explains how to complete the application.

2025-26 Guidance for UCL200 Laws LLM Opportunity Scholarship and Future Scholars Award.pdf

To apply for the scholarship please fill in our application form where we will assess your eligibility for the scholarship. Eligible applicants will then be shortlisted and invited to interview in June.

Application deadlines

Applications for the bursary closed on 14 April 2025
We expect the bursary to be offered again for students starting in 2026–27 — details will be published here once confirmed.

Further information

Candidates must satisfy the eligibility criteria stated above;
UCL Laws will shortlist candidates for interview based on the scholarship application, the LLM application, references and your written work;
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview which will be conducted by Faculty of Laws staff;
The interview panel will determine whether scholarship should be awarded to which candidates;
The scholarship will not be paid to a successful candidate until the candidate has enrolled at UCL.

If you have any questions or queries about the scholarship please contact the LLM admissions team at llm-admissions@ucl.ac.uk.

UCL200 Laws LLM Future Scholars Award 2025-26

The UCL200 Laws LLM Future Scholars' Awards are designed to increase the accessibility of our LLM to UK-domiciled individuals who have been, and are, of limited means, and who intend to use their LLM as a stepping stone to doctoral studies.

These means-tested scholarships provide full fee waiver and £15,000 maintenance. Students applying for the means-tested scholarships must meet the standard UCL LLM entry requirements.

Eligibility criteria

Apply by Monday 17 March 2025 to study the LLM degree (full-time) at UCL starting in September 2025; AND
in financial hardship and could not otherwise afford to study the LLM; AND
have attended a non-fee-paying state-funded school or educational institution (students who have attended a fee-paying junior or senior school/educational institution at any time are not eligible to apply); AND
be eligible for ‘Home’ (UK) fee status and be a UK domicile; AND
not previously successfully completed a Master’s degree (in any subject) AND;
show prior outstanding academic achievement demonstrating potential to excel on UCL’s LLM; AND
show evidence of a serious intention to use their LLM as a stepping stone to doctoral studies.

Application

The application requires personal details including financial details and a statement explaining why you are applying for this award. Please carefully read the guidance document below which explains how to complete the application.

2025-26 Guidance for UCL200 Laws LLM Opportunity Scholarship and Future Scholars Award.pdf

Application deadlines

Applications for the scholarship closed on 14 April 2025.
We expect the bursary to be offered again for students starting in 2026–27 — details will be published here once confirmed.

Further information

Candidates must satisfy the eligibility criteria stated above;
UCL Laws will shortlist candidates for interview based on the scholarship application, the LLM application, references and your written work;
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview which will be conducted by Faculty of Laws staff;
The interview panel will determine whether an award should be awarded;
The award will not be paid to a successful candidate until the candidate has enrolled at UCL.

If you have any questions or queries about the scholarship please contact the LLM admissions team at llm-admissions@ucl.ac.uk.

UCL200 Laws Vinson Chu PKU/ UCL Scholarship

With support from the Vinson & Cissy Chu Charitable Foundation, the UCL200 Laws Vinson Chu PKU/ UCL Scholarship is eligible to Chinese law graduates of Peking University who show outstanding potential and who need financial assistance to pursue a full-time LLM degree at UCL Laws. One scholarship worth £60,000 will be awarded per year and will cover overseas full-time tuition fees for the LLM course and maintenance. The award is conditional upon the scholar being offered a place at UCL. For more information on eligibility criteria and application process, please contact the PKU Law Faculty.

Pius Langa Memorial Fellowship

Named in honour of the former Chief Justice and launched in 2021, this award is eligible to young lawyers in South Africa committed to forwarding constitutional and human rights law in South Africa and / or Africa. One fellowship will be awarded per year and will cover a full tuition waiver from UCL and an award of GBP 21,800, funded by charity South African Constitutional Court Trust, which is specifically intended to cover travel and living expenses associated with studies. Fellows must include at least one module relating to human rights or constitutional law as part of the LLM studies. For more information see the Constitutional Court Trust website.

Commercial Bar Opportunity Scholarship

With the support of The Commercial Bar Association, the Commercial Bar Opportunity Scholarship is eligible for a UK student of Black ethnicity to pursue the LLM degree at UCL. The scholarship will support the living expenses for the duration of the LLM programme, covering the tuition fees and £25,000 living expenses. The recipient of the scholarship will also benefit from a barrister mentor as selected by The Commercial Bar Association.

