UCL-GREAT Scholarships 2026 Open
The UK’s postgraduate scholarship season for 2026 is officially heating up — and University College London (UCL) has just opened one of the most competitive, high-impact funding opportunities for international students. The UCL–GREAT Scholarships 2026, backed jointly by UCL and the British Council, are now live for outstanding Master’s applicants planning to study in the UK next year. If a world-ranked UK degree has been on your radar but funding has been the main barrier, this is a moment worth acting on.
What makes this scholarship stand out is its direct financial impact. Successful candidates receive £10,000 in tuition-fee support for the first year of study, applied straight to their fee invoice — not as cash, but as a real reduction in the cost of a UCL master’s degree. The award is valid for full-time, on-campus postgraduate taught programmes across UCL and is granted based on a combination of academic excellence and demonstrated financial need. Because this is a needs-aware award, recipients must formally declare any additional funding to UCL’s Student Funding Office — transparency is part of the selection process.
This opportunity is highly targeted, and eligibility matters. UCL is looking for applicants with Overseas fee status who are applying to any full-time Master’s degree across any faculty. To be considered, you must already hold a conditional or unconditional offer for a UCL master’s programme by the scholarship deadline, show a strong academic background, and clearly demonstrate financial need. Please note that distance learning and modular/flexible courses are not eligible under this scheme — the scholarship is designed specifically for in-person postgraduate study.
The application route is straightforward but time-sensitive. Start by applying to your chosen Master’s programme at UCL and securing an offer. Once you have that offer in hand, submit your scholarship application through UCL’s International Master’s Awards route for the GREAT Scholarship. It’s important to present both your academic profile and your financial context clearly, as shortlisted candidates will later be asked to provide formal evidence of financial need. Full details and the application portal are available at https://www.ucl.ac.uk/scholarships/great-scholarship.
For candidates serious about turning a UCL master’s into a financially realistic plan, timing is everything. The deadline to apply for the UCL–GREAT Scholarship 2026 is Thursday, 7 May 2026, at 5:00 pm (BST). Shortlisted applicants will be contacted in mid-June 2026 to submit financial evidence, with final decisions released in early July 2026 — giving successful candidates ample time to prepare for their move to the UK. For international students aiming to combine global prestige, affordability, and real academic impact, this is one of the strongest UK funding opportunities of the 2026 cycle.
