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UCL Humanitarian Scholarship

UCL Humanitarian Scholarships enable students at serious risk and/or displaced due to armed conflict to pursue full-time Masters degree studies at UCL

Key information

Value: Tuition fees and a maintenance payment to cover accommodation and living costs (approx. £20,000) for the normal course duration. There is also an allowance to cover the Immigration Health Surcharge, visa fees and one return flight. 
Available to: Prospective students
Selection criteria: Financial need
Eligible fee status: Overseas
Eligible programmes: All postgraduate taught full-time (Please note distance learning and part-time Master's are not eligible for this award)
Deadline: 5pm BST, Thursday 8th May 2025

Eligibility

Candidates can be from any country outside the UK. Please note we do not accept applications from those that are already residing in the UK*. You must also fulfill all of the following criteria:

  • be at serious risk as a direct result of armed conflict, and/or 
  • be displaced inside or have been forced to leave your home country within the last three years because of armed conflict and have sought international protection outside of the UK; 
  • be eligible to pay the Overseas fee rate. 
  • come from a lower income background**;.
  • not already holding a qualification at the level of course, or higher, to which you are applying
  • hold an offer of a place on your chosen full-time Master's at UCL by the scholarship panel meeting start of June 2025. (Please note distance learning and part-time Master's are not eligible for this award)

    *If you’re an asylum seeker or refugee in the UK and want to study for an undergraduate degree, you can apply for UCL Access Opportunity Scholarship. If you’re on one of the Ukraine visa schemes such as Homes for Ukraine, Ukraine Family Scheme, Ukraine Extension Scheme, you can access to Student Finance England and can apply for student loans.

    **Guidance on how UCL defines household income can be found on our essential information page. . 

Value, benefits, and duration

  • There are up to 4 (four) scholarships available in 2025/26
  • The scholarship will cover full tuition fees and a maintenance payment to cover accommodation and living costs (approx. £20,000) for the normal course duration. We guarantee a single room in UCL accommodation, if you choose to take this up the accommodation fee will be taken from your £20,000 maintenance payment. There is also an allowance to cover the Immigration Health Surcharge, visa fees and one return flight. 
  • The scholarship is tenable for one year only unless the full-time programme is 2yrs in length.
  • The UCL Humanitarian Scholarship may not be held alongside other scholarships, studentships, awards, or bursaries. 

Selection

The scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need and upon the recommendation of the UCL Humanitarian Scholarship panel.
 

How to apply

Please visit the International Master's Awards page for information on how to apply to this scholarship. 

The deadline for applications to this scholarship will be at 5pm BST, Thursday 8 May 2025.

You need to have submitted an admission application to UCL (including the submission of references) before you can apply for the scholarship.  Please see the UCL Prospectus for information on how to apply for admission to UCL

Results

The UCL Student Funding Office will contact shortlisted candidates will be contacted to provide evidence of financial need. We will also ask you to evidence your Refugee Status, or Humanitarian Protection as recognised by the 1951 UN Convention on the Status of Refugees. Please read our application pages and FAQ for more information on the evidence you can provide. When this has been assessed, successful candidates will be informed in June.

Useful resources

UCL Graduate Taught Courses 

How to apply for UCL Graduate Taught Courses 

UCL Immigration and Visa Advice 

Student Action for Refugees 

Displaced Student Opportunities UK