Scholarships and Student Financial Aid in the United Kingdom
By Muntasir • Published May 27, 2026 • Updated Aug 08, 2026 • Education Planning, Study in Europe, Country & City Guides, Scholarships & Funding
UK government student loans mostly go to home and Irish students only. European students from other countries rely on university scholarships, government-funded awards like Chevening and GREAT Scholarships, or their own country's mobility grants.
💶 UK Tuition Fee Loan: covers up to £9,790/year, home and Irish students only
🏠 Maintenance Loan: up to £14,135/year in London, £10,830 outside, home/Irish students only
🎓 Chevening: fully funded 1-year Master's for eligible countries, applications open 4 August to 6 October 2026
📩 GREAT Scholarships: £10,000 toward a 1-year taught Master's, over 140 awards at 60+ universities
⏱️ University scholarships: check each university's own funding page, often merit or country specific
Who qualifies for UK government student finance
Student Finance England, and its equivalents in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, lends money to cover tuition and living costs. Eligibility depends on your fee status, not just your nationality.
UK nationals and Irish citizens studying in the UK keep access to this system under the Common Travel Area agreement. Most other European students do not qualify unless they hold settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, since Brexit ended automatic home fee status for EU nationals.
Loan amounts for eligible students
| Loan | 2026-27 amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition Fee Loan | Up to £9,790/year, paid directly to the university |
| Maintenance Loan, living away from home in London | Up to £14,135/year |
| Maintenance Loan, living away from home outside London | Up to £10,830/year |
| Maintenance Loan, living at home with parents | Up to £9,118/year |
These figures apply to eligible full-time undergraduates for 2026-27. Roughly half of the Maintenance Loan is guaranteed to every eligible student regardless of household income; the rest is means-tested against household income above £25,000.
Funded routes for other European students
If you do not qualify for UK student finance, three routes cover most European applicants: government-funded scholarships open to your nationality, university-specific scholarships, and funding from your own country or the EU.
Chevening Scholarships
Chevening is the UK government's flagship scholarship, funding a one-year taught Master's degree in full, including tuition, a monthly stipend, and travel costs. It is open to citizens of a defined list of eligible countries worldwide, which changes by year, so check the current list on the Chevening website before applying. Applicants need an undergraduate degree equivalent to a UK upper second class (2:1) and at least two years of work experience, and must agree to return to their home country for two years after the award ends. Applications for 2026-27 entry open 4 August and close 6 October 2026.
GREAT Scholarships
GREAT Scholarships are jointly funded by the UK government's GREAT Britain Campaign and the British Council, working with individual universities. For the 2026-27 academic year, more than 140 scholarships worth at least £10,000 each toward tuition are on offer at over 60 universities across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, for one-year taught postgraduate courses. Eligible countries include France, Greece, Italy and Spain, among others, and vary by university and scholarship round. Check the GREAT Scholarships page to see whether your country and course are covered this year.
University scholarships
Nearly every UK university runs its own scholarship scheme for international students, ranging from partial tuition discounts to fully funded awards for high grades, specific subjects, or specific countries. These change every admissions cycle, so check the scholarships or fees and funding section of each university's website once you have a shortlist of courses, and apply early since many have separate deadlines from the course application itself.
Funding from your home country
Some European governments and regional bodies run their own mobility grants for students studying abroad, including in the UK. These sit outside the UK system entirely, so check with your national ministry of education, your last school or university, or your national student loan or grant agency before you assume you are only limited to UK sources.
Practical steps
Confirm your fee status with each university's admissions office before you assume you know whether you pay home or international fees.
Apply for scholarships as early as possible. Chevening and many university awards close months before the course start date.
Keep proof of your finances ready. Scholarship applications and Student visa applications both ask for detailed financial evidence.
Do not wait for a scholarship decision before applying to your course. Most scholarships require you to have applied, or been accepted, to a UK university first.