# Are there fully funded scholarships for international students in the UK?

> Yes — Chevening, Commonwealth and some university awards are fully funded, but highly competitive; apply early.

Fully funded scholarships to study in the UK do exist but are highly competitive. The best-known are the UK government's Chevening Scholarships (postgraduate, for emerging leaders) and Commonwealth Scholarships (for students from Commonwealth countries), both of which can cover tuition, living costs and travel. Some universities also offer full or near-full awards. Competition is intense and deadlines fall months before courses start, so a strong, early, well-targeted application is essential. Check each scheme's official site for eligibility and dates.

## Quick facts
- **Chevening:** Postgraduate, leadership-focused (FCDO)
- **Commonwealth:** For Commonwealth-country students
- **University awards:** Some full or near-full
- **Reality:** Highly competitive — apply early

## Key takeaways
- Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships are fully funded and highly prestigious.
- They can cover tuition, living costs and travel — but competition is intense.
- Some universities offer their own full or near-full awards.
- Deadlines fall months before courses start — apply early and target carefully.

## The main fully funded routes
The flagship fully funded options are the UK government's Chevening Scholarships — for postgraduate students with leadership potential, covering tuition, living costs and travel — and Commonwealth Scholarships, for students from Commonwealth countries, also typically fully funded for postgraduate and doctoral study. Both run annual cycles with country-specific eligibility and strict deadlines. Beyond these, a number of universities offer their own full or near-full scholarships, often merit-based and sometimes subject- or country-specific.

## How to be competitive
Fully funded awards attract huge numbers of strong applicants, so a competitive application is essential: start early, target the awards you genuinely fit, and craft each application to that scheme's specific criteria — Chevening, for example, values demonstrated leadership and a clear post-study plan. Apply to a range of awards rather than just the most famous. Study UK Now identifies every fully funded and partial award relevant to your profile, tracks the deadlines, and helps you write applications that stand out.

## Frequently asked questions
### Are there fully funded scholarships for international students in the UK?
Yes — the most prominent are the UK government's Chevening Scholarships (postgraduate) and Commonwealth Scholarships (for Commonwealth-country students), which can fully cover tuition, living costs and travel. Some universities offer full or near-full awards too. All are highly competitive with early deadlines, so target carefully and apply well ahead.

### How hard is it to get a Chevening scholarship?
Chevening is highly competitive, with many strong applicants per award and country-specific quotas. Successful candidates typically show clear leadership, a strong academic and professional record, and a convincing post-study plan to contribute back home. Applying early and tailoring your application to Chevening's criteria is essential — Study UK Now helps you build a competitive application.

## Sources
- [Chevening Scholarships](https://www.chevening.org/) — Chevening (FCDO)
- [Commonwealth Scholarships (CSC)](https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/) — Commonwealth Scholarship Commission

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Verified: 2026-06-16