Eligibility

Demonstrate academic excellence (this will be evidenced by the LLM application, the scholarship application and at interview)
Meet the entry criteria of the LLM programme and be made an offer for the LLM programme. Please visit our applying and entry requirements page for full details.
Have submitted a complete application (including reference) to study on our LLM programme for 2025/26 entry by no later than Friday 30th May 2025 - please note that you will not be able to complete the application form if you have not already applied for the LLM
Demonstrate a serious interest to pursue a career at the Commercial Bar
Be permanently domiciled in the UK
Be of Black ethnicity
- Black or Black British - Carribean
- Black or Black British-African
- Other Black background, including mixed Black background

How to apply

Deadline

Applications for the bursary closed on 30 May 2025.
We expect the bursary to be offered again for students starting in 2026–27 — details will be published here once confirmed.

If you have any questions or queries about the Commercial Bar Opportunity Scholarship please contact Dr Lucinda Miller, Vice Dean (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) l.miller@ucl.ac.uk

J.A.L. Sterling Postgraduate Bursary in Copyright Law

The J.A.L. Sterling Postgraduate Bursary supports UK-domiciled students who wish to specialise in copyright law on the UCL LLM, helping to widen access to advanced legal study in this important field.

This means-tested bursary provides a contribution of up to £9,000 towards tuition fees. In addition, bursary recipients will join BLACA’s student network, be paired with a mentor from the legal profession or copyright industry, and be invited to Stationers’ Company events.

Eligibility criteria

Apply to study the LLM degree (full-time) at UCL starting in September 2025;
Be a UK domicile and eligible for ‘Home’ (UK) fee status;
Demonstrate financial need;
Intend to specialise in copyright law by taking at least 90 credits in copyright-related modules within the LLM Intellectual Property specialism.

Further information

Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria listed above;
UCL Laws and BLACA will shortlist candidates based on the scholarship application, LLM application, and references;
Shortlisted candidates may be invited to interview in September 2025
The bursary will only be paid once the successful candidate has enrolled at UCL.

Application

The application includes personal and financial information and a short statement explaining your interest in copyright law, your motivation, and how the award would support your future plans.
Please carefully read the guidance document provided on the BLACA website before you apply or the news story on UCL Laws webpage.
To apply, complete the scholarship application form and ensure you have already submitted an application to the UCL LLM programme.
Submit applications to: Dr Alina Trapova, a.trapova@ucl.ac.uk and Jane Ha, llm-admissions@ucl.ac.uk by midnight BST, 15 August 2025.
Please use the title: “BLACA–Stationers Bursary”.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Dr Alina Trapova (a.trapova@ucl.ac.uk) or the LLM admissions team (llm-admissions@ucl.ac.uk).

For MSc Law and Finance students:

UCL200 Laws MSc Law and Finance Opportunity Scholarship 2025-26

The UCL200 Laws MSc Law and Finance Opportunity Scholarships are designed to make our MSc Law and Finance accessible to students who have been, and are, of limited means.

These means-tested scholarships provide full tuition fee waiver and £15,000 maintenance. Students applying for the means-tested scholarships must meet the standard UCL MSc Law and Finance entry requirements and have received an offer of place.

Eligibility criteria
The criteria is as follows:

you must not hold or currently be studying for a Master's degree or equivalent; you must have submitted a complete application to study on the MSc Law and Finance programme.

Please note that you must have submitted a complete application (including references) to study on the MSc programme for 2025/26 entry before submitting your scholarship application. You will not be able to complete the scholarship application form if you have not already applied for the MSc programme.

How to apply
The application requires personal details and a statement on how the scholarship will help you. Please carefully read the guidance document below for further details:

File 2025-26 Guidance for UCL200 Laws MSc Law and Finance Opportunity Scholarship.docx

To apply for the scholarship, please fill in our application form.

Application deadline
Applications for the bursary closed on 14 April 2025.
We expect the bursary to be offered again for students starting in 2026–27 — details will be published here once confirmed.

Government and external funding

In addition to UCL-specific scholarships, UK and international students may be eligible for a range of government-funded financial support options.

UK Government Postgraduate Loans
Home students on the LLM or MSc Law and Finance programme may be eligible for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK Government. This loan can help with course fees and living costs.

Learn more about UK Government Postgraduate Loans

External funding

Depending on your nationality and residency status, you may also be eligible for funding from your home government or ministry of education, or a national scholarship programme. Many countries offer funding for students to pursue postgraduate study abroad.

Find out more about external funding options.

Please visit the UCL Scholarships and Funding page or use the UCL Scholarships Finder to explore other opportunities.