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Our webpages primarily show funding options specific to UCL or administered by UCL. However, there are other sources of external funding, which can provide support for all or part of your studies.
External funding by region
This is not a comprehensive list of external funding options and we encourage you to search online yourself, but below are a variety of sources of funding and information that may be of use. Most of the funding below is aimed primarily at postgraduate students.
General
| Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding | Contains information on sources of funding for postgraduate students. Current UCL students can log in using their UCL email address, and prospective students need a PIN number which can be obtained by sending a request to the Student Funding Office. |
| Anglo-Jewish Association | Provides financial assistance to Jewish students in financial need to enter further education or to study for full-time degrees at universities in the United Kingdom. |
| The aim of this scheme is to give the children of those who have died in the service of Her Majesty's Armed Forces and provide a head start in life by enabling them to obtain a university degree. The scheme will provide a contribution towards the cost of a first undergraduate degree. The university scholarship contributes towards both the tuition and maintenance fees. For more information on this scheme, please visit Armed Forces Bereavement Scholarship Scheme (AFBSS). | |
| Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) | One of the largest inter-universities networks in the world and offers scholarships for study via the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission. |
| British Council | UK’s international cultural relations body which offers funding and scholarships for study in the UK. |
| Colt Foundation Fellowships | Prospective PhD students studying in the fields of occupational and environmental health. |
| GEMS International Student Loans | Available to international students pursuing higher education in the United Kingdom (please note that UCL is not affiliated with this service). |
| General Sir John Monash Foundation | Each year the Scholarships are awarded to outstanding Australian graduates to enable them to study for a Masters or Doctoral degree at the world’s best universities. |
| Global Scholarships | Search tool and information source for global scholarship and funding opportunities. |
| Goodenough College Scholarships | Goodenough College has a range of accomodation scholarships to help those who might not otherwise be able to afford to live there. |
| International Education Financial Aid (IEFA) | Search tool and information source for global scholarship and funding opportunities. |
| The Nuffield Foundation | Works to improve social wellbeing by funding research and innovation in education and social policy and provides funding for science, education and social policy. |
| Open Society Foundations | Works to implement a range of initiatives to advance justice, education, public health, and independent media and offer funding for worldwide study. |
| Research and Development Management (RADMA) | The Doctoral Studies programme provides full funding to talented prospective or mid-study PhD students. |
| Santander Scholarships | Scholarships for students who are care-experienced and from other under-represented groups. |
| Sasakawa Studentship | Supports current PhD students intending to study/research any aspect of Japanese studies. |
| Sekforde House Trust Scholarship | Supports students who have a place at either UCL or City University at any study level/subject. |
| UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) | Provides information, advice and funding for students studying in the UK. |
| United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) | Provides information about study for international students, and offers UNESCO Fellowships for candidates of exceptional merit. |
| Vest Scholarships | Vest scholarships allow graduate students to spend an expense-paid year at a leading engineering school in the United States pursuing research to address a global Grand Challenge, such as making solar energy economical, engineering better medicine or advancing personalised learning. Apply in September to participate in the following year. |
| Western and Northern Territories Network Scholarship | For current students conducting research abroad in a topic related to the Western and Northern Territories of Poland. |
Africa
| Africa Educational Trust | Helps people access education and offers scholarships and grants for study. |
| Qalaa Holdings Scholarship Foundation | Provides awards for Egyptians to study masters degrees abroad. |
Americas
| Benjamin A Gilman International Scholarship | Available for US students studying abroad. |
| Canadian Bureau for International Education | An organisation which promotes international education and offers scholarships for study. |
| Canadian Centennial Scholarship Fund | Provides awards for Canadians to complete their studies in the UK. |
| Direct Loans for study at UCL | Eligible US students are able to borrow various loans via the US Department of Education funded Direct Loans scheme. |
| Fulbright Commission | Offers awards and advice for US-UK exchange. |
| Fundación Mexicana para la Educación, la Tecnología y la Ciencia (FUNED) | Offers funding for full-time Master's students from Mexico. |
| Líderes Estudar scholarship | Offers funding to Brazilian students in the UK. |
| Marshall Scholarships | Finances Americans of high ability to study in the UK. |
| National Society of High School Scholars | Offers scholarships to the US and Canadian students. |
| Sallie Mae | Offers private educational loans for study in the UK. |
| Trudeau Foundation Scholarships | Rewards outstanding doctoral candidates who are enrolled or about to be enrolled in a social sciences and humanities program. |
Asia
| Agency for Science, technology and Research (A*STAR) | Supports students from Singapore and offers funding for higher education. |
| Charles Wallace Trust | Assists nationals of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Burma/Myanmar to obtain education and professional development in the UK. |
| Great Britain – China Educational Trust | A not-for-profit organisation that promotes mutual understanding between the UK and China and aims to build long-term connections between the two countries. They offer educational funding via their website. |
| Hong Kong People Association Scholarships for University Studies | Provides financial support to undergraduate Hong Kong students residing in the UK under BNO visa or asylum claim, and are liable for international rate of fees. |
| Indian Department of Education | Provides information and offers funding for Indian students studying abroad. |
| Joint Japan World Bank Graduate Scholarship | The JJ/WBGSP Scholarship provides annual awards to cover the cost of completing a Master's degree or its equivalent. The awards are given for one year and, provided that the academic programme is longer than one year, may be renewed for a second consecutive year or a portion thereof, subject to satisfactory academic performance in the first year and the availability of funds. |
| Persia Mirzakhani Scholarship for Women | Designed to support education of Iranian descent women of any age or citizenship enrolled in a Master of Science or final year of a Doctorate programme studying a STEM subject. |
| Tata Trust Education Grant | The Tata Trusts support deserving students and researchers from India in pursuit of knowledge through various scholarships and grants. |
Europe
| Direct Gov | Depending on your circumstances, students from the EU may be eligible for certain types of funding. |
| Herbert Smith Freehills Entente Cordiale scholarships in law | The Herbert Smith Freehills Entente Cordiale programme offers a prestigious scholarship to help fund your studies in the UK with the opportunity to gain work experience in an international office. |
| IELTS Award | Students who have taken an IELTS test at a British Council centre in France would be eligible to apply for these IELTS Awards. |
| Il Circolo - Italian Cultural Association | Provides scholarships for Italian students. |
| Lanekassen | The Norwegian student loans and grants awarding body which supports Norwegian students studying overseas. |
| The European Funding Guide | Scholarships and grants in the EU. |
Study Abroad
Links
Contact
Tel: +44 (0)20 7679 0121 (internal 30121) E-mail: study-abroad@ucl.ac.uk
Top tips for funding applications
1. Prepare in advance. You should start looking for funding around 10-12 months before you intend to start your studies. If the deadline for an award has passed, it is unlikely that the funding body will accept late applications.
2. Check eligibility criteria. This may seem obvious, but most funding bodies have strict criteria for the allocation of funding. Contact the funder if you are unsure.
3. Spend time on your application. Funding bodies receive lots of applications, so it is important that you take time to communicate your skills, interests and qualifications properly. If you are making multiple applications do not just copy and paste the same content into every application form – make sure you tailor applications accordingly.
4. Find a suitable referee. Start contacting potential referees now, in case you are required to submit a reference with your application.
5. Have a contingency plan. It is important to be realistic about the chances of receiving funding and you should always look for alternative sources of funding for your studies.