2026/27 funding
UK Scholarships and Funding
Every serious route to paying for UK study in one place: the fully funded government scholarships for international students, and the gov.uk loans and non-repayable grants that UK and mature students can claim. Each entry links straight to the official source so you can verify the current deadline yourself.
Fully funded scholarships for international students
| Scheme | Who it is for | What it covers | When to apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevening Scholarships chevening.org (UK Government, FCDO) | Mid-career professionals from eligible countries, one-year UK Masters | Full tuition, monthly stipend, flights | Applications usually open August, close early November |
| Commonwealth Scholarships cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk (UK Government, FCDO) | Citizens of eligible Commonwealth countries, Masters and PhD | Full tuition, stipend, airfare, thesis grant | Varies by scheme, most close December to January |
| GREAT Scholarships British Council | Students from around 15 selected countries, one-year postgraduate | GBP 10,000 towards tuition | Opens in the autumn, university-by-university deadlines |
| Gates Cambridge Scholarship gatescambridge.org | Outstanding applicants to postgraduate study at Cambridge | Full cost of studying at Cambridge | October (US round) and December (international round) |
| Rhodes Scholarship Rhodes House, University of Oxford | Postgraduate applicants to Oxford from eligible constituencies | Full tuition plus annual stipend | Country deadlines mostly July to October |
| Clarendon Fund University of Oxford | Graduate students at the University of Oxford, all subjects | Full tuition and generous living costs | Automatic with your Oxford course deadline |
Government funding for UK and mature students
There is no upper age limit on a tuition fee loan. If you are a UK resident returning to study at 21, 30 or 50, these are the schemes that actually pay for it.
| Scheme | Who it is for | What it covers | When to apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee Loan and Maintenance Loan gov.uk | Home fee status students, including mature students returning to study | Tuition paid direct to the provider, plus living-cost loan | Apply from spring for an autumn start, up to 9 months after the course begins |
| Who qualifies for student finance gov.uk | British citizens, settled and pre-settled status, ILR, refugee status | Eligibility rules and residence requirements | Check before you apply |
| Childcare Grant gov.uk | Full-time students with dependent children under 15 | Up to 85% of childcare costs, not repayable | Apply alongside student finance |
| Parents' Learning Allowance gov.uk | Full-time students with dependent children | Help with course-related costs, not repayable | Apply alongside student finance |
| Adult Dependants' Grant gov.uk | Students with an adult who depends on them financially | Non-repayable grant | Apply alongside student finance |
| Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) gov.uk | Students with a disability, long-term health condition or specific learning difficulty | Equipment, support workers and travel costs, not repayable | Apply as early as possible, assessments take time |
Scholarship guides on Lightning Enrolment
Scholarship questions students ask
Which UK scholarships pay for everything?
Chevening, Commonwealth Scholarships, Gates Cambridge, the Rhodes Scholarship and the Clarendon Fund are the main fully funded routes. They cover tuition and living costs but are highly competitive and have fixed annual deadlines, so plan around 12 months ahead.
Can mature students in the UK get funding to study?
Yes. There is no upper age limit for a tuition fee loan, and mature students with Home fee status can also apply for a maintenance loan plus non-repayable help such as the Childcare Grant, Parents' Learning Allowance, Adult Dependants' Grant and Disabled Students' Allowance. Nothing is payable upfront.
Do I need an offer before I apply for a scholarship?
It depends on the scheme. Chevening and Commonwealth let you apply before you hold an offer, while university-run awards and GREAT Scholarships usually require an application or an offer for a specific course first. Applying early keeps both doors open.
Is there a fee to apply through Lightning Enrolment?
No. We check your eligibility, prepare your documents and submit your university application free of charge.
Not sure which funding you qualify for?
Run the free eligibility check and we will tell you which courses and funding routes fit your profile